I grew up and lived in Florence, SC. All of my family were loggers so most of my childhood was spent out in the woods playing with my twin brother. I have always loved horses and I started off my riding career when I got my first horse at the age of 13. She was a 5 year old large pony named Delilah. I started out riding western and switched to English because the horse I had was already trained for jumping, in which an English saddle is used. Within a year of riding I started competing at horse shows with Delilah.
My first job was at a skating rink in my hometown at the age of 15 and I worked there until I joined the military. I also got my second horse when I was 15 and he was an 11 year old imported Oldenburg from Germany named Ritzenhoff. This horse really helped me move up to the bigger jumps and higher rated horse shows. Ritzenhoff and I showed on 5 different horse show circuits at the same time on the east coast. My high school years were spent going to school during the week and spending all my afternoons at the barn riding. Every weekend I was either at a horse show competing or working at the skating rink. I graduated from The Kings Academy in 2015, receiving scholarships for my good grades. One of the scholarships included riding for St. Andrews University’s hunt seat team.
I attended St. Andrews in Laurinburg, NC for my freshman year from 2015-2016. The university allowed me to bring my show horse, Ritzenhoff, with me to stay at the college’s equestrian center. During my freshman year I competed on the college hunt seat team and I also competed with my personal horse at other shows. In May 2016 I enlisted into the Marine Corps and sold my horse Ritzenhoff, but kept my pony Delilah. My Military Occupational Specialty was a 6483, 1 level Avionics technician. I arrived at my first duty station on June 27, 2017 in Jacksonville, NC where I worked on Marine Corps Air Station New River for 2 years and 4 months as an aviation electrician and I loved my job, as well as the people with whom I worked. Once I got accepted to ride on the Mounted Color Guard, I transferred to Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif. in October of 2019. Here with the MCG, I have the opportunity to work with the horses and outstanding Marines representing the Marine Corps at events, but I also get to enjoy the day-to-day duties like feeding and tending to the horses, stalls, and administrative duties.
Sgt Amy Carter is back in her original MOS, and her time on the Color Guard was from October 2019 – July 2020. We wish her well in all her endeavors.