After winning two Congress Championships and two Reserve Congress Championships in a three-day span, Emma Gore is one happy little girl. The 8-year-old from Mount Vernon, Ohio showed her 2009 bay gelding, Hes Suddenly Handsom to all of her wins. Emma and Handsome were Congress Champions in the Small Fry Horsemanship and Hunter Under Saddle, Reserve Congress Champions in the Showmanship and Western Pleasure and 14th in the Trail.
“Handsome is very ornery, but he is also sweet,” says Emma of her eight-year-old gelding. Handsome was already the 2014 Congress Champion in the Novice Youth 14-18 Showmanship before he fell into Emma’s lap just over two years ago. Emma added many more accolades to his resume this weekend, ultimately coming out with the Congress Small Fry All Around award.
Having ridden horses since she was four years old, Emma is homeschooled in a special classroom at her parent’s Tera and Jeff Gore’s feed store, G&G Feed and Supply in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Being able to have a more flexible schedule with homeschooling gives Emma the opportunity to ride every single day. Her parent’s farm, IronGate Quarter Horses is also located in her backyard, which is the home of trainers, Judd and Jennifer Paul. Besides her small fry mount, Emma also likes to ride her pony and practice loping and jumping when she is not practicing on Handsome. Although Emma loves to lope already, she still has two more years eligible in the Small Fry division.
“I also like to ride bareback and practice showmanship a lot,” says Emma, who earned one of her Reserve Congress Championships behind barn-mate and friend, Allie Paul. Emma’s favorite class to show in currently is the Western Pleasure and her least favorite is the Equitation. “I like Western Pleasure the best because I don’t have to remember a pattern,” says Emma with a laugh. Luckily, Emma’s horse, Handsome is very versatile and can compete with her in every event. “He is big and he can do everything,” Emma says.
When asked what her next plan is, Emma claims that she would like to go shopping for a new halter for Handsome with his name on it, as shopping is one of her favorite things about the Congress. Besides the shopping, Emma truly loves going to horse shows and seeing all of her friends as well, which is also the part that makes horse showing so worth it in the end.
We would like the congratulate Emma on all of her awards as well as wishing her the best of luck for next year.
Photos © Courtsey Promotions
