Horses and Sus

By Mike McDonald

In Western Washington, where Susan Kellogg has a well-earned reputation as a trainer of problem horses, often the final chance for damaged or traumatized animals, her skills are sometimes underestimated. “Oh, well sure, Sus is part horse.” Explaining what appears to be magic is difficult, but Sus is a premier translator of horses’ needs, fears, and desires into actions a human can learn, understand, and duplicate. At the most essential level, she listens and learns from each individual horse while teaching them and their riders to respectfully communicate without static or preconceptions.

Sus has observed and trained horses for more than 40 years-- hundreds of horses and hundreds of thousands of hours training across all disciplines, to distill a system of reading horses’ complex body language and communicating through “feel”. If you view a horse as a performance tool like a motorcycle, Sus’s methods probably aren’t for you. If you care about the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of your horse, her mastery of horse language will help any horse person.

As a magazine editor and a horse owner, I have written about, filmed, and studied under Sus for six years as we rehabilitated my Thoroughbred mix that had been coarsened and damaged by previous bad training. I have seen her calm explosive horses aching to be heard, seen her pick up the pieces of exploded horses that finally had enough of their rider’s ignorance, and watched as she gentled an abused wild Mustang stallion by giving him a reason to trust humans.

I have never seen her raise her voice or her hand, even with a bucking, striking, terrified horse on the end of the lead rope. She understands the reasons for dangerous behavior and offers the horse a path to harmony. There is no pressure to achieve a particular goal, no dogma, or preconceptions. A respectful long-term relationship is always her aim, not a quick fix that may come undone just as quickly.

I know Sus to be an exceptional low-key teacher, not of just the grammar and vocabulary of horse communication, but as an entryway to understanding what humans and the world looks like through horses’ eyes. I have seen owners blossom under her tutelage, seen lifelong horse people relearn how to communicate with their horses.

Horses have evolved to quickly judge emotion, intent, and danger visually. Time and again, I have seen horses recognize Sus’s empathy and authority hundreds of yards away. Just yesterday, I saw a very smart, complex, conflicted, and hyperactive Appendix Quarter horse achieve a breakthrough with Sus, then stand still, contented, until he sighed from the bottom of his heart and soul. Finally, someone who understands me.

A sigh is a small thing, but is also everything. Every detail matters.

MM

San Juan Island, WA

Farm Stays

Thank you for sharing this beautiful corner of the earth with us. Our stay here has left us feeling inspired and refreshed. All the best to you and your magnificent horses!

A. and Q.

Such a beautiful place! Feeling beyond fortunate to have found this peaceful escape. The stars were incredible! Thank you for this earthly connection.

S. and P. Seattle, Washington.

The natural beauty of this land is a balm to the soul. I can already tell that Sus is salt of the Earth. What an amazing place. Thanks for sharing!

K.D. Portland, Oregon

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing space with us. Our boys have been asking to come back since the end of day 1. Your kindness, hospitality, and horsemanship will remain true hallmark of our summer vacation.

A and R. California