"It is so satisfying ...
...for me to see these broken horses and their owners develop a true friendship. Horses need a leader whom they can trust. I think of this relationship as a partnership with clear communication about safe boundaries and expectations. Good observation skills are a must. For me to be a responsible leader and partner, I have to strive for this not only when I am working with horses but in every aspect of my life. Horses will quickly point our strengths and weaknesses. We have to learn how to be aware and accepting in order to be confident and compassionate partners with our horses."
These are the horses who speak to me ...
Owner & Trainer: Lucy van Summern
Lucy spent many years educating herself in the equine industry and learning from a wide variety of respected local and national horse trainers.
In 2007, Lucy completed a demanding 9-week program with Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard of Teaching Two As One Horsemanship Training in Middletown, New York. She passed with the highest scores in her class which included several very experienced riders. Lucy is the first person in Maine to be a certified ProTrack trainer from this program in round pen training/ground manners and basic/advanced under saddle work. She still works with Bob and Suzanne from time to time. Lucy also became a Centered Riding Level I Instructor in 2008 and is currently working on her Level II.
Above: Teaching a horse to to lie down is a huge break through in trust in forming the partnership with your horse.
Goals as a Horse Trainer
Strong Relationships
My goal as a trainer is to help people build strong relationships with their horses. Horses are individuals who learn at their own pace....just like we do. There is no one method of training that works for all horses or all riders.
Safety
Safety is always my first concern for everyone involved. Good training takes time and commitment.
Mutual Trust & Confidence
At times, good training can be tedious and repetitive. Taking the time to build mutual trust and confidence between a horse and rider is essential for them to become a good team.
Rider's Goals
Before I begin any work with a horse I want to know about the rider's goals. Beyond safety concerns I never set the agenda for a horse and rider. I want to know a little about the horse and what the rider wants to get out of working with me. This information helps me to get an idea of where we need to head to get the desired results. I always do a thorough assessment of the horse on the ground.
Personal Influences
I have been influenced by a number of trainers including including
Kathleen Lindley, Mott Atherholt, Caroline Dowd, Mary Guenzel, Mark Rashid,
Mary Kay Adams, Bonnie Moretto, Dana Susi Peppard, Chris Lombard, Suzanne Sheppard, Bob
Jeffreys, Elijah Moore, Lucile Bump, Sally Swift, Wanda Loudner and Becky
Morse. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with or observe these
people. All of them have helped me to become a better horseman. I try to
stay open to what individuals, horses and situations have to teach me
because everything we do is a learning experience.
"My work as a trainer is dedicated to Jessie and Johnny two of the best horses I could have ever had. They taught me so much. They are gone now but never forgotten."
Lucy