Donna Friedlander

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It was a tumultuous time, but upon Larry’s death the Tally-Ho team rallied and managed to make it through the remainder of the 2015 operating season.

Donna and Tally-Ho’s manager, Kate Clark, shared a strong desire to see Larry’s beloved Tally-Ho continue, and honor his legacy.  That winter they embarked on what would become a three-year journey to revive and refresh the company through a comprehensive review process.  Donna, a Certified Professional Accountant, brought her keen interest in business management and process improvement to the table; and Kate, having been with the company for nine years, possessed a deep understanding of operational needs.

They worked alongside many equine professionals and consultants to review every aspect of the business, including horse care, comfort, and training; harness and fit; staff training and development; farm management; risk management; etc.  Their goal was to ensure that all aspects of the Tally-Ho business, from farm to tours, were done with the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Over the next five years significant investments were made in new carriages, harness, trucks and trailers; training programs for horses and staff were further developed to include the foundations of natural horsemanship; improvements were made to footing and shelter for the horses; a new barn was built at Hidden Acres Farm; and the training arena was expanded.  The company’s key goals were defined, and policies and procedures were documented.  Tally-Ho now has one of the most comprehensive Operations Guides in the industry and has been recognized by its peers as a progressive company that continually contributes to advancements in the carriage industry.

Between 2018 and 2022 Donna was elected to the Board of Directors for the Carriage Operators of North America (CONA): an international organization committed to promoting the humane welfare of carriage animals and establishing comprehensive Guidelines and Standards of Operation which their members, including Tally-Ho, adhere to.