Hometown: Elk Grove, Calif. Birthday: 4/10/1994 Sport/Disciplines: Dressage

Geñay Vaughn is an accomplished international dressage rider with an impressive 87 international starts in her career. She has been a strong representative for U.S. dressage on the West Coast for over a decade, earning recognition for her talent, consistency, and dedication to the sport. 

Vaughn’s foundation in dressage began early in life, as she competed in her first major championship at the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) as a Junior in 2009, and returned as a Young Rider in 2010. Her first team appearance  was in 2015 when she was selected as a member of the first U.S. Dressage CDIOU25 Team with Donnnnerwiess, a stallion who played a pivotal role in her development. She also has represented the U.S. in the U25 division abroad including appearances at Rotterdam and Hagen in 2015. 

Two years later, she competed as part of U.S. Dressage CDIOU25 Team at  the 2017 FEI Dressage Nations Cup in Wellington, Fla., bringing home a silver medal aboard Donarweiss GGF. Making her Grand Prix debut with her current mount Gino, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Bretton Woods x Haarlem) purchased by her mother, Michele Vaughn. 

Over the years, the pair have collected numerous victories including wins in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the FEI Dressage World Cup CDI-W competitions in Myakka City, Fla., Thermal, Calif., and Del Mar, Calif.  

In 2025, Vaughn qualified for her first FEI Dressage World Cup Finals, finishing 14th overall . She had a season of personal bests, beginning with a 75.150% at the inaugural US Equestrian Open Dressage Series Qualifier and building to a 75.875% at the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Show – making her one of the first athletes to win two qualifiers in the US Equestrian Open Dressage Series.  

Vaughn kickstarted her 2026 season of competition by earning a new personal best score of 71.435% in the Grand Prix during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI5*. The duo then secured back-to-back victories at the CDI-W Del Mar with a personal best score of 75.955% in the Grand Prix Freestyle   

Making her Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team debut, Vaughn anchored the team with a score of 69.848% to help secure bronze at the 2026 FEI Dressage Nations Cup Hagen CDIO4* in Hagen, Germany.  

Vaughn is a trainer at Starr Vaughn Equestrian Inc. where she works alongside her mother, Michele Vaughn, continuing to develop and mentor the next generation of dressage horses and athletes