36 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Courtney Zimmerman
Emily Hartley is a 17 year old junior rider who
lives in Southern California and rides for two
trainers in two different states. She regularly fies
to Chesterfeld, Missouri to ride for trainer Micaela
Kennedy and when she isn’t in Missouri she is
training with Kristy Miller in Southern California.
She is a working student catch rider who travels
to compete in hunters, jumpers and equitation
for Michaela at horse shows all over the country.
Some of her accomplishments include qualifying
for the Maclay, USEF Medal and USEF Talent
Search and earning 10th place in the $25,000
International Hunter Derby in Chicago.
Emily travels about every other month to
Missouri, riding up to six horses in a day and
has spent the last three summers working for
Micaela. In addition to consistently riding and
traveling, Emily still attended public high school
and took all honors and Advanced Placement
(AP) classes, graduating with a 4.5 GPA.
Emily was offered a scholarship to ride for the
Equestrian Team of Oklahoma State University
and will start classes in the fall. Saying that she is
determined is a bit of an understatement. Here,
she takes a moment to tell Sidelines Magazine
about herself.
When did you begin riding?
I began riding at age three; but didn’t start
showing until the age of fve. I started competing
on the A circuit when I was around 10 years old. My mom was
my frst teacher and she taught me the basics of riding, placing a
great deal of emphasis on natural feel.
What is your ideal horse to ride?
My favorite type of horse to ride in regards to their style and
technique would be a horse with a big, powerful jump and a nice,
long and rhythmical canter. I also like riding ponies as well.
What is it like working for trainers in two different states?
Having two trainers in two different states can be diffcult,
especially when school is added into the equation; however, I
have been able to make it work for the last three years. I travel to
shows with my main trainer, Micaela Kennedy, about every other
month for three weeks at a time and usually spend most of my
summers with her. When I am home in California I ride with a
local trainer, Kristy Miller, just to keep me ready and prepared for
when I travel back to the Midwest and East Coast. I have learned
a great deal from both of them.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
When I am not riding or traveling, I usually spend my days
hanging out with friends and going to the beach. When I was in
school I competed in cross country running and track, so in my
spare time I like to run a couple miles a day. In addition I have
started to write a small book/autobiography about my life and
experiences.
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Do you have any superstitions while you are competing at a
horse show?
I am actually one of the most superstitious people I know. I
basically have a lucky outft (hunt coat, breeches, belt, socks and
underwear), although I do not wear all of them at once just in
case. My two main items that I consider “lucky” are my watch and
bracelet. I always wear them when I show and if it happens to
not be a good day I will switch which hand they are worn on and
somehow the day always seems to turn around.
What’s the best advice you have been given?
The greatest advice I have been given is that it is not always
about the amount of ribbons you have or the placing you get; but
the round you and your horse put in. If you have a good round
and you are happy with how you and the horse performed, do not
worry so much about the ribbons because what really matters is
the quality of your round.
About the writer: Courtney Zimmerman, from Cincinnati, Ohio,
graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Equine Science
and Management. She is currently working on her M.A. of Communication
at Northern Kentucky University. She works at the Cincinnati Zoo and
Botanical Garden where she is an Animal Handler in the Education
Department.
Emily competing Cancun in the medium junior
jumpers
Photo by Flying Horse Photography
Winning Ribbons from State to State