BOLD MOVES

boldmoves local mom Soars to Success

“He’s a competitor. He wants to win as much as I do.” Emily Esau Williams and her partner, Dandy, are winning. They’re clearing fivefoot jumps and challenging their Grand Prix competitors with grit, grace and style.

Emily, owner of EE Show Stable, competes at the Grand Prix level, which is the highest national level for hunter/jumpers. Emily also trains horses and gives riding lessons to junior and amateur riders. In fact, just before we went to press, Emily and her business partner, Dayle Fischer, announced they are opening their barn doors on new soil. EE Show Stable is relocating to Dove Hollow in Olivenhain. Emily has 35 horses in training and a clientele of about 70% kids and 30% adults. The new barn, Emily says, will give her and Dayle the room needed to expand their business.

Surrounded by horses, Emily grew up in Encinitas on her family’s ranch. Her parents, Chuck and Lindy Esau, were both professionals in the equestrian world. After attending the University of San Diego, Emily said she discovered her love of teaching riders from her dad. Today, Emily keeps a firm grip on the reins of the family legacy while building her own equestrian program. Emily, her husband, Nick Williams and son, Wyatt, still call North County home. “I’m so lucky. Every day I get to combine two things I love--riding and teaching.” It’s a good life. Emily, however, confesses it hasn’t always been easy. When asked what has been her boldest move in business, she replied, “Starting. Growing up riding horses in Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe introduced me to a lot of people. I had a great resume and a network. I could have gone anywhere in the world to work for someone else. But choosing to start my own business-- that was the boldest thing I’ve ever done.” Emily says the first 10 years were really hard. She didn’t have a lot of clients and she didn’t make a lot of money. It’s that grit, however, that Emily tapped into and, with the grace of a professional and the heart of a loving mom and wife, continues building a world class equestrian business and her own family legacy.

For more information, visit EEShowStables.com