About Emme
Emme Johnston is a USDF Certified Instructor through Second Level, a USDF Silver Medalist, and operates Emme Johnston Dressage LLC out of Blume Farm in Silk Hope, NC. She is also the resident dressage trainer at Starberry Acres in Mebane, NC. She was formally the assistant trainer of Eliza Sydnor Dressage at Braeburn Farm in Snow Camp, NC. Emme enjoys working with horses and riders of all levels and ages, using classical dressage to develop and strengthen the human and equine athletes and improve the harmony between horse and rider
Emme began her riding career at age 6 at MacNair’s Country Acres in Raleigh, NC. She continued to ride in the hunt seat program there through high school, participating in the 4-H club and on the show team. The MacNair’s school program provided a solid basis in riding, horsemanship, and sportsmanship, and the opportunity to ride all of the different school horses greatly helped develop Emme’s ability to understand and work with a variety of horse breeds and types.
In 2006, Emme graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and wanted to make sure that her college experience included horses, so she chose to attend Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Looking for any and all opportunities to ride, Emme tried out for both the Hunt Seat (varsity) and Dressage (club) teams, and spent the next four years serving and competing on both teams, addition to participating in the lesson program. Again, the excellent instruction and wonderful “schoolies” continued to foster and develop Emme’s passion for training horses and riders. Emme won two National Championships (2008 and 2009) and was Reserve Champion in 2007. While at MHC, Emme began her partnership with Just Jake, a school horse who helped her get back to riding after an injury, and when Emme graduated in 2010 with a degree in Geology and Mathematics, she brought him home with her to NC.
Since then, Emme has worked primarily at Eliza Sydnor Dressage, first as a working student and then as assistant trainer and barn manager. She and Jake worked their way up from First Level to Prix St. Georges and she has learned a lot from watching and working with the other horses Eliza has in training. In addition to wonderful mentoring and instruction from Eliza, Emme also has been fortunate to work with Cindy Sydnor, Bailey Cook, Gehard Politz, Jennifer Baumert, and JJ Tate. Emme earned her USDF Instructor Certification at Second Level in 2015 and completed her silver medal in 2017.
Emme takes horses in full training at Blume Farm and welcomes trailer-in lessons at Blume Farm and Starberry Acres. She also has limited availability to travel to area barns for lessons and clinics. Starting young horses is a skill that Emme learned while working for Eliza, and she enjoys that aspect of the work as well. Please check out the rest of the website for more information about Emme and her horses and training!
Emme began her riding career at age 6 at MacNair’s Country Acres in Raleigh, NC. She continued to ride in the hunt seat program there through high school, participating in the 4-H club and on the show team. The MacNair’s school program provided a solid basis in riding, horsemanship, and sportsmanship, and the opportunity to ride all of the different school horses greatly helped develop Emme’s ability to understand and work with a variety of horse breeds and types.
In 2006, Emme graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and wanted to make sure that her college experience included horses, so she chose to attend Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Looking for any and all opportunities to ride, Emme tried out for both the Hunt Seat (varsity) and Dressage (club) teams, and spent the next four years serving and competing on both teams, addition to participating in the lesson program. Again, the excellent instruction and wonderful “schoolies” continued to foster and develop Emme’s passion for training horses and riders. Emme won two National Championships (2008 and 2009) and was Reserve Champion in 2007. While at MHC, Emme began her partnership with Just Jake, a school horse who helped her get back to riding after an injury, and when Emme graduated in 2010 with a degree in Geology and Mathematics, she brought him home with her to NC.
Since then, Emme has worked primarily at Eliza Sydnor Dressage, first as a working student and then as assistant trainer and barn manager. She and Jake worked their way up from First Level to Prix St. Georges and she has learned a lot from watching and working with the other horses Eliza has in training. In addition to wonderful mentoring and instruction from Eliza, Emme also has been fortunate to work with Cindy Sydnor, Bailey Cook, Gehard Politz, Jennifer Baumert, and JJ Tate. Emme earned her USDF Instructor Certification at Second Level in 2015 and completed her silver medal in 2017.
Emme takes horses in full training at Blume Farm and welcomes trailer-in lessons at Blume Farm and Starberry Acres. She also has limited availability to travel to area barns for lessons and clinics. Starting young horses is a skill that Emme learned while working for Eliza, and she enjoys that aspect of the work as well. Please check out the rest of the website for more information about Emme and her horses and training!