Testimonials
I have been riding with Carrie for the past three years and she has taught me from beginner to currently going Training Level in eventing. My horse, Solace, was a very green 4 yoTB mare and I was 13 when we started with Carrie. We were kind of a wild pair! I took lessons from Carrie and learned about dressage and jumping and together we trained Solace. Last summer I rode in my first event in the Beginner Novice Division at Fair Hill and won! I steadily competed and rode and in March 2009 traveled to Aiken SC to ride Novice in my first recognized event where we placed first. This Fall I moved up to training and Solace and I are having a great time. I like riding with Carrie because she makes it clear to me exactly what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong. She challenges me to try new things and never lets me take the easy way out. Carrie is the best trainer I could ever hope for.
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I first brought my 8 yo QH gelding to Carrie because he was scared of water which meant we weren't going to get very far in eventing! She helped him to get over his water phobia and she began teaching me to event. I had some bad habits to overcome and my horse was an ex-western reining horse who had never jumped before, so the two of us had a lot to learn! Carrie had me eventing within a month placing 2nd at our first event. We've never looked back and have been competing ever since. Shiner has learned to love jumping and he will go through water now! I am ready to move up to training level which I never could have done without Carrie's help. Whenever I don't understand something, she can exaggerate it and SHOW me what I'm doing. We laugh a lot. I am so glad Shiner's fears brought me to Carrie!
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Carrie takes excellent care of the horses at her beautiful home and is very experienced in training young horses. Carrie rode my young Rotspon/Matcho Hanoverian mare for two years at DAD and always placed well. In 2006 she rode Reina to a Blue ribbon at Devon!
I know that Carrie will take the same time and effort for my young Hochadel/Lauries Crusader mare when she is ready for her training.
Karen Mingle
Holly Hill Farm
Cochranville, PA
A low ability rider or horse is considered as important as a high ability horse or rider in Carrie’s mind. She never feels any issue is beneath her and is always willing to step in and help when she’s needed. I know this from my own experience and from seeing her work with others. Carrie recently encouraged me after a hard and injuring jump fall. She encouraged me to board a plane and fly in with my saddle. She allowed me to stay at her home and use one of her horses to help me overcome my fear of jumping. Carrie was my instructor years ago when she lived in my state. She still continues to coach me as an adult amateur and offers me assistance even though I live many hours away. She has a sincere interest in her students and horses. She once told me that her love for horses is fueled by her love and concern for people. I thought that statement was beautiful as I think it sums up Carrie’s philosophy of life and business. Her skill in teaching and training is invaluable. She is physically strong and fearless. She calculates methods of conquering difficulties which is an asset in working with horses. I have been honored to have her help me with my equines and my riding. I not only consider her my instructor but also a friend. It has been a pleasure to know her.
Sincerely,
Sheila Cannon
When I first met Carrie, my daughter was in pony club. Carrie was the coach for our older "C" members. My daughter had ridden for several years and had gone thru many instructors but never found one she clicked with. We instantly noticed the connection she had with Carrie. She respected Carrie because not only did she teach and coach but she trained and competed as well.
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After interviewing a number of trainers I chose Carrie Vaughan to back my young Dutch warmblood gelding Wizard. She long lined, worked in a round pen and rode Wiz in an indoor during his first two months with her. After four months off Wiz returned to Carrie and in his next two and a half months Carrie brought Wiz along to a point where he showed in the Suitability and Materiale classes at the Fair Hill Breed show, and he was a gentleman at his first show! We followed that with a breed at Stone Tavern, the KWPN-NA kuering DG Bar Cup undersaddle class at Iron Sping and Dressage at Devon, Suitability and Materiale classes. In October Wiz entered his first dressage schooling show with an Intro and Training 1 test. All along he has been a willing participant. I thoroughly enjoyed watching his training progression. Wizard's training program involved involved not only ring work, but also nice hacks through the country side. I have ridden Wiz on some of the hacks and I can't begin to tell you how nice it is to ride a three year old out and not be tense. My daughter and I have throuoghly enjoyed our lessons on Wiz, Carrie has given us a great deal of insight into his training program. All said, the most important point in Carrie's training program is a happy horse. I look forward to the future with Wiz knowing he wasstarted out the right way!
Lita Pace
(Wizard is still with Carrie and is looking forward to a successful 4 y.o. competition season)