THE CARRIAGE LANE STORY
John Conatser, along with his wife, Tammie, is the owner of Carriage Lane Farm, an American Saddlebred and Hackney Pony training and breeding operation located in Nicholasville, Kentucky. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Aerospace Administration, John also holds a private pilot’s license. He has been involved with Saddlebreds since his youth, having learned under his father, Hall of Fame Trainer Marvin Conatser.
Prior to opening his own facility, John served as manager/trainer for some of the country’s top Saddlebred and Hackney pony farms, including: Seymour Farm, Bent Tree Farm and Man O’ War Farm (Saddlebred division). Through the years John has specialized in preparing amateur and youth riders for the show ring and presently has riders and drivers competing on the national level in various divisions.
When John relocated to Nicholasville, he was joined in the daily farm and training operations by his wife, Tammie, A graduate of Centre College and the University of Kentucky College of Law, Tammie was a practicing attorney for 10 years, but is also a lifelong Saddlebred enthusiast and exhibitor. She was a World's Champion Equitation and juvenile rider and has been responsible for expanding Carriage Lane's breeding operations.
Together, John and Tammie Conatser have moved Carriage Lane Farm into the show horse industry's upper echelon and built an operation that consistently turns out many of the best Open, Amateur and Young Horses in the business.
John with his parents, Elizabeth and Marvin Conatser
John with a young Gabe Deknatel, who rode with John as a junior exhibitor. Now an elite amateur rider, Gabe has won multiple world titles under John's direction. He was unbeaten in 2013, winning the People's Choice Award for Amateur Five-Gaited Gentlemen with CH The Daily Lottery.
John Conatser showing WGC Seymour's Finest Hour to the Three-Gaited World's Grand Championship in 1980.
A talented junior exhibitor, and later amateur rider, Tammie won three classes at the 1979 Kentucky State Fair with Social Raft under the direction of Jim B. and Jimmy Robertson.
Swish, one of John and Tammie's favorite performers, was one of the most decorated five-gaited horses of his time, winning multiple world titles for his owner, Carole Hillenbrand. He is now retired to pasture at Carriage Lane Farm.
John and Tammie are devoted University of Kentucky fans.
Tammie & John and customers celebrating Betsy Thomas' birthday at Bonnie Blue National.
John and Tammie went "incognito" at the 2013 UPHA Convention in Savannah, GA.
John played in a Nashville band, The Esoterics, in high school and college.
John Conatser, who has more than 60 consecutive years of attendance at the World's Championship Horse Show this year, was inducted into the show's Hall of Fame in 2014.
Beginning her show career with Jim B. Robertson at nine years old, Tammie remembers her first blue ribbon as if it were yesterday, saying, "I cried and cried and I think there were tears in Jim B's eyes, too, knowing how much it meant to me." She won the 10-&-Under Equitation at Orlando Charity riding Call Me Sensational.
John showing CH New York's Perfect Gift at Louisville
Tammie earned the Three-Gaited 14-&-Under World's Championship aboard Lasting Love under the direction of Sam Brannon in 1980.
John receiving the ribbon and trophy prior to making his first victory pass.
John Conatser and Betsy Thomas accepted the Best in Show Award for CH New York's Perfect Gift at the 65th Annual Midwest Charity Horse Show. This award has also been presented to another CLF star, CH The Daily Lottery.
Shown above with Paul Treiber, Callaway's Criterion, aka Critter, was one of the first horses Tammie handled when she became a professional. Critter became a show ring star who earned a coveted World's Champion of Champions title in the Five-Gaited division.
Undefeated in 2014, Rose Arbor Destiny earned a unanimous choice of the judges as the ASR National Futurity 3-year-Old Fine Harness World's Champion with John Conatser at the whip and then ended the season as the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Grand Champion.
John presenting CH The Daily Lottery to the judges during stripping in the Amateur Five-Gaited World's Championship.
Carriage Lane's breeding operation has become more prominent under Tammie's direction.
A dream came true for Tammie when CH Amelia Heir Cat, pictured above with John winning the 3-Year-Old class at The American Royal, joined the broodmare band at Carriage Lane Farm.