Welcome to The Debrief, where we’ll recap the experience of a rider or equestrian following a big result or otherwise memorable competition or achievement. Click here to read more editions of The Debrief.
Corvett is Emily Hamel’s horse of a lifetime, and they have gone up the levels together over the years. After finishing in the top 20 at Luhmühlen this year, Emily and “Barry” have completed seven CCI5*-L competitions, and is two more away from completing all seven 5* events in the world (she’s just missing Pau and Adelaide – let’s get her there!). We caught up with her to learn about her journey up to this point, what she’s learned in her career so far, and where she’ll go from here.
Emily Hamel and Corvett at Luhmühlen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
How does it feel to have completed seven CCI5*-L competitions with Corvett (aka Barry)?
It feels a bit surreal! It was such a big goal of mine to just complete one, so now having done seven with the same horse– it’s pretty special. I never really had a set number of 5*s that I wanted to do, but Barry is so special and I want to do as much as I can with him. It’s been great that I’ve been able to do seven at this point and I hope to continue to do more with him.
What made you want to compete Barry at the top level of the sport?
I’ve always known he was a very talented and athletic horse and I’ve always thought he was really quite something. It’s nice to get him to the top level so that other people can see just how cool he is! One of the coolest things to me is his fanbase– I would say he’s almost more popular than I am at this point! Everyone is always saying “Oh, you’re the one who rides Corvett.” I love that everyone else appreciates how talented he is and I think having him at this level gives him an opportunity to show off his talent to the world. That’s pretty important to me because I want other people to know how truly amazing he is.
Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Besides what people know from social media, what is Barry like in the barn everyday?
He’s a really funny horse; I think he’s hilarious. He can be a little annoying because he’s definitely a mama’s boy. So, he can be difficult for others in the barn about certain things– he’s a very particular horse. He likes things done a certain way and he’s not afraid to tell you what he thinks.
Tell us about your support system.
I have a great team in general and there’s been people who have joined along the way, but my parents have been there from the beginning. I convinced them to buy Barry as an investment horse to eventually sell in a few years. I fell in love with him and luckily they let me keep him. They are the original Team Barry. As we’ve evolved throughout the years, I’ve had lots of trainers help me along the way. My core group right now would still be my parents; as well as my boyfriend, Dave Repko; my business partner and traveling groom, Jeanna Epping (she was awesome flying back and forth to Europe around three times while I was over there for different competitions); and then the girls at the barn: Rachel Russell, Edina Ban, and Jillian Treu– they keep things going on a daily basis so that I can focus on Barry. My vets and farriers are also huge supporters which makes it easier for me to be successful.
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What was it like completing your first 5*?
Completing my first 5* at Kentucky in 2021 was really a dream come true. It was what I wanted to do since I was 10 years old. I was familiar with the horse park just from going as a spectator over the years, so the first time competing there was unforgettable. I was also relieved to have done it well since it was the first one. You never really know how it’s going to go and you hope for the best. It was a proud moment having worked hard and having it pay off.
How does that compare finishing your first 5* to now, finishing your most recent one?
Going into our first 5*, there was so much that was unknown because you don’t know if you have a 5* horse until you’ve done it. Now that we’ve completed our seventh 5* I feel very confident going in because of our skill set we’ve built along the way. There is always a sense of the unknown because there are so many factors involved and things that are out of your control, but at this point, I feel very confident in our abilities as a team. I know that we can handle whatever is thrown at us… like the dog chasing us into the water at Luhmühlen. All of our experience together has led to a complete trust in our partnership which is what it’s really about.
Emily Hamel and Corvette. Photo by Shelby Allen.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned so far in your career?
I have learned that being flexible and open to different opportunities is really important. More specifically, when it comes to timelines and your horses, things rarely go according to plan or on your desired timeline. Being open to new plans and trusting that if you work hard and put the time in, eventually you’ll get to the destination.
Tell us about being named to the 2024 US Equestrian Developing Riders List.
It was a really special moment for me because that was my first time being named to any sort of list or program. It was a culmination of all the years I’ve put in and finally getting recognized. I think so highly of my horse and I love that he’s recognized. Along with that, just being part of the program has been really helpful in my development as a rider. Working with Leslie has been great and we got so many opportunities to learn how things are done overseas during the European Tour. I’m really grateful to the USEF for the opportunity to be in the program because it did allow me to compete at Luhmuhlen this year and get that seventh 5* competition.
Emily Hamel and Corvett at Burghley. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
What are your plans going forward?
I would love to do Pau at some point, whether it’s this year or next year. Then, I would have done all the 5*s except for Adelaide. While I would love to compete at Adelaide, logistically, going to Pau would be more realistic. If I don’t do Pau, I’ll look forward to doing Maryland. Other than that, we’ll see what next year brings! Again, I want to make the most out of my time with Barry because I think it’ll be a while before I find another horse like him.
We’re wishing both Emily and Barry the best of luck and can’t wait to continue following their journey.
