Member Spotlight: Alexis Miller

This Pony Club Member Spotlight, brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, features Alexis Miller, an all-around rider from Kachemak Pony Club in the Alaska Region.

Age: 22

Center/Region: Kachemak Pony Club/Alaska Region

Years in Pony Club: 12

Current certification: H-B Horse Management, C-1 Eventing

What disciplines and/or activities are you involved in?
Dressage, Eventing, Horse Management, Polocrosse, and Vaulting

Tell us about your current mount(s) and what you do with them:
My current mount is Mocha, a 24-year-old, 15.3-hand Appendix Quarter Horse. She’s my first horse, and I’ve had her for 11 years. Due to Mocha’s arthritis, Mocha and I mostly focus on Dressage now, but we’re looking forward to trying some jumping again this year. Mocha’s favorite activities are going for trail rides in the mountains, swimming on the beach, and jumping. My favorite activities are training Mocha to learn new Dressage movements, much to her disgust. She is the absolute best, and I can’t imagine having to train a new horse in a few years.

Tell us about your goals (with Pony Club, with riding, and in life):
My goals with Pony Club are to plug away at attaining my H-A and some more Eventing certifications. I would like to start training a new horse within a couple of years. My dreams with horses are to train a Mustang, go on a long ride across Alaska, and hopefully get to compete at a recognized event. Outside of horses, I would like to begin a career in conservation or biology. I recently completed my Bachelor’s degree and am looking forward to working in my field.

What is your favorite thing about Pony Club?
My favorite thing about Pony Club is the opportunities I have enjoyed. I have made incredible connections through Pony Club, which has allowed me to have an impressive range of experiences throughout high school and college. Most recently, I had the utmost pleasure of attending the National Youth Congress at Convention.

What is one thing you would tell new members about joining Pony Club?
I would tell new members that the amount of knowledge you can learn from Pony Club is invaluable. There are so many opportunities, but you have to put effort in to achieve them. Essentially, you get out of it what you put into it. And, most importantly, what you get out of it is definitely worth it.

What is your favorite way to prepare for a Horse Management (HM) certification?
Group studying is definitely the way to go. Flash cards and worksheets are also good. Definitely practice the hands-on portion of HM certifications more than you think you need to. Certifications are always stressful, and it’s easy for things to go wrong. Maybe your horse doesn’t stand for wraps or you’re distracted by someone’s dog. Lots of prep makes for a less stressful and more positive experience.

If you could try out any other discipline or activity, what would it be and why?
I would like to ride in a foxhunt or a hunter pace. I like the idea of riding cross-country in groups with an end objective. I also would like to learn polo. I think polo would be fun because it’s a team activity, much like polocrosse. The challenge of riding in groups at a fast pace sounds exciting. Lastly, I want to learn distance riding in order to prep for a long ride through my state.

Describe your favorite Pony Club memory:
It’s hard to pick just one Pony Club memory. I think being on a Quiz team with my sisters and absolutely dominating the competition at the C level has to be up there. That was the only year we were all at the C level, as we all passed our H-B certification the following year, which sadly meant we could no longer compete in Quiz here in the Alaska Region. Getting a blue ribbon at our only Eventing horse trials in the state on a horse I had only ridden once before, and getting my first-ever flying change the same day has to be a close second.

How did you get started with horses? Are you a member of any other equine organizations? 
I got started with horses because my older sister wanted to learn to ride. As any annoying younger sibling does, I followed suit and have loved horses ever since. As Pony Club was the only local horse organization, I never dipped my toes into any other breed or discipline organizations.

Have you done any special activities in Pony Club, such as international exchanges, recognition programs, virtual competitions, etc.)? Tell us more.
The only special activity I have done in Pony Club is the National Youth Congress. I must say I was shocked when my Regional Supervisor nominated me for something I knew nothing about, but it turned out to be one of the coolest things I have done in Pony Club. I got to fly to Convention, meet a whole bunch of awesome Pony Club members my age, and work with them to come up with new ways to help Pony Club become more commonplace among the equine industry. It was awesome.

What makes you #PonyClubProud?
Whenever I meet a Pony Club member who has gone on to be successful, whether in the horse industry or not, I always feel proud that this organization teaches in such a way that it sets its members up for success. Seeing people credit Pony Club for their ability to teach, speak in public, take leadership, hold responsibility, and to persevere makes me proud to be part of this organization.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I truly think this organization is amazing, and I would love to see it become significantly more widespread across the U.S.

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

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