Head Trainer

Carolyn Bland

2010 World Equestrian Games Gold Medalist and 2017 Junior World Bronze Medalist, 2021 Bronze Medalist in Sr PDD event and Senior Squad. 

Carolyn studied at the Fulmer School of Equitation, with dressage instructors Robert Hall and Liz Brown who influenced her philosophy on riding. Her focus on biomechanics and positive reinforcement allows for great success both in and out of the show arena.

Carolyn has consistently found success throughout the years. Her clientele consists of mostly adult amateur and Young riders competing 2 level through FEI. Carolyn’s training philosophy starts with getting a horse and rider working in harmony, which can be a slower process, starting on the lunge line with the rider attaining independent balance. Carolyn has an extensive background of starting and training young horses of all breeds.

Her ability to utilize correct lunging, allowed for a serendipitous affiliation when Carolyn was introduced to vaulting in 1995. Carolyn’s expert skills in lungeing the horse was immediately appreciated by the vaulters. Since the inception of vaulting into Carolyn’s life, she has been one of the top trainers in the World. Carolyn’s immediate assessment of a horse, and her problem solving initiatives, has helped many horses at home and internationally.

Carolyn has been an integral part of the USA Team being on board at World Championships as the horse expert. Carolyn was the first recipient of the American Vaulting Association’s ‘Trainer of the Year’ award, for her invaluable assistance in the success of the Vaulters at the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games. She received the same award in 2011. To date, Carolyn has trained numerous dressage and vaulting horses to continuing success. The success Carolyn believes is in fair and rewarding training, and the absolute emphasis on good basic DRESSAGE, straightness (even on a circle), and self carriage, her reasoning is simple ‘if these basics cannot be obtained under saddle how can we expect a horse to maintain them under vaulters.’

A pinnacle of Carolyn's training was reached in 2010 training Palatine successfully for the World Equestrian Games, obtaining the first American Team Gold Medal. Carolyn also longed Sir Anthony Van Dyck with Mary McCormick who finished 4th in the individual female competition. The highest placed US woman. Carolyn lunged Palatine and Diva 506 at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandie, France, the horses received some of the top horse scores. As coach and Lunger Carolyn supported PCV Senior vaulters at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon 2018 to greta success of the Squad placing 4th, just out of the medals, but came back after the pandemic year and successfully gained medals in two events at the Senior World Championships in Budapest. Carolyn’s involvement runs a little deeper than just the horse trainer, she is mentor, coach, friend and supporter.