Miss Brittney knows when it’s her time to shine. From the moment she steps onto the show grounds, the 21-year-old Thoroughbred-Quarter Horse mare puts on a performance, which is just part of the equation that helps her excel in the side-saddle ring.

“It takes a special horse [to do well in side-saddle],” said Jeanne Blackwell, owner of “Brittney” and Mad Cap Farms in The Plains, Va. “They have to be beautiful, kind, well-broken and a performer. [Brittney] is a real poser and knows when she’s in the appointments line up. She focuses on something and is just beautiful.”

Brittney became a part of Blackwell’s life in 1991 when she was donated to a therapeutic riding program.

“She was donated by a nice family from Middleburg [Va.] who used her to foxhunt, but she wasn’t really holding up to that,” said Blackwell. “They wanted to make sure she had a good home, so they donated her. She did therapeutic riding from 1991 to 2003 and mainly served the adult population, especially those with cerebral palsy, stroke and partial paralysis.”

Blackwell said that Brittney excelled in the program because of her kind and quiet nature, as well as her smooth gaits. After contesting the local hunters with Brittney, Blackwell began introducing her to side-saddle about five years ago.

“The first thing I had to teach her was to move forward,” said Blackwell. “The therapeutic horses are usually led, and it can shorten their gait, and they’re used to quiet work. The first year was spent reconditioning and retraining her muscles to move forward.”

Blackwell, who is passionate about keeping the side-saddle tradition alive and runs a vintage clothing business in addition to her farm, started using Brittney to teach side-saddle lessons.

“She’s an amazing mare. I can teach first timers up to advanced riders on her,” said Blackwell. “I’m careful with my lessons, but she’s like, ‘OK, here we go.’ She’s just a happy, happy horse.”