A Double Win for Driver Suzy Stafford at the Nature’s Coast Horse Driving Trial in Florida

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PVF Peace Of Mind and Stafford in the water Complex at Nature’s Coast Trial. Credit: Pics Of You

Bronson, FL – The sunny, warm climate has boded well for Stafford in her first competition on the 2013 season. Driving “PVF Peace Of Mind”, a 6 year old Morgan mare owned by Stafford, the team brought home the Best overall dressage score of the competition, best cones that led them to the Overall Division Champion. “I love everything about this mare; she is clever, intelligent and loves the job. No doubt, a talented young horse,” says Suzy.

Her second turn-out was just as successful driving J.P., a Hanoverian gelding owned by Diane Ameter who was only to be defeated in dressage by Stafford’s mare by .2 of a point. “J.P. came to me for training and I am ecstatic with his rapid progress,” says Stafford. The pair went on to double clean cones, winning their division. “I am excited for Diane to take the reins at the next show and carry on a productive and successful season. J.P. truly wants to please and has a great work ethic. I am looking forward to watching the partnership grow between the two of them,” says Stafford.

Stafford has a long season ahead of her with the goal of making the 2013 United States World Pony Driving Team to be held in Pau France November 1-4 with a pony named TTE Tea Time, a Morgan gelding owned by Trout Walk Farm. “The selections trials start here in Florida with the first one coming quick; it will be a long season for the ponies as the championship date is quite late this year. The key will be peaking myself and the pony at the appropriate times in the season,” Stafford said.

Gold medalist Suzy Stafford made history in 2005 when she won the first Individual Gold medal at the World Pony Driving Championships for the United States. She has continued to medal at the World Championships in 2005, 2007, 2009 and most recently in 2011.

In 2009, she was awarded the Becky Hart Trophy by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and she also received the prestigious honor of being named an Equestrian of Honor by the USEF. The Chronicle of the Horse named Stafford the 2009 Horseman of the Year; Stafford and Courage To Lead were crowned the 2009 National Single Pony Champion at the Kentucky Classic CDE. Courage To Lead was also named a Horse of Honor by the USEF, one of only five horses in the United States to receive the honor.

“I have a great team of sponsors and owners who really support me, both financially and through products,” Stafford said. “I appreciate all that my sponsors do for me. Traveling overseas with all of the equipment, carriage and horse is extremely expensive but I have the backing of my sponsors and clients. We are a team and I am so grateful for that.”

Stafford is a highly sought after clinician and also trains horses and teaches students out of her Stafford Carriage Driving facility. To learn more about Stafford, visit her website at www.staffordcarriagedriving.com.

For more information contact:
Suzy Stafford
Stafford Carriage Driving
www.staffordcarriagedriving.com
ponydriverss@aol.com
1-302-540-5162

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