The Directors WIHS’ Winning Sisters


by Katherine O. Rizzo


Like many other kids who grew up in the horse show world, the Washington Interna- tional Horse Show was always in the sights of sisters Brittani and Chelsea Director. Even when they were young, both girls knew that WIHS was the show they aspired to and to- gether, they worked their way from ponies to be crowned WIHS Regional Hunter Champi- ons, with Chelsea winning in 2012 and Brittani winning six years later in 2018.


All in the Family


Brittani and Chelsea were exposed to the horse show world at an early age through their mom, Shari, who showed on the circuit and often had one daughter or both in tow while taking lessons and competing. “Once the girls started to compete, I stepped back from the show ring but still do ride,” Shari stated. Older sister Brittani, 30, first got on a horse when she was about five years old and started taking lessons. “I fell off at one point though and got scared, so stopped,” she said. “My mom didn’t want to pressure me but while on a vacation in Colorado, we did some trail riding and I got hooked back into it.” Chelsea, 26, began riding when she was seven. “My mom had me doing just one lesson every other week to see if I really liked it or not,” she explained. “I never stopped!” When the girls started showing, Brittani did


Short Stirrup classes and Chelsea did leadline. “Tey learned to pitch in with everything and help each other as well as others from the barn who were showing too,” Shari said, adding, “Be- cause we all have the same passion, we all are very close and I think that is a unique experience for a family.” Shari laughed, adding “My poor hus- band. It was talk of horses nonstop at our house.” Although both daughters joke about how


little their father, Mark, knows about horses, they both talk about how in- credibly supportive he has been through the years. “He’s our biggest cheerleader at all the big shows,” Chelsea said.


The Directors


Te Directors, which is how they are known in the horse show world, started on the local cir- cuit with WBTA shows and schooling shows at the Potomac Horse Center and Prince George’s Equestrian Center, among other local venues. Chelsea remembers her very first win, a lead- line class with Kenny Krome as the judge. Both sisters now ride with Kenny Krome and Jenni- fer Newman of K2 Show Stables at Persimmon Tree Farm in Westminster. “I showed him the video one day and we both laughed at me winning the class with him as the judge,” Chelsea remarked. For the most part, the sisters competed together, though their ages often had them in different classes. With mom as the trailer driver, they moved up the ranks together. “We are each others horse show moms. We aren’t competitive with each other at all,” Chelsea said. “Tey will be the first to tell you, when one of them wins, they both win,” Shari added. “We are the ‘Directors’ and


that’s how it always will be,” said Brittani, who although married and


now has the last name Godfrey, still shows under her maiden name. “Te one time I went by Godfrey at a show, it caused all kinds of is- sues with the show office! Every- one told me, ‘never again’ and really, I’d rather keep showing as Director anyway,” she added.


The Horses


Chelsea and Brittani with their ponies Drummy and Doodle www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580


While many people might get obsessed with placings and rib- bons, the Directors simply can- not stop talking about their hors- es! “Riding is a unique sport in that there is a whole other animal


involved in your success or failure. It is our duty to do right by them,” Brittany said. Tere have been few horses in their careers, simply because they hold on to them. Brittani’s first show horse was Humphrey


Bogart, a Toroughbred Carolyn Krome found for her. Tey first started showing in the Low Children’s Hunters and worked their way up to the WIHS Classic classes. “Bogey” was the first horse Brittani qualified for WIHS on and com- peted there twice with him. “I was just so happy to be there,” she said. She was 16 years old during her first WIHS expe- rience when Bogey spooked at the trophies sitting just outside the ring. “We didn’t place, but that was ok. He did the right number of strides, just not in a straight line,” she said, smiling. Interestingly, he did the exact same spook the following year. While Chelsea was still on


Brittani and Chelsea Director in the stables at WIHS in 2013


ponies, Brittani got a second horse, Change of Season, and competed both horses at WIHS in 2005. Bogey had his trophy line spook but Season finished 10th in the Children’s Hunter Championships. Soon


after, Season started showing lameness issues that were never truly able to be resolved. After a year of trying to help, Season was retired and lived out his days at Brittani’s farm. He was in his 20s when he passed away. Bogey spent a few years being leased by a


friend and then Brittani picked up the ride on him again before her current horse, Rococo, came into her life in 2006. Around the same time, Chelsea was ready to make the move from ponies to horses. “I was scared at first to move onto horses and Bogey ended up being the right fit for me to learn on,” Chelsea stated. With Bogey, Chelsea moved up to the Low


Children’s and competed in her first WIHS continued...


JANUARY 2019 | THE EQUIERY | 15


Katherine O. Rizzo


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