Sizzle and Lissa Brazeal (Anne Gittins Photography)

Wellington, FL - Lissa Brazeal and her eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding Sizzle took home championship honors in the Adult Amateur 36-50 Section A Hunter division during week nine of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Brazeal, of Delray Beach, FL, and Sizzle were leading the division after day one of competition when the pair placed third under saddle and second and first over fences. Day two, the pair secured victory with a second place finish in the final over fences round. Reserve champion was Quintas, owned and ridden by Dawn Kelly.

Brazeal had a bumpy start to the second day of the division before making an incredible turn around in round two over fences. "Because we did well [Thursday], I walked into the ring thinking, 'Oh, we could win this and be champion!' Most of this is mental. You can't psych yourself out like that and I did," Brazeal stated matter-of-factly.

Brazeal's well-grounded attitude made it easy for her to shrug off the minor setback before putting in a stellar second round performance with Sizzle. Brazeal credits the positive atmosphere her trainer, Amber Harte, maintains at the ring.

"I came out of the ring and Amber just said, 'Let it go. I'm still proud of you. Just let it go and go do your next trip.' With her, there's nothing negative. She has a 'this is how you fix it' approach and is very positive," Brazeal commented.

"It's such a treat working with Amber and everyone at the barn because it's such a team effort. I just recently started riding with her and I've never had anything like that before. Everything is so positive and happy. They set you up to be successful," Brazeal continued.

Even more remarkable than Brazeal's second round turn-around is her trusted mount, Sizzle. "He's a seeing eye dog, literally. I'm legally blind. I see out of the ride side of my right eye a little bit, so he really is my eyes in the ring," Brazeal revealed.

"He wants to do everything right and he wants to make you happy. He's a very rare horse that truly aims to please. He always tries his best and wants to be perfect," Brazeal described.

Sizzle's intuition and forgiving nature make it easy for Brazeal to put her complete trust in him. "He knows what I'm going to do before I ask him to do it. He knows exactly what to do and he's just really good. If I change my mind or make a mistake, he doesn't punish me for it," Brazeal explained.

Correction: Thursday's hunter coverage of the Fumero Law Pre-Green Level 2 Hunters mistakenly identified Sophie and Brian Baldwin as the owners of division champion Lucador. Lucador is owned by Sophie Walker and Susan Gordon's Sagamore Farm, Inc., and is trained by Brian Walker.