Double victory for British trainer at international film festival
A trainer who spent a month alone on an inhabited island backing two Connemaras with no equipment has won an award for her work at an equestrian film festival.
Emma Massingale and Equine Productions won the international documentary category at the Equus Film Festival in New York (21 November) for The Island Project, as well as taking the best mini equestrian commercial title for The Midnight Race.
Devon-based Emma filmed almost all The Island Project documentary herself.
The Midnight Race, which beat more than 150 other entries to the commercial prize, features former racehorses from the British Throughbred Training Centre being trained by Emma.
The horses are taught to let themselves out of their stables, walk up to the gallops and race by themselves.
“You don’t normally win prizes for working with horses in this way, so to win two awards for ideas I dreamed up is just awesome,” said Emma.
“The Island Project was a way of challenging myself without challenging my horses and I loved every second of living, filming and surviving whilst being completely alone.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Related articles:
- Emma Massingale survives island challenge with just ponies for company
- ‘The best feeling I have ever had’: Emma Massingale makes great progress in island challenge
- Liberty trainer to back ponies during remote island challenge
“The Midnight Race was equally challenging as we had to turn it around in six weeks. I was absolutely thrilled with how well they did in such a short space of time, and with the final film.”
Sam Fleet, managing director of Equine Productions added: “We’re made up to win these awards.
“Every film we produce we’re proud of and to get recognition like this is so special.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.