Daphne offers almost 30 years of classic hunter and equitation training of horse and rider.
Daphne parents were active members of the Potomac Hunt, in Potomac Maryland. Her mom comes from a long line of classic horseman that showed and won ribbons in prestigious New England shows such as Hampton Classic and The National horse show at Madison square garden. Her dad was an avid horseman with a classic “cowboy” approach to most things that had to do with horses and training. Daphne rode in pony club growing up and lessoned with local trainers. Later, she seeked instruction from some of the best. JT Tallon, Joe Fargis, Emmie Prettyman and even rode in clinics with George Morris and received her USHJA trainer certification while auditing Morris clinics.
After gradating from University of Maryland, Tulip Pond Farm was established in 1996 on the family farm. She received a degree in sociology from the University of Maryland, where she also rode in the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association). TPF was named after the original location on Tulip Lane in Potomac Maryland. It also had a pond on the property, and it is ongoing reminder of her fathers Dutch origin and the love of tulips. She trained many horse/rider teams through local championships.
TPF was relocated in 2000 to a 40 acre property in Poolesville MD bought from a Vet/TB breeder. 16 more stalls were added to the existing 8, and an indoor and outdoor ring were built from the ground up. TPF hosted IEA (Interscholastic Horse Show Association) high school and middle school team from 2009-2014 and the George Washington University IHSA team from 2007-2014. While also attending local and rated shows with clients, where she continued to train many horses and riders to circuit championships, zone qualifiers, and local medal finals.
As her love for hunters and Equitation grew, she showed her own, and her clients horses on the east coast. Some of her show horses included: Court Jester, an OTTB turned hunter and EQ horse, Oh Al, an OTTB turned jumper, Damosel, an Oldenburg mare hunter, and Si Milagro, hunter, Triple Play, OTTB, hunter, as well as several ponies with various riders. After 14 years running the farm she built in Poolesville, it was time for the warmer weather!!
In 2014, after 42 years in Maryland, she set her sights on Georgia and moved her family and 10 horses. On arrival, Daphne continued teaching riding and established an IEA team for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. She purchased a facility and rebuilt it. Offering 27 stalls, a beautiful (rebuilt on arrival) indoor arena and a small outdoor along with many amenities for horse and rider. This was sold on Aug 21 2018.
EDIT: Since the 2020 Retired Racehorse Project was canceled, Mobster Randy will be available for sale. He is eligible for the 2020 class at the 2021 RRP competition, and is signed up.
As of March 2020, Daphne has been moving on to focusing on riding Winninton and Mobster Randy and to start a few other sales projects.
