Stafford Carriage Driving

Coatesville, PA
By Rebecca Eddy

Suzy Stafford’s meteoric rise to success in carriage driving hasn’t been without plenty of hard work, determination and sacrifice. Her interest in horses began at a young age. She rose through the ranks of the United States Pony Club in her early years, where she excelled in combined training. As the only self-described “horsey person” in her family she purchased driving lessons as a gift for her dad one year on Father’s Day. Her thinking was that it would be a way to include them in her love of horses. His previously expressed interest in draft horses made driving seem like a perfect fit for him even though it was something that she never considered for herself. “Honestly, I never thought I would be interested in doing it myself. I thought, ‘This is what old people do with horses,’” she says with a slight laugh.
In the meantime, she completed her American Riding Instructors Program certification in dressage and combined training in 1998. She was also running a boarding and training facility in Maryland specializing in pony club before a leg injury ended her riding career. Knowing her skills in the saddle were no longer viable, Suzy began looking for a new outlet. Her competitive drive was channeled towards a new equine sport: carriage driving. She explains, “With no option of riding I realized that driving might be what I needed.”
Her father’s limited experience with driving, which included the purchase of a driving horse, led Suzy to begin working with seven-time United States National Pair Combined Driving Champion, Lisa Singer. She started off as a groom for Lisa… helping her at the shows – grooming and braiding – since Suzy was already familiar with those aspects from the eventing world. “I took two lessons with Lisa and decided that if I was going to do [carriage driving], I was going to do it right. I ended up buying a pony who came with the cart and harness and started driving every day.”
Through her weekly lessons, Suzy’s outlook on driving changed. “I really began to enjoy it and decided this is what I was going to do.” With that first pony she competed for a few years before making the hard decision of closing down the barn in Maryland and moving closer to Lisa to work for her full-time beginning in 2001. “I turned into a sponge,” laughs Suzy. “I helped her with young horses and gained tons of experience with my own ponies.”
Suzy also jumped at every opportunity to work with as many different breeds in both pleasure showing and combined driving. Working alongside Lisa as her assistant trainer, Suzy was able to hone her skills to become a noted trainer, instructor and clinician, which culminated in the opening of Stafford Carriage Driving. The training center is located in the rolling hills of historic Chester County, PA, from April through December, and in sunny Aiken, SC, from January through April. The training facility specializes in the education of horse and driver while instilling safety, proficiency and the competitive edge in clients.
With just over a decade of involvement in the world of carriage driving, Suzy hasn’t forgotten where she started – at the beginning. “I enjoy introducing new people to the sport,” she explains. “I found the sport due to my physical limitations. I’ve learned that there is another option for horse people who have those limitations or assume they are coming in the future. Driving allows me to introduce new people without a huge investment up front. They can join me in the carriage for a ride and learn the ropes.”
Suzy has certainly learned the ropes well having now competed at the Worlds three times. In 2005 she won an individual gold medal with Sybil and Wayne Huphrey’s Welsh cob gelding, Cefnoakpark Bouncer. This was the first time that team USA won an individual gold in combined driving. The pair returned in 2007 to help the U.S. World Championship team earn a bronze medal in Denmark. 2009 found Suzy behind the Morgan pony mare, Courage To Lead, driving to an individual bronze medal for owner Bev Lesher. Katy and Suzy enjoyed National Championship titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
This year Suzy has her sights set on Worlds with a new pony, Miss Josephine. Josie is a 2002 bay Morab mare owned by Suzy. Originally part of a team, Josie started competed in her first event as a single at the Laurels in Pennsylvania last September where she won the Intermediate class. “I was asked to drive her by a fellow competitor who wanted to sell her and needed to get a competition record on her. After the Laurels, I realized that I really liked her. I’m a mare person anyways and we clicked, so I decided to buy her.” Josie’s ground covering stride and love for a challenge make her marathon scores strong but Suzy expects that her dressage scores will become quite strong as well with more experience. The pair will head to Sunshine State for the first selection trial then to Little Everglades before hitting Live Oak International. “If all goes well, we will go to Southern Pines in the middle of April,” states Suzy.
While the pair only needs to finish or complete one of the aforementioned shows to be qualified for Worlds, Suzy believes that in order to be competitive in Europe, you need to be in the top two places at each show. “That’s my personal goal,” she emphasizes.
Suzy notes that getting to Worlds this year with a pony she owns herself will present a myriad of new challenges. “In the past my pony’s owners were very supportive. Their vested interest was in the animal – both emotionally and financially. I’m fortunate to have corporate sponsors such as Triple Crown and Cosequin to keep the monthly expenses down, but I will have to do some personal fundraising this year as well.”
Financing their way to Europe is a minor obstacle in the grand scheme. As one who has pushed on when others would have given up, Suzy is the epitome of the old adage, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” For more information about Suzy Stafford and Stafford Carriage Driving, please visit www.staffordcarriagedriving.com.