Rette Solomon for Tryon International

Rosie Miller of Taylors, SC, is qualified for USEF Pony Finals and will compete with Scarlet O at the prestigious event in August. Self trained at home, this will be Rosie’s first trip to Pony Finals. Rosie partners with Lisa Bobbitt at horse shows, and is also assisted by her mom, Nicole Miller. Read below to learn more about Rosie, her mom and their Pony Finals journey at Tryon International!

Rosie:

Q: Tell us about the pony you will be showing at Pony Finals.

A: My pony’s name is Scarlet O. She's a Thoroughbred Welsh cross, and we got her on my birthday. It took us nine months to find her.

She's a tough pony, but in a good way. If I'm anxious or nervous, she'll do the exact same thing as me, so then she'll get excited and then go a little faster than we should. When I'm calm, she's good, and then it goes well!

Q: What was the process of finding your equine teammate?

A: I was really excited to buy a pony, because we were only leasing.

I loved her. I said, “I think this is the one for me!”

Q: When did you qualify for Pony Finals?

A: I qualified at [Tryon] Spring 3, so it was a really good experience. The kids were lovely. I had three kids in my group, and they were really sweet!

Q: How did it feel to qualify?

A: I was really excited. We have it all on video when they told me I qualified! I got champion, and I just felt relieved, because it [had taken] so long. I knew I was going to qualify, but I was anxious at the same time. So just to get it done, and to have that pressure off, really helped.

Rosie Miller and Scarlet O
Courtesy of Nicole Miller

Q: How are you feeling about competing at Pony Finals?

A: I'm really excited. I feel it's going to be a really great experience for me. And it's just going to be fun!

Q: As you head into Pony Finals, what do you think your strengths are as a team?

A: My biggest strength is over fences. [Scarlet O] has a very great bascule. She jumps really big, and it shows her off a lot. And, she has a great trot.

When somebody tells me something, I take it to heart and I apply it to my next course, or my next round.

Q: What goals are you looking to accomplish at Pony Finals?

A: I would like to start making relationships with a whole bunch of pony people, and I would love to get the opportunity and work my way to starting getting catch rides.

Q: What are your long term goals?

A: I want to go to Pony Finals, I want to do the Maclay, and I want to do the Jumpers in the Olympics. I want to be a breeder, trainer and rider!

Q: What have you enjoyed most about the experience of competing at Tryon?

A: Everybody's so nice and willing. Everybody's really sweet. It's really close to our house, and it's amazing to have this massive facility as close as we are.

Q: As a predominantly self trained and DIY competitor, what has been the biggest challenge of this?

A: Not having a riding arena. We've been riding on grass at my house. It's hard because either it's really soft, or it's rock hard. So, we're putting in our riding arena really soon!

We just try to be really consistent, because we're hauling out to Riverbend, or some friends’ places [to practice in their arenas], but you have to haul out everywhere.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of being a DIY competitor?

A: It’s really great that we do everything ourselves, because me and my pony have a really strong bond together. So she'll do anything for me, and I'll do anything for her. And it's just really fun to be at these very big events, and trying your best.

Nicole:

Q: What was the process of finding Rosie’s equine teammate?

A: We had a streak of bad luck with ponies. I spent nearly a year during COVID trying to find Rosie a pony. She goes, “I'm going to get a pony for my birthday”. And I'm like, “okay, kid, I'm happy to buy you a pony, if we can find a pony!”

I woke up that morning and looked at Facebook, and a friend had messaged me about a pony that happened to be local. And she goes, “I think this is the one!” Sure enough, it was the one.

I felt like it was truly a gift from heaven for Rosie. It was very special.

Q: Tell us about your experience as a parent to a DIY junior rider.

A: We had some challenges, but it's extraordinary to watch the care that Rosie gives the pony and their bond. We have our own farm, and the kids are responsible for the day in and day out care of all the animals.

To see this horse be in so much pain [from allergies] with eyeballs swollen shut, and to put her head on Rosie's shoulder, and to allow her to put cold compresses on her eyes and just sit there and be patient [shows the bond between them].

[Rosie] was so disappointed, it was such a letdown. But it didn't matter. It's doing what was right for the horse in that moment. And I said, “Rosie, you may not have won your blue ribbon in the ring and qualified, but in my book, you've won everything because the horsemanship and the bond and the relationship that you have with this animal is extraordinary. And that will take you so far in life and your riding career.”

Q: What do you feel is the biggest benefit of self training?

The benefit is we get to train with a variety of people. Lisa Bobbitt has been currently helping [Rosie].

I think it's incredibly impressive to see the horsemanship skills that they've developed, because they have the capacity to take far better care of their horses than most adults know how to do.

With everything that we've gone through, Rosie has always put the horse first, from administering medications, to understanding how we feed, and why we feed. It's just extraordinary to see what their skills are and building those relationships.

It's easy to become complacent with your horsemanship when you are in a barn, and everything's being done in a rhythm that has been developed – but it also gives a lot of freedom to experience and to learn from a variety of people, and that's a huge blessing.

Stay tuned for updates on Rosie and Scarlet O’s journey to Pony Finals! The pair will compete at Tryon’s Pony Spectacular presented by Young Rider, taking place July 4-9 during Tryon Summer 4. USEF Pony Finals is held at the Lexington Horse Park in Lexington, KY, from August 8-13. Team Tryon wishes the best of luck to all the local young riders competing at Pony Finals!

Road to Pony Finals Spotlight: Rosie Miller

Tryon Summer 4 Midweek Update:

Tryon Summer 3 Results: