I am Emily, the Second Principal Officer of THCP. I am a lifelong naturalist, trained botanist, teacher, and equestrian. In 2018, I started volunteering at Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue with Melinda and got an introduction to her five geldings. Since 2018, I have worked with Tarpan horses using natural horsemanship methods and have co-hosted demonstrations with Melinda. Beyond the ring or paddock, I volunteer for the Tree Stewards, The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen, and the Virginia Master Naturalists. Even with a Tarpan on a lead line, I am known to stop, pull out a hand lens, and verify the identity of a nearby plant. Tarpan horses will stand patiently as I quietly tell them my findings.
Working closely with Della in Canada, Melinda and Emily are registrars for the Heck lines of the Tarpan Horse Conservation Program in North America.