Sarah Newbould: life lessons from the pony specialist

Sarah (née Emmerson) heads up the Emmerson show team from their base in North Yorkshire. She produces a range of plaited and native ponies for the show ring. The team has won multiple titles at both the Royal International and Horse of the Year Show.

I’ve ridden ponies since I was two years old, and while I always thought I’d have a career in horses, my parents told me to go to university, get a job and then if I wanted to come back to it later on I could. I’m so grateful they said that. I’ve now always got something to fall back on; I could fall off one day and not be able to ride or lead again.

I’m a schoolteacher, so when things aren’t as busy on the show team I will go back to the classroom, and when it picks back up again I’ll go back to the yard full time. Showing can be hard; going to bed at 7pm to get up at 1am for a show, week in, week out is tough. Teaching has also helped me forge new friendships and have a part of life away from the horse industry.

Alex Robinson

Freelance equestrian journalist

Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.