Burbank, Calif.—Feb. 28

Getting your first CDI win at the Grand Prix level? That’s pretty special. Winning your first Grand Prix Special when it also is your first ever? That’s amazing—and it’s what Anna Buffini did today at the Burbank CDI-W when she rode Sundayboy to 69.88 percent. 

“I came in with no expectations with Sundayboy,” said Buffini, 21. “Guenter came over and said, ‘You just missed it!’ And I thought he meant I got second. Then he said, ‘You just missed getting 70 percent.’ I was really excited to hear that.”

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Buffini. First she moved her horses from the barn of longtime trainer Sandy Burns-Gardner to Guenter Seidel’s farm about three weeks ago. Then Seidel recommended she enter the open Grand Prix CDI with Sundayboy instead of the Under-25 Grand Prix. 

“I was out there like, ‘This is a long test! I’m still going. I have to passage still.’ But he was like, ‘I know what I’m doing,’ ” said Buffini. 

(Anna Buffini and Sundayboy after their Grand Prix Special. Photo by Lisa Slade.)

But Buffini had another horse, Wilton 11, in the U-25 classes this weekend, and she won both of those too. Wilton is a newer mount for Buffini; she’s only been riding him about one year. He previously competed with Sweden’s Patrik Kittel. 

“He’s definitely the most difficult horse I’ve ever ridden, but easy horses don’t make good riders,” she said. “Hopefully I’m getting a little street cred with him with the other open riders when they see him out there sometimes. 

“He can get very strong, and he’s just very powerful,” she continued. “But if he wasn’t that strong, he wouldn’t be able to passage and piaffe the way he does. You gotta take it. I’m thankful he’s strong, so it’s your best friend and worst enemy.”

(Anna Buffini and Wilton 11)

Sundayboy and Buffini have now been together almost five years, which includes a North American Junior and Young Rider Championship gold medal. Before Buffini bought the now-17-year-old horse, Seidel competed him at Grand Prix. Even while she was training with Burns-Gardner, she would take Sundayboy for monthly lessons with Seidel.

“When we first got him, he would be like, ‘I know he gets testy in the honor rounds,’ or, ‘I know he gets tight when he does this movement.’ Even now he said, ‘I remember when he gets tight here.’ He has insight on the horses that’s very helpful, and Sandy figured him out really well too, so it was a good collaboration,” said Buffini. 

But the gelding’s been out of the show ring since 2014 with an injury, and this was his first show back at all. The pair placed second in Friday’s Grand Prix to Michelle Reilly on Umeeko. 

“I’m just happy to have him back in the show arena,” said Buffini. “I went in wanting to put in our best test, and to come out with a second place and a win is beyond my expectations. I owe so much thanks to Sandy too because she’s had me for 12 years, so she’s the reason I rode how I ride today.”

Buffini’s major goal for this season with Sundayboy is the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, in California this year, at Grand Prix. With Wilton 11 she’s aiming for the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” National Championship in Illinois. 

(Anna Buffini and Wilton 11 in the prizegiving ceremony.)

Learn more about Buffini and her two mounts in the March 21 & 28 issue of the Chronicle. See full results from the Burbank CDI-W.