Emma, a 7th grader going on 13 years old, rides on FINISIMO, an all Paso Fino equestrian drill team. Emma has been riding with FINISIMO since the team commenced in 2004. For the past two show seasons, Emma has earned a position riding with the Adult/Mixed FINISIMO team as well as continuing to ride with the all youth FINISIMO team. Emma was a rider with FINISIMO when the team garnered the USEDC National Champion Gaited Drill Team title in 2006.

Emma is involved in a variety of other activities. She plays oboe; has a hand at art, especially her favorite subject matter, horses; she reads voraciously; is writing a novel; maintains Principal's Honor Roll (straight A's); and baby-sits her younger twin siblings. In her free time,

Charlotte & mare Harmonica

Emma rides horses. In addition to equestrian drill, Emma rides with the United States Pony Club and has just earned her D3 rating. For USPC, Emma rides her other horse, Charlie.

Emma answers a few horse related questions: 

"Do you have a favorite horse?"

"I don't really have a favorite. I really haven't ridden every horse there is. So, I can't know which horse is my favorite."

"Do you have a favorite horse activity?"

"I like drill and in Pony Club, I like jumping."

"Would you consider yourself competitive?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty competitive. I don't like to compete over small things, but if it's at a show or something, I'll try my hardest to get a blue ribbon," said Emma.

 

This summer, Emma and three other teammates designed their own choreography for a quad drill team and surprised their coach with a demonstration when FINISIMO resumed practices after an extended summer break.

All this horsin' around keeps Emma busy while other girls her age may already be entering the dating scene. I asked her, "What do you think of the slogan, 'horses not boys'." Her reply: "I pretty much agree with that. I thinking having a boyfriend in junior high is stupid. I've got Charlie, that's the closest thing to a boyfriend that I'll have for years."

One might think that all the time involved with team practice and riding her bay Paso Fino mare, Estrella, might put stress on her family relationships. But actually, Emma's family is actively engaged in FINISIMO, as well, and the family may be closer as a result. Emma's mother, Cindy, has a passion for horses and volunteers as a Director and the Team Manager for FINISIMO. Cindy rides on the Adult/Mixed FINISIMO team and thus mother and daughter practice and perform together.

Emma's sister, Charlotte also rides on FINISIMO's "exhibition only" team, called the Muchachas. In FINISIMO's first year, Charlotte rode with the youth team and she plans to ride with them again this year, after she finishes her term of Saturday morning art lessons. (She also loves to draw horses).

I asked Emma, "how does it feel to have a kid sister and your mom on the team?" Emma said, "I think it's pretty great 'cause if I ride with Mom, she's always telling me how I am riding. Great input. I don't compete with my mom and I don't compete with my sister, Charlotte. I compete over things at home, like grades, but we ride at completely different levels."

Samuel, Emma's younger brother and Charlotte's fraternal twin, took lessons on horseback for a short duration and felt he had mastered the subject. Now, when he is asked, "Samuel, would you like to ride?", his answer is "No, thank you, I already know how." Samuel and his father, Jon, are faithful fans to the FINISIMO teams and offer support from the ground and cheers from the stands.

Emma with mare Estrella
"It's always a good day on a Paso Fino!"