About us
“Horses are amazing mirrors that reflect who we are and show us what is important in life. The ‘Star’ in Star Horse represents striving for success through riding and relationships with these wonderful animals.”
Kelly Vaughan, Owner & Trainer
Kelly has been riding horses and teaching riders since she was 13 years old. She started at Foxfire Farms, a family-owned boarding, lessons and training barn that opened September 1, 1986. Kelly started in hunter/jumper but recognizing the importance of dressage for training of horse and rider she began studying dressage at age 15. She has ridden with top dressage trainers Lurena Bell and Hilda Gurney and has ridden in clinics with Charles de Kunffy and has trained and shown horses through FEI. When Foxfire was sold December 2018, she purchased Hunt Farm in Hempstead, Texas and established Star Horse Farm as a training and breeding facility offering limited lessons and boarding.
As a trainer and coach, her goal is to teach riders to have a relationship with horses that leads to personal growth of both horse and human. As a breeder she strives to breed smart, well-conformed, trainable horses and start them with a solid foundation in dressage. From that beginning, they can branch into any discipline and be good partners with their owners.
Shea
Shea was my greatest and most patient teacher. I started riding him when he was four years old and purchased him when he was 8. A 16.3 hand Hannovarian cross, Shea is hugely talented, but had major anxieties, conformational challenges and a hot temperament. There were no shortcuts with Shea. He taught me attention to detail and his huge movement made me stronger and more confident in the saddle. I had to learn to let go of my ego – it wasn’t my way that dictated his training, but finding out what worked for him. With the expert guidance, wisdom and generosity of Lurena Bell, Shea was trained to Intermediate but because of his extreme show anxiety was only shown through 4th level. After earning my bronze medal on Shea, I retired him from the show arena. Today at the age of 23, Shea is excited to start a second career helping up-and-coming dressage riders school advanced movements. He is fascinated by small children and loves to get treats and affection from everyone he meets.
Star Horse Farm
Situated on 20 acres in Hempstead, Texas, Star Horse Farm features large pastures for turnout, a pond, a lighted outdoor dressage arena and a large lighted round pen suitable for lunging, working with beginner riders and training horses to trailer load. Star Horse Farm offers a five-stall main bar with a tack room and a lounge with restroom, a separate four-stall barn, three outdoor stalls with paddocks, five outdoor covers with turnout pastures and an 8.5-acre mare turnout pasture that is available for riding. Star Horse Farm has sandy loam soil with excellent drainage.
Coming soon: Dressage arena on grass
