About

Suzy Stafford's interest in horses began at a young age. She rose through the ranks of United States Pony Club in the her early years, where she excelled in combined training. In 1998, she completed American Riding Instructors Program certification in dressage and combined training. After a leg injury ended her riding career, she channeled her competitive drive towards a new equine sport: carriage driving.

In 2001, Stafford began working with seven-time United States National Pair Combined Driving Champion Lisa Singer and took every opportunity to work with many different breeds in both pleasure showing and combined driving. Stafford soon became Singer’s assistant trainer and honed her skills to become a noted trainer, instructor, and clinician.

Stafford now competes on the national and international stage in the breed show ring as well as open riding and driving venues across the country. Year after year Suzy continues to add many championship performances and medal finishes.

Staying at the top of one's game means working with the best, and Stafford has trained with many world champion drivers. Setting a solid foundation of basic skills for students is a priority for Stafford, who helps them gain confidence and proficiency. Teaching at her two training locations, Ocala, Fla., and Chesapeake City, Md., as well as traveling to clinics and giving seminars, enables her to share her knowledge with other driving enthusiasts and competitive drivers.

Career Highlights

2017

  • Recipient of the FEI Silver Badge Of Honor

  • Three-time IFSHA World Champion Friesian, Part-Bred with Dreangait's Bayfyre

  • Two-time IFSHA World Champion Friesian with Sarabella Fan Leandra

  • Eight-time IFSHA World Champion Friesian, Driving with Isobel Ypjke het Kasteel

  • Recipient of the FHANA Presidents Award

  • Recipient of the FHANA Performance Driving Award

  • PVF Peace Of Mind was replicated into a Breyer Horse Model

  • PVF Peace Of Mind was crowned the new face of Triple Crown Training Feed and will be on the official bags

  • USEF Driven Dressage Horse of the Year Isobel Ypijke Het Kasteel

  • USEF Driven Dressage Horse of the Year Sarabella van Leandra (tied with Isobel)

2016

  • USEF Combined Driving Horse of The Year - PVF Peace Of Mind

  • 4 Time Friesian Carriage Driving World Champion with Sjaantje

  • Ranked 2nd in the FEI World Single Driving Horse Championships in Dressage,  Piber, Austria

  • Team member for the USEF Single Driving Horse World Championships

  • FEI Champion at Live Oak International Tournament

2015

  • 2015 USEF International Horse Of The Year- PVF Peace Of Mind

  • PVF Peace Of Mind was inducted into to Horses Hall Of Fame

  • USEF Combined Driving Horse Of the Year- PVF Peace Of Mind

  • 2015 National Single Horse Combined Driving Champion with PVF Peace Of Mind

  • 2015 FEI Champion at Live Oak International Tournament

2014

  • FEI Single Horse Champion at Live Oak International with PVF Peace Of Mind

  • Winner of the Live Oak International Hanzi Award - Awarded to the best equine performance in the opinion of the judges for the entire show

  • USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champion

  • Winner of the Milton Long Memorial Trophy for Best Marathon at the USEF National Championship

  • Driver and trainer for the highest Driven IBOP score given in North America by the FHANA Keuring

  • Champion and Reserve Champion in the North American IBOP Cup

2013

  • Winner at the FEI Live Oak International CDE with TTE Tea Time

  • Year-end Intermediate CDE Champion with TTE Tea Time

  • USEF Morgan National Carriage Champion with PVF Peace Of Mind

  • World Champion, Friesian English Pleasure with Ytsje P.

  • USEF Friesian National Carriage Driving Cones Champion with Sjaantje

  • World Champion Morgan Carriage Driving with PVF Peace Of Mind

2012

  • Was the first trainer/driver in North America to qualify and complete the Friesian Driving Sport predicate Title with Sjaantje

  • USEF Friesian National Carriage Driving Champion with Sjaantje

2011

  • "Sjaantje,” a 6-year-old Friesian mare, crowned National Champion Carriage Pleasure Driving Horse at the IFSHA World and Grand National Show while driven by Stafford

  • Won individual silver medal at the FEI World Pony Combined Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia with Josephine, a 9-year-old registered half Arabian mare.

  • Josephine and Suzy were crowned Reserve National Single Pony Champions at Live Oak International.

  • Suzy and Josie were the most consistent competitors in the three selection trials held in Florida. This secured her win of the Triple Crown on Driving sponsored by Live Oak International, Sunshine State CDE, and Little Everglades CDE.

  • Suzy is long-listed with the United States Equestrian Federation with two different equines: Josephine and Courage to Lead.

2009

  • Awarded the Becky Hart Trophy at the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pegasus Awards Dinner.

  • Received the International Morgan Horse award from The American Morgan Horse Association.

  • Named as one of only seven equestrians in the United States as an Equestrian of Honor by the USEF.

  • Long term Morgan partner Courage to Lead (Katy), owned by Bev Lesher, was named one of only five horses in the United States as a Farnam®/Platform™ Horse of Honor by the USEF.

  • Named 2009 Horseman of the Year by The Chronicle of the Horse.

  • Crowned 2009 National Single Pony Champion with Courage to Lead at the Kentucky Classic CDE.

  • Named to 2009 United States Equestrian Team with Courage to Lead and received an individual bronze medal in Germany.

2007-2008

  • Won 2008 National Single Pony Championship with Courage to Lead.

  • Won the 2008 North American FEI challenge with Courage to Lead.

  • Chosen to represent the United States in the 2007 World Single Pony Championships in Denmark as a member of the U.S. bronze medal-winning team with Sybil Humphry’s Welsh cob, Cefnoakpark Bouncer (Bouncer).

  • Awarded the coveted North American FEI Challenge Award in 2007 with Ripley, a Morgan owned by Beverly Lesher and David Forney.

2004-2005

  • Became the youngest and first American driver to win an individual gold medal in international competition driving Bouncer to first place at the 2005 World Pony Driving Championship in England.

  • Bouncer went on to become one of only five horses in the United States to be nominated as 2005 United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year.

  • Named 2005 Driver of the Year by The Chronicle of the Horse.

  • Won the 2004 National Single Pony Championship driving Courage to Lead, who went undefeated that year.

Suzy’s Competition Horses:

  • PVF Peace of Mind

  • TTE Tea Time

  • Miss Josephine

  • Courage To Lead

  • Cefnoakpark Bouncer