Hi Susan,

The other day I told Kathy that your training has “changed my life.” So this is just a follow up to explain what I meant.

When we retired in 2004 and moved from Hawaii to California, one of the key reasons was that we wanted to spend more time with horseback riding. After arriving here, we spent several years, a good deal of effort and quite a bit of money on various horse trainers. Some of the results were okay, but I felt like I was “skimming the surface”—sort of going through the motions without understanding why I was doing certain things.

It wasn’t until we began working with you that pieces started to fall into place. The notion of “the horse you lead is the horse you ride” began to clarify for me why I needed to do certain things with our horses. Your training has taught me how to observe what the horse is doing and understand how to intervene and shape the horse’s behavior. Although I still have lots of learning to do, I’ve gained much more confidence with the horses. This has helped me see that the horses have begun to change as I have begun to change. I guess my improving skills and confidence have helped them see me as a better leader, which in turn makes them better horses. So….the degree to which we lead our horses effectively, we’ll ride them effectively as well, right? Since Kathy and I have committed so much to this aspect of our retired lives, I really feel like my life, in this regard, has been changed.

Thanks for that Susan! Right on!

– Kehele Kukea

I had an awesome day, learned alot, gained confidence in my self and in handling Rio- we are both very happy, proud campers tonite!! I want you to know how much I appreciate you and your methods of training and teaching. You have a gift and are using it to empower those of us- who don’t have it , and I am grateful that our paths have crossed… — I learn so much from you and feel safer, happier and more energized that I CAN DO this!! YEAH!
–Jeanne, 2011

What can I say but THANKS!!!- I am so happy to finally be riding as I have desired for so many years- Still have a lot to learn- but lots of milestone under my belt since I started working with you and I appreciate you and your patient teaching…. Have I NOT said that before?? just want to make sure you hear it again, and again!! Love it!!
– Jeanne, 12/7/2011

Susan, thanks for the awesome lesson yesterday- loved every minute of it– You have a great “teaching gift”– and I am a willing and grateful pupil!!
– Jeanne, 11/23/2011

Susan, I am sitting here in my cozy living room — feeling ever so good about how things went today for me and my gal, Dancer. I am proud of her and of me for the great strides we have made and I (again!) Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Listening to you each time I am with you- your message rings a bit deeper and I learn something from you every time listening to you and observing you with other horses. One of the greatest messages I come away with each time is consistency- consistency,– you are so consistent with each and every horse. You set them up to succeed — makes sense to them and makes sense to me! Your wee little voice rings in my ears as I try to emulate your movements and consistency. We both thank you for that!!
Love,
– Jeanne (and Dancer), 10/9/2011

Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

Hi Susan,

Just wanted to say thank you again for everything you did with Romeo… I’ve got him at the barn now and have ridden him three times… He’s SO AWESOME! Even after basically sitting for a year, he is able to be ridden with other horses, in the cross ties with other horses, etc.. It’s just not a big deal. He has to most awesome foundation on him, feels super safe, and really wants to do the right thing. We even went on a little trail ride today 🙂 I’m kind of on cloud nine with that pony, even in just riding him this week he’s proven how solid the foundation is, and how willing he is to please. I honestly thought this boy was in danger of being euthanized when I bought him, and I’m SO glad he got the chance he deserved. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

– Sam Ellis, November 2011

Standing at stud- for more pictures/info visit: http://www.secretambitionstables.com/

First session with Romeo in 2010

Just wanted to give you an update on Romeo 🙂 I’ve worked him twice now and he has made HUGE progress in just a short amount of time…. it’s like his whole demeanor has changed. I haven’t taken him out of the arena yet, but he is soft, supple and responsive to the halter in there. I can pick up all four feet now (though he is still a little cautious with the hinds, but not kicking), and I can lunge him in small circles each way. The progress is amazing! He is totally focused on me and ignoring the other horses. Something he had never completely done in the past.

Thanks so much!!!
– Sam Ellis, August 2014

Sam Ellis: http://www.secretambitionstables.com/

Thank you so much for coming out tonight after such a long day. You have helped me sooo much! I don’t know where to start. It has been my dream to ride my little mare since I got her as a little weanling 5 years ago. You made that dream come true in a safe and comfortable way. When I get on her I feel like she is mine, and is waiting for my direction. My kids think you are a superstar because I talk about you so much! I bet if you needed them, I know you’d have three helpers in a couple years.

Thank you!

– Danielle B. 2011

Susan,
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!

Susan came to my rescue when I was diagnosed with cancer and could not properly start my filly. Looking back, I could not properly start her with or without the “excuse” of cancer. Interesting how much I learned so much from my own horse, after she had been sent to Susan. I’m the one who needed to go for training!If only I lived closer, I would be there every week! For all of you who have been thinking about getting a trainer, for any reason, Susan is top notch!

Classy is now the lead horse on the Pacific Crest Trail, ponying the pack horse, and full of confidence on some frightening trails! She’s a dream to ride, and I will always be grateful to Susan for taking a “fiddle fart, pushy, bad mannered filly” and turning her into a common sense, spookless, happy horse.

Thanks Susan!

– Cindy VanSchooten and Classy

Hi, my name is Cassidy I am 12 years old and I met Susan because of my Make a Wish. I have cancer, so I got a Make- a- Wish. Ever since I was little I have wanted a horse, so obviously thats what I wished for. Susan helped me find my perfect horse. Now I have a wonderful horse named Teddy. He is the love of my life .

It has been very difficult going through radiation and chemotherapy, but meeting Susan and getting Teddy made me look forward to getting up in the morning and going to ride. Looking at pictures and videos of Teddy help me get through the treatments. I have been riding horses since I was 5 years old and Susan is by far the best horse trainer I have ever met. Not only has she taught me how to be safe around horses but she is one of my best friends. I am so glad I met you, Susan!!!!!! Thanks for everything.
Love your biggest fan,

– Cassy

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This is Cassidy’s mom. I just have to say that we feel SO blessed to know Susan. Cassidy has been riding horses since she was 5 years old, and has saved every penny in order to one day buy her own horse. Unfortunately our life took a sudden, drastic turn when our precious daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January of 2010. We choose to look at the positive side of the situation, and one extremely positive side is meeting Susan Wirgler. I have watched Cassidy take countless horseback riding lessons over the past seven years, I have never seen anyone teach Cassidy as much as Susan has. She has taught Cassidy how to be safe on and around a horse, how to respect a horse, how to relate to a horse and how to have fun with her horse.

Susan has such a passion for horses and teaching her students, and it shows. But Susan goes beyond that. When Cassidy is in San Francisco doing her treatments, Susan will call her, just to see how she is doing, and will give her an update on what and how Teddy is doing. I can’t even begin to tell you how much these calls mean to Cassidy and to me. It always puts a smile on Cassidy’s face, no matter how badly she is feeling! Thank you Susan for ALL you have done this past year, you and Teddy have made this difficult journey for a young girl a little more bearable. You are a true blessing to our family!

– Cassidy and Lisa Sidhu

Susan,

Thank you so much for getting me back in the saddle after getting dumped. You showed compassion and patience towards me while helping me without making me feel that I am a failure. Your helping me feel for Max has been great.

Even though I have done lots of clinics and training and riding, after getting dumped it really shook my and confidence in regards to riding Max. Thank you for helping over come that, so we could get back on the trail.

– Mayleen Boslaugh

Thank you so VERY much for restoring my confidence and turning my project horse into a “keeper”. I purchased a horse even though I saw red flags and knew better. I wasn’t in the market, but a neighbor told me of a killer deal on a big, stocky TWH gelding who needed an experienced rider (first red flag). I had a perfect horse at home and could use a larger horse for my hubby. We went to look and my hubby fell in love at first sight. Second flag, never buy a horse on looks. He looked like the black stallion and had excellent ground manners. His name was Bart (Black Bart). He hadn’t been ridden in a year and the owner wouldn’t get on him (flag). My pride kicked in and I rode him in the round pen and he ran away with me (flag). I really liked his gait and figured with a little work I could make him husband worthy and I love a challenge and fancied myself an experienced rider (it’s all relative). I rode him on their property and went back to ride him on the trail. He was wonderful. I didn’t lope though. Hubby loved him even more and I took a shine to him as well.

Considering all the flags I asked an experienced Search and Rescue friend to evaluate the horse and tell me if I was crazy to buy him. She does training and is a more experienced horsewoman than I. She thought I would do well with him if I had time for a project horse (which I didn’t), but wasn’t sure about him ever being a hubby horse. Against my better judgment, I bought him (for my hubby) and figured I would put some time and miles on him. He had a questionable training background and displayed fear in several ways like snorting, tucking his tail, rushing his hind as if he had been whipped. I set out to build his confidence and trust and ended up handling him with kid gloves, which wasn’t helpful to him. I had many successful trail rides although I was always on guard while riding. I put him through Search and Rescue training and got him desensitized, SAR certified and even rode him in a parade. Then one day I got complacent and got bucked off, failed my tuck and roll, resulting in a broken collar bone in four places. He had bucked me off one other time without injury. I began to doubt my sanity. My healing time was complicated and required surgery, so I was unable to ride for months. My confidence was shaken and I became fearful. My dilemma was do I keep him or not. I wanted to be wise and practical (better late than never) and certainly didn’t want to be hurt again. I didn’t know who I could sell him to and didn’t want to be responsible for their injury or for someone to abuse Bart. One of the problems with Bart was that he would be fine one minute, focused with you and then just be gone the next similar to a wild horse. This happened with the farrier on occasion, which made no sense and was inconsistent.

Long story short, I didn’t want to part with him as he was a smart horse and a sweet horse, not a mean bone in his body. He was all about flight. I had him evaluated by one trainer who told me to sell him for $500 to a cowboy. I entertained the idea of trading him to an experienced horsewoman in exchange for her bomb-proof horse. When it came down to it, I wasn’t ready to part with him, but figured it was the responsible thing to do.

I finally decided to start him over from the beginning to fill in the missing training chapters. I also decided I needed professional help, so I began taking lessons with Susan. I didn’t want someone to fix my horse and give him back to me, I wanted to learn and grow with him. In the end I would be able to safely ride him. I figured if that didn’t work, I’d give him up to some trainer who wanted a project. Either way the training would help in placing him in a good home or turn him into a keeper.

Susan is excellent and it was the best training experience I’ve ever had. Susan taught me techniques and gave me tools to lead my horse into safer territory. I got him recertified for SAR and even rode him in an obstacle course and race event. We didn’t win, but he did great! I am so excited to feel good about riding him. She restored my confidence and turned my problem project horse into a keeper. I didn’t heed my own advice, but thanks to Susan it worked out anyway and I couldn’t be happier.

– Catherine and Bart (partners), 2010

Hi Susan,

I just wanted to say thank you so much for the work you did with Tango. He is such an important part of my life and handing him over to someone for 60 days ways a very hard thing to do. I am so glad that you were able to be his trainer. I always felt comfortable with him in your care, and he came home with excellent manners and great training. The best part ius , knowing he is still very young, I greatly appreciate the way you stay in contact with me to ensure that everything is going OK. He is still young and goofy at times, but I know that I have the support I need to continue working with him, and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Thank you so much!

– Lenore and Tango

Hi Susan,

It was so much fun watching you with Mariah yesterday. Thank you so much. You are terrific. You are great with the horses. You really know your stuff. The added advantage is that your great with people too, have a good sense of humor, and the ability to articulate what your doing so that even a person like me can get something out of it. Even though it’s my organization, Sammie’s Friends that rescued Mariah, I am the least knowledgeable about horses.

I lived on a farm in South Dakota as a kid and could ride anything but after I left home at 18 for college I haven’t ridden much (like about 6 times in 40+ years). Back in those days, especially in South Dakota there was not much learning going on-just get on and ride.

Thank you so very much. I hope that Mariah can come spend some more time with you and develop into a great horse.

– Cheryl Wicks, Sammie’s Friends