Emmanuelle Vaugier, an actress that has appeared on numerous films and TV shows including Two and a Half Men, Lost Girl and Mistresses, is quite the equestrian. Throughout her busy schedule of filming and travel, she always finds time to ride.
1. How did you first get involved in horses/learn to ride?
I rode for about two years when I was 10 years old. I picked it up again more seriously almost three years ago now. I went to Whistler, BC, for a weekend by myself just to chill. I decided to do a private one-on-one ride through the mountains. It was then that I realized how much I really missed it. So, when I returned to Los Angeles, I decided to start taking lessons again…best decision I ever made!
2. What do you enjoy most about working with horses?
No matter what is going on in my life, the minute I’m at the barn, it’s just about me and my horse. It’s my happy place. Some people meditate, I ride. Every time I leave the barn, I’m sweaty, smelly and extremely happy about it!
3. Tell us about show jumping – how did you get interested in it?
Growing up, I had a lot of friends that had horses and competed in the hunter jumpers. It was something that I always wanted to do, but to be honest, it’s not a cheap sport if you want to do it at any kind of competitive level, and so that just wasn’t in the cards for me as a child. I didn’t quite understand that until I picked it up as an adult…then I was like “Okay mom and dad, I get it now.” LOL.
4. Do you own any of your own horse(s)? If so, what can you tell us about them?
I don’t own a horse at the moment, but I definitely would like to at some point. I’m lucky, my trainer in Los Angeles lets me ride her two horses, Rose and Rumor. And my trainer in Vancouver, BC, has some lovely clients who own and let me borrow their horses on occasion for lessons when I’m up there working, which is super generous and kind.
5. Have you ever ridden for film?
I have. I’ve rode in Lost Girl, Dolans Cadillac, and most recently in Love in Paradise with Luke Perry, who is quite an accomplished rider.
6. How has being an equestrian affected you as an actress?
I could give you a really deep, meaningful answer, which would mostly be truthful, or probably total B.S., but, to be completely candid, now, I look at my schedule, see what days I have off, so I can ride, when I’ll be done, so I can ride more consistently. I ask myself questions like, do I really need a house? Couldn’t I make the horse’s stall into a mini loft and just live there? Honestly though, it’s given me balance in my life that I desperately needed, and that is priceless.
7. Is there anything equestrian-related that you haven’t tried yet, but would like to?
I’ve never tried trick riding, that’s something that I think would be a lot of fun.
8. In 2007 you were a guest star in Supernatural (Heart); what was it like working with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles?
I’m not sure what to say. They are both so ugly. They were hard to look at. Imagine two weeks of that!!! LOL.
9. What’s your favourite behind-the-scenes story to tell?
Well, you’ll have to ask Michael Rosenbaum for the whole story, but this is what I’ll say about it. I had the Smallville props department make me something pretty hideous looking to put in his trailer toilet, crushed a couple of hard boiled eggs, hid them behind the toilet, turned up the heat, and left. The rest is history.
10. Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share?
I just finished shooting season 4 of Rogue for Direct TV/ATT Uverse where I play an ADA, Regan Faulkner.
