Testimonials

I have know Susan Dockter for the last 10 + years. Together we have worked closely on her horsemanship journey. I must give "kudos" as Susan's talent is a credit to her sincerity, strong work ethic, integrity and true love for "the horse." These make her exceptional as a horsewoman, trainer and instructor. 

The horse world is in good hands with Susan in the saddle.

Susan Dockter is the exceptional horse trainer. I sent my very difficult three-year-old Arab/Trakehner mare for ninety days of training with Susan and wow, what a difference! I now have a horse I can feel confident on, one that is responsive but not reactive. Susan has taught me so much and opened my eyes to the importance of a solid foundation of trust with my mare.

Susan’s teaching is informed by a deep understanding of the horse’s movement, mentality, and how he learns. Her feel and timing are flawless, and my horses respond wonderfully to her methods. Every decision she makes is motivated first and foremost by love for the horse. Susan is also a gifted teacher of humans as well as horses, a rare combination indeed in the equestrian world. I cannot recommend Susan enough! Other trainers may come and go, but Susan is my “keeper.”

Susan has this ability to effectively train these beautiful animals and instruct her clients on following through with those directions. I have been around several people to see how horses react to the energy that person projects. All of the knowelge I have gained from Susan had made my position at the rescue much easier. We are able to work with all of them the horses using the proper training.

Many things make Susan special and unique.  Besides her skills, she has a sense of humility;  just as she does with the horses she trains, she has an ability to assess, understand, and respect our human issues-- including fear--, and isolate and work on those issues until they dissolve. Susan has the innate sense of a good teacher; she always  provides positive feedback and encouragement, with  honesty and frankness, and  demonstrates her ultimate belief in her students and horses.  She never loses her temper or raises her voice, and she always strives to build confidence in the horses she works with and with the riders she coaches. Whenever I have someone who has a problem with their horse, an issue with their riding, or a colt that needs starting, I proudly refer them to Susan, confident that they’ll be as delighted with the results as I have been!

Susan's training  is a complete program for the horse and rider.  It is just what we needed.  She reads and understands the horse and intuitively brings them along step-by-step, Building a strong foundation for the language and tools that she empowers the rider with. I genuinely thank Susan for taking us and our horses to the next level and beyond.  She  is always positive and encouraging. She recognizes what level you and your horse are at and buildings both up together with the language and tools to make for a positive lifetime partnership experience with between you and your horse.

I have been training with Susan since her training career began.  I recognized her talent and devotion to excellence that would propel both my-self and my horses to our full potential.  Her program and presentation are very clear and make a lot of good sense, and with committed practice, is very successful. Susan is very aware of all the intricacies of the horse’s mind, the emotions that arise, and the physical manifestations that surface. I recognize programs and instruction that works (or does not work).  Her program works over and over again!  Thank you, Susan.

Susan rode my colt for sixty days and did an excellent job.  I was able to go on with him, and he is willing, able, and gentle.  I highly recommend Susan for any discipline of riding.  She is wonderful!

I’ve been riding my whole life, but I never truly understood what I was doing.  Susan worked me through most of my bad habits and helped me through the days I thought I couldn’t get through.  She never gave up on me, or made me feel like I wasn’t going to get it.  She’s taught me patience, respect for the horse, and how to help a horse move further in its training.  I’m very proud to say that Susan is the one to thank for the improvements I’ve made in my riding.

Prior to meeting Susan we exposed our horses to stimuli and sensory, but we were unaware of horsemanship and its benefits. Susan taught us a new and better way to train horses through this understanding of horsemanship. Because of this we have become better riders and created a solid relationship with our horses. Susan goes beyond standard lessons taught by many trainers because she is able to provide a comprehensive overview of the equestrian world. Susan will help you become your best in a positive manner. If you ever have a question she will answer it in a way that makes sense to you. Susan has gone above and beyond our expectations and we look forward to continue working with her in the future. You can't go wrong with Susan Dockter!

Chris Cox introduced me to Susan Dockter who approaches horsemanship in the same manner as he does. Susan took my horse in training and WOW I have a totally different horse now. He listens to me and is calm. I can trust him now to stay calm under pressure. AND I also took some lessons from Susan and finally learned how to stay calm in the saddle and RIDE!. I owe Susan a great debt because she has truly changed my life- I can really enjoy riding now and join my husband on "horse adventures".

Susan has had a different challenge with me.  As an older rider with little to no riding or horse experience, she has helped me develop a solid seat, increased my overall knowledge, and improved my all around confidence.  Now when I ride Rocco, I feel like we are communicating.  Susan works hard, is straight forward, and truly cares about you and your horse.  She is an exceptional trainer for both humans and horses, and I've loved working with her.

Without Susan's patience and guidance, I would have given up on my horse. I never would have been able to manage his energy, so that I could then experience his athleticism, or enjoy his intelligence and unique talents. Today my horse is happy, calm, and a great partner, with excellent ground manners. We can even put our grandchildren on him. Thank you Susan!

I cannot recommend Susan more highly--she is not only a superb horseman and teacher, but she also runs a solid business and you will get tremendous value out of what you spend on training with her.

Susan has been able to help us internalize the fundamental principles of horsemanship, so that now, at each stage, we can teach and maintain the training of our own horses. She has a unique gift of being able to explain simply and demonstrate the mysteries of riding a horse well. She won't give up until you experience the unforgettable “feel” of the unified graceful flow of horse and rider moving together to achieve some hitherto incomprehensible, and sometimes scary, maneuver.

Without Susan's patience and guidance, I would have given up on my horse. I never would have been able to manage his energy, so that I could then experience his athleticism, or enjoy his intelligence and unique talents. Today my horse is happy, calm, and a great partner, with excellent ground manners. We can even put our grandchildren on him. Thank you Susan!

A year ago, I purchased a green broke seven year old Andalusion/Arabian cross. Susan helped me all along the way. She helped to locate and evaluate each horse, arrange a prepurchase exam, locate a suitable boarding facility and purchase the appropriate tack. In addition to a weekly lesson for me, Susan rode my inexperienced and very forward horse twice a week. We have both improved and gained more confidence and I’ve become a more balanced rider. It has been a challenging journey but the changes in both of us are undeniable. I look forward to many wonderful years in the saddle thanks in large part to Susan.