Ashley MacVaugh - Biography

Ashley grew up in Washington, DC, and joined the Great Falls Pony Club at an early age. The pony club was very event oriented, and she immediately got involved in rallies and junior horsemanship camps. A few borrowed and leased ponies gave her a start in the sport. When her family moved up to New England, Ashley leased a wonderful experienced preliminary horse, and did her first three day at the Radnor Hunt, placing 9th for the Harry T. Peters Trophy. Riding with Tuny Full Page, and a great group of kids, she gained invaluable basics, and continued on to make the Area 1 Young Rider Team in 1989 and 1990, placing third individually and winning team gold and silver, under the expertise of the team coach, Mike Plumb. In 1990, Ashley won the Linda Moore Trophy for the Leading Young Rider in the U.S.

Ashley continued to bring horses to the Intermediate and Advanced level, and successfully completed three-days at Fair Hill, Radnor Hunt, Foxhall, and Blenheim. She trained with the US Team (in winter training sessions), receiving instruction from George Morris, Sandy and Mark Phillips here and in England.

She successfully completed the Rolex Kentucky Four Star three times (18th, 20th & 20th place) on the same horse, and finished the Burghley Four Star in 36th place in very wet, difficult conditions. In 2003 she made the Pan American Games team, placing fifth individually. She aspires to ride for the US in future team competitions, but also throughly enjoys bringing young horses up the levels, and helping her students reach their own personal goals.