Emily Felgnar

          I started riding at the age of 10, but wasn’t seriously about it until I turned 12. I have grown up in a non horsey family, so I had to convince my parents how truly devoted I was before they would allow me to “get into it”. I started riding lessons once a week at a Morgan breeder’s barn in Maple Ridge and absorbed every minute of it. I learned how to ride lazy, hot, and silly horses.

           I rode there for about a year and then left in search of a horse to lease. I found that horse at Northlands Equestrian Center. Where I half leased a gelding for 5 months and rode with Corinne Super until the horse was sold and I moved on.

   In search of the “perfect horse” but without a trainer, my mom and I looked at many horses. We finally decided upon a 6 year old 14.3hh bay Arab/Morgan gelding named Joshua. We purchased him and accidentally came upon the Dressage trainer Nicole Shewchuk and we moved Josh to her barn. Josh turned out to be too much for me, so we put training into him and sold him.

  We had been in touch with Julie MacMillan from J & M Acres Horse Rescue in search of the “perfect” horse when she finally had a horse come in that sounded suitable. Julie had held onto this horse for 6 months because she had fallen in love and didn’t want to let him go.

 This horse’s name was Max, a 1984, 15.2hh chestnut Morgan gelding. He had come from Vancouver Island where he was a school horse “gone bad”, meaning he had become sour and dangerous to have around. So he was sent through the Fraser Valley Auction, where he was the last horse in and the only bidder was the meat man until Julie bid $25 dollars more and got him. Julie worried that since he hated kids, that he would hate me.

  Oh boy was it love at first sight! I fell for him head over heals even before I rode him. My first ride was difficult, Max was stiff as a board and seemed to have trouble traveling in a straight line, but I was in love. I convinced Julie to let me buy him,  she could see that we had an unbreakable bond.

Since that day, Max ( aka Maxwell Smart) and I have been through lots together. He wasn’t an easy horse to ride, but I figured him out.  I rode him 6 days a week with 2 lessons included. That first year I showed him Training Level and First Level, then moved up to FEI Child /Second Level in 2004. He was meant for me as a first horse to move up on, nothing special that I could show upper levels with…. but he tried his little heart out for me and still does, proving that the little Morgan can do it all!

 We had an excellent show year in 2004, winning the Child FEI division in Amherst, BC Championships, and Rising Stars. Coming close at Milner downs and the Regionals too.

 In 2005 Max and I had another successful year, we won the BC Championships and Regional Championships for Junior Second level. We also won Amherst and walked away from all my shows with excellent scores. This was Max’s last show year and he rose to the occasion better than I had ultimately expected. He is now retired from the show ring and I’m still riding him 2 -3 days a week, just having fun and enjoying him. We hit the trails often and he will be with me until he lives out his days.

In September 2005 I bought Socrates (“Socs”) a 17.2hh, 12 yr old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vulcaan  with goals to compete in Young Riders. I took me a year to find another enthusiastic mount and we progressed very well throughout the 2006 show season. We won first level champion at the Southlands Spring Show, first level champion and Hi point champion at Amherst and also First level champion and overall Hi point at the Rising Stars Dressage show. We also qualified and competed in the 2006 BC Summer Games in which we took on two gold, one silver and a zone 3 gold… it was an amazing experience.  Unfortunately due to numerous injuries Socs is now a very large pasture ornament who I love dearly. We’re hoping he will come sound one day, but there are no promises. Him and Max are the best of buddies in their retirement days.

          I am currently training for the 2008 show season, riding my new horse a 2001 Canadian Warmblood mare (By Kingston) Karbon Kopy (“Echo”). We purchased her shortly after Christmas 2007 and I’m very excited with what our future holds. She’s a very talented and promising horse who I’m excited to have the pleasure of owning and training. We’re currently working at perfecting her basics and hope to show either training or first level in the 2008 show season.

 One day I’d like to compete in the Young Rider Championships and see where that leads me. Upon graduating high school in June 2008 I plan to attend College and build a career in which I can afford my horses and continue doing what I love to do. One thing I know for sure is that horses will always be apart of my life.

 I am incredibly thankful for my parents support and of course my coach Nicole Shewchuk. I couldn’t do it without them!