Member Spotlight

By Mary-Courtney Gaddini, Marketing & Instruction Coordinator

Meet sisters Macy and Emme! Both are H-B/C-2 Dressage certified members with Ramona Vicente Pony Club in the Southern California Region. They both show in Dressage, and absolutely love Pony Club!

Name: Macy and Emme Age: Macy: 16, Emme: 14

Club: Ramona Vicente Pony Club

Region: Southern California Region

Years in Pony Club: 3.5 Years

Disciplines & Activities: Dressage

Current Certifications: H-B, C-2 Dressage

Tell us about your current mount(s) and what you do with them:

Macy: I ride a Fresian/Gypsy cross. We bought her green broke and with the help of Pony Club have brought her through to Second Level in dressage. We also trail ride. She is a great horse and easy going. Emme: I ride an American Trakehner. We are currently working on the FEI junior tests (Second/Third Level dressage). He is a school master for me and has taught me so much.

Tell us about your goals (with USPC, riding, life):

Our goal is to achieve our A certification in Dressage as well as the highest Horse Management level. We would like to continue this journey with horseback riding through our adult lives and give back to Pony Club what it has given to us. Macy is interested in becoming a CHMJ (Chief HM Judge) when she is old enough and Emme is interested in achieving national level examiner.

What is your favorite thing about Pony Club?

We love the relationships we have made and the people we met at Pony Club Champs! We also see the strong skill set of have stable/horse management skills. We love the camaraderie of meeting a stranger and having Pony Club in common .

What is one thing you would tell younger members first joining Pony Club?

It is very rewarding if you commit the time to mastering the knowledge that is available to you in the manuals, with trainers and through alumni.

What is your favorite way to prep for an HM certification?

Group studying - If you can get together in a group and go through the actual materials - this creates the best way to remember. Hands-on practice of what Pony Club teaches on a daily basis and you will pass the HM, no sweat!

If you could try out any other discipline or activity, what would it be and why?

Games! We have played around with the Games rally events and they are super fun, fast paced and exciting! If we had smaller horses we would definitely give games a shot!!

Favorite Pony Club memory:

Hands down, Pony Club camp. We attend every year in our region. It's the perfect combination of riding, horse management and ridiculousness with our friends

What makes you #PonyClubProud?

When we set an equestrian goal and achieve it. We know Pony Club was a major factor in the success of the achievement. We wear out PC pins which sets us apart.