Star Horse Farm

"If you are interested in learning riding from a highly qualified trainer in a relaxed and positive environment, I enthusiastically recommend Kelly Vaughan! My family also boards Mia, our Warlander mare, at Star Horse Farm where she has flourished in a safe, caring and spacious environment. My introduction to Kelly Vaughan occurred in 2009 when my daughter began riding lessons with her at her family’s riding stables in Houston, Foxfire Farms on South Post Oak Road. In 2014, Kelly found us our sweet, beautiful, powerful Warlander mare, Mia, who we purchased that year and boarded at Foxfire. My daughter continued lessons with Kelly on Mia and Kelly helped train Mia riding her once a week, starting in 2016. Kelly took my daughter and several of her other students to local shows. After my daughter left for college and the Vaughan family sold Foxfire Farms in 2018, Kelly bought Star Horse Farms in Hempstead, Texas and we moved Mia to board her at Kelly’s new barn. Almost immediately after the move to Star Horse, I noticed a change in Mia’s temperament. To my untrained eye Mia seemed more relaxed and content, having a large pasture to share with the other mares and longer turnout time. I retired in 2018 and I began taking dressage lessons with Kelly in 2019. Having never ridden previously, we started lessons on a longe line and began with the fundamentals of riding and have worked up from that point on a near-weekly basis, weather and travel schedules permitting, for the past two and a half years. My skill level has grown enough that I can now ride Mia and currently Kelly is working with me on Training Level 1 skills. Two things are immediately apparent with Kelly. First, Kelly loves riding and she wants you to love it as much as she does. Second, Kelly loves horses and likewise, she wants you to love them too emphasizing the importance of the horse/rider connection. When you have a lesson with Kelly she is a source of encouragement, celebrating your successful execution of what she is asking you to do and gently correcting you as needed. Kelly makes lessons fun! There’s no scolding or judgement involved during a lesson, it’s a completely positive experience. In some cases, Kelly will show you physically the feel of what she is teaching you, whether it is relaxing your legs or what your contact from the reins should feel like. Kelly has taught me everything I have needed to know about grooming Mia and attending to her health. Mia loves Kelly and as she does with all the horses at her barn, she loves Mia. The best example of Kelly’s love for Mia that I can offer is when Mia experienced right hind lameness. After a visit from the veterinarian and a recommendation to transport Mia to Texas A&M in College Station for examination by their equine orthopedic team, Kelly trailered Mia there the following day, in a hailstorm, no less, no questions asked. Without Kelly I don’t know how I would have gotten Mia to College Station. Mia required surgery and Kelly again drove to College Station to meet me there and trailer Mia back to Star Horse Farm. Post-surgery, Kelly changed Mia’s bandages and administered medications as directed by the A&M surgical team. During Mia’s rehabilitation from her surgery, Kelly was a source of constant assistance and advice. Nine months after her surgery, Mia was cleared to return to normal work, a happy ending that wouldn’t have happened without Kelly’s help. That’s what I have received from boarding Mia with Kelly."