This teen equestrian from Puyallup will jump at nationals to honor her late trainer

Angelica Relente

It all started when Emily Bingham’s grandmother gifted her horseback riding lessons in 2017.

Five years later, the Puyallup teenager and “Q It Up” – a 12-year-old thoroughbred and Holsteiner gelding horse – have plans to compete in a national horse riding competition in Las Vegas come November.

Emerald Ridge High School sophomore Emily Bingham practices jumps with her horse, Q It Up, at Signature West Farms LLC in Spanaway, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Bingham was nominated by the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, a competition for riders in the country to earn national titles.

Before then, Bingham’s mother is hoping to raise money through a GoFundMe page. The goal is to raise $12,500, which will help pay for travel expenses as well as costs to transport Q to and from the competition. Over $1,700 has been raised as of Sept. 22.

“It’s important to her that she goes and she takes him ... and just kind of rides in her trainer’s legacy,” her mother Ashley Bingham said.

Emily Bingham’s previous trainer, Shannon Hendrickson, bred and raised Q. Hendrickson passed away Nov. 4, 2021, from a horseriding accident.

Emerald Ridge High School sophomore Emily Bingham practices jumps with her horse, Q It Up, at Signature West Farms LLC in Spanaway, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Bingham was nominated by the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, a competition for riders in the country to earn national titles.

Ashley Bingham, 38, and her family live in Puyallup. Emily Bingham, 15, is a sophomore at Emerald Ridge High School with plans to become a veterinarian in the future.

The Washington State Hunter Jumper Association nominated Emily Bingham for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, a competition for riders in the country to earn national titles. It will occur from Nov. 14-20.

The competition will award multiple titles and feature hundreds of riders from around the nation. Emily Bingham and Q will jump in the 0.70 meters and 0.80 meters children’s jumper division with hopes to earn both titles. She doesn’t know anyone else from Washington going.

Emerald Ridge High School sophomore Emily Bingham poses for a portrait with her horse, Q It Up, at Signature West Farms LLC in Spanaway, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Bingham was nominated by the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, a competition for riders in the country to earn national titles.

This is the first time Emily Bingham and Q are competing in a national competition, her mother said. She qualified for it after earning an award at the 2022 Cascade Circuit Cup in Cle Elum.

“I look forward to being able to compete on a horse that my old trainer had bred and raised. It’ll be a super fun opportunity,” Emily Bingham said. “I really just enjoy the horse community. They’re all super nice.”

Emerald Ridge High School sophomore Emily Bingham poses for a portrait with her horse, Q It Up, at Signature West Farms LLC in Spanaway, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Bingham was nominated by the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, a competition for riders in the country to earn national titles.

In addition to the GoFundMe page, Emily Bingham has been working at the Washington State Fair, selling Totally Shucked’s corn, as well as babysitting to help raise money for the trip.

Emily Bingham rides between five to six times a week, her mom said. She’s been riding for five years and competing for 2.5 years. Aside from horses, other animals in her life include three cats, one dog, a snake, a hedgehog and a rabbit.

“I like being with the animals. It’s just fun,” Emily Bingham said.

The Bingham’s GoFundMe page can be found at bit.ly/3C4FOXb.

Emerald Ridge High School sophomore Emily Bingham practices jumps with her horse, Q It Up, at Signature West Farms LLC in Spanaway, Wash. on Sept. 22, 2022. Bingham was nominated by the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, a competition for riders in the country to earn national titles.

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