About Suzanne

Suzanne has been involved with horses for over thirty five years. She has competed in equitation, hunters and dressage, having trained exclusively for dressage for over twenty years. She studied with Susan Shrader (a certified Centered Riding instructor) for eight years, Doina Fischer for over seven and also traveled to Spain where she worked with Luis Ramos Paul, the former director of the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre. Dominique Barbier, the author of the best selling Dressage for the New Age, has helped guide Suzanne for more than fourteen years and she teaches his method of lightness and harmony. Dominique and Debra Barbier regularly give clinics at Patewood Farm and Suzanne travels to their farm  California to continue her advanced studies under their guidance. Suzanne's combination of eight years of German dressage and fourteen years of French classical dressage give her a unique perspective on the two schools of dressage training.

Suzanne began her career with Arabians which helped her learn early on the sensitivity and respect necessary to form a true relationship with a horse. She has worked with numerous breeds, ranging from Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses and Warmbloods to the more exotic Friesians and Lusitanos. Her love of the Iberians breeds (Andalusians and Lusitanos) began more than eleven years ago and she is uniquely qualified to handle the different training requirements of the baroque breeds (Friesians, Andalusians, Lusitanos and Lippizaners). She works with such diverse breeds as Morgans, Arabians, Irish Draughts, Dutch Warmbloods, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Friesians, Andalusians and Lusitanos among others. Although perhaps best known for her work with babies where her endless patience and humor help create happy, willing partners, she continues her compassionate and gentle training methods through the levels, striving throughout to create a fun, harmonious relationship between horse and rider resulting in a true dance. 

Suzanne's simple philosophy of "Happy Horse, Happy Rider" brings a much needed sense of joy to a field of study often overshadowed by stress and demands on both horse and rider. Although passionately serious about her field, Suzanne never forgets the wonder and joy that brought her to horses in the first place.