Carriage Hill Farms’ Unique Program Has Something For Every Equestrian All Levels
Nestled just outside of Wellington, Carriage Hill Farms is far from the typical equestrian program. Ranging from boutique competition barns to busy lesson programs, it is not often that one barn is able to accommodate everyone. However, Carriage Hill Farms has come to be known as a one-stop shop for South Florida equestrians, providing the rare opportunity for horse enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels to gain valuable experience and receive world-class instruction.
Carriage Hill Farms was founded in 1979 by Jane Fennessy after she moved from Michigan to South Florida. Fennessy worked tirelessly from the beginning to build a brand and training program based on principles of ethics and passion, and the belief that there is a much greater lesson to be learned from equestrian sports than how to win. Through her meticulous process, Fennessy built Carriage Hill Farms from the ground up.
“I grew up taking riding lessons in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. I always knew I wanted to do something professionally with horses, so when I eventually got sick of the cold weather in Michigan, I packed up my van and moved to South Florida with $1,000 in my pocket. I lived in my van for a year until I could get on my feet,” recalled Fennessy, who is now the owner and head trainer at Carriage Hill Farms. “When I created Carriage Hill, my imagination was not strong enough to ever dream up what we have grown to be today. Amazingly, we have our lesson program, an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team, high school and middle school Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) teams, and we show horses from the local level, all the way up to the international levels in Europe.”
Over the past 41 years, Fennessy has created an all-encompassing program that takes a team of nine strong professionals dedicated to the care and education of every horse and rider. Carriage Hill is a successful, multi-faceted business with a one-of-a-kind teaching program that caters to first-time riders all the way up to seasoned athletes at its home base, a 200-plus acre facility with four show-sized rings, a grass field, a dressage ring, a euro track and a hot walker, and a management team that lives on-site.
“No horse is too big or too small, or too good or too bad to be worked with, and the same goes for the riders,” Carriage Hill trainer Meredith Gallagher said. “Everybody is at their own level, and at Carriage Hill, we really work on improving that level, whatever it may be.”
Carriage Hill is the home of the Florida Atlantic University Equestrian Team, an IHSA team that competes against other universities throughout Florida and Georgia, and the Carriage Hill Farms IEA middle and high school teams, which provide a platform for students of all riding levels to have an opportunity to compete, regardless of horse ownership.
“We truly have a place for everyone here,” Carriage Hill trainer Andrea Howell explained. “From the beginner rider, which is usually around five years old and up, to the top international ranks, there is a little bit for everyone here. Whether you want to own, lease, show or even just ride once a week, Carriage Hill is here to facilitate that.”
Outside of the home base operations, Carriage Hill’s team can be seen at horse shows across the country and the globe. With more than 40 show horses in their care, the expansive competition team has a long list of accolades to its name from many of the most prestigious horse shows across the country, as well as many Longines Global Champions Tour stops around the world.
“What makes us unique is that we really do teach from the very first lunge line lesson, all the way up to Grand Prix and international jumping,” Fennessy said. “Not many farms have that scope to accommodate all of those levels, so we take a lot of pride in providing that in a place that is less than 20 miles from the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World.”
All together, the layers that make up Carriage Hill Farms are quite the undertaking for a single farm to handle. However, blended seamlessly together with the help of the dedicated staff, incredible horses and spectacular clients, Carriage Hill Farms is a family farm with a legacy that holds a special place in the hearts of so many equestrians in South Florida and beyond. No matter how big or small, there is room for all.
“Winston Churchill once said, ‘There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.’ And for me, there is nothing more true,” Fennessy said. “We all need our daily dose of horse, and I hope that no matter what that dose may look like for people, they are always welcome to find it here at Carriage Hill Farms.”
Learn more about Carriage Hill Farms at www.carriagehillfarms.com.
