Member Spotlight: Emily Garside

This Pony Club Member Spotlight, brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, features Emily Garside, an all-around rider from Bath Pony Club in the Tri-State Region.

Age: 24

Center/Region: Bath Pony Club/Tri-State Region

Years in Pony Club: 12

Current certification: H-A Horse Management, C-3 Eventing

What disciplines and/or activities are you involved in?
Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Trail, and Western Dressage

Tell us about your current mount(s) and what you do with them:
I am currently on the search for my next upper-level Eventing prospect. I am training several client horses who are competing in various disciplines, such as Eventing, Dressage, Western Dressage, Trail, Show Jumping, and more.

Tell us about your goals (with Pony Club, with riding, and in life):
My future goals in Pony Club would be to achieve my B Eventing and/or Dressage certification, as well as participate in an international exchange. My future life goals at the moment are to continue riding client horses and coaching riders using my Pony Club expertise to develop horses with proper training techniques and riders with confident horsemanship skills, alongside continuing and moving up in my career as a lead therapy technician at a chiropractic and functional health clinic.

What is your favorite thing about Pony Club?
My favorite thing about Pony Club is being a part of an organization that values correct horsemanship skills and knowledge alongside teaching proper riding. I also love how Pony Club brings together members of all ages and levels and really allows upper-level members to become leaders and teachers for the younger members.

What is one thing you would tell new members about joining Pony Club?
Definitely do it! And do not be afraid to ask members who have been a part of Pony Club for a while for advice or any help in any future rally or certification endeavors. Do not be scared away from the specific “Pony Club way” of doing things because the work pays off at the end of the day for your riding and for your horse(s)!

What is your favorite way to prepare for a Horse Management (HM) certification?
My favorite way to prep for a Horse Management certification is to go over the test sheets with instructors, who are very familiar with what skills the Examiners are looking for, as well as prepping with National Examiners when the opportunity presents itself.

If you could try out any other discipline or activity, what would it be and why?
If I could try out any other discipline, it would either be Polocrosse or Vaulting. Polocrosse just looks like so much fun to combine such a team sport environment alongside the partnership with the horses. And I have always been so amazed by the skills and strength vaulters have to perform their amazing tricks!

Describe your favorite Pony Club memory:
While it is impossible for me to pick just one favorite Pony Club memory with so many amazing friends that I have memories of countless camps, Championships, rallies, certifications, and clinics, all those experiences are so invaluable to me. I would have to say one of my top memories is participating in the USPC Upper-Level Member Showcase at the 2021 USPC Festival in Lexington, Ky. It was there that one of my best friends, Lauren Manksy, and I performed a Pas de Deux decked out in pink princess attire with tutus, tiaras, and tons and TONS of glitter. I will forever treasure the memory of being able to perform at such a remarkable venue with a huge audience. It was an unforgettable experience!

How did you get started with horses? Are you a member of any other equine organizations? 
My grandmother and mother grew up riding horses, so I have been riding horses since before I could walk. As a kid, I was a member of our local 4-H club and grew up competing in hunter and pleasure shows.

Have you done any special activities in Pony Club, such as international exchanges, recognition programs, virtual competitions, etc.)? Tell us more.
In 2020, I got the opportunity to be a participant at the National Youth Congress during the USPC Convention in Seattle, Wash. I have competed at the USPC Championships for multiple years in several different disciplines, such as Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, and Mounted Games. I am also currently the Tri-State Regional Secretary.

Thank you to our latest USPC Member Spotlight, Emily Garside. Want to be featured in a future Member Spotlight? Fill out the form here.

---

---