Susan Wirgler is an expert horsewoman. She understands horses, and she understands people. I started taking lessons with her a year and a half ago to work on confidence issues and basic horsemanship. Two wrecks had left me scared to ride and terrified to lope. At first, I held my breath during lessons, and more than once I cried when I got off. (I only found out later she was worried she might be doing something wrong because I was always so serious when I rode! At that time, every ride felt like a life and death battle.)

Working with Susan has helped me get my confidence and joy of riding back. She started slowly and went at my pace, taking me through a series of exercises to teach me to control the horse and show me that I had the skills and ability to do it. She knew when to back off and when to gently push me. No matter how scared I was, she was always there with a positive attitude when I could not be. She’s trustworthy, honest, and sincere, which are priceless qualities in a professional trainer. With Susan’s help, I am loping again and I’m looking to buy my first horse. I am becoming a horsewoman in my own right!

– Karen

Susan,

I wanted to sent you a note to let you know how well Delta and Tom are doing. In the time you spent working with Delta she has grown so much. Her confidence and how she handles is a testament to your training program and skills.

I want to thank you for taking the time with Tom and myself to teach us also on steps we can take each and every time to assure that all of us (Delta and us) have great rides each and every time out.

If you ever need to use us as reference on your behalf we would love to do that for you. Once again thank you for your time and for sharing your technics with us.

– Tom and Sheila Feil
Garden Valley, CA

Dear Susan,

When I rescued this 13 year old bay mare, she was starved, scarred both physically and mentally, and had a halter embedded in her facial bones. She was so petrified of people, that it took weeks for her to begin to trust me enough to allow me to cut the halter off.  I couldn’t get near her rear end, let alone her feet, which had never been trimmed.  Her favorite defense mechanism was to rear up, twist around and bolt.  For 6 months, she shuddered and trembled at my touch.  She was over-reactive to the slightest movement and sound, and the vet wasn’t sure we’d be able to save her.   Originally, her name was Mustang Sally, but she proved to be so sweet and willing to try, I ended up calling her Sweetie-Pie.

Our first year together was intense!  After hundreds of hours of handling and simple ground work exercises, she finally came around enough for me to get a saddle on her, and get my foot in the stirrup.  We were ready to find a trainer!  A mutual acquaintance of ours suggested you because you handle so many mustangs and have the patience and understanding to delve through the layers of a horse’s damaged psyche.  She was right.  Sweetie spent a lot of time learning patience and focus, and although she was a challenge, you turned her into a first rate trail horse who has learned to use the thinking side of her brain.  Sweetie has proven herself to be an exceptional horse and you did a beautiful job of training her.  She is soft-mouthed, quick to respond and eager to please.

The time that you’ve spent with us since her training and the exercises you’ve recommended keep us both soft, supple and moving forward.  I cannot tell you how beneficial it has been for you to continue working with the two of us.

AND THEN THERE IS SHEBA TOO!

Well, it’s been about 4 weeks since I brought my little grey mare home and wow, have I been having fun with her.

Sheba is everything I’d hoped she’d be under saddle. We spend 2 days a week doing the groundwork exercises you showed me and at least 2 days a week out trail riding. She is responsive to cues, willing to go where I lead and just a pleasure to ride. My 13 year old daughter rides her as well as my sister-in-law, (who is scared to death of horses, but loves to ride my Sheba).

I have to say that having you provide group classes and offering at-home visits has made a very big difference in how Sheba is progressing and in my confidence level.

 

Can’t wait to see what you can do with her brother next year!

Happy Riding,
–Melani

Susan Wirgler is a seasoned horse woman and teacher. She is a focused teacher that is committed to her students’ success. I recommend her to anyone wanting to learn to handle and ride their horse. Susan, taught me the steps to be safe on the ground and in the saddle. When you are her student she is available to answer questions by phone or meet you to handle problems that may occur between lessons. Simply put Susan goes beyond the call of duty.

Last year, I was challenged with my mare and was not moving forward or riding. And fear of my horse was very uncomfortable. Today I have no fear and am comfortable on the trail. I am grateful to Susan for staying with me through the hard work.

I had training from 4 other people and was constantly frustrated that I was not learning the very technical details of being a partner to my horse. Studying with Susan, has been liberating. Her work begins on the ground and then is transferred to the saddle. If you can handle the horse on the ground then you are ready to ride.

Susan, has worked with my horse and I in private lessons at my home and hers; in riding clinics with other students; and on the trail. No other riding instructor took me out on the trail. My dream came true once I found Susan Wirgler.

Thank you Susan for helping my dream come true!

– Terry Schmer (T1 and her horse Candy)

“This one is because of you………

Susan, have your ears been burning? T2 and I have been carrying on about how YOU got T2 (and me) riding! Today we went riding with friends behind our house. Are you ready for this . . . T2 had never been there AND SHE TOOK THE LEAD POSITION!

There are 1400 acres back there and you’ve got to come riding with us someday. It is beautiful!! Tomorrow we are meeting again, on the easement road and we are riding and having a picnic back there.

Join us if you are around.

From what I can see riding makes all of us happy.

– T1 and T2 (Terry Mallin) – Their horses Candy and Patches!

Susan,

Gabby and I just wanted to take a minute and wish you a Happy New Year, and also to thank you for helping us with Sneak. He has become a much better trained horse! You have improved our knowledge and skill in working with him tremendously, both on the trail and in the arena.

Your ground training knowledge has made a huge impact on both of us, and on Sneak as well Gabby’s level of confidence has improved ten fold! She is so much more at ease in working with him on the ground.

It is nice to know that virtually every horse problem has a solution, when working with a professional like you.

Thanks again for your time and patience, and we look forward to having you work with us in 2009.

Best Regards,
– Gary and Gabby Fontana (And Sneak!)

My family and I met Susan Wirgler about six years ago when we were greener than a pack of wild horses. I had bought an older Fox Trotter who was well-broke horse and allowed us to make all of our novice mistakes on her until she got fed up. I bet she went back to the pasture at night and laughed with her buddies about all the things she had started to do to scare us. We, of course, thought there was something wrong with her and sold her. We almost gave up the dream of becoming riders

My husband, three daughters and I began taking half-day lessons with Susan shortly after we sold the Fox Trotter. I, personally, was somewhat scared of horses, but with Susan’s help, I started to understand them. I have taken private lessons with Susan over the years. She has taught me so much about how a horse’s mind works, and how important it is to establish a relationship with them on the ground prior to every ride. Much to my surprise, with Susan’s help, I started riding horses as young as four years old.

Today, we are committed horse people. I don’t know if we would have continued to own and ride horses if it was not for Susan’s guidance and encouragement. My daughters have taken what they learned from Susan and have bypassed my abilities. They are currently paid to exercise other people’s horses, and my oldest daughter teaches horseback riding to children. None of this would be possible without Susan sharing her knowledge with us.

– Beverly Harrington and Family
(Husband, Tim and daughters, Alycia, Chelsea and Courtney

In every aspect of horse and human partnership, Susan Wirgler leads you in the right direction. She has as much patience with us humans as she does her horses. She is dedicated to achieving a soft relaxed feel with the horse or mule and then teaches you to find it too.

Susan’s love for the horse shines. Her years of experience, knowledge and dedication shows as she works with you. Susan has helped my husband and myself expand our relationship with our horses and has set us on a path of achieving a safe and willing partnership with them. Giving us confidence when we hit a rough patch, helping us though a more technically challenged maneuver, Susan always finds the right words and visual aids to help us reach our goal.

Her explanations are clear, she coaches you to be more observant and always reminds you to be safe. From beginner to advanced, Susan has something to offer everyone.

God Bless,
– Bob and Sandy Currier

Looking for the right trainer is stressful and emotional. You need to look no further if you choose Susan Wirgler.

Susan’s remarkable skills demonstrate the true meaning of “Horse Whisper” techniques that have Susan and your horse quickly bonding together as one. Susan was riding my un-broke 4 year old quarter horse “Cowboy” within the first 5 days of training.

Susan is not only an exceptional trainer she is truly a beautiful person inside and out and I look foward to continuing my equine education with her. I have learned so much by choosing the right trainer, choose Susan and I’m sure you will too!

 

– Frann Knox and Cowboy
Krazy K Ranch

Back in the Saddle Again…

I thought riding a horse would be like riding a bicycle, that it would, as they say, “all come back”, and guess what??? It didn’t!! Having owned and ridden a horse for years in my younger life, I thought entering the “Horse World” again would be “Not a big deal.” Ooops, was I ever wrong! I found myself actually afraid to ride either one of my newly acquired horses. Here I was feeding them, shoeing them, maintaining them in a very nice manner, and yet not riding and enjoying them like I knew I could. That is when I decided to find something that would help me get over my fear and allow me to ride again. I read everything I could get my hands on; I bought training videos, and try as I might, nothing was working. That was when I heard mention the name “Susan Wirgler” and that she was a good horse trainer. I gave her a call to set up a riding lesson.

From day one, she was so accommodating. She let me use her horse, since mine had not been ridden for a few months. She worked with me and then she worked with my horse. One of our first challenges was to load my horse in the trailer and teach me to load and unload the horse safely. I’m happy to say I can now load either one of my horses anytime and anyplace in any trailer I’ve asked them to load into. Then she worked with my horse and I together. We’ve worked on communication and gentling the horses and training me and building my confidence. We’ve done ground work and ridden not only in the round pen and arena but also taken our classroom up to the trails nearby. I am now able to take either one of my horses out and trail ride. I’m happy to say, I’m thrilled to be out on the trails again. In fact, I just returned from a trip with my horse to Pt. Reyes! Who would have thought we’d both be riding to the Ocean? I owe this to all the training and support I’ve received over the past few months to Susan Wirgler.

– Mary Ellingsworth