Auburn Excell Brady is well known throughout the West Coast equestrian world as a talented and tough competitor who regularly rides into our winners’ circles.
If all goes to plan, the rest of the eventing world will know her that way, too.
“I want to use the next 10 years to really work on becoming a top rider,” says Auburn. “I want to compete at the top level of the sport and I feel like I’m ready to do that now. I have the experience, the supportive customers and a handful of super nice horses to take it to the next level.”
International success would add to already impressive accomplishments.
Auburn has a thriving eventing training program, Excell Equestrian, based at the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Center (formerly known as Sycamore Trails).
She is a USEA ECP Level 4 certified instructor and a US Dressage Federation silver medalist closing in on gold. She’s a regular at jumper and dressage shows to keep her horses and clients in tune.
Plus, she has a husband, Sean Brady, who’s become a masterful horse hauler, handler, bringer of apples and carrots and all-around great guy who fully supports her quest.
Horse Power
Auburn’s equine partners in the current phase of this journey are very different.
BSP Tuxedo is “my trusty old shoe,” Auburn shares. They’ve done several seasons of Advanced and CCI4*-S competitions. He’s coming back from a few years’ break in great shape and is pointed at the CCI3* at Aspen Farms in Washington state this month, then Rebecca Farms in Montana in July.
Auburn’s rising star is Boudica BSP, the 7-year-old mare who most recently topped the Horse Division in Galway Downs’ Preliminary Challenge. This pair has come a long way since Boudica came to Auburn in the fall of 2022 as a sales horse. “She was never an easy ride, but I finally started getting along with her.”
At the suggestion of Sean, the mare’s name was changed to that of a notorious Celtic warrior. “Maybe I’m superstitious, but I think that might have helped, too!”
You can’t miss this pair. Boudica is 18.2 hands and she’s not afraid to use her mass to get her way. She was originally imported by Andrea Baxter of Twin Rivers Ranch, but that horse-rider size differential didn’t help them connect. Auburn is grateful to Andrea for sending the mare her way.
“I am really excited about her,” Auburn shares. “As of the Preliminary Challenge I really felt like everything was coming together. I’m also reminding myself not to be greedy. To keep things easy for her, keep her confidence up. The mare keeps me humble. She reminds me not to skip any steps!”
Auburn’s third current star is Galliard’s Lancer, owned by client Lauren Hsieh. Their 3rd place finish in Galway Downs’ spring CCI3*-S this year hints at Auburn’s expectation that this can be a 5* horse. Because he’s a sales horse, it may be that Auburn’s success with the 13-year-old KWPN will result in another rider fulfilling that potential. But that’s a familiar reality for most professionals, and she’s enjoying bringing out his best in their time together.
Tuxedo and Boudica are co-owned by Auburn and Sean, and by long time client Larry Sawyer.
A clientele that’s evolved to mostly adult and college age equestrians supports Auburn’s goals. Her pursuit of the sport’s top levels involves “paying attention to who I am surrounding myself with,” she explains. “My clients appreciate the quality of our lessons and horse care, and they recognize that I have my own goals.”
Being based in coastal Orange County, Auburn does not have regular access to cross-country work. She has a collection of portable obstacles – a coffin combination, brush fence, skinnys and corners — but they’re set in the arena. “We have to load up the trailer and go somewhere if we want to ride in the open and do any galloping,” she explains of a reality faced by many eventers.
Galway Downs, Tamie Smith’s base across the street at Kingsway Farm, and the Hoffos family’s Copper Meadows in Ramona are weekly destinations for Auburn throughout most of the year. Putting pedal to metal in wide open spaces is critical to maintaining the nerve and appetite for speed work and galloping, Auburn notes.
Taking A Stand
Getting to the top of the sport requires having a place to pursue it locally. Throughout her career, Auburn has made time to advocate for the equestrian lifestyle in Southern California and especially in San Juan Capistrano.
She’s active in the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition’s long running efforts to preserve the city’s equestrian heritage and activity. That includes the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, which has been embroiled in challenges mostly related to its impact on water quality.
Horsekeeping’s impact on the environment is an issue in which equestrians everywhere need to educate themselves, Auburn urges. “There’s a lot of ‘It’s not our problem until it is.’ It’s taken a long time for people to recognize how serious a threat this is within our community.”
“I am optimistic,” she continues. “I feel like our equestrian community is strong. We’ve been fighting for 20 years and have a lot of energy behind us. However, it’s not easy. Doing what I do for a living and being involved in these kind of things is tiring and it can be disheartening.”
That work gives Auburn immense gratitude for what eventing organizers do to provide high quality competitions on the West Coast. “It is probably emotionally and financially challenging to keep this sport going,” Auburn says. “The eventing community is so special and fun, promoting such a different way of horsemanship and riding and of collaborating with each other.”
She appreciates the Baxters of Twin Rivers Ranch, the Horse Park at Woodside team, the Terry Hilst-led team at Ram Tap and especially Galway Downs. “(Organizer) Robert Kellerhouse does an amazing job at Galway and with all he’s done for Area VI. He is one of the most instrumental organizers that we have.”
“I love the sport and I’m grateful to be part of it. I want to do all I can to help it grow on the West Coast.” One of the ways to make that happen is excelling nationally and internationally, while based in the West.
And that’s Auburn’s plan.