PHOTO: Julianna & Amanda Starbuck
Sisters Amanda and Juliana Starbuck have been running their Starbuck Equestrian Center for nearly nine years. The stable has been a family-run business for some 36 years. Amanda says that the sisters have been taking in a number of new students, but even with this large influx they still provide a high level of personal attention. “We’re so determined that each rider excels at their particular level,” she stated. “We focus on the student and client needs.”
Their students echo Amanda’s words. Hannah Lupica and Ally Dellucia say they “ride with the Starbuck family because watching them riding the young jumpers and bringing them up to the Grand Prix inspires us to work harder. The barn is our second home. Our commitment to training our horses helps us prepare for college, the business world and life. And our trainers also make it fun!"
Juliana adds, “The emphasis is on the students and finding the correct horse to fit each type of rider. Each of our students has her own style, and as trainers it is our job to find the correct mount for each rider. This way the student will excel at his or her riding without having to fight with themselves and their horse.”
Starbuck Equestrian offers a riding program in which students may take group or private lessons and also holds rated shows and a summer camp. The beautiful facility includes two indoor heated rings and two outdoor rings, one of them Olympic size.
As to the equines at Starbuck Equestrian, Juliana states, “We’ve really found our niche with the younger horses. They’ve been one of our focuses. We breed, break, train and show. We usually end up selling or leasing them. This is one of my favorite parts of the business. It's very rewarding watching the young horses grow and mature. It also gives kids and adults who may not have enough money to buy a super fancy hunter the opportunity to train their own young horse into being a winner.”
The proof for their program can be seen with the great success they had on the Florida circuit this past winter, with many students winning in the junior hunters and junior jumpers as well as children's divisions. Carte Blanche, who won the six-year-old championship at WEF, is now showing in the Grand Prix.
Starbuck Equestrian always has a large selection of very well-trained seasoned and young horses for sale.