108 SIDELINES MARCH 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jan Westmark-Allan
High school senior Genay Starr Vaughn grew up
riding in California, where her mom, Michele Vaughn, is
a dressage rider and trainer. “My mom started riding
dressage when I was little which had a big infuence on
me. I started riding when I was four years old,” Genay
said. “When Sacramento fooded my mom rescued a
blind Mini stallion from someone’s garden shed and we
named him Rescue. I used to ride him around bareback.”
Genay’s family owns Starr Vaughn Equestrian Center
in Elk Grove, California, a premier boarding and event
facility that offers everything from Pony Club rallies to
hunter and jumper shows to USDF dressage shows. “I
stopped doing Pony Club about four years ago because
I no longer had a horse that I could jump cross country,”
Genay said, adding that she is now focused on dressage.
With her dressage career in front of her, Genay’s
family began looking for a new horse and the 17 year
old rider became the proud owner of a 10-year-old
Hanoverian stallion named Donarweiss. The beautiful
black stallion spent the past six years under the tutelage
of Hilltop Farm Trainer Chris Hickey. During that time
he earned the title of 2004 USDF Horse of the Year for
Three Year Old Colts & Geldings and was Champion of
his 30-day Stallion Performance Test. He debuted at the
Grand Prix level in 2011.
“Donarweiss is amazing and I love everything about
him, especially his personality,” Genay said, adding
that she believes she loves dressage because she is a
perfectionist. “I love that in dressage you become one
with the horse and that you never stop learning new
things. I love how connected you become with your
horse and how you begin to know every feeling and how
they know exactly how you are feeling, too. It’s almost
like you and your horse are becoming one person.”
A Rising Star: Genay Vaughn
Genay and Donarweiss at home
All photos by Tamara Torti
“Donarweiss tries his hardest for me every day and is so fun to
ride,” Genay says
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