Over the coming months, we’ll be shining a spotlight on core members of our PNHS team through short Q&As, sharing more about the people who help bring the show to life!

This month, meet our marketing and public relations team at RandolphPR. Emily Randolph first joined the PNHS team in 2021, and Taylor Rains came on board earlier this year. Now, get to know a little bit more about both of them!

Q: Where do you call home?

Taylor: Marietta, Georgia

Emily: Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (just a short drive from the PNHS’s home at the PA Farm Show Complex!)

Q: Tell us about your background in the horse world and your experience leading up to this position.

Taylor: I started riding at age 10 and quickly fell in love with horses and the sport. In college, I set out to combine that passion with journalism, beginning as a freelance writer for several equestrian publications before earning an internship with Sidelines. After graduation, I spent four years with Phelps Media Group/Phelps Sports, traveling internationally to cover some of the sport’s premier events, including three Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals as well as the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™. I later stepped away from the travel schedule to be closer to family while continuing my career in marketing.

Emily: My parents first took me to a barn open house tour when I was 7, and the rest, as they say, is history! As a young kid, I started out riding primarily in 4-H, and horses have been a part of my life ever since. I first became aware of equestrian public relations as a career option when I was in high school, and I immediately knew that that was what I wanted to do with my life. I went to Penn State for degrees in public relations and equine science, and like Taylor, I also then spent nearly four years with Phelps Media Group. From there, I spent four great years with Jump Media before launching my own RandolphPR in 2020. Now, six years in, I am so fortunate to get to work with some of the best horse shows in the country, like the Pennsylvania National!

Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new role with the PNHS?

Taylor: I am excited to return to the horse show/equestrian PR world after seven years and reconnect with the industry that first inspired my career. It feels like a return to my roots, and I am thrilled to be back!

Q: What do you most enjoy about your role with the PNHS?

Emily: I enjoy just about every aspect of my role with the PNHS, but I have to say that I particularly love the challenge and reward of trying to introduce new spectators to our sport. Whether it’s coordinating a local TV reporter’s first experience on horseback or watching Harrisburg-area families interact with horses up close at Family Fun Day, there’s something incredibly special about helping people discover these animals that we love. Hopefully it also makes them want to return to the horse show year after year!

Q: What do you think makes the PNHS so special?

Taylor: What stands out to me most about the PNHS is how deeply rooted it is in both the sport and the community. It has a remarkable history, yet it continues to evolve and remain relevant. The passion of the exhibitors, volunteers, supporters and fans creates an atmosphere that feels both prestigious and welcoming, which is a rare combination.

Emily: For me, getting to work with the PNHS is honestly a dream come true. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I never competed on the “A-circuit,” so I so looked forward to getting to come to the PNHS each year to watch the best-of-the best. For many years, my parents and I would come for the PA Big Jump on Thursday night of the horse show, and I have very fond memories of watching my favorite riders and trying to catch a ribbon from along the rail at the end of the class. That, to me, is what makes the PNHS so special: all of the memories that have been made at the show for now nearly 80 years and the people who continue to be a part of the show year after year and decade after decade.

Q: If you could ride any horse, past or present, which horse would you pick?

Taylor: I think I would choose Laura Kraut’s Cedric. I had the privilege of assisting in the production of Cedric’s retirement ceremony at WEF, and I feel a special connection to him through that. He also reminds me of my horse growing up who I showed in the hunters, jumpers and equitation and was only 15.3 hands — similar to Cedric. A reminder that some of the greatest horses come in smaller packages!

Emily: This feels like a bit of a cop out, bandwagon answer because he is such a top horse right now, but I have to go with United Touch S. From his scope to his big stride, I can’t imagine what it feels like to sit on him. That said, I’ve never actually gotten to watch him jump in person, so maybe we’ll start with that!

Q: Who are the horses and dogs currently in your life?

Taylor: I have an 8-year-old Corgi named Biscuit!

Emily: I have a retired Quarter Horse named Baba Ganoush and a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog named Nala.

Q: Outside of work and horses, how do you enjoy spending your time?

Taylor: When I am not working, I love spending time with my husband and 2-year-old son, discovering new local coffee shops, antique shopping and gardening. Even though I’m only a toddler mom, you could say I’m fully embracing the grandma lifestyle.

Emily: I welcomed my first baby in May of this year, so he has quickly become the focus of much of time! Outside of that I enjoy reading, working out, spending time with my husband and working together to remodel our home.