Gene Brown, Driving Speaker
A lifetime horse trainer and Texas resident since 2002, Gene hails from northwestern Pennsylvania, between Pittsburgh and Erie. Training, breeding, showing and winning well over 150 national championships, Gene enjoys a high level of respect in the national and international horse industry.
"One winter PA morning", says Gene, "I woke up to find it was 12 degrees below zero. Considering that most of the horses we were then working were from Texas, a much warmer state, I thought perhaps I should relocate to Texas." Encouraged by clients, the Browns moved and now own a 10 acre farm with a 14-stall barn near Sanger, north of Ft Worth.
Gene values how horses contribute positive experiences to individuals and families. Value is gained by helping horses and their owners develop a relationship and an understanding of one another that will produce years of fellowship and enjoyment as well as personal and athletic performance achievement. "Our goal, states Gene, "is just to bless people with a good horse."
Though recognized for his work with the Morgan breed, his training program is open to all types of horses. Within the past decade he has become involved in training a large array of breeds including Andalusians, Arabians, Belgians, Friesians, Gypsies, American Minis, Quarter Horses, and of course Morgans. Currently he trains for FHANA member, Joni Kuhn, whose Aandrik van het Kasteel and Zobe van het Kasteel, are well known in IFSHA and ADS circles for carriage pleasure driving and will soon become part of her Friesian Four-in-hand team.
Gene has an extensive carriage background. While in Pennsylvania, he partnered with Marathon Point, a very successful carriage and coaching business. Then, for several years, Gene was VP and Marketing Manager for Smucker’s Harness Shop, then an international giant in manufacturing fine custom harness.
Gene has found that increasingly more clients are interested in driving. "It has a great appeal for those who are discovering that swinging a leg over a horse isn’t as easy as it used to be," says Gene. "And it’s more social. You can take your friends or your grandchildren out for a drive or a picnic."
Gene has had several years of success in showing carriage horses throughout the US and Canada and has considerable knowledge of carriages and appointments. This experience includes the exhibition of everything from Miniatures to Four-in-hand coaching. "We can fit the right horse to the right carriage with the right turnout," says Gene. "You don’t need an Indy car to go to the grocery store." A large part of our customer service centers on preventing the client from making discouraging, large purchase mistakes.
Gene’s experience allows him to offer driving training for singles, pairs, and multiples and focus on turnout and carriage pleasure driving classes, as well as Combined Driving Events.
Gene will join the following list of speakers:
Jenny Veenstra sponsored by Iron Spring Farm
Dr. Kory Niswender, Dr. Karen Davison, Dr. Kathy Fox, Dr. Reese Hand, Dr. Gus Corthan-Sponsored by The Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses
Johan Schleese-Sponsored by Schleese Saddles
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