About Us
How it all began...
Dark Star Stables was established in the spring of 2007 by Lou and Karen Graziano in order to allow their daughter, Carly, to enter the horse business. The farm was originally located in Plumsteadville and in September 2007 it made it's permanent move to a 10 acre farm in Perkasie. The farm currently has a spacious, five-stall, center-aisle barn built by Sylvan & Stoltzfus. The barn boasts open 12x12 stalls plus a 12x14 stall with large windows and yokes on the stall doors as well as a 10x12 hot/cold wash stall, a 12x14 tack room, and a 10x12 feed room. In addition to the newly built barn there is a large 2-stall run-in barn with a tack room and large loft. There is also a third outbuilding to house Lou's Deere, the hay, and the farm felines. Recently two more paddocks were added for maximum grass enjoyment!
The family...
Carly began riding as a 5 year old at Camp Curiosity with Lisa Ritzen-Sonntag. During her teenage years Carly first rode with Jay Metzler, where she learned basic care of her own horse, gymkhana, barrel racing, and low hunters. Her show career didn't kick off until she rode with Jill Pasceri of Just Jill Stables for a couple of years, winning multiple awards such as the Leading Rider award in the Hunter Farms Show Jumping series and a lesson with Olympian Chris Kappler, plus many year end awards. Carly has taken lessons with a plethora of riders ranging from Olympian Kevin Babington, USEF "R" judge Cynthia Weiner, Olympian Chris Kappler, Olympian Norman Dello Joio, Hanoverian breeder Mo Swanson and Paul Valliere. Carly has worked amongst "A" show trainers and is always observing and absorbing training ways of them. She has groomed at many large shows including the Devon Horse Show and worked for Mo Swanson for the first 7 months of 2008, experiencing the daily care of 60 horses which involved; feeding, pregnant mare observation, the handling of 23 foals, first aid, stallion handling and collecting, all aspects of breeding mares, and the handling of many young horses including newborns, yearlings, 2 yr olds, and 3 yr olds. Carly currently ships into Lisa Ritzen-Sonntag at Brigadoon Equestrian Center for lessons and shows as much as possible. She now works at the Chapot's farm, Chado Farm, in New Jersey, grooming at shows and breaking/riding their youngsters. Through this wonderful opportunity Carly has developed a new love for jumping and is learning a lot about balance and pace.
Karen began riding after the purchase of Carly's first horse and has since ridden off and on. She has been riding a lot of different kinds horses these days and spends most of her time aboard her mare, Ellie. She's even ridden LJ!
Lou owned and rode as a child/teenager and will take the occasional trail ride but prefers to ride his Deere around the farm. It listens a little bit better and doesn't require daily feedings!
Carly with some of her RSF "co-workers"
2005: Carly and her Just Jill Stables barn mates in a lesson with Paul Valliere
Carly's first horse, KJS Impressive Rock, at their first show together
Carly in a costume class on her favorite pony, Brandy. Carly getting a pony ride from her neighbor 
Karen in her first horse show
Lou winning his Fathers' Day leadline class on Henry
