The major yearling sales are still a few months out, but to Kristin Brennan they are right around the corner. The yearling manager at Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center isn't concerned because she's always dialed in.As part of a family of horsemen, including her father Niall and brother Colin, who helms the operation at Highlander in East Texas, Kristin has literally grown up around the sport of horse racing.“I started riding when I was maybe three and my granddad would come from Ireland and he'd throw me up on a little miniature pony,” Brennan said. “I'd get bucked off and he'd throw me back on. Then I'd get bucked off again. But I was determined and I kept riding. That got me into show jumping, which I did through college and that's also when I got into retraining off-track Thoroughbreds.”While other kids her age were taking the summer off, lounging by the pool or at camp, the youngest Brennan was learning the finer points of sales prep from her accomplished father starting when she was around 10. Her mom Jolane Weeks, and also her step mom Stephanie Brennan–the founder of Final Furlong Horse Retirement–have also had a major influence on her career.“I am blessed to have crossed paths with many great horsemen and women in this industry,” Kristin Brennan said. “Marette Farrell, Eddie Kane, Sergio Mendoza, Sarah Sutherland, Allaire Ryan, Mike Ryan, Mark 'Snake' Thompson and many more who I look up to. My dad told me the day you think you know everything about the horses is the day you need to get out of the barn because you will never stop learning from them or the people around you.”10-year-old Kristin Brennan at OBS | courtesy of Kristin BrennanGerry Dilger, a family friend and mentor to Kristin, gave her the opportunity to learn the sales ropes. Working for him in both Kentucky and New York offered her a glimpse at what was out there.As a double major at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, she was offered a partial scholarship for the equestrian team and made the most of the opportunity. During her sophomore year she won nationals in her division, which led to her becoming team captain.“I didn't do internships during college, I worked the sales every break I had from school,” Brennan said. “That had its advantages and disadvantages. I gained valuable experience working every angle, but I also wanted to explore other options outside of the barn.“I worked for Tom Law and Sean Clancy at the Saratoga Special out of college, which was a great experience,” she said. “I ran down quotes and wrote as fast as I could. Then I was offered an internship with AmeriCorps in Atlanta and that ran for a year and that was kind of a break from the horse business. I had a full-time job lined up with them, but the pull of the horses was too strong and that's when the opportunity to work at Calumet came up. It was too hard to pass up.”Over her six years at Calumet, Brennan single handedly revived the farm's consignment at the sales. She said she started small and built the business from the ground up. Assessing talent and getting horses ready to go through the ring have come in handy when the time came to work alongside Colin Brennan.According to her brother, Kristin can hang with the best of them.“She's been vital to our operation,” said Colin Brennan. “There's so many intricate details that she picks up on. She keeps the whole team flowing. They all respect her and she has a work ethic second to none. She'll be the first one here and the last one to leave. There's nothing that's below her.Kristin Brennan with her brother Colin | courtesy of Kristin Brennan“Kristin will be mucking out stalls and running bandages,” he said. “At the same time she's in the office handling logistics and talking to clients. She can do it all. So it has been really helpful. Last year was a transition year for us, but the move to Highlander has been seamless and she's a big part of it.”This branch of the Brennan family has found a home in Texas.“Being a part of Highlander is an exciting opportunity, the facilities are top of the line and it looks like a piece of Kentucky in Texas,” said Kristin Brennan. “Jeff Hooper (Chairman and CEO) and Larry Hirsch (Owner) have been very supportive of Colin and I. We're very grateful to be here.”By focusing on the smallest details, Brennan said that is where she excels the most, but she added that she is always open to learning something new.“On days when this job may get hard or patience is wearing thin, having that closeness with the animals you work with reminds you why you do it,” Brennan said. “They are so intelligent, we can learn so much from them if we allow it. The relationships you build with them while they are in your care are essential for them down the road. We are teaching these 1000-pound animals to trust us. We need to do everything right by them because they deserve it.”With a strong work ethic and love of all things equine, Kristin Brennan continues to add to her family's legacy of horsemanship–the story continues.A pleasure to have Buff Bradley from @keenelandsales @HighlanderTrai3 today to check on yearlings slated for Keeneland September in the Colin Brennan at Highlander Training Center consignment. Buff is pictured with HTC Yearling Manager Kristin Brennan. @BuffBradley1@CormacCB pic.twitter.com/xgMSreapKJ— HighlanderTrainingCenter (@HighlanderTrai3) May 12, 2026The post Family Matters: Kristin Brennan Carries On Tradition Of Horsemanship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.