u/Traveling_Swan

Warning to the horse community regarding Cara Stewart.

In June 2025, I sent my horse, Surge, to Cara Stewart in Tennessee for training and boarding. I had purchased him only one week earlier. Within two days of being in her care, he was dead.

Based on the information later provided to me, Surge had reportedly been tied in his stall for extended periods without access to food or water while Cara Stewart was occupied elsewhere. He eventually broke his halter attempting to reach food and water. I was then told she replaced it with a non-breakaway halter — the same halter he died wearing — and hard tied him unattended in an arena for an unknown amount of time.

To this day, I have never received a clear or consistent explanation regarding what happened. The account of events changed multiple times following his death. Based on the information and evidence available to me, this is the closest understanding I have of the circumstances surrounding Surge’s death.

Following the incident, Cara Stewart promised to refund the money I had paid for training and boarding services and stated she would help compensate me for Surge. Instead, she retained the funds and later left the area. She had also represented herself as carrying insurance for horses in her care, but after Surge’s death it became apparent there was no active insurance coverage.

I pursued this matter legally and exhausted the options available to me. I am now sharing this publicly because I do not want another horse owner to experience what happened to Surge.

In addition to my own experience, I personally witnessed another horse associated with the same barn require hospitalization due to negligence concerns while under her care. Since speaking publicly, I have also been contacted by numerous individuals alleging additional concerns involving animal welfare, neglect, and unpaid financial obligations connected to her operations.

I have been informed that Cara Stewart may currently be operating within the western pleasure community in Kentucky and Tennessee and may be working alongside Zane Fluhr. I have also received reports that they may be connected to the Mount Pleasant, Tennessee area and surrounding states.

I encourage anyone considering placing their horse with Cara Stewart to do extensive research, ask difficult questions, verify insurance coverage independently, and make an informed decision.

Surge deserved safety, care, and accountability. Every horse does.

Warning to the horse community regarding Cara Stewart.

In June 2025, I sent my horse, Surge, to Cara Stewart in Tennessee for training and boarding. I had purchased him only one week earlier. Within two days of being in her care, he was dead.

Based on the information later provided to me, Surge had reportedly been tied in his stall for extended periods without access to food or water while Cara Stewart was occupied elsewhere. He eventually broke his halter attempting to reach food and water. I was then told she replaced it with a non-breakaway halter — the same halter he died wearing — and hard tied him unattended in an arena for an unknown amount of time.

To this day, I have never received a clear or consistent explanation regarding what happened. The account of events changed multiple times following his death. Based on the information and evidence available to me, this is the closest understanding I have of the circumstances surrounding Surge’s death.

Following the incident, Cara Stewart promised to refund the money I had paid for training and boarding services and stated she would help compensate me for Surge. Instead, she retained the funds and later left the area. She had also represented herself as carrying insurance for horses in her care, but after Surge’s death it became apparent there was no active insurance coverage.

I pursued this matter legally and exhausted the options available to me. I am now sharing this publicly because I do not want another horse owner to experience what happened to Surge.

In addition to my own experience, I personally witnessed another horse associated with the same barn require hospitalization due to negligence concerns while under her care. Since speaking publicly, I have also been contacted by numerous individuals alleging additional concerns involving animal welfare, neglect, and unpaid financial obligations connected to her operations.

I have been informed that Cara Stewart may currently be operating within the western pleasure community in Kentucky and Tennessee and may be working alongside Zane Fluhr. I have also received reports that they may be connected to the Mount Pleasant, Tennessee area and surrounding states.

I encourage anyone considering placing their horse with Cara Stewart to do extensive research, ask difficult questions, verify insurance coverage independently, and make an informed decision.

Surge deserved safety, care, and accountability. Every horse does.

I post months ago asking the community what to do after my boy was killed by a trainer and if this was the end of the line for me and riding. I was devastated and told to take down the previous post due to legal reasons. But I am now free to name and shame.

Warning to the horse community regarding Cara Stewart.

In June 2025, I sent my horse, Surge, to Cara Stewart in Tennessee for training and boarding. I had purchased Surge only one week prior. Within two days of being in her care, he was dead.

According to the information I was given afterward, Surge had been tied in his stall for hours without access to food or water because Cara Steward was busy. He eventually broke his halter trying to reach food and water, which angered her. She then put a non-breakaway halter on him — the same halter he died wearing — took him to the arena, and hard tied him there unattended for an unknown amount of time.

To this day, Cara Stewart has never provided a clear or consistent explanation for what happened to him. Her story changed multiple times after his death. Based on the information and evidence available to me, this is the closest understanding I have of the events leading up to Surge’s death.

Afterward, she promised to refund the money I had paid for her services and told me she would help pay for Surge. Instead, she kept the money, avoided accountability, and left the state shortly afterward.

She also claimed to carry insurance for her business and horses in her care. After Surge’s death, it came out that she had no insurance coverage at all.

Despite this, she continues to maintain a strong presence in the horse community and presents herself as an experienced professional trainer.

I pursued this legally and exhausted every option available to me. I am sharing this publicly because I do not want another owner to experience what happened to Surge.

I have also personally witnessed another horse connected to the same barn require hospitalization due to negligence concerns while under her care.

If you are considering trusting Cara Stewart with your horse, please do extensive research, ask difficult questions, and make an informed decision. I have recently been told she may now be operating around Bowling Green, Kentucky in western pleasure riding. She works along side her partner Zane who is also prominent in the western riding community.

Surge deserved safety, care, and accountability. Every horse does.