About Emily

I began riding in the early '70's at Hill Top Stables in Prospect, KY.    After years of begging my parents, to get a pony,  they finally gave in and purchased Saint Sebastian.  Boy, if they only knew then what they know now they would have never bought that darn Pony!  He was a great first pony, he would only walk and trot!  The relationship was short-lived,since it was my desire to do more than just trot, but it made the passion grow.

For the next six years I evented regionally with various horses and ponies trough the Training Level.  I loved going to different competitions not for the 'competitiveness' but to see what different types of Cross Country fences I would be asked to jump.  I loved being able to conquer different types of terrain, whether the course was in the woods, on a hillside or on flat ground, every course was different and that posed its own challenges. 

I was 16 when I became a working student for Bea and Derek diGrazia in Hamilton, Massachusettes.  It was one of the meccas of eventing since the United States Equestrian Team (USET)Headquarters were located there.   Derek, a native Californian, was a USET Team rider working with Team Coach Jack LeGoff.  The area was filled with Event riders and at the time Karen Lende (now O'Connor) and David O'Connor were the USET's resident riders.  This was a pivotal moment because I was truly aware of the committment it takes to try and achieve the ultimate goal.

Over the next few years I competed at the Preliminary and Intermediate levels , while also starting college at Duke University.  In my Sophomore year,  I represented Area 8 on the American Continental Young Riders Championships in Orangeville, Canada.  My conglomerate team Team 43/8 (we had two members from Area 4 and one from Area 3) ended up winning the Silver Medal that year. 

Ten years later and a lot of determination, I was training with Jack LeGoff, learning more about what it takes to train and create Three Day Event horses than I had at any point in my career.  It was with his help that I made it to the Advanced level.  His belief in my riding ability and his guidence of how to mentally balance the aspect horsemanship and showmanship

My biggest regret is that I should have taken that leap of faith earlier in my career.   But I am thankful that spent that invaluable time with Jack.  I now hope that I can help other riders discover their passion for Eventing.

Dream big ------ work hard ------- you never know what will happen in life.