1st June 2015 – So here is where the project begins – on an uninhabited Irish island off the coast of Connemara National Park I will spend one month with four Connemara ponies from my Liberty team and two new unhandled Connemaras.
I will live a solitary existence – with just my ponies for company. My challenge – and it’s huge – is to be able to work with, and ultimately start, (back) two unhandled Connemaras completely at liberty (without the use of any tack / enclosures or help).
This project will test and challenge every part of my determination, courage, patience and tenacity. There will be highs and – without doubt – many lows too.
Imagine – a 70 acre island – no inhabitants – no places to catch the ponies – no help – no home comforts, just me, the ponies and our relationship. It’s not going to be plain sailing – it will test me to the limit, it will test my ponies’ trust, it will test my ability to live totally alone – on a wild exposed island.
The concept of starting a horse completely at Liberty (free from any head collars / bridles / saddles etc) isn’t something to be taken lightly. Horses rely purely on caution, flight and agility to keep themselves safe. This will be a huge undertaking to understand how horses feel and think and in turn create a relationship in just four weeks to ultimately be able to ride these horses completely free. The whole project to be filmed by a combination of cameras, aerial drones, island Cameras, myself with GoPros and a handheld diary camera.
Working with horses is my passion and my love. What inspires me the most is pushing the limits. Not just my own limits buts pushing ‘the’ limits so that we can redefine horsemanship in the 21st Century.
This project is not just about the horses though. It’s about resolve, about digging deep, about determination, about survival, about trust and passion. It will be lonely and it will be tough.
Horses give you an incredible perspective on life. Starting a horse at Liberty is the perfect challenge, there is nowhere to hide, you can either do it or you can’t, there is no cheating, no shortcuts, no easy wins.
You can challenge yourself every day and at every level. When you take the knocks it’s simply a case of picking yourself up, going out and having another go. The way I see it is, life is a pretty short, one time offer. When I’m old and looking back, I want to have great stories, I want to have inspired others to do incredible things using their own passion and imagination – always for the love of horses.
The island is uninhabited, there are no roads; just an old ruin of a house. I will take basic food and shall be going SUP boarding to fish in the surrounding waters. 
I am going to be living in a tent and have a camping stove to cook meals. No luxuries, just the bare essentials, the ponies and me!
This is their home…
“Normally we bring horses to survive in our world, now it’s my turn to survive in theirs”
Connemara National Park is a beautiful place. White sandy beaches, mountain ranges and beautiful lakes blend seamlessly together to make it truly breathtaking….it’s also wildly inhospitable in the worst of the weather, as the wind and rain roll in off the Atlantic.
The small town of Clifden is the centre of Connemara, where the passion, heritage and love of the Connemara pony is the very fabric of community. The biggest event of the year is the annual breed show right in the centre of town. This attracts people from all across the globe. People who – like me have fallen for this magical breed.
The Connemara is an incredibly versatile pony with a huge global following and Societies in Ireland, Britain, Europe, North America, Australasia and South Africa.
Brilliant but daunting idea
Brilliant I will follow this eagerly, is it ok to share this on my wordpress blog please. I love to share inspiration.
It is fantastic and very inspiring to read about your project! I will with look forward to follow it!!! good luck and have Fun!
Sounds exciting and inspiring! What an amazing opportunity to share with us all!
I look forward to following your story!
WOW sounds amazing, what an experience – you are all woman :-)) Blessings on your journey
Wow, I’m completely blown away by this project!! I cannot wait to see the films that you take. Will this be aired as a documentary or available on DVD when the project is over? I’m in awe of you Emma, good luck with your amazing adventure x
Wishing you loads of luck for the best experience ever. Connemara are wonderful ponies and what you are doing is brave and fantastic but will be rewarding and inspiring for us all. Thank you and I also envy you a wee bit But it will be hard Too. Can’t wait to see the outcome. Stay strong and good luck go with you.
Looking so much forward to be following the project – huge challenge at all levels.
What a fantastic project!
With great admiration for you and with love for your horses, I know you will do well. The way you connect with them is in my heart and I wish I could come too!
Go girl!
Amazing I just love the idea that you are entering into their world..What a gift and wow what you will learn… inspirational…… You really walk the talk Emma….. I am jealous but so excited to hear and see what happens…
When will the video be published and omg that is amazing I would love to do that I love horses and literature live in the stables
I am looking forward to it already but I got emmas demo to look forward to first
Amazing I will be watching all the way !
Good luck
Love what you are doing Emma. The ponies will look after you as well as you look after them. It’s in their nature. If there is any help Connemara Equestrian Escapes can offer along the way let us know. We will be following your progress. Best of luck!!
I agree with you Emma! Life is about making great memories, taking risks and no regrets. You are so generous to create and share what I’m sure will be an incredible experience. Thank you. May the sun be always on your face and wind always at your back….. Have a magical time x
Really look forward to following your progress, good luck x
Amazing lady, amazing animals and amazing place x
Enjoy every moment. Fantastic learning curve. Don’t forget to take chocolate!
Oh my gosh! What an incredible adventure. If I was younger, I would have loved to do that. Not sure I could handle it now at my age. Looking forward to following your adventures on that beautiful island with those beautiful ponies.
What a breathtaking adventure! I’m very much looking forward to hearing all about it.
u are soo brave but evey body know u can do it I love ur work and what u do
Brilliant good luck had this breed they are fantastic
Admire your courage and determination.
Good luck and all the best from Ontario Canada.
Desmond
15th May 2015
Emma it was such a pleasure meeting my idol of the eqestrian world at the connemara sales yesterday. you are such an inspiration, and a breath of fresh air. I will be watching your adventure all the way. wishing you all the success in the world. …
Emma 🙂
Wow! What a wonderful thing to do – I am hugely envious and shall watch your progress with pleasure, awe and envy!
Good luck Em – we’ll be checking up on you from Australia xxxx
Wow, good luck with it. I’d love to do that. I hope you succeed in every way possible 🙂 xx
Good luck, I wish that I could do that. I wish you success in every way possible 🙂 have fun xx
Morning Emma,
Just heard you on RTE countrywide . I love ur project and listening to ur voice I can tell u absolutely luv what you are doing. I live in Wicklow on the east coast and wish u so well. I’d luv that sort of challenge myself 😜. I’m going now to read through ur website. Be back soon. Mind urself and the ponies.
Take care
Derek
I love everything you do! You are my inspiration.
Just watched the DVD! loved it, what an inspirational person and ponies!!
Wow