It took a long while for 17-year-old Emma Edwards of Issaquah, Washington, to get over the unexpected death of her beloved show partner, Its Only Natural, last June. The 1996 chestnut gelding by Play Rush and out of Par Zans Keno played an important role in her life – both in the arena and outside it.

“Keno taught me everything I know to this day,” she insists. “He was the most amazing horse I could have asked for. He was a little naughty sometimes, and I definitely had to earn his respect.”

But showing under the guidance of Kip Larson and Michael Davis, Edwards did just that and the two became a formidable team, competing in all-around events at American Quarter Horse Association shows in the northwest.

“His sudden passing was one of the hardest experiences I have ever been through and Keno will be in my heart forever,” she says. “I cannot thank him enough for everything he taught me.”

When she was ready, Edwards turned to Larson to help her find a new show partner. That horse turned out to be Oughta Be Western, a 2006 bay gelding by DressWestern and out of I Oughta Be A Bunny. Edwards began showing him in Showmanship,Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Riding and Trail in August.

They seemed to click instantly and at the AQHA Level 1 Championships in Las Vegas in October they placed third in Youth Western Riding.

In December they sought help from Nancy Renfro, Finley, California, and this year Edwards and Oughta Be Western started off with a bang winning the Novice Youth 14-18 All-Around at the Arizona Sun Circuit.

Edwards is also an active member of the Washington State Quarter Horse Youth

Association and was honored with the WSQHYA Sportsmanship award last year. She quickly took a liking to Hunt Seat Equitation and it has remained one of her favorite classes to ride.

Like many other youth competitors Edwards was introduced to horses when her older sister, Lexi, began taking lessons at the Union Hill Ranch, a local barn.

“I first became involved with horses when I went to a horse camp when I was 9,” Edwards recalls fondly. “I started to get lessons on a regular basis as my older sister was riding. I got my first horse, a Quarter Horse/Paint named Moe, and started to show him in 10 & Under at the localWashington Level B shows.”

Edwards loves to show and says it’s because she enjoys challenging herself and seeing all her hard work pay off in the show pen. She says her father, Jack Edwards, is her strongest supporter.

“My dad is always very encouraging to me and supports my love for horses,” Edwards says. “He always gives me the best pep talks both in and out of showing.”

When she’s not at a horse show or traveling to Renfro’s farm to ride, the junior at Issaquah High School enjoys hanging out with her friends, going on vacations and hiking. She is also a member of YoungLife, a church youth group.

Edwards also travels to the United Kingdom regularly because her mother, Suzanne Edwards, is British and many of her family members still live there. Emma got her dual citizenship with the UK when she was just 2.

In addition to her horses Edwards has two dogs, Thunder and Pepper and a cat named Pumpkin.