Member Spotlight: Aspyn Grannis

This Pony Club Member Spotlight, brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, features Aspyn Grannis, a Hunt Seat rider from Fire Sky Pony Club in the Red River Region.

Age: 13

Club/Region: Fire Sky Pony Club/Red River Region

Years in Pony Club: 3

Current certification (and/or certification currently working on): D-2 Horse Management, D-2 Eventing

What disciplines and/or activities are you involved in?
Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Hunter Seat Equitation/Hunters

Tell us about your current mount(s) and what you do with them:
Arashi (Headlights On) is my six-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) who I adopted when he was four. He never made it out of track training; he was too slow. He’s funny, quirky, and very much a supervisor; he has to be involved in everything that’s going on. We focus mainly on Hunters. We’ve done one Dressage show, but he’s not a big fan of it, so we mostly stick to the basics. He has definitely learned patience since becoming a Pony Club horse. His favorite treats are mints.

Tell us about your goals (with Pony Club, with riding, and in life):
I’m hoping to get to USPC Festival Championships one day with Arashi for Show Jumping. Also, I’d love to compete at the World Equestrian Center (WEC).

How did you get started with horses?
Arashi is my first horse. My mom and older sister had horses when I was younger, but after my sister’s horse passed away, they didn’t get another horse. I started bugging my mom for lessons when I was six, and after a few years, my mom finally gave in and let me start taking lessons.

What is your favorite thing about Pony Club?
Meeting new friends and learning more about horses and riding. Being involved in Pony Club has helped me become more independent. We have to rely on each other and not our parents for help during a rally and certifications.

What is one thing you would tell younger members first about joining Pony Club?
Have fun and remember to breathe.

What is your favorite way to prepare for a Horse Management (HM) certification?
Studying with my friends and just having fun while learning. The hands-on experience is really helpful, too.

If you could try out any other discipline or activity, what would it be and why?
At some point, I’d like to try out western pleasure with Arashi.

Favorite Pony Club memory:
My first Show Jumping rally with Theresa and Charlee. Even though the pony I was riding refused the jump in the corner, I had a lot of fun working with my friends.

What makes you #PonyClubProud?
Being able to expand my knowledge of horses and helping the younger kids learn.

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

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