SHOW HORSE TRAINING

Carriage Lane Farm and its customers love to show their horses in competition and being able to perform well in the show ring requires expert training. Owners and trainers John and Tammie Conatser have a record of excellence, having trained many of the Saddlebred and Hackney Pony world's top horses. Carriage Lane-trained entries are consistently in the top ribbons at local, regional and national competitions and many World's and National Champions have been developed under our direction.

Speaking about John Conatser, fellow trainer and long-time friend Bill Knight once related to Saddle Horse Report, "... His horses are turned out immaculately. To me, there is no better trainer living than John. He is an extremely smart person with loads of knowledge to go along with his talent. If he has a point or an idea, it is worth listening to... John has integrity to the ninth degree."

One thing you can be certain of when you put your horse in training with Carriage Lane is that you and your horse will be well-prepared for the show ring. John handles the bulk of the training duties, while Tammie manages the breeding operations and assists with jogging, lining and riding horses.

Customer Betsy Thomas, who brought CH New York's Perfect Gift, aka Rudy, to Carriage Lane in 2005, saw her horse win multiple World's and National Champion titles in the Three-Gaited division under the CLF banner. After John had already successfully shown the horse to a World's Championship, it was Betsy's turn to show. Although nervous, she felt ready when the time came.

"I had been nervous for a year," she told Saddle Horse Report. "John told me I would only do as well as the amount of effort I put into it. I bought California Girl for a practice horse and to show until Rudy was ready for me. I went to Kentucky every other week so when I showed Rudy I wouldn't embarrass John or myself." She added that John's coaching goes beyond building physical riding skills. "John is a wonderful person — a good friend and very professional. He and I just hit it off. He has given me more confidence with my horses than anyone I've ever met... he's good at doing that without being obvious."

Click here to learn more about Carriage Lane's Past & Current Champions.

To learn more about Carriage Lane Farm's current Horses & Riders, click here.

Click here to learn about our Breeding Program and Young Prospects.