 Welcome to
Dreams Come True Farm's Website Home to the World & National Champion, FHANA Lifetime Achievement recipient KFPS/FHANA Crown Driving Sport Friesian Mare, Sjaantje, and her 2018 foal, FHANA's 2023 Driving Horse of Distinction, Hamilton DCTF  Sjaantje's Lifetime Achievement Plaque FHANA's 1st Lifetime Achievement horse! |
"Dreams
Come True Farm" 211 W Middlesex Dr. Carlisle, PA, 17013 USA 717-372-2650
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Carriage Pleasure Driving is our thing Driven Dressage is our passion!  Hamilton DCTF
(Sape X Tsjerk),
Sjantje's 2018 foal, is now for sale! In driven dressage training with
Suzy Stafford for the past 3 years that included wintering to show in
Ocala, FL the past 2 winters, he has achieved my goals for him: in 2022
he won FHANA's 4YO and in 2023 FHANA's 5 YO Driving Talent
Cups. With his 2024 impressive dressage scores it is my dream for
him to also win FHANA's 6 YO Driving Talent Cup. With
these achievements, Hamilton is ready to take his new owner to the top
of the driven dressage world. Since I am retiring from pleasure
show competition, Sjaantje's exquisite antique yellow Studebaker
carriage that Hamilton used for his pleasure shows in Florida last
winter is also for sale, along with his dressage and pleasure show
harnesses. As a 5 YO and a 6 YO he also has had w/t/c
professional under saddle training.  All 4 ADS Dressage Medals
In 2022 Gail earned
her last ADS driven dressage medal with Sjaantje. The pair drove their
first training level driven dressage test in 2012, and by 2022 worked
their way
up through the levels to earn all 4 of the ADS medals:
Blue
for Training
Bronze for Preliminary Silver for Intermediate Gold for Advanced 
Gail's Picnic Class
Pagewith 2023 Orleton Farm Picnic Class Photos & 2022 ADS videoed Annual Meeting Slideshow Presentation "The Picnic Class A - Z" |
"Dreams
Come True Farm" is a privately owned barn and
residence
purchased in the fall of 2002, and we raised, trained, and sold
FPS/FHANA Dutch registered Friesians for twenty years. Now that
both Thomas and I are in our seventies, we have ended the breeding
program, kept two of our horses (Sjaantje and her son, Hamilton) and
have become an exclusive boarding facility.
Conveniently located a few miles from I-81's Exit 52 and the Carlisle
exit 226 of the PA Turnpike, the property now has a lovely completely
remodeled
modern home, a fabulous barn, an
attached indoor
riding ring with rubber footing, 2 outside grass footing arenas with
one being a 40 X 80m driving arena,
lots of lush pastures with run-in sheds and automatic
waterers, and a hacking/driving path through the woods and around the
property perimeter.
With Thomas' help, my dreams came true!
The beginning of 2024 found our 6 YO Friesian, Hamilton, in Florida with trainer, Suzy Stafford, to compete in that winter carriage driving circuit. Besides driven dressage shows, USEF CDE Combined Tests, and pleasure driving shows, they have competed in a CAA (Carriage Association of America) Traditional Day of Driving d'Attelage that consists of a turnout inspection, a country drive with difficulties, and a cones course.
2023 began with 5 YO Hamilton in Ocala with Suzy Stafford to continue his driven dressage training, moving up to the prelim level and to be introduced to a road cart for pleasure shows. That Millville road cart had been Sjaantje's first show vehicle, was sold, and bought back with a spindle back seat and lamps added, and proper colored uphosltery. Sjaantje stayed in PA and would start her 2023 show season at Devon and in July participate in BreyerFest's "Driving Forward" invitational themed event, making ADS and FHANA appearances.
Our 2022 show season started in Ocala, FL, with Hamilton, myself, and Sjaantje in training with Suzy Stafford, Solstice Farm, Franklinville, NJ. Hamilton learning beginning driven dressage and myself learning to master the FEI Advanced Driven Dressage tests, with a goal of earning scores towards the ADS Gold dressage medal. When we left FL in April, I had secured three of the needed four 70%+ scores for that gold medal! Sjaantje and I trained and competed all summer trying to obtain that 4th score and at the NJ Garden State CDE in October, Sjaantje had her best test, I had my best drive, and we got that last score! It took Sjaantje and myself 10 years from the time we drove our first training level test to work our way up through the levels to earn all 4 of the ADS dressage medals: Blue for training; Bronze for preliminary; Silver for intermediate; and Gold for advanced! Hamilton under Suzy's tutelage, met with success at the driven dressage training level while in FL, which continued up north where he also nailed his first carriage pleasure show. In December we shipped him to Ocala for another year of training with Suzy, planning for him to move up to prelim in 2023.
We started 2021 by putting the 2020 plandemic lockdown behind us by traveling to a SC show in April, our plans to show at Villa Louis finally materialized, where we dominated the single horse division, we traveled to FL for the October inaugural Ocala International Horse Show, where we entered 5 classes and took home 5 blues, and finished up the show year at the Black Prong Equestrian Center, where I drove on the most exquisite driven dressage field imaginable. Sjantje and I certainly had a spectacular show year, proven by Sjaantje's being named a USEF 2021 Horse of Honor, and her being the first horse to be voted to receive FHANA's Lifetime Achievement Award. Proving I was no slacker, I also earned my ADS 1000 hour recreational driving pin.
With the Covid-19 national pandemic shutdowns, all 9 shows we had planned to attend, were canceled for 2020, so we stayed here on the farm, saving a bunch of money! We had finally made plans to attend the September Villa Louis Carriage Driving Show in WI, so that show's being canceled was my biggest disappointment, but being in the high risk 65+ older group, not going to any shows was the sensible thing to do. If Thomas and I became deathly sick, who would take care of the 10 horses here on the farm? Not all was lost, because several organizations offered virtural shows, an entirely new experience for myself, and I was able to add a few appointments to my turnout presentation. I had ample time here on the farm to learn the new ADS Intermediate driven dressage tests, get Sjaantje's canter departs down pat, and learn Achenbach: one handed driving.
In 2019 Sjaantje was back on the driving show circuit and competed in 4 USEF shows and 3 ADS shows with 5 of those shows having driven dressage classes, so we were successful in getting the remainder of my ADS Driven Dressage silver medal scores. Sjaantje started the show year with 8 wins at IFSHA region 2 and ended the show year with 8 wins at IFSHA Worlds! December 5-8, 2019 found us at Grand Oaks, Weirsdale, FL for the ADS Annual meeting and Awards banquet, where I had the honor of awarding their driven dressage medals, and receiving my Silver Driven Dressage Medal and 750 Hour Recreational Driving pin. In January 2020 Thomas and I traveled toWest Palm Beach, FL, to accept Sjaantje's USEF 2019 National Friesian Driving Championship award. The end of February we will fly to Lexington, KY, for FHANA's annual meeting and awards banquet, where Sjaantje and I will be recognized as their National & Regional Driven Dressage Champions, Regional Driving Champion, and Driving Horse of Honor, qualifying Sjaante for and in the running to be voted FHANA Horse of the Year!
The beginning of 2024 found our 6 YO Friesian, Hamilton, in Florida with trainer, Suzy Stafford, to compete in that winter carriage driving circuit. Besides driven dressage shows, USEF CDE Combined Tests, and pleasure driving shows, they have competed in a CAA (Carriage Association of America) Traditional Day of Driving d'Attelage that consists of a turnout inspection, a country drive with difficulties, and a cones course.
2023 began with 5 YO Hamilton in Ocala with Suzy Stafford to continue his driven dressage training, moving up to the prelim level and to be introduced to a road cart for pleasure shows. That Millville road cart had been Sjaantje's first show vehicle, was sold, and bought back with a spindle back seat and lamps added, and proper colored uphosltery. Sjaantje stayed in PA and would start her 2023 show season at Devon and in July participate in BreyerFest's "Driving Forward" invitational themed event, making ADS and FHANA appearances.
Our 2022 show season started in Ocala, FL, with Hamilton, myself, and Sjaantje in training with Suzy Stafford, Solstice Farm, Franklinville, NJ. Hamilton learning beginning driven dressage and myself learning to master the FEI Advanced Driven Dressage tests, with a goal of earning scores towards the ADS Gold dressage medal. When we left FL in April, I had secured three of the needed four 70%+ scores for that gold medal! Sjaantje and I trained and competed all summer trying to obtain that 4th score and at the NJ Garden State CDE in October, Sjaantje had her best test, I had my best drive, and we got that last score! It took Sjaantje and myself 10 years from the time we drove our first training level test to work our way up through the levels to earn all 4 of the ADS dressage medals: Blue for training; Bronze for preliminary; Silver for intermediate; and Gold for advanced! Hamilton under Suzy's tutelage, met with success at the driven dressage training level while in FL, which continued up north where he also nailed his first carriage pleasure show. In December we shipped him to Ocala for another year of training with Suzy, planning for him to move up to prelim in 2023.
We started 2021 by putting the 2020 plandemic lockdown behind us by traveling to a SC show in April, our plans to show at Villa Louis finally materialized, where we dominated the single horse division, we traveled to FL for the October inaugural Ocala International Horse Show, where we entered 5 classes and took home 5 blues, and finished up the show year at the Black Prong Equestrian Center, where I drove on the most exquisite driven dressage field imaginable. Sjantje and I certainly had a spectacular show year, proven by Sjaantje's being named a USEF 2021 Horse of Honor, and her being the first horse to be voted to receive FHANA's Lifetime Achievement Award. Proving I was no slacker, I also earned my ADS 1000 hour recreational driving pin.
With the Covid-19 national pandemic shutdowns, all 9 shows we had planned to attend, were canceled for 2020, so we stayed here on the farm, saving a bunch of money! We had finally made plans to attend the September Villa Louis Carriage Driving Show in WI, so that show's being canceled was my biggest disappointment, but being in the high risk 65+ older group, not going to any shows was the sensible thing to do. If Thomas and I became deathly sick, who would take care of the 10 horses here on the farm? Not all was lost, because several organizations offered virtural shows, an entirely new experience for myself, and I was able to add a few appointments to my turnout presentation. I had ample time here on the farm to learn the new ADS Intermediate driven dressage tests, get Sjaantje's canter departs down pat, and learn Achenbach: one handed driving.
In 2019 Sjaantje was back on the driving show circuit and competed in 4 USEF shows and 3 ADS shows with 5 of those shows having driven dressage classes, so we were successful in getting the remainder of my ADS Driven Dressage silver medal scores. Sjaantje started the show year with 8 wins at IFSHA region 2 and ended the show year with 8 wins at IFSHA Worlds! December 5-8, 2019 found us at Grand Oaks, Weirsdale, FL for the ADS Annual meeting and Awards banquet, where I had the honor of awarding their driven dressage medals, and receiving my Silver Driven Dressage Medal and 750 Hour Recreational Driving pin. In January 2020 Thomas and I traveled toWest Palm Beach, FL, to accept Sjaantje's USEF 2019 National Friesian Driving Championship award. The end of February we will fly to Lexington, KY, for FHANA's annual meeting and awards banquet, where Sjaantje and I will be recognized as their National & Regional Driven Dressage Champions, Regional Driving Champion, and Driving Horse of Honor, qualifying Sjaante for and in the running to be voted FHANA Horse of the Year!
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 DCTF
2023 Event HighlightsSjaantje & Gail 3 of 3 Intermediate Dressage tests scored 72%+ BreyerFest "Driving Forward" 5 Exhibitions Orleton Farm: "Perfect Show" 4 classes, 4 firsts Hamilton DCTF & Suzy 9 of 10 Preliminary Dressage tests scored 70%+ 3 of 3 Preliminary Combined Test wins Lorenzo Driving Competition Grand Champion Orleton Farm: Modern Presentation Vehicle Champion |
Hamilton's
2023 Accolades (Whip, Suzy Stafford) FHANA Driving Horse of Distinction FHANA 5 YO Talent Cup Driven Dressage Champion FHANA Region 6 Performance Driven Dressage Reserve Champion FHANA Region 6 Performance Driving Reserve Champion Sjaantje's 2023 Accolades (Whip, Gail Aumiller) FHANA Region 5 Performance Driven Dressage Champion FHANA Region 5 Performance Driving Champion |
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| My Sjaantje favorite show photos |
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Sjaantje's
1910 Moyer Wicker Phaeton
Perfect carriage pleasure driving form
Sjaantje's 1890s
Studebaker Phaeton
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2009 brought many new and wonderful Friesian experiences with our entering the Friesian show world, traveling to VA, OH, and MO with some of our young horses, and proud of Sjaantje who earned 3 World and 2 National Champion Titles that year. Our evolving breeding and training operation has expanded to boarding, always having a horse on the market, and now taking a horse or two to a show.
In 2010 Thomas & I ventured onto the show circuit with Sjaantje and sometimes taking yearling, Fancee. What an adventure and learning experience--I looked at each show as being a vacation with horses;-) In 2011 after teaming up with Suzy Stafford, we started to blow the Friesian driving world away--won National Driving Championships and Sjaantje was the 2011 & 2013 USEF high point Friesian driving HOTY. In 2012 Suzy put a FPS/FHANA driving sport predicate title on Sjaantje by earning 10 points from advanced level FEI #9 dressage tests, and in 2013 Suzy put a Crown mare title on Sjaantje by achieving an 81.5 score on the Driving IBOP test. In 2014 Isobel earned her Sport title, had a 78 IBOP score to win the Dream Gait Driving IBOP Cup, and earned her keuring "Ster" and in 2015 earned her driving sport predicate title, and in 2017 became a first premium "1e" Friesian mare.
2016 was a fantasy show year for Sjaantje and myself: we wintered in Ocala, FL, so showed the FL driving circuit and then came north to do the same. Consequently both Sjaantje and myself won USEF Horse and Equestrian of the Year honors; plus Sjaantje was the USEF Grand Champion Carriage Pleasure Driving Horse, the National Friesian Carriage Driving Horse, and the National Carriage Pleasure Driving Training Level Driven Dressage Horse, and National Reserve Pleasure Driving Champion!
2018 we lightly campaigned both Isobel, who was in foal, and Sjaantje, who had foaled. Earlier in the year I had earned both my Blue (Training) and my Bronze (Preliminary) ADS Driven Dressage Medals, so finished the year competing in intermediate tests that earned me 2 of the 4 required scores for my silver medal. Sjaantje's & Isobel's 2018 USEF end of year honors: they tied, so both were the USEF National Intermediate Driven Dressage Champions.
2019's goal was to earn my remaining 2 ADS Silver Medal Intermediate Driven Dressage scores and I did! I couldn't be more proud of Sjaantje, and she didn't disappoint us in any of her 7 shows, ending the show year with 8 IFSHAWorld carriage pleasure driving titles and 5 reserve champion titles to tie for the show's high point Friesian award and to win its high point driving award. She also was IFHSA's end of year high point champion in Friesian Carriage Driving, Open Single Horse Carriage Driving, and Open Single Horse CDE. Sjaantje's outstanding driving performances earned her FHANA's Driven Dressage Regional and National Titles, and her driving nomination for their Horse of the Year.
2020 was the Covid lockdown and social distancing year, so no events off the farm, but we were able to particpate in several virtual events with photo and video submissions.
Having retired from teaching in 2005, I have been able to live my dream 24/7 and give our Friesian horses the time they need and deserve!
 Sjaantje as a yearling |
 Sjaantje & Suzy Stafford's 2013 FHANA Dream Gait IBOP Cup victory lap and on her way to becoming a Crown mare |
 Sjaantje 2013 on her way to becoming a first premie! |
Created by Gail L. Aumiller on January 4, 2004 and last updated on August 31, 2024.