......
Studying with Sus has not only helped my horse and me become better partners, it has changed my
life forever. Actually, I was just looking for riding lessons in the Fall of '03 when I read about
Sus Kellogg's Essential Horsemanship in one of the San Juan Islands newspapers. Watching Sus with
her horse Drum at our first lesson was like watching a couple on the dance floor who knew each other's
bodies and movements like their own. There was no turning back, I had to learn
more. Earlier this year my husband and I found a horse for me, a 6 year old appendix quarterhorse,
"Tobias".
After about two months on our own, we scheduled a week of training. Setting this time aside
at Sus' Freehorse Farm allowed us to focus on our training without distractions in a safe, fun
environment. Sus is incredibly grounded, earthy, natural and full of positive, intensely focused energy.
The farm is maintained naturally for horses and people, and being there, in Sus presence, is an experience
in and of itself.
Although I had brought my horse to Sus for training, I learned every bit as much as he
did -- if not more. Sus was able to give me insights and feedback on what I had been doing in addition to
new techniques which brought a deeper level of respect and communication to my relationship with Tobias.
Sus' Essential Horsemanship has become a meditation to me of intensely focused loving energy. I am able
to apply this same attitude of patience and consistency to focus on positive outcomes in other areas of
my life as well -- with my husband and our sailing, our home, family and friends. I only wish these tools and
knowledge had been mine over twenty years ago when I was raising my daughter.
Now, the ability to communicate with my horse in a manner that keeps his curious, playful, energetic spirit
alive while creating a safe horse-human relationship is a reality that far exceeds my childhood dream.
I have Sus to thank for that. -Catherine Ascher
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