Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Merritt
Hi Anna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist with distinction as well as an International Grand Prix dressage competitor. In 2014 I began as a working student under Erin Brinkman at Valhalla Farm in Wellborn, FL where I eventually was promoted to assistant trainer and was provided with invaluable experience doing everything from starting young horses to competing at the FEI level. It was during my time with Erin that I earned my USDF Bronze and Silver medals before going on to earn my Gold Medal on the first horse I trained to Grand Prix, a Trakehner stallion named Fuego owned and bred by Andrew Palmer. I was also fortunate enough to spend a handful of months in Germany apprenticing under International Grand Prix rider Baerbel Eppinger where I furthered my skillset for managing and developing horses from 3 years old to Grand Prix. At the very end of 2018 I made the move to Ocala to start my own business training and selling dressage horses where I continue to reside to this present day. I’ve been very fortunate to have some of the most incredible horses and owners come into my life to support my dreams no matter how big they are, and I still can hardly believe the life I’m living today. It’s truly a dream come true.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with anything worth doing, there’s of course going to be many obstacles to try to steer you off your path away from your goals, but through grit and perseverance anything is possible. When I first moved to Florida to begin as a working student I had about $800 in my bank account. In exchange for my work I was given living quarters and a monthly stipend of $600, just enough to cover food and gas but despite being dirt poor I was just so thrilled to be able to spend all day working with so many beautiful horses under the tutelage of a knowledgable and talented trainer. Eventually, I grew to a point in my riding where I was able to take on a handful of training clients that gave me extra income to be able to afford the luxuries like horse shows and clinic lessons.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced thus far is the loss of my mom. My mom was my best friend and ultimate role model growing up, as well as the only reason I began riding and am utterly horse crazy. We were your typical “backyard riders” just riding for fun on OTTBs, Quarter Horses, and Arabians, nothing nearly as serious as what I’m doing now. My parents divorced when I was 12 years old forcing the sale of my pony and leaving me with nothing to ride. Knowing how devastating this was for me, my mom sought out a local farm nearby to our home that bred Anglo-Trakehners for Dressage and Hunters and got me in with catch riding a few days a week there. It was from there I was given my first showing opportunities competing low level dressage at local schooling shows.
It was also around this time following my parents divorce that my mom began drinking heavily and transformed into what I considered to be an absolute monster; the mom that was once my best friend and the one I once relied on most was gone. Although physically there in front of me, I no longer recognized her. My mom at her core was the most beautiful and kind soul, but when she would drink she became hostile and outright abusive. Horses were my safe haven, and the barn became the only place I felt safe and comfortable so I did my best to spend as much time as possible there. It was for this very reason I moved to Florida immediately after graduating high school, not only to chase my dreams to become a professional rider but to get as far away from my home life as I could.
Years went by of dodging phone calls from my mom and avoiding visiting her the best I could, until one day I received the phone call that my mom had been admitted into the hospital and the doctors weren’t confident she would make it through the night. This also happened to be only two weeks after I had made the move to Ocala to start my own business. The heavy drinking and substance abuse had finally caught up with her, and three weeks after being hospitalized my mom had died. Shortly after the passing of my mom, my long term relationship I had been in for the last five years had also come to an end and I was more heartbroken than I ever imagined possible. I had just moved to a new area to start my business for the very first time, and had lost the two people closest to me all at once. The pain and stress was overwhelming to the point I wasn’t sure I wanted to carry on but I had two choices; give up or keep going, and ultimately I chose to keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Professional Dressage Rider, training and selling dressage horses.
What’s next?
It’s crazy to look back on those dark times from where I am in life now. Since then, I’ve grown my business to having a full barn with top talent that I’m honored to have the opportunity to develop to the very top level of this sport. Almost like divine intervention, I met one of my now closest friends Dianna Orona in a chance of luck encounter in the parking lot of Publix only a month after the passing of my mom. I was wearing my riding clothes so naturally Dianna struck up a conversation with me and we discovered that we both needed each other. Dianna was looking for a trainer to develop her German Riding Ponies, and I of course was eager for any and every riding opportunity I could get at the time. It just so happens that the two stallions she had given me the ride on are two of my best horses to this day. Fox Creek’s Censational, who is now competing successfully International Grand Prix and Fox Creek’s Masterpiece, who is competing successfully Small Tour and is well on his way to making his Grand Prix debut in 2025. Not only did this chance encounter lead to an amazing friendship and the ride on two of my best mounts, but also to a beautiful farm owned by Dianna that she graciously has allowed me to run my business out of. It’s a top facility such as hers that makes all the difference in a training program; ample grass turn out, quality footed arena with mirrors, top class barn, amazing staff, and more hacking space than I need. It’s also incredibly quiet and private giving me the ability to stay focused on my horses and students throughout the day.
My big goal for 2025 is to step up my game with Censational in the CDI Ring and to hopefully qualify for the US Open in November. I’ve also been recently handed the reins on an amazing mare named Fenomenal JW bred and owned by Julie Whitfield that I plan to debut at Grand Prix this winter season and if she’s ready, also qualify for the US Open at the end of the year. Ironically enough, Fenomenal has been trained by my former mentor Erin Brinkman for the last four years, and it’s Erin who graciously decided to hand me the reins. It’s so beautiful how life comes full circle in small but big ways like this, and I’m so honored to have so many people that believe in me and want to support me. It just makes me want to work harder and give everyday my all so that I can make everyone in my circle proud. I get emotional thinking about all of these incredible people and horses that have made my dreams come true. I’d be nothing without my team of owners, staff, vet, farrier, physiology, etc..
I have a really exciting group of horses at the moment and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. I’m more motivated than ever to give them my all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annamerrittdressage.com
- Instagram: @annatmerritt
Image Credits
Sunsoar Photography, Andrew Ryback Photography, Susan J. Stickle Photography
