Jan Byyny
Born: October 25, 1967
Hometown: Purcellville, Virginia
Riding and eventing for more than 30 years, Jan began by taking lessons in Chicago. She quickly joined the local Pony Club with her first pony, Lorbus, and represented Area IX at the 1985 NAYRC. As a 16-year-old, she went East to work and train with U.S. eventing legend Bruce Davidson.
Jan established herself at the upper levels of eventing with Shared Dreams, known as Whitey around the barn. Byyny completed her first four-star riding Whitey in 2003 at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. That fall, the pair went on to win a Team Gold medal and an Individual Bronze medal at the Pan American Games held at Fair Hill.
With the Australian Thoroughbred Task Force, Jan gained greater international experience. “Jedi” and Jan completed the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* twice, the Badminton Horse Trials and the Blenheim CCI3*. They were also the highest placed Americans at the World Cup Final in Malmo, Sweden in 2005.
In 2006, Jan and Task Force enjoyed one of their most successful seasons together. They won the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh in June. At the end of that summer, Jan and Jedi represented the U.S. as individuals at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.
Waterfront is a horse that Jan has thought very highly of for years. He has been second in four CCI3*, Foxhall in 2005, Jersey Fresh in 2006, Fair Hill in 2006 and Jersey Fresh again in 2009. At Jersey Fresh in 2006, he played the bridesmaid role to stablemate Task Force.
2009 was another successful season for Waterfront. In addition, to his second place finish at Jersey Fresh, he and Jan had a fourth place finish at the CIC3* at the Fork, a second place finish at the Maui Jim Horse Trials and a win at the Morven Park Horse Trials.
Jan continued to have success with other horses in her string. In 2009, Jan and Syd Kent won the Advanced division at Pine Top Farm Spring Advanced Horse Trials and completed the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*. With Inmidair, Jan finished second in the CIC2* at Fair Hill and fifth in the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh. Jan finished third and fifth in the Advanced division at the Maui Jim Horse Trial with Syd Kent and Inmidair respectively. Jan finished out the year by completing the Fair Hill International CCI3* with Inmidair.
2010 proved to be a challenging year for Jan. At the Pine Top Farm Spring Advanced Horse Trials, she suffered a major fall causing her to have a stroke, which in turn compromised her ability to speak. The rest of the year for Jan was spent recuperating and rehabbing. After much hard work, she amazingly regained her ability to speak and began competing again in early 2011. Jan finished her comeback year by finishing third in the Fair Hill International CCI3* aboard Inmidair.
Jan is also quite active in the United States Eventing Association organization as co-chair of the Young Rider committee, has coached the Area IX Junior and Young Rider Championship Teams for many years. In addition, she is a Level IV ICP (USEA's Instructor Certification Program) instructor and serves on the United States Equestrian Federation's Eventing Technical Committee.
When she isn't training, teaching or competing, Jan relaxes by running, hiking, skiing and playing volleyball.