Emilie Goddard is the Team Poulsen Assistant Trainer and barn manager. Emilie has worked hard for this position and is fulfilling a dream.
Emilie has always had a way with young or difficult horses. And to date, she has trained her own Halflinger Abercrombie, aka Crumble, to Fourth Level.
Moving on, Emilie continues to work toward her Silver Medal, and has been learning the ropes for the upper level horses. I believe she will soon be presenting her own “Crumble” in the FEI levels!
Emilie started as a working student in late 2014 and, after the first winter in Florida, was designated to stay in Vermont to be on staff, ride and teach. As of 2020, as Assistant Trainer and Barn Manager, she started traveling back and forth with me, and I’ve been so delighted.
As Barn Manager, Emilie has a wonderful approach as a leader of the team as well as with the clients. Her hands on and “lead by example” approach to working and communicating is a huge asset to our program. Horses are her passion and it shows in every aspect of her life!
“My ultimate goal has always been to make him an FEI horse and I would love to show him Grand Prix some day,” Emilie said.
“I think it’s going to be a little slower since he has a side job [as a lesson horse at East Hill Farm], but he’s got a really good brain. He’s a really good boy. He’s very willing. Ultimately, he’s going to be a super fancy pony.”
“I have changed so much and grown as a person from starting five years ago,” she said in 2020.
“I have so much more confidence in my riding than I ever have. And that’s not to say that I don’t struggle with it sometimes, but it’s improved dramatically.
On top of it all, Emilie is an accomplished artist, with an amazing portfolio of equestrian and corgi art! And, she recently created the updated Poulsen Dressage logo! It’s wonderful to have our very own talented artist on staff!
Late 2021 Update
Emilie has also played an important role in the success of one of Ruth’s jumper clients, Irish National Show Jumping Team / FEI Grand Prix show jumper Paul O’Shea.
For the past five years, Ruth has been coaching Paul with his jumpers on the flat and riding some occasionally. Emilie brought more to the table and to the progress of two horses in particular: Skar Glen’s Machu Picchu and Chancelloress.
This past summer while Paul was in Europe preparing Machu for Tokyo, he sent 3 horses to Vermont for “dressage boot camp.”
Emilie and Ruth worked together with these horses on their balance and adjustability. Emilie riding and Ruth coaching.
Shortly after Paul’s return to the states, the horses were sent back to him. Chancelloress immediately went on to finish 2nd and 1st in her first two 5* CDI events.
Congratulations Emilie for making such a difference with Paul’s horses!
