An Interview with Emily Maniscalco of Flight Line Sport Horses LLC
Climbing the ladder is hard, especially when you are limited to one horse at a time. We all know horses, and the chance your first pony or horse will take you to the top is slim to none. For Emily Maniscalco, her riding journey started from a young age on a variety of quirky horses. As she pursued new heights in the hunter and jumper ring, she had to set goals and evaluate whether her horse at the time could get her there. As a young rider, Emily had found a young horse to take in the hunters, then sold her to develop her first jumper, who she later sold to acquire a Grand Prix horse. Navigating this process and learning to say goodbye requires significant maturity as a rider, a quality that many struggle to develop.
Why College?
Throughout her time as a young rider, Emily learned the value of hard work, seizing opportunities, and building relationships that would later shape her career. From schooling horses to catch-riding for professionals and competing at the national level, Emily’s jumping career and success made it tempting to opt out of college and pursue continuing her career in Europe. However, Emily found herself attending Penn State University riding on their equestrian team.
In discussing her decision to continue college, Emily emphasized, “You never know what’s going to happen. I might not be able to ride tomorrow, but having that degree is priceless.” Although a scary outcome to consider, anything is possible and could change your life dramatically in an instant. It is important to diversify your skills and pursue stability that way you can be prepared for whatever life may throw your way.
From minoring in equine studies with access to incredibly educated professors, engaging in hands-on demonstrations in the barn, and competing on Penn State’s equestrian team, Emily’s experience in college was one she will never forget. “The friendships, the mentorship, the team atmosphere—it’s all invaluable.” The team environment removed the often intimidating hierarchies of the equine world, creating a space where every rider’s contributions mattered no matter the level.
Building Flight Line Sport Horses
In her last year of college, Emily reconnected with an old friend who had a KWPN breeding program, Maple Crest Sport Horses. Through mentorship and the acquisition of KWPN broodmares, she found her niche: breeding and developing young horses with top European bloodlines. Inspired by Dr. Sharon Anderson, a professional breeder with a full-time career, she now models her program after successful European structures, tailored for the U.S. market.
“Dr. Sharon Anderson has been a wealth of knowledge as a mentor, breeding with KWPN, and is my largest role model as she herself is a professional breeder with a full-time career. With her expertise, we have broodmares with bloodlines of Consul, Riverman, Ahorn Z, Lord Argentinus, and Lordanos. I now strive to model my breeding program with these top European bloodlines, adding an American perspective to how we raise, train, compete and sell the horses we produce”.
From working in the aviation industry full time to breeding and developing young horses after work, she dreams of expanding her program to include more boarders and young horses while maintaining her commitment to high-quality care and training. She believes, “The KWPN/KWPN-NA has done an incredible job here in North America structuring the registry similar to that in Europe, with many opportunities for broodmares, young horses, and breeders over here in the states” and looks forward to working with them to inspect and register the foals in her breeding program.
Emily Maniscalco’s journey is a testament to the power of balancing passion with practicality. From navigating the highs and lows of competitive riding to building a breeding program alongside a full-time career, she demonstrates that success in the equine world is as much about adaptability and vision as it is about talent. Her story serves as an inspiration to young equestrians everywhere: embrace every opportunity, pursue diverse skills, and never stop dreaming. Whether you’re stepping into a college arena or starting a breeding program, the key is to keep learning, keep growing, and trust the process.
