March 17, 2025 
This episode of Horse Person was made possible by our presenting sponsor, Connaway and Associates Equine Insurance Services.
Two of the toughest events in Anna Buffini’s career have happened over very different time periods. One happened in 10 seconds, the other happened more slowly, over the course of a year.
Many U.S. dressage fans witnessed the devastating moment that Anna’s horse, Fiontini, got her tongue over the bit just moments before entering the arena for their final qualifying round of the Olympic trials. In the 10 seconds leading up to their entry into the arena, Anna suspected trouble, but as she wasn’t quite sure. Since sometimes horses can get their tongues back under the bit, she proceeded with the test.
“It was the longest 10 seconds of my life,” Anna recalled. Unfortunately, despite the successful test, they were disqualified after their round. “I just said to myself, ‘The Olympics is over.’”
The other series of events that tested Anna’s resilience and mental fortitude—traits for which she has become well-known as an elite athlete in dressage—happened in heartbreakingly slow motion.
“A story that a lot of people don’t know, because I haven’t really shared it, is I had my string [of horses]. I made my string. And essentially, I lost them all… It all happened in about 11 months.”
Anna recalls the list of promising horse after promising horse that sidelined themselves due to injury, death, or simply communicating to her that they didn’t enjoy the top level of the sport. (And credit to Anna, she listened.)
In this episode of Horse Person, Anna and I chat about the strategy of building a string of horses that can not just take her to the top of the sport (because really, she’s already there), but keep her there.
Longevity at the top of the sport is really hard to achieve. “I can’t go on Facebook anymore because it’s just brutal… There are so many people saying ‘Where’s the pipeline?’ and ‘Why don’t you build a pipeline?’ And it’s like, we are trying! It’s freaking hard!”
Hard indeed. Because when you put your body, mind, soul… your whole life into a sport as tumultuous and unpredictable as horse sports can be, it’s risky. But the thing about Anna, is, she’s prepared herself for this. She has the tools to withstand the fight against being dragged down by the lows.
I wanted to understand more about Anna, and more about the tools of resilience she’s created that the rest of us can begin to develop in our own toolboxes as well.
Within just a few hours of Anna’s interview on Horse Person going live, our inbox and DMs received a number of emails and notes from riders finding inspiration, tools, and education from Anna. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.
