Emma McLaurin, eventing

Emma started riding horses at local summer camps when she was nine years old. After the second summer, she convinced her parents to let her take regular lessons year round. In all the years she has been taking lessons, she has only missed 2, both for funerals. When she was 12 she was offered the opportunity to work with a horse being stabled at the barn where Emma took lessons. The horse needed attention and Emma was thrilled to have the chance to spend more time in the saddle. She increased her time at the barn from once weekly to three times per week and loved everything she was learning. When she turned 13 she bought her first horse, an older school master horse that was perfect for teaching Emma about jumping and competitions. This also meant that Emma had access to the head coach at the stable and could leave the property and compete elsewhere. She worked with this mare all winter with the hopes of competing with her during the next season. Unfortunately, due to an injury, after the first competition the horse had to be retired. As impossible as it seemed, they were lucky enough to find Caleb, a then 14 year old Quarter Horse cross who was available for lease and perfect for a rider of Emma's level and abilities. The coach agreed to train Emma at a different barn and the two started their training together. She rides five to six days per week, often at 6am before school or work.


In their first season together they competed locally and finished three of the five events they entered with ribbons in the top three. At the end of the season she won 4th place at the National Capital Horse Trials Association pre-entry division awards ceremony. These awards are for all riders who compete in the National Capital region circuit.


In 2015, Emma and Caleb moved up two levels and are currently competing in Pre-Training level events. They have attended six events in Ontario and Quebec. They have been in the ribbons every time, with three first place finishes. They have also competed in one Derby (placed 1st) and one Level 1 Dressage event (placed 1st). While competing at Petit Bromont Horse Trials, a competition where juniors, seniors and professionals are mixed in one open category, Emma came in fourth after two adult professionals, one riding two horses.

To finish off the season, they plan on entering the Will O'Wind Horse Trials in Mono, Ontario and have been selected to be part of a Pre-Training Team heading to Lexington, Kentucky in October.


Emma's coach is Mireille Bilodeau and the owner of the horse is Suzanne Mignault. Without them, Emma would not have the success she does. She also has fantastic team mates who are all determined, hard working young women that Emma really enjoys spending time with and learning from. They travel together as a team.


Eventing is a costly passion and as atheletes move up the levels and broaden their competition range the cost goes up. Emma is looking for sponsorship and local support. Funds will be used to help Emma reach her goals of attending the Kentucky competition, and finding a new athlete that she can work with moving forward. We are grateful for any support offered by family, friends and local businesses.