Sarah MacKusick is an up and coming Equestrian Trainer and Instructor in the Tallahassee - Big Bend area. Sarah has 19 years of riding and showing experience in an array of disciplines including Equitation, Huntseat, Jumpers, Dressage, Western Pleasure, Reining, and Trail.
Sarah began riding at the age of 7 in McDonough Georgia. She rode under Scott Armour at Tamingo Farms. In 1996, Tamingo Farms hosted the Swiss Olympic Team when the Olympics were held in Atlanta. Spring of 1996, Sarah began riding at Tantivy Farms with Robin Landers. She got her first horse at the age of 14. Sarah began competing in jumper classes at H.J.Fox held at Malone Farms in Newborn, Georgia. After a fall that injured her back in 2001, she began riding with Woody Pforr of Fourwood Farms in Covington. She competed at Chateau Elan, the Georgia International Horse Park and Wills Park in Atlanta.
Sarah went on to college at Georgia Southern University where she studied Anthropology and History. She was President of the Georgia Southern Equestrian Team for two and a half years and rode with Eleanor Ellis of Evermore Farm.
In 2005, Sarah qualified for Zones Huntseat and for Nationals Western Pleasure where she placed 5th. She also competed in an ANRC Invitational at Sweetbriar College in Lynchburg Virginia. She spent the summer of 2005 in Tuxedo, North Carolina, as the Head Riding Instructor at Camp Glen Arden. She taught girls of all levels about horsemanship, riding and stable safety. She returned in 2006 for a portion of the summer.
After college, Sarah moved to Tallahassee Florida where she began teaching at Southern Oaks Equestrian Center with recent Extreme Mustang Makeover participant, Marsha Hartford-Sapp. She began working for a private "A" circuit facility as the Stable Manager. She also worked with Lindsay Barrack of Feather Oaks Farm and Mahan Farm.
Sarah worked as an Archaeologist for the State of Florida for two years before finally pursuing her dream of starting her own facility, Iron Star Equestrian. She was given the opportunity to lease Renegade Run Ranch from Judy Perry of Havana Florida. When Iron Star outgrew the facility at Renegade Run, they moved the program and boarders to a larger facility, Gray Lily Farm owned by the Lillibridges, also of Havana Florida. Gray Lily Farm has been in business for over 30 years, catering to the casual rider as well as Red Hills competitors. Sarah feels very honored that they have allowed her business to grow with the use of the beautiful 72 acre facility.
Sarah qualified two horses for the 2011 Northeast Florida Dressage Association Regional Championship Dressage Show in Jacksonville Florida. Nick earned a 64.37 and placed second. Wicca earned a 60.38 and placed fourth.
Sarah teaches lessons on her own horses or clients horses. She takes students and her own horses to shows both locally and regionally.
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