04 · The People
Two of the finest horse professionals in Aiken, and a small team that loves the animals in its care. Here's who you'll work with.
Owner & head trainer
Darrell grew up on a horse farm in New York and served in the Marines before turning to a professional riding career. He has been head trainer at The Stable on the Woods since 2006, after a decade campaigning hunters and jumpers on the A circuit under renowned horsemen Ralph Caristo and Buddy Brown.
Beyond the show ring, Darrell is a student of the horse itself — years spent studying equine biomechanics with Michael Paige, alongside natural horsemanship, desensitization and behavioral work. He prioritizes equine wellness and fitness, shaped by a clear-eyed understanding of the physical demands placed on a competitive horse.
"His love of horses, and his relationship with them, is the driving factor behind everything he does."
— Darrell Vaughn Hunters · Jumpers · Natural horsemanship · since 2006Owner · head trainer & manager
Melissa grew up on a family horse farm in New Hampshire and brings a quiet New England demeanor paired with an uncompromising commitment to professional excellence. She is head trainer and manager of the barn, and an accomplished rider through the FEI levels.
Her specialty is dressage — she trains to Grand Prix and continues her own development with national and international trainer Scott Hassler. Melissa leads by doing rather than talking: versatile, articulate and respectful in the saddle, she frequently travels with individual clients to multi-day competitions, coaching them through the whole event toward their personal goals.
"Melissa and Darrell are two of the finest horse professionals in Aiken."
Grand Prix dressage · FEI levels · rides with Scott Hassler
The team around them
Facility manager · equine sports massage
Caileigh grew up eventing in New England with her Connemara pony and joined The Stable on the Woods as a working student before studying English at Sweet Briar College and training in dressage and show jumping. A graduate of the Equissage School of Equine & Canine Massage Therapy, she founded Resilience Equine and now manages horse care and wellness here.
Trainer · lesson instructor
Cera competed as a three-day eventer in Southern California before relocating to Hawaii, where she earned a degree in English and ran a large lesson program. She spent two years training under an upper-level dressage rider, sharpening her skill with young horses, before moving to Aiken with her animals to teach and train here.
The shared philosophy
"Keep the horse sound, happy and improving. Everything else — the ribbons, the scores, the hunt — follows from that."
— The Stable on the Woods
Meet the team in person
The best introduction is a lesson or a tour. Reach out and we'll find a time for you to meet the horses and the people.
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