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About

Emily Walpole

Here I am still on the lead

My name is Emily and I am a 14 year old rider based in Kent. I started having lessons once a week at a local riding school when I was 8. After a year or so mum (who has always had horses) came for a couple of lessons – within 2 months she had bought a pony.

I started helping mum with Luna but she was a bit too big for me and I still needed to learn more, it was then when we got Cassie on loan.

A typical pony Cassie has taught me so much and although she is now semi-retired I still ride her regularly and she will be with us for the rest of her life.

Hacking Cassie out in 2017

As well as having lots of lessons and learning with Cassie, I also helped my mum with starting Luna off. We had been told that Luna wasn’t ridable and would be dangerous. After all the usual checks, physio, saddler, teeth etc. She was actually very easy to break in and I started riding her in late 2019.

Helping mum work Luna 2017
First jumping show with Luna 2020

In 2020 we moved yards and that is where my confidence and ability really ramped up. I started to have lessons with Luna and we headed out to lots of clinics. Our first show was in May 2020.

As well as Show jumping, I compete in inhand and ridden showing classes, Concours D’Elegance and Hunter Trial/Cross Country.

Mum is trying to get me to have a go at dressage so we can try a one day event next year.

We have qualified for the 2021 Sunshine Tour championships at Hickstead in September, and hope to be competing in the Saturday jumping classes.

We also own Luna’s half sister Sparkle. She came home to us when she had just turned 2 in 2019 and now she is 4 we have started to work her. So far she has been out to a showing clinic and an inhand show which she has taken completely in her stride.

We will be working her this year and hope to be riding her by the end of the summer holidays. Then it will be gentle hacks and light work over the winter and then all systems go in spring 2022.

Sparkle's first showing clinic June 2021

I am very lucky to work with some awesome trainers who have helped me develop my riding over the past year.

By far the most influential and helpful of these is the amazing Kim Sagina, who has helped my confidence and bought out the best in me and Luna. We love her lessons weather they are flat, poles or jumping. Kim always keeps us thinking and will push me enough without making me feel uneasy.

We wouldn’t be where we are without you .. so thank you Kim

Also a shout out to Chris Addington for all the jumping clinics and to Marshide Riding Club for all of their support.