Hannah Sue Burnett

Born: July 9, 1986
Hometown: The Plains, Virginia

Hannah Sue Burnett is just getting started, but at 25, her list of accomplishments would be enough to last some a lifetime. Burnett grew-up riding alongside her mother, Sue, in Shelbyville, KY and at a young age developed an aptitude for the sport of eventing.

Burnett first tasted success with the Thoroughbred gelding Keep the Faith. In the fall of 2006, the pair contested their first CCI3* at Fair Hill finishing the cross country with no jumping faults. The following spring, they contested their first CCI4* at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

In 2008 following the retirement of Keep the Faith, Burnett began working full-time for Karen and David O’Connor. It was during this year that Burnett started riding Richard Thompson’s St. Barths. In October of 2009, this pair won the USEF National CCI2* Championship at Fair Hill International.

The following spring Burnett and St. Barths were second in the CIC2* at Red Hills before winning the Advanced division at the Fork in April. They finished off 2010 by once again winning at Fair Hill International this time moving up a level to claim victory in the USEF National CCI3* Championship.

In April of 2011, Burnett and St. Barths contested their first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone. The pair galloped to a double clear cross country finishing the event in eighth place.

With Harbour Pilot, Burnett has been collecting top placing up-and-down the east coast. In 2010 they won three separate CCI1*s at the Ocala Horse Properties International Three Day Event, Virginia Horse Trials and The Event at Rebecca Farm. In 2011, they were third in the CIC2* at Red Hills International Horse Trials. In June, Burnett rode Harbour Pilot to second place honors at the Bromont International CCI2*.

The pair finished fourth at the Pan American Games Mandatory Outing at Richland Park and were named to eventing team to represent the U.S. at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. At the games, Burnett and Harbour Pilot were part of the Gold medal-winning team and received Individual Silver. 

Burnett spends the winters in Ocala, FL and summers in The Plains, VA working for Karen and David O’Connor. When not riding, she enjoys singing and hopes to learn to play piano and guitar.