Incredible transformations have taken place in me as well as my horses since Sus has been woven into our lives! Honesty, trust, leadership ability and patient persistence are the keys to creating and nurturing any quality relationship with a horse. It is the "how" of implementing those keys that Sus shines. Not only does Sus have many years of different equine disciplines behind her, she is one of those horse people who have the uncanny ability to always know what is going to happen with a horse before it actually happens. Truly a gifted, remarkable horsewoman that one rarely encounters in this day and age.
-Maggie Schuler
Ron & Maggie Schuler, Orcas Island Friesians& Gypsy Vanners. Eastsound, WA
Essential Horsemanship and Sus Kellogg opened another world for me and more importantly a world of partnership with my horses. It has taken me to a place that is indescribably wonderful in regards to working with my horses. Sus has given me an invaluable set of tools that allow me to have the most incredible experiences riding and being with my horses. In addition I am safe and so are they. In opening your mind you will then open your horse world to experiences that are life changing.
-Eunice O'Neil, Cali and Saoirse
I met Sus several years ago when I was looking for a guide to natural horse handling. Watching Sus with her horses I saw that she had attained a level of communication, trust and mutual respect that I had always imagined possible. I knew I had met someone who would help me realize my dream: a partnership with my horse.
Sus lives what she teaches with integrity, clarity and commitment. She is deeply grounded, clearly focused and consistently calm. She has a genuine gift for sharing what she has learned from her lifetime of experience whether you are a novice or you have many years of experience.
I am so grateful that Sus is in my life as she is a wise and patient guide who, by helping me have a clearer understanding of the essential nature of the horse, has assisted me to expand my awareness of my inner and outer world and all of my relationships.
If you have the opportunity to see her with her equine partner, Drum, you will be profoundly inspired. If you take the opportunity to learn from her, you will find that what you experience will spill over into many areas of your life and that your relationship with your horse can be all you have wanted it to be.
- Cynthia Elliot (and Cash)
I have had my horse Zohari from the day he was born. Our relationship has been a long seven years of intense ups and downs. This past winter I had almost given up on tapping the potential I knew was in my horse. He had become frightened of everything and nothing I did could seem to ease that fear of focus in him in any reliable way.
That was eight months ago. And in those eight months I have worked with Sus learning about developing a relationship with my horse I could depend on. Thank you Sus for showing me and Zohari how wonderful our times together could be. I believe we still have potential waiting to be tapped, but you have helped us light the way and I only wish I had found you sooner.
Thank you Sus, your friends, Liziee and Zohari
After working with Sus, my daughters quickly gained a level of knowledge and confidence that has greatly improved their safety, horsemanship and riding skills.
Sus's systematic explanation of horse behavior and psychology while training the horse makes the process fun and extremely rewarding.
- Kay Keck
Sus's way of thinking, speaking and teaching has helped me a lot. My horse Sugar, understands what I am teaching her or what I am reinforcing.
That's the kind of communication that wasn't there before I started lessons with Sus. I am more comfortable around horses and understand them better. Now when we have a problem I know I can fix it.
- Anna Haefele
My horse and I had communication failure; held back by issues of respect, trust, and confidence, until Sus showed me techniques to develop a partnership and speak the same language.
Now we are trusting each other in ways I never thought possible...a year ago I never would have believed I could ride my horse without a bridle. My horse is a true partner and I am a much more confident horsewoman.
Thank you, Sus! - Ruthie Thompson-Klein
... 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
What I have observed with Sus time after time after time in any given moment is her asking and watching, "where is the horse?" Is he present or has he going within and is absent to his perfermance? What is happening here? There is no anger or forcing. There is a dance of, "ok horse, you lead", and then the music changes and Sus leads, each in the dance of mutual trust and respect. It is where the magic happens, where the horse willingly, fully present, chooses to participate. Many people do natural horsemanship. Sus is natural horsemanship.
-Dr. Gigi Gaulin
I have known Sus now for 6 years. She is a wise, clear spoken, kind, and insightful horsewoman. Sus has the ability to see aind intuit the needs of each horse she works with, whether is's a weanling, a mustang off the range, or a horse that has experienced years of abuse. In training and teaching Sus is sincerely dedicated and takes whatever time is needed to develop a solid foundation--she knows that in true relationship there can be no shortcuts. Both with partners of horses in training and those participating in clinics, she provides a presence of safey, acceptance, and understanding. She truly listens to concerns and clearly and insightfully responds.
It was through Sus and Drum at the 2005 San Juan County Fair demonstration that I first saw the deep level of trust, connection, and respect that was possible between horse and partner. That was the beginning of my journey. With Sus as our guide these last three years, my horse Remmington and I have traveled through both joyful times and some challenging times. Sus has helped me to understand Remmington's behaviors, the thinking of a young horse, and how to best communicate. She has been supportive when I doubted myself and my ability to be the partner that Remmington needed in order for us to have connection. Remmington and I now have a solid, tangible foundation from which to continue our growth. For me, experiencing now with Remmington the connection I always thought was possible fills me to my very center--an amazing gift in my life.
-In deepest gratitude, Pamela Willams and Remmington
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