Name: Brit Mercer
Primary Residence: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Criminal Defense Attorney
Division: A/O 3’3 36+ / Ariat Medal
Stable/Trainers:  Oz Inc. / Jeff & Shelly Campf, Dustin Goodwin

1.) Describe why riding so important to you?
I truly would be lost without riding. Since before I can remember, I have always sought the peace and happiness that horses bring, but I’m not sure I could really put my finger on exactly what it is that horses do for me until I started yoga. When I began practicing yoga, I was constantly reminded how difficult it was to find any quiet in my mind and to just be present. It took an absurd amount of work to just breathe and not make lists in my head or worry about all the various thoughts floating around. In spite of practicing regularly, I could still barely maintain 10 seconds of mental stillness in yoga. I realized that the barn – almost from the moment I walk through the doors – is a place where I can truly be present, fully and completely, without having to try. I have literally been drawn to horses since my earliest days, but it wasn’t until I came to this revelation with yoga that I think I could completely understand the “why”. Now that I recognize this, I am so incredibly grateful to have horses as a way to experience being totally present for at least a few hours every week. What a gift!

2.) What advice would you like to provide to other riders that are balancing riding with work and/or family commitments:

Time is the most precious commodity we have and there are so many things competing for it. But making the time to spend at the barn and be with my horse actually makes me a better person. It makes me more able to engage with the rest of my life and it gives me something to always look forward to. Any time more than a week goes by without being able to ride, I start to notice myself feeling more and more anxious and I know it’s because I am away from the thing that gives me the most joy and peace. Riding is critical to my mental and emotional well-being and I don’t think that you can ever let that go by the wayside.

3.) What is your biggest struggle in your family-work-horse life balance?

My horse lives in Oregon with my trainers, Jeff & Shelley Campf and Dustin Goodwin. I live and work in Seattle and commute down on the weekends. Obviously that takes a toll on my relationships and my significant other. Even though he is understanding, I know that he would prefer that I was available on the weekends and I recognize that I choose my horse over weekend time with him. It would be impossible for him not to feel slighted by that. While I believe that he does understand and accept my commitment to riding, it certainly takes a toll. In addition, the vast majority of my vacations (and disposable income!) involve horse shows, so he is further compromised. I wish I could say that I had that balance all figured out, but I don’t. I try to be mindful that he’s making sacrifices too so that I can ride, but there is just no easy answer here.

I have figured out a bit of a better balance with work. Since I control my own calendar, I just have to schedule trials and court appearances around my schedule. I have become fairly masterful at creatively setting cases. I have to be fully available for my clients when I’m in Seattle, so I try to make certain that when I am at work, I am focused on that. I do my best to be fully engaged with work when I’m there, so that I can be fully engaged with my horse when I’m with him.

4.) Other information you would like to share with the Street to Stable community about living a balanced life?

Honestly, sometimes I find myself feeling really envious of the amateurs who don’t have to work. I feel like I’d be a better rider if I had more time to devote to riding and didn’t feel like I had to balance a career. And even though that may be true, I wouldn’t trade the life I have and I know I am so lucky. I love my work and I worked hard to get to where I am in my career. As a criminal defense attorney, my job is challenging, dynamic and fast paced – I love all of that. But what I love and appreciate the most is that I get to help my clients during their darkest times and I feel like that is a real privilege. I am grateful that I do work that has the capacity to really impact a life. So while I wish that I had more time to ride, I wouldn’t really have it any other way. I love my balancing act.