Emma Armstrong | Equestrian

New Hampshire | Vermont | Florida 

Message Emma Inspired | I am certain, about you. 

Being certain about someone represents more than just "romantic" love... I created this card because of how adaptive it can be when choosing who to send it to. You can be certain about someone's dedication, about their authenticity, about their drive, about their spirit, about their athleticism, and the list goes on...

I am certain, that my niece Emma is all of these things + unwaveringly herself. 

Where we met:

When she was born, she's my niece.

When did you first start riding horses?

I first started riding when I was around 9 years old, and then more seriously when I was 12.

What do you love about it?

Riding has been the one thing that has always made sense in my life. It not only makes me feel good to have something I love doing, but I also feel talented when doing it. And horses are healing animals; they have the ability to brighten your mood each time you interact. I get to be outside in the sun every day learning new things and overall, I feel lucky.

What are some of the challenges?

Riding is a physically challenging sport, but the mental strength it takes to become successful is also a big part of it. Not only do you have to be able to cope with your own disappointment, but even more, days that may not go well for your horse - it's something you can't control. My favorite part is recognizing progress as when things come together, it’s extremely rewarding.

Who is Newman (Emma's horse) to you?

Newman is definitely more than just a horse to me. He is my partner and one of the things I love most in this world. He has been with me from the start of this incredible journey and is a piece of home that I get to travel and take with me wherever I go. We have a really strong bond that we have created from day one, and I wouldn’t want to be experiencing this journey with any other horse.

What is your philosophy when working with horses?

You can never make a horse do something that it doesn’t want to do. If you approach the work as though you are teammates, who have to be able to pick up each other’s slack, it really changes the perspective. You have to respect a horse for the horse to respect you, and you have to put your best foot forward every time you get in the saddle for there to be positive results. And, it's not going to be perfect every time.  You have to accept the bad days but remember to always take a positive experience out of every ride.

What's the big dream?

I’d love to see how far I can go and compete at the upper levels with a few of my own horses. It’s a really long unpredictable road, but if I work hard enough, a lot of things can happen and a lot of people might notice me. I've dedicated so much to this and it’s already paying off. So if I continue to put 110% in every day I’m hoping I will continue to keep growing.

How do you want to beknown?

I want to be known as the one who worked every day for her dreams, and didn’t just wait for them to come true.

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