By Britney Grover
Portraits by Aubray Vande Corput
Not many 11-year-olds dream of Roman riding—standing with one foot on the back of each of two horses or ponies. Not only is
that Emma Crawford’s goal, she’s well on her way to being able to do it. Mostly self-taught, she canters bareback on her pony, standing—and carrying the American flag while so doing. She’s traveled all over the country to carry the flag before Grand Prix, as well as to Canada.
In addition to her trick riding, Emma competes in hunters and jumpers alongside both her parents, David and Kirsten, and her brother. The family lives in Elgin, Illinois, where they run their own Promise Hill Farm, LLC, but homeschooling allows them to travel for horse shows and performances.
How did you become part of the horse world?
I was born into it. My parents, brother and grandma ride. So it was just kinda naturally in me already.
Tell us about your family.
My dad is from Australia; he grew up riding since before he could walk. He has done pretty much anything you can do on a horse. He came to the U.S. on an agriculture exchange program in 2000, to work for Todd Minikus. My dad is a trainer and shows hunter–jumpers, and his specialty is problem horses. My mom is an Amateur and shows in both hunters and jumpers. She also homeschools me and my brother Jack, who is 13 years old. He has a mare named Daphne and he shows her in the jumpers. We have 14 horses and ponies that we own, some of which are out on lease, and we breed some of our own as well. Our horses mainly do the jumpers but we have a few hunters, too.
How did you start trick riding?
I started trick riding on a dare from my godmother’s daughter, who was being led standing on her pony. I thought I could do it by myself. It wasn’t that hard, so I asked if I could do it trotting. It took a few tries, but I got it. The next week, I asked my parents if I could try it cantering. They tried to run next to my pony and help hold me up, but that didn’t work. My parents reached out to our friend in Australia and asked her to teach me to stand up and sit down at the canter. Everyone thought it would take me a long 
time to learn, but I showed them—it only took me a few days. Things just kind of went from there. I began to jump while standing with the help of my mom, then I learned to carry the American flag while standing and cantering. I’ve also learned to vault on and off my pony, all while bareback.
What pony do you trick ride on?
I trick ride on my pony Goldilicious, aka Gabby, whom I’ve been riding since I was 2 years old. We’ve done everything together, from the ground poles to the .65m jumpers and now trick riding. Gabby’s always been OK with anything we’ve asked her to do, and she kind of likes being in the spotlight. Gabby is 20 years old this year, but the 0 is just a placeholder—she thinks she’s 2! She is a 12-hand palomino section A Welsh pony. She’s the most amazing pony I’ve ever met and ridden—she’s my best friend and has the biggest personality.
I also just got a new pony to trick ride on; her name is Lakota. We got her from the people we bought Gabby from nine years ago. She’s a 6-year-old Mustang who is 13.1 hands tall. She has only had 45 days under saddle and she already lets me do pretty much anything I want—we’ve stood on her, we’ve jumped her and ridden her bridleless as well. She’s also liberty trained, and I’m excited for our future. My favorite thing to do on her right now is mounted games. I’m blessed to be able to do what I do with my ponies.
What’s the best part about trick riding?
The best part about trick riding is getting to play with my pony and do crazy things all the time. I’m a little crazy myself.
You have traveled all over the U.S. carrying the American flag before the Grand Prix—where have you done that and what are some of your favorite experiences so far?
I have carried the flag at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio, the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, Fieldstone Show Park in Massachusetts, at the Omaha International Horse Show and at Live Oak International Horse Show in Ocala. I’m also going to be performing internationally this year in Calgary, Canada, at the Royal West horse show in October.
I always have so much fun at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio because it was the first place I got to carry the flag. Live Oak has to be my favorite place yet to get to perform; the grass ring and the crowd were absolutely amazing. I also loved getting to see the driving horses at Live Oak.
What pony do you compete in the pony hunters and jumpers?
My small pony hunter’s name is Tarry A Bit Sweet William, barn name Willie. He’s a 15-year-old section B liver chestnut small Welsh, 12.2 hands. Willie is very special to me because he’s blind in his right eye. He’s an amazing pony and he has taught me so much. We’ve been together for four years.
My jumper is an 18-year-old gray Thoroughbred mare. She’s about 16 hands tall. Her name is Marrakesh; her barn name is Danari. She’s kind of crazy but in the best way possible. We lease her from my tutor, Molly. I show her in the .95m and hopefully will get to do a few 1.0m classes this summer.
I also show in the 2’6” hunters and do some small derbies on a horse in our barn namedHelios, whose barn name is Buddy. He’s an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood. He jumps really well and he likes to squeal a lot. My goals for Lakota over the next few years together are jumping more, maybe taking her Pony Finals, and carrying the flag with her at some shows along with teaching her to bow.
What are your goals for riding and showing?
My riding goals are to be jumping 1.10m in the next two years. I also would like to be doing the children’s hunters next year on the hunter that I show. I also would like to go to Pony Finals on my small pony hunter.
My goal with Gabby is to perform at bigger venues and be able to carry the flag bridleless. My ultimate goal is to have a team of Roman riding ponies and carry the flag with both of them. It would be amazing but it’s a hard thing to find. Roman riding is similar to what I do but on two horses or two ponies instead of one. They both have to go at the same time together, and it’s pretty cool to watch.
What’s the best thing about your life?
The best part about my life is horses and ponies.
Best-kept secret about what you do?
Trust, balance and guts. But most importantly, having a great pony.
Photos by Aubray Vande Corput, Copper Arrow Photography, copperarrowphotography.com
