Member Spotlight

By Mary-Courtney Gaddini, Marketing & Instruction Coordinator

Name: Mallory Age: 15 Club: Cardinal II Pony Club Region: Carolina Region Years in Pony Club: 4 Years Disciplines & Activities: Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Vaulting Current Certifications: C-1

Tell us about your current mount and what you do

with them: I ride a 14.1 Missouri Fox Trotter pony named Apache. She excels in eventing and is an insanely bold, brave, and an honest ride out cross country! While eventing is our favorite, Apache is a true all-around pony and is game to do anything! I occasionally vault on my mom’s horse Chimera, a 16.1 Swedish Warmblood who is also schooling Third Level.

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

Apache and I had an amazing move up to Training at a few schooling shows, so the next thing we are working towards is to compete in some United States Eventing Association (USEA) rated Training Level horse trials. She is so smart and has the biggest heart so I’m excited to see what we can accomplish. Personally, I’ve been starting to take up equine photography professionally and I would love to work towards improving myself in that aspect.

What is your favorite thing about Pony Club?

I love that I’ve found a family within Pony Club and made friendships that I’m sure will last forever.

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

Don’t be too worried about always being perfect! We’re in Pony Club to learn and grow as riders, but also to have fun doing what we love!

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

I love to have study-sleepovers with my friends.

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

I really want to try some Western disciplines! Apache was originally trained to be a barrel racer and I’d love to learn.

What makes you #PonyClubProud?

I’m so proud seeing how far my friends and I have come throughout our Pony Club journey already, and I think we’re just getting started!

Favorite Pony Club memory:

My favorite memory would have to be my first rally as a pair with Apache! I remember coming out of the ring feeling so grateful and overjoyed to have such an amazing partnership and relationship with my pony.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

Growing up with Pony Club has taught me so much and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had through my club!!

Sisters Horsing Around

Meet Pony Club Members Emily and Sarah

Club/Center/Region:

We are members of Roanoke Valley Pony Club in the Old Dominion Region.

Years in Pony Club:

We have been in Pony Club for five years.

What disciplines you are involved in?

Emily: I am involved in a lot of disciplines. I ride Western Dressage, Western Trail, Gymkhana, Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Hunters, and Ranch Riding. I train my horses in Showmanship and my pony and I are getting into Driving. Aside from all that, I have also tried Games and Foxhunting and look forward to continuing riding in those disciplines.

Sarah: Eventing, Dressage, and Show Jumping. What are your current Pony Club certifications?

Emily: I am a C-2 Horse Management, C-1 Western, D-3 Dressage, D-2 Hunt Seat, and D-1 Eventing Sarah: C-1 Horse Management, D-3 Dressage, D-3 Western, and D-1 Eventing

What certifications are you currently working on?

Emily: I am currently working on getting my H-B and C-2 Western. Because I have certifications in so many disciplines, I have to pick and choose which certification I want to do next because it is really difficult to schedule more than one certification at the same time. So after I get my C-2 Western I will work on getting my C-2 in Dressage, Hunt Seat, and Eventing.

Sarah: C-1 Eventing and C-1 Dressage.

How did you find out about/get involved in Pony Club?

We first found out about Pony Club through our mom. She was looking for more opportunities for us to be around horses because she saw how much we wanted to be around them. During her search, she came across both Pony Club and 4-H. We ended up joining 4-H first and we were in 4-H for a couple of years until Emily aged out. It was then that we joined Pony Club. It was kind of funny because our very last 4-H meeting was a Christmas party and then a couple of days later, we went to our introductory Pony Club unmounted meeting which was also a Christmas party.

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

We have seven horses total that we call the “Magnificent Seven.”

Emily: Of our seven horses, I have three horses that I refer to as the “Three Musketeers.” I have my first ever horse who is an 18-year-old chestnut grade mare named Amazing Grace, an 11.2 hand pony named Promise, and a 2-year-old Mustang named High Hopes. Amazing Grace is the only one I am able to ride currently and we have done everything together.

She has been in all but one of my certifications and we went to Championshoips together this year. She is my all-around horse and tries her best no matter what I ask of her. Even though we do both English and Western, western is more her thing so that is what we mainly do. Promise was originally a "shared" pony when we first got her but she eventually chose me as her person. Despite being too small for me to ride, little girls can do big things too, so I am training her to drive. The progress is a bit slow because it is hard finding her size in things. And High Hopes (who we call Hope for short) is my newest horse. She is a wild Mustang that I adopted in August. Because Hope is a wild horse, there is a lot of work to do with training and everything. But she is a smart and curious horse, and a thinking type too. She learns so fast! I am very excited to see how she will progress and I know that Pony Club is certainly in her future.

Sarah: Out of our seven horses, I have four personal horses that I call “The Fantastic Four” that I ride and work with. I have a 7-year-old Gypsy Vanner mare named Genesis that I am training to Event.

I have an 18-year-old Quarter Horse/Paint-cross gelding, named Rowdy who is currently undergoing R&R (rest and relaxation), and my last two horses are wild Mustangs that we recently adopted from the Bureau of Land Management, named “Blazin' Wildfire” and “Bold Faith” that I am currently working on gentling!

Tell us about your goals in Pony Club:

Emily: I have a lot of goals concerning Pony Club. Two of my goals would be to become a triple-A certified Pony Club member and to also achieve certification in the other disciplines available.

Sarah: My goal in Pony Club is to get an A-level certification in Eventing and Dressage!

Emily: My riding goals are to be skilled in a variety of disciplines, to ride professionally and be a wellrounded horsewoman.

Sarah: My goals for my riding are to keep working on the areas in my riding that I feel I can improve on, and work on training my horses to be solid riding horses.

Tell us about your life goals:

Emily: I have always wanted to have a career with horses and I have been steadily working towards that goal. What I do with Sisters Horsing Around occupies a large portion of that. Also continuing to train horses and one day owning an equestrian facility is something that I want to do. Aside from horses, there is nothing really that I want to do because horses are such a big part of my life.

Sarah: My main goal is to just be a good person. Because I'm a Christian and because I was raised in a Christian home, being someone who others can count on has always been really important to me. I also want to become a professional rider, compete in the Olympics in Eventing and become a professional actress! The name of our business is Sisters Horsing Around and we started it in 2018 to share the joy of horses with others. The seed for Sisters Horsing Around was sown in our hearts when we were young because our mom would talk to us about how blessed we were to have horses in our lives. She told us that horses were a privilege and that there were many kids who look like us that didn’t have horses. We have always had big dreams about what we wanted to do in our lives with horses, and she told us that no matter what we did in life with horses, that she hoped that we would remember those in our community and when we “get big,”that we would provide an opportunity for others to get into the sport. Sarah asked her, “why do we have to wait until we get big?” And that is what motivated us to come up with a way to introduce horses to others.

We created Sisters Horsing Around to be a fun, engaging, informative, and educational resource for horse information, and it encompasses our YouTube channel, website, and social media accounts. We had noticed that there was a gap in information that was readily available between those who are in the horse world and those who are not in the horse world. We want to bridge that gap by creating content

that can be enjoyed and easily understood by nonequestrians and equestrians alike. We want to be the “Equestrian Guides” and help non-equestrians to get into this amazing world of horses! For those that are equestrians, we want to help broaden the equestrian experience for those in different disciplines! We are first-generation horse people and we are also multi-discipline riders. We know what it is like to have to learn things on our own and dig deep to find horse information. We also have a broad experience due to all of the disciplines that we ride and encounter. We also partner with a 501c3 non-profit organization called the Stand Foundation which serves underserved communities and we work with them to teach horsemanship with an emphasis on safety. We also write guest articles for several equestrian blogs. Our goal is to reach as many as we can, for as long as we can, wherever they are, and to help others experience the wonders of this vast equestrian world. the same level as my riding peers. I was made to feel like starting late was not good enough and that I had lost a lot of time.

And to top that all off, I didn’t look like most equestrians. Being a person of color has had its own set of challenges because I have had to deal with insensitive remarks and verbal faux pas.

So all of these things weren't easy to deal with at the same time. But I overcame these challenges by first realizing that not everyone will support you. I had to learn to not let people limit my dreams and convince me to settle for less than what I had originally hoped for. Second, I also realized that it is never too late to start riding. There are many top riders who are in the prime of their riding careers and they are middle-aged. There are plenty of riders who have started "late" and are riding and competing at the top of their game. I have come to realize that there is no rush because everyone has their own pace.

What challenges have you faced in the equine industry, and how have you overcome them?

Emily: One of the biggest challenges I have faced was people trying to limit me to their own perspectives to what they thought I should do. I have always wanted to try and do everything, whether it was in Pony Club, the horse world, or beyond. I wanted to do it all. I crave knowledge and I want to learn everything there is to know about horses. I am also a quick learner. It never takes me long to figure out or learn something new. Having these two characteristics, as great as they are, was a bittersweet kind of deal for me when interacting with people. On one hand, they marveled at how much I could learn in a short time, but then on the other hand they thought I moved too fast, wanted to do too much, and even questioned my reasoning for it. It was like receiving admiration and disapproval all at the same time.

I also struggled with feeling like because I started riding when I was 17, that I was “late” in the equestrian game. I was told that I would have to work harder to get to Lastly, when it came to just being a person of color, I realized that not everyone is trying to be mean, not everyone knows that what they said or did was wrong, and not everyone knows what it is like to be a person of color. Most of the time they don't even know that there are some comments and some actions that don't sit well with other ethnic groups. So it is better to help them understand than for me to be sensitive. Ultimately, we are all here because of the horses and if horses are an avenue to bring understanding and enlightenment, then that is a good thing.

Sarah: The biggest challenge I have faced is people not taking me seriously. A lot of times when I'd tell people things that I wanted to accomplish, they would kinda brush it off. Or they would pass over me because they thought I was incapable of handling things, like riding specific horses or riding at a certain level. Since this has been a challenge for me I really tried to show others how serious I was about my goals and I have tried to work hard to improve my riding so that people would see how much I wanted to accomplish my goals.

How do you balance your time?

Emily: Although it seems like there is never enough time to do everything, I follow something that our mom taught us to do to manage our time. It is called “POD” and it is an acronym that stands for “Prioritize, Organize, and Discipline.” To prioritize, I get my notebook and pen and I start writing everything down, which includes all that I need to do, everything I would like to do, anything that I am behind on, and things that I have coming up. I write them all down and then I start to prioritize them based on urgency and necessity. Then I come up with a schedule, and input it into my phone. Once I have everything in order, I start implementing my plans by organizing the necessary resources, tools or whatever is needed to get the tasks done. If I don’t get everything in place that I need for each thing I have to do, then it just makes it take longer to get things done. And lastly I discipline myself so that I stay focused.

Sarah: Since I have been homeschooled all my life, it makes fitting schoolwork around riding and my work much easier! I really try to fit rides, training and care for the horses early in the morning and in late evenings, How do you relax?

Emily: The best way for me to relax is to go into a quiet room or outside by myself and do whatever I feel in the mood for, which might include: singing or listening to music, cooking/baking, reading a book, researching a topic, or learning something new.

Sarah: I love being outdoors, so anytime I feel a bit overwhelmed or feel I need to relax I just go outside and take a walk with our dogs or just sit outside. Other ways I relax are to write fantasy novels, read horse books or watch a good movie!

What book are you reading right now?

Emily: The book that I am currently reading is the Pony Club H-B Manual. I have read this book before but since I am planning on taking my H-B soon, I want to make sure that my memory has been refreshed on what I need to know for my H-B certification.

Sarah: I am actually re-reading the D Manual at the suggestion of my mom. She thought that it would be good to refresh my memory of the things taught in the manual. I have also planned on rereading two of my favorite books Know Better to do Better and How Good Riders Get Good, both by Denny Emerson.

Favorite quote?

Emily: A quote that reflects my everyday life is “Tell me I can't, then watch me work twice as hard to prove you wrong.” - Unknown.

I have always been this way, and it actually started when I was young with trying to prove to my brother what I was capable of doing. This has happened so often throughout my life that it has become my response when dealing with anyone’s doubts.

Sarah: I really don't just have one favorite quote, but two that have really stuck with me are “It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells you what kind of life you lived” from Helen Walton and one that I heard from a story that I was listening to that said “There are dreamers who never do, that's delusion. And there

are doers who never dream, that's drudgery. But those who dream and do touch the divine.” These two quotes really stuck with me because I have a lot of dreams and goals, but what I get in life is not as important as what I give in life!

Who has inspired you the most in life?

Emily: The person who has inspired me the most would be my mom and my Lord Jesus Christ. I LOVE my mom so much, she is my best friend and I couldn’t imagine life without her! Mama is the kind of person who gives of herself to make others happy and help them reach their goals. She is kind, thoughtful, and works incredibly hard. She has done far more for me than what was even necessary. She has taught me so many things, I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for her. I could literally go on and on about her, she is just so amazing and I hope that I can measure up to the example that she has set. I also wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Jesus. He has blessed me beyond measure, He has been there for me, and He has helped me in so many ways. I am blessed first because He is in my life and then I am blessed a second time because He gave me Mama!

Sarah: I would say a lot of people have inspired me in life, but none more than my family. They are my biggest supporters and fans. They are always there for me when I need help or comfort and anytime we are going to an event or competition my trooper of a family is right there trailing along so that they can be there for me! They are always pushing me to keep going and to never give up, and having that kind of support behind me really pushes me forward!

Any advice for Pony Club members?

Emily: Never neglect the horse management aspect. It is easy to just focus on having fun and riding but it is equally important to continue improving and expanding your Horse Management skills. The skills you gain

while learning about Horse Management will help you even outside Pony Club. Also, be open to trying new things. It is easy to get locked into your preferred discipline. Trying something new will broaden your perspective, is good for cross-training purposes, and will help you in knowing what to do if you have a horse who doesn’t really like doing what you love doing.

Sarah: WORK HARD! Whether preparing for a certification, rally or anything else, always work hard. Hard work surpasses talent any day and that's something trainers, horse management judges, and even parents will all appreciate!

Any advice for someone who has never ridden before and wants to get started?

Emily: If you want to get started into horses we would definitely suggest that you find a knowledgeable horse person to help you. If you don’t know anyone who knows about horses, join a horse club. Do as much research as you possibly can, beginner books are a good place to start, especially the Pony Club D Level Manual. When you are first starting out it is easy to make mistakes, so being safe is key to your success when you embark on your equestrian journey. And last but most certainly not least, don’t be afraid to get started. It is never too late for you to start riding.

Sarah: I would advise that they surround themselves around experienced equestrians and try to learn as much from them as possible. Also, invest in good informational horse books. Books are basically the cornerstone of our knowledge and I believe that books will boost anyone's understanding of horses!

What makes you #PonyClubProud?

Emily: Well that is kind of hard to say because everything about Pony Club makes me Pony Club Proud! There are the people, the community, the friendships, the certification levels, the access to multiple disciplines, the competition, and the teamwork that make me #PonyClubProud. Also, the knowledge, curriculum, and emphasis on safety and horsemanship are other things that I love about Pony Club. I have said that I love to learn and I crave knowledge. Pony Club opened another door for me to learn more about horses and has helped me to get several steps closer to my goal of being a horsewoman and professional rider. And I want to do my part to help others experience the joy of Pony Club!

Fall is more fun

with Kerrits

Kids Horse Crazy Quilted Vest

Lofted vest in an exclusive Diamond Horse design offers excellent warmth.

Kids Fleece Lite Tights

Sarah: What makes me #PonyClubProud is the amazing community of people in Pony Club! Parents, trainers and members are always willing to help out and the amount of teamwork Pony Club produces in its members is incredible!

THE OFFICIAL APPAREL SPONSOR OF THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC.

Editor's Note: Emily and Sarah are both brand ambassadors for Pony Club Official Apparel Sponsor Kerrits.

All Kerrits apparel featured in this article has been kindly provided by Kerrits for the Pony Club photo shoot.

Check out Shop Pony Club at shopponyclub.org where you can find an exclusive line of Pony Club branded Kerrits gear and shop the entire Kerrits collection on their website at kerrits.com or at your local Kerrits retailer.

What is your favorite item from the newly launched Kerrits fall line?

Emily: I have so many favorites that it is really hard picking one. I basically love them all!! But the items that I could easily have in every one of the new fall colors are the Cross Trainer Fleece Tech Top, the Ice Fil Lite Long Sleeve Riding Shirt, and the Denim Thermal Barn Jacket. I am serious, I LOVE all of the colors, especially the ones that come in different shades of purple, like the Blackberry Plaid, the Lavender Boots and Black Horsing Around which by the way, I love that name! And I must include another color, the Flaxen Boots, because I love earthy tones!

This lightweight flece tight is perfect for cooler, transition-season weather. Sarah: My favorite items from the fall line are the Riders Delite Quilted Jacket, the Fleece Lite II Knee Patch Tight and the Bits N Bridles Insulated Jacket! These seem like the perfect cooler weather clothes to have in a fall or winter wardrobe!

Have more fun at the barn!

Shop your local Kerrits retailer or online at kerrits.com