Marc Donovan: Program Director 

​

Marc came on board at the Carolina Horse Park in 2013 as organizer and originator of the highly sucessful Cabin Branch Event Series (now, War Horse Event Series). He took over the role of organizer of the recognized events in the fall of that year and is the Event Director of the Carolina International and Horse Trial. In 2016 he became Program Director of the Carolina Horse Park. Early in his riding career he showed Pony Hunters and competed in the Equitation divisions. Marc was a member of the Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club, in NY, and received his "A" rating. After graduating from Emerson College, in Boston, he continued eventing to the CCI2* (currently CCI3*) level. Now a USEF "R" rated show jumping course designer, he brings multiple skills to his job at the Park. Marc has and continues to design show jumping courses for all competitions at the Carolina Horse Park, the AEC's, multiple FEI events, World Cup Qualifiers as well as horse shows and grand prix in the US and Canada. Marc's assisted Richard Jeffery at the National Horse Show and Richard and Conrad Homfeld at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He has also designed the show jumping courses for the Gatcomb Park Horse Trials in the UK. In 2016, Marc was named to the USPC Academy of Achievement and the Professional Riders Organization honored him, at the USEA Annual Convention, as an "extraodinary individual that positively impacted the sport of eventing through dedicated service and support of horses, riders, and events". Having first come to Southern Pines in 1989, Marc now resides in Whispering Pines, NC.

​

Cheryl Davis: Competition Manager

​

Cheryl grew up in Acton, MA. She was active in the Groton Pony Club and graduated in 1979 from Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY. After college Cheryl worked for Emerson, Bruce and Leslie Burr at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in CT. She spent the next nine years caring for Leslie’s string of top hunters, Mystic Emperor, Master of the Game, Rule the Blues and Mirror Image, eventually accepting the position of Head Groom/Stable Manager. Cheryl traveled on the road with Leslie and her jumpers; Albany, Nightwork, Boing, and Sedac, and had wins in the American Gold Cup and American International. She was selected to accompany the USET as support staff during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1985 European World Cup Finals in Berlin, Germany. Later, Cheryl worked as a Vet Technician for Dr. Richard Mitchell DVM at Fairfield Equine. There, Cheryl had the opportunity to leg up many wonderful horses returning to work after lay-up including, her favorite, The Natural. In 1995 Cheryl moved to Southern Pines and opened her own Morning Glory Farm, a lay-up retirement facility in Aberdeen. In 2013 she started organizing the schooling days and building jump courses at the Carolina Horse Park before joining the staff in 2020.

​

​

​