Quality Draft and Draft-Cross Horses for Driving and Riding
About Us
Learn a bit about our farm and the people associated with it.
Our Trainer
Tanya MacKeand, ADS, BVDC, MLM, USPC B level, started her riding career at age 3 in Surrey, England. Tanya was given her first horse, a 9 year old off the track Thoroughbred. She competed 'Lisl' through Preliminary level in Eventing as well as qualifying her for the National United States Pony Club Championship in Dressage.
Many horses have enriched her life and enabled her to compete in Hunters, Dressage, Eventing, and Fox Hunting. Her latest love is Driving. Prior to retiring her school-master driving horse from serious competition, CWF Isabelle competed CDE through Preliminary level. Isabelle and Tanya have competed in many CDEs including the prestigious Laurels at Landhope. Her love of horses has taken her through many competitions and in to the winners' circle many times.
Tanya credits her early education from the United States Pony Club with the solid foundation she has when it comes to the care and well-being of her horses. Tanya graduated from Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, with an Equine Science degree in 1992. Tanya has experience in large animal nursing while working for New Bolton Center. Tanya currently resides in Southern Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the farm she and her husband share with horses, cats, ducks, and many rescue dogs. Tanya can be seen driving the fields and roads of Lancaster County with any one (or more) of her driving horses, and a few dogs in tow.
Our Farrier
The other half of our partnership is Scott. Scott grew up on a horse farm in Maryland and has never really known life without horses. While Scott isn't quite as much of a driver himself, he is a groom and navigator at most driving events. He enjoys riding, and often has one of our horses under saddle on our regular "ride n drives".
Scott apprenticed as a farrier in Maryland and southeastern PA. Although he has a full time job "off of the farm", he takes care of our shoeing needs and those of some of our close friends.
Our Farm
Our farm is a modest 11 acres in southern Lancaster county, a stone's throw from the Susquehanna river. We are surrounded mostly by Amish farms and land leased to farmers by large electric utilities who have hydroelectric dams on the river.The area is rolling terrain, mostly open fields with large woodlots in between. We are on a bluff above the river and can reach the scenic riverfront with about a one mile drive.
View of the river from nearby Susquehannock State Park
Part of the year we drive and ride in the fallow fields around us. At other times we have to stick to boundary roads and trails through the woods. At any time of year we have access to miles and miles of paved and gravel roads. Thankfully most (auto) drivers in the area are considerate of horse traffic on the roads, due to the large Amish population.
We purchased our property as an escape from the pressures and expense of southern Chester county. While Chester county is an equestrian mecca, "SoLanCo" keeps us close to the action and accessible to major events, while yielding a slower pace of life. We love it!