Hear From Our Clients

Highly recommend Susan, she demonstrates ethical horsemanship and shares philosophies that are important to me. Horses are not machines; they are sentient beings. 

Susan puts a lot of thought into our lessons and is well prepared with any training aids we may need during our session. Sessions progress to my needs and abilities as well as those of my horse. I leave every session feeling positive about how things are going and look forward to the next! Susan is hands-on and supportive with a calming and pleasant demeanor. I really value her kinesthetic approach as an adult learner. 

While in between sessions, I am grateful that I can reach out to Susan with any questions I may have and share how things have been going. I can feel that Susan sincerely cares about my horse and me. I also really appreciate that she provides me with notes after our lessons, which allows me to stay present while having something I can use as a reference later, need be. 

Lastly, I'm seeing real results. I am more confident. My horse is more confident, and our partnership gets stronger by the day. When I first got S'mores, he was difficult to lead, would push into me, had trouble standing still, was hard to catch, did not like to pick up his feet, etc. I wanted to listen to what he was trying to tell me, but I didn't speak his language. After only three months, we were like a different pair. He has calmed down, learned to relax, and just stand still with me. He walks nicely on a lead and has softened on the lunge line. Before I started working with Susan, I was nervous about trying new things with my horses and lacked the tools to set boundaries and communicate effectively. Susan has helped me to better regulate my nervous system while creating an environment where both my horse and I feel safe and secure. 

I had my first training session with Susan, who owns Elemental Horsemanship, yesterday with my Shelby girl. Shelby decided she wanted us to start from the ground up, and I am okay with that! 

I can't believe what I learned in an hours time with Susan. I'm still in awe with how well our session went. To say it's amazing when you start to form a true partnership with such a large, majestic animal is an understatement. It's literally magical. I love my big girl, and she responded so well yesterday. 

(I wish everyone could have watched our session; it was just beyond words.)

Thank you, Susan. I cannot wait for our many more sessions to come. 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the workshop “Introduction to the Elements of Horsemanship” presented by Susan Lafferty, and I can truly say that the course content exceeded my expectations.

Susan demonstrated not only deep knowledge and expertise, but also a genuine passion for both horses and teaching. Her ability to break down complex concepts into clear, practical steps made the learning experience accessible and engaging. The workshop is suitable for riders of all skill levels.

What stood out most was the emphasis on communication, trust, and partnership with the horse. Susan created a supportive environment where questions were encouraged, and every participant felt valued. Through thoughtful instructions and hands-on guidance, the attendees could improve their confidence levels, which will be beneficial when working with their own horses in the future (e.g. preparing the horse for cooperating with a veterinarian during examinations, working with the farrier, for saddle fitting, and standing still in front of a mounting block).

I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their horsemanship skills. Susan’s professionalism, patience, and insight make this an incredibly worthwhile

experience.