Nancy and BoJangles

The best money I have ever spent was on Bo and you! Susan, Thank you so much for everything you have done for Bo and I. As you know, I was ready to put Bo out to pasture permanently! I was afraid to ride him - even afraid to play with him on-line. In the saddle, he scared me to death! He bucked me off several times, had my number completely. I was told to 'get rid of him, he is going to kill you' by more than one well-meaning friend. I was even told to 'put him down' that he wasn't worth the trouble he caused. I really love that horse. He was a gift from my Dad - the last thing Dad did for me before he passed away. I had such big plans for Bo, but I had all but given up until I met you. My Dad purchased Bo as a 3 month old colt. We had him shipped here from Idaho at 4 months. When he arrived, BoJangles had a fracture of the long pastern bone in his right hind leg. I was told to put him in a stall - the leg had been fractured for too long already to do surgery. He became unmanageable. I'd try to lead him and he'd rear and act up - he really scared me as he was a very large baby. Anyway, we x-rayed the leg several times as he grew. His leg healed ok, but it needed to fuse. At 5, I was told he had a 50/50 chance of being sound. I started him with a local trainer thinking I would show him halter, she gave up on him after a couple lessons. His 2nd trainer lasted 3 ground lessons. My 3rd trainer lasted over a year, and we did lots and lots of ground work. That really helped, but he got sour from so much repeated ground work and stopped moving - started bucking! The 4th person I tried would not let me in the clinic until everyone else went to lunch - he was too dangerous to other people! She was great, but here from Illinois so that didn't last - we worked twice! I got scared after he bucked me off one day, and I had to go in for stitches in my face. I was at my wits end with him. I really loved him, wanted it to work, but had almost given up. Susan changed all that! She gave me the courage to try again. She didn't put Bo down, didn't tell me to sell him, didn't tell me he was crazy, she said he was a great horse! That was not something I had heard before - it changed our whole relationship! I realized it was me as much as it was Bo. I had taught him to get nasty because whenever he acted up as a baby I always thought he was hurting - so I'd quit whatever I was trying to do with him! He learned he didn't have to work if he didn't want to! Anyway, I have been riding Bo with Susan now for a year. We are loping in the arena - something I never thought I'd do on this horse! We are doing Susan's clinics - in the arena working with other horses, which I never thought I could do with Bo - and still control him! I am trail riding him! I still have fear issues, mostly my head issues - he still tries to intimidate me a little, but with Susan's help we are progressing! Bo is becoming a solid citizen and a fun horse to own and to ride. I am so thankful to you Susan! I owe you so much for saving Bo and me! I know our future is bright - we will continue to improve monthly! Bo and I have a long journey yet - we aren't there yet, but WOW have we come a long way! I know with Susan on my side, we will get better and better! Susan is the first trainer who has believed in Bo, and the first trainer who made me believe in Bo too! - Nancy DeGan and BoJangles Susan, watching you ride Bo Jangles yesterday was awesome! The things he does now - his lightness, willingness (most of the time) just blow my mind. I always knew that horse was in there somewhere - I just couldn't find him. I did great teaching him tricks on the ground, but in the saddle I was useless. After he bucked me off a few times, bucked my husband off and really hurt him, I couldn't get past my fear of him long enough to really get him to settle. Bo is such a sensitive horse - he wants to please, but he gets mad really easy if he is confused or frustrated. When he gets upset, mad, frustrated, afraid, he just wants the session to end - bucking or rearing was his answer. For such a big horse, he has never been a brave or confident horse - probably stemming from his broken leg as a baby. At least, that is what I always contributed his insecurities to. Anyway, you know I have had a few years of total frustration with Bo, going from one trainer to the next until I almost gave up on him. That is until I found you! Even after we started working together and I was doing things with Bo I never dreamed I'd be able to do, i.e., riding him alone on long trail rides, loping him in the arena, long trotting the trails and arena, I still knew he was explosive and he could kill me. After that nice little trail ride Jeanne, my daughter, and I went on where he started bucking like a bronc again - for no apparent reason, except he was not getting his way . . . . I knew I would never feel comfortable on him. I felt he was just not ever going to be a horse I could ride and enjoy without thinking every time I got on him that he was going to kill me one of these days. Then the first Wilton clinic I did with you where he latched onto Dancer and freaked every time we were separated a few feet was terrible- I had a horse that was oblivious to me even being on him! I was so mad, frustrated, disappointed in me and in him that day - so depressed after that clinic. I honestly tried to continue riding him . . . . I took him to Cool and did the entire Olmstead Loop, all 8 1/2 miles, alone just to see what he'd do. He was great that day. That was my biggest issue with him. He was so unpredictable. He was a Dr Jeckle and a Mr. Hyde. I never knew which horse was going to show up during our rides - he would switch back and forth! Anyway, you know I was ready to give up. Even after we were really making progress, I still knew I couldn't trust nor depend on him! Then I decided to just let you take him for 30 days. I wanted to know which horse you rode . . . and how you handled his multiple personality - what you thought of him! Hearing you brag on him. Knowing you were having fun riding him, your belief in him, your confidence in him, changed my relationship with Bo. I know it is a head game with me. Just knowing you rode Bo for 4 weeks, 6 days a week - AND YOU BELIEVED IN HIM - did something to my head. Right after getting him back from you, I took him back for a second Wilton clinic - I had a blast that day! I was so proud of Bo! He even helped another horse who was afraid of the cows face them and go through the herd! What a difference from the first clinic in Wilton we attended. I loped, and galloped on the way back, that sand loop all alone! We were able to leave the group in a controlled manner! Unbelievable! Then yesterday watching you ride him made my heart sing! Susan you and Bo make a beautiful team! What an inspiring sight to watch you ride my once hopeless horse in a more advanced Dressage type clinic . . . using Bo as the example horse! I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that Frann introduced me to you. You saved my horse for me. You turned Bo and my world around. I could go on and on about my feelings, our progress, how comfortable I am on Bo Jangles now because of you, but I better just say with the most heartfelt gratitude I am capable of feeling - Thank you so much! Bo and I just love you, Susan!