Stacy Franklin - Founder
Stacy Franklin, the visionary founder of the Youth Trainer Challenge, has been deeply involved in horse rescue for over a decade. In 2020, she stepped into a leadership role within the equine rescue community, where her passion for horses and dedication to their well-being truly flourished. Stacy's journey with horses began as a small child, learning to ride alongside her mother, Cindy. This early connection ignited a lifelong love for horses, which has only grown stronger over the years. Today, she owns three horses, including one whose training journey she has been actively involved in, further deepening her commitment to the equestrian world.
Stacy's belief in the potential of young equestrians inspired her to create the Youth Trainer Challenge. She sees the program as a vital opportunity to shape the future of equestrian sports by providing transformative experiences for both the youth participants and the rescue horses they work with. Through this initiative, Stacy aims to nurture the next generation of horsemen and women, ensuring that they carry forward the values of compassion, skill, and dedication that are essential to the equestrian community.
Lacy Warner - Program Director
Lacy grew up in Upstate, NY in the Hunter/jumper show ring. As a teenager she acquired her first horse, a very difficult off-the-track thoroughbred, who eventually necessitated an introduction to natural horsemanship. After seeing the possibilities this new world of horse training could provide, Lacy began retraining her horse, and herself, via Parelli Natural Horsemanship. She graduated Parelli level 3 in 2011, after spending time at both the Florida and Colorado Parelli campuses, and makes a great effort to attend continuing education courses on a regular basis. Moving to Virginia was the best thing that ever happened to her! For many years now she has taught riding lessons to children and amateur adults with a focus on riding confidently cross country & fox hunting in addition to showing and eventing. She believes good training should be based on proper ground work and flat work.
Lacy’s passion is to show people that they can achieve their riding dreams, whatever they may be and to open their eyes to many different equine disciplines. She also takes great pride in training/re-training and starting/re-starting horses. She enjoys working with the rescue horses because they rarely come with any history, so she has to use all of her knowledge and experience in working with them. Lacy can often be seen in the hunt field with a trail of children & adults with her. She has her colors with both Warrenton and Loudoun Fairfax hunts after nearly 15 seasons combined.