President of Lauren Hill Equestrian, Inc. and General Manager of Seaborne Farm, Inc.
Lauren’s desire to ride horses began at a young age growing up on her family’s Connemara breeding farm. She went on to compete some of the breeding operations foundation ponies extensively in the hunter ring. As an active member of the United States Pony Club she earned her C-2 rating and attended Show Jumping, Dressage, Tetrathelon, and Combined Training Rallies. She has trained with notables such as Canadian Olympian Harold Chopping, South African Olympian Mark Stopford, top equitation rider and r Hunter Judge Jennifer Johnston, French Canadian Olympian Gilles Casavant, R Hunter Judge George Wallace, R Hunter Judge and IHSA Coach Thom Pollard, Dr. Melyni Worth (Ph. D., P.A.S., BASAI Britain, Equine Nutrition), and 3-Day Eventer Laura Patterson. During her junior and amateur career she successfully competed at the “C” and “A” show levels where she earned many year end high point awards and equitation final titles. In 1999 she was the NCHJA “C” Children’s Hunter and Equitation Age group 15-17 Year End Champion and the winner of the Triangle Farms Equitation Cup Finals. In 2000 she continued her success with the NCHJA “A” Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Year End Champion award, was named HITS Culpeper two-time Best Amateur Rider and Circuit Reserve Champion, and was a Marshall and Sterling League Adult Hunter Classic National Qualifier.In 2003 she went on to win the Brian Jones Adult Equitation Medal Finals with farm stallion Seaborne's Schooner as well as earning high score awards with the American Sport Pony Registry and the American Connemara Pony Society. Lauren graduated from North Carolina State University in 2007 with degrees in Agribusiness Management and Livestock Management. While attending, she held executive positions with the NCSU equestrian team as sponsor chair and president. During her time riding for the team she earned Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Reserve High Point Open Level Equitation Rider in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007.In 2006-2007 she was an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Open Level Equitation National Qualifier finishing as one of the top eighteen intercollegiate riders in the nation. Lauren has been featured in Equus Magazine and Pony Enthusiast Magazine with Seaborne Farms stallion Seaborne's Schooner in which the two were described as an “outstanding sport pony and rider pair” as well as featured in Hunter and Sport Magazine in an article titled “Finesse Over Fences” in which she was pictured as an example of a polished amateur rider. Most notably Lauren appeared in Practical Horseman in a George Morris photo critique titled “Four Nicely Done Releases” in which he referred to her as a “stylist”. Lauren’s philosophy as a trainer and a coach is to establish a trusting bond between herself, horse, and rider from which to build the basics of the American System of Forward Riding. In addition to establishing a solid foundation as a rider she is a positive role model and strives to teach her students to have good sportsmanship and what it means to be a good horseman or woman. Her students learn to understand horse behavior, properly care for their horse and use their equipment at home as well as at shows. Though she has a competitive focus, it is not all about the ribbons. Lauren’s lessons focus on correct hunter seat equitation and rider effectiveness. Her classical methods allow for customized training plans to help each rider achieve their goals. Lauren has produced horse and rider pairs that are consistent winners of their respective levels at NCHJA “C” and USEF “A and AA” rated shows. She also has experience with assisting pregnant mares during foaling, starting the foals using natural horsemanship, and training horses and ponies that have competed very successfully in both hunters and combined training. Her versatility as a rider, knowledge of horses, and attention to detail makes her an invaluable tool for the horse and rider wishing to advance their skills or become more competitive in the show ring.
At this time, Lauren is accepting horses in training and students at Seaborne Farm as well as Sapphire Farm. Prospective students (and parents) should be prepared to set riding and competition goals. Please feel free to contact Lauren or Denise Hill at Seaborne Farm by e-mail or by phone if you are interested in setting up a time to meet with her or to have an evaluation ride.
