by Cheryl Erpelding • photo: Susan J. Stickle
Genay Vaughn, of Elk Grove, CA is currently showing and training in Wellington, FL, with her 2022 CDS HOY Grand Prix horse Gino, as she is working towards her goal of representing the U.S. in international competitions.
Genay’s score of 73.641%, earned her the coveted California Dressage Society’s Horse of the Year title. She qualified for the September 2022 championship show on her three tests scores after she returned from showing earlier last year in FL, working with top international dressage German Team rider Frederic Wandres. Michele Vaughn’s Gino, who is a 12 year old KWPN gelding, joins her other international mount, Fleur Noir WSHS, a 9 year old Hanoverian mare, owned jointly with her mom, Michele Vaughn, as being selected for the Kundrun USEF Dressage Development Program.
The Aim of the Kundrun USEF Dressage Development Program is to provide strategic guidance and resources to selected athletes with the perceived ability to make the Podium or contribute to Podium scores, within the following two quadrennials. This program is overseen by the USEF Development Coach with the assistance of the USEF Dressage Youth and Young Horse Coaches as well as the USEF Dressage Technical Advisor.
Michele purchased Gino at age 6 in Holland. Gino qualified for the finals in Nürberger Burg Pokal and Louisdor cup at ages 8 and 9. Genay states, “The judge’s comments have noted Gino as having a ton of power which shows in the tougher movements of piaffe and passage where his quality shines as he excels in these harder movements, and is very impressive to watch.”
Genay, who is now 28, is splitting her time between her family’s training facility Starr Vaughn Equestrian in Elk Grove, CA and FL as she brings along her talented dressage horses and works to earning a spot on a future US Dressage Team.
To follow Genay’s successes and to learn more about Genay and Starr Vaughn Equestrian Center, visit www.svequestrian.com and follow her on Instagram @genayvaughn.