Testimonials

By: Crown Lodge Equestrian

“Crown Lodge Equestrian centre is a wonderful place for my girls to learn to ride properly according to their ages and needs. We love how Susan caters to the individual needs of the girls and their horses, always bringing new things to help them improve in their riding. My eldest daughter Rachel is competing in dressage and getting so much out of the lessons, at present teaching her young horse lateral movements, collection and lengthening of stride.

 

My youngest daughter Kelly is learning to ride properly concentrating on her position and getting her pony more forward and responsive to her aids. Kelly has just started competing in dressage. The girls look forward to their weekly lessons and we find Susan is very flexible to squeeze us in sometimes at short notice. I have seen the girls improve greatly due to our lessons with Susan and have recommended her to many of my friends as a terrific instructor.”

 

Trina Quarman

 

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Susan has helped me in many different ways! I have learnt many dressage tests with Susan and I have enjoyed them all. I have gotten a place in all my dressage tests thanks to Susan. She has been there to cheer me on which I have enjoyed. She has given me many tips and they all worked!

 

I am so happy that Susan is my instructor and I am glad she’s my instructor!

 

Thankyou Susan!”

 

Kelly Quarman

 

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"I have had a few lessons with different instructors but with Susan it just all fell into place. Now I actually look forward to my lessons and enjoy and feel motivated to do more dressage! She is positive, encouraging and helpful. I feel happy to ask silly questions and know I won’t be put down or judged.

 

Susan is open and has apparent humbleness, she speaks very well and is simple to understand. Being an already capable rider I felt Susan really listened to me and gave me a challenge. I’ve learnt more from Susan in an hour then I have done elsewhere. She is understanding of all horses, calm, kind and very knowledgeable.

 

Susan’s school horses are well educated but also very much alive and fun to ride. Susan is the best instructor and assessor I’ve ever had".

 

Sophie Gregory

 

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"My horse Archie has a dominant nature so Susan gave me some great lessons in groundwork. She taught me basic and correct handling skills such as walk, halt, back up, stand and move over. I learnt how to give my horse clear signals using just enough pressure that was necessary and rewarding him by taking the pressure away. She also taught me how to lunge Archie to help bring him back into work. I was amazed by how well the groundwork transferred over to my ridden work. Archie began to see me as a strong but fair leader. His behaviour changed and he started treating me with respect. He is a much happier and relaxed horse now as I have learnt to communicate to him in a way he understands.

 

Susan has taught me that there is more to being a good horsewoman than just being able to ride. I would recommend if you are having behaviour problems with your own horse to contact Susan about lessons in groundwork. She is very experienced and she can teach valuable skills that are the foundations for a great relationship with your horse".

 

“Susan offered to help me search for my new horse. She asked me to describe what I was looking for and posted an ad on her bulletin. Susan was very generous with her time and willing to discuss and give helpful advice.Susan is well connected with other experienced horse people and it was through this networking that she discovered the perfect horse for me. "Archie” was not advertised for sale on any website, newspaper or magazine. I would have never known he existed if it wasn't for Susan.

 

He's beautiful, educated and quiet to ride, however the seller was particular about the home he went to as he's dominate on the ground. Susan talked to the seller for me and explained how she would teach me the groundwork I needed. Having reassurance by someone with so much credibility put the seller's mind at ease.

 

Archie was located interstate so the owner made a DVD of everything I requested to see. Susan happily watched this with me to ensure that this horse was suitable. After a vet check the sale went ahead and Archie was delivered. Susan's help continued where she gave me lessons in groundwork and lots of helpful advice.

 

I now own an extraordinary horse! Susan gave me the confidence I needed to purchase this wonderful animal, without actually meeting him first. I am grateful for the help she gave me every step of the way.”

 

 

Vicky Lacey

 

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An internet search brought up two possibilities in the Caboolture area, and a further search of the EFA website provided Susan's contact details. One simple phone call to Susan saved me a great deal of travel, time and money; Susan was willing and qualified to 'try out' the two ponies and understood immediately what kind of mount we were looking for. I gave Susan a detailed description of what I needed to see on a video before considering a purchase, and the video was completed the following morning and posted immediately.

 

It contained clear views of all of the required transitions and paces, in varying environments, to display the pony in the scenarios in which it would be expected to work for me. Consequently, we purchased 'Misty', trucked her down to Canberra and have never looked back.

 

Jaimie, a reluctant jumper, has found a new love for showjumping within her confidence in her new pony, and has graduated through PC Mini E to E grade within 3 months. Her two baby brothers also ride Misty on the lead rein, so Misty is guaranteed a long-term life with our family. We would not have found Misty if not for Susan Marshall, and I'm ever thankful to have made that call and asked for her help.”

 

“Susan Marshall helped us find the 'perfect match' pony for my daughter. Jaimie was ready for that second pony type who was not too slow, not too fast , the list of criteria that it had to meet was a mile long and we'd exhausted all avenues at home in the Canberra district. 

 

Margaret Foster, EFA instructor, Canberra

 

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“The weekend dressage clinic was just what I needed to prepare for competing in dressage tests. I had been training for a few months but your advice and guidance has brought together all of my hard work and really refined many aspects of the test I was working on.

 

You have given me a better preparation for taking my horse out to competitions. I loved meeting other riders and their horses and seeing that they had similar issues to me.

 

They were so encouraging and the support we gave each other was lovely. My confidence has definitely lifted and I feel great taking my horse out now.

 

Thank you so much Susan and I look forward to doing a refresher course in the future.”

 

Bec Cronin – Improve Your Dressage Test participant

 

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"Dear Susan,

 

I thought I'd drop you a short note to say 'Thank you' for your essential oils workshop last weekend. As you know neither Bella or I have had any experience with oils, but Bella is really loving them, especially the Valor chest rub. I thought I'd also report that after a week of Bella having Valor on her spine every couple of days with Lavender, her vertebrae that was out (and has been for a few months now), is back in alignment... I can no longer feel it when I run my hand along her spine and better still... she no longer flinches!!!

 

So anyway, I just wanted to say a huge thank you on Bella's behalf for your time and your help.
 

Kind Regards, Belinda Gregson

 

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“Susan did a great job of looking after my horse Mikey when I was away. She was more than happy to attend twice a day to feed and rug him.

 

Given her experience with horses, it was peace of mind knowing that Mikey was in good hands and being well cared for.

 

I would happily use Susan again when I take my next holiday.”

 

Kym Jorgensen