Susan Sjolund
Head Trainer
A Rhode Island native, Susan trained as a junior with some of the country’s top professionals.Successfully competing and qualifying for indoor finals, PHA and USET classes, and several hunter divisions, she won multiple year-end titles and championships.In her last year as a junior her accomplishments included New England Equitation Champion, RIHA Equitation Champion, RIHA Children’s Hunter Champion and RIHA Working Hunter Reserve Champion.Committed to a life with horses, Susan declared her professional status after studying and graduating from Boston University and L’universite de Grenoble, in France. She began as the Assistant Trainer for Jay Sargent at Sandy Point Stables, in Portsmouth, RI where she prepped client horses, showed sale horses, and taught equitation and hunter riders.
Opportunity presented itself for her to move to Virginia, where she worked with USEF Jane Marshall Dillon Award recipient, Kit Sydnor, at Steep Forest Farm, in Forest, Virginia.Together they developed green horses, managed client and sale horses for fox hunting and show ring riding.From there she was appointed to the riding faculty at Sweet Briar College by USEF Pegasus Award recipient and author, Paul D. Cronin.
She has been the Director of Riding and Head Coach in secondary school and collegiate equestrian programs.While leading the team at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, VA, she received sponsorship from Sundowner Trailers, Inc, and served on the original ad hoc committee that founded the IEA.She earned the ANRC (American National Riding Commission) highest rider rating, co-chaired the Board of Directors, and served as steward for the ANRC National Equitation Championship.She holds ANRC trainer, clinician, steward, and judge status.
Susan served as President of the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association (SWVHJA) and co-managed the SWVHJA Annual Horse Show and Medal Finals at The Virginia Horse Center, in Lexington, VA.In 2014 and 2015 respectively she was awarded the USHJA/ANRC Professional Service Award and the USHJA/ANRC Riding Instructor Award.
“When asked who’s taught me the most, the answer is the horses”
Skilled at identifying quality hunter, jumper, and equitation prospects, Susan is recognized as a successful investment agent. With her background in Forward Riding and her emphasis on safety, education, and excellence she has produced winning horses and riders in all three rings from New England to Florida.She has taught theIntroductory Horse JudgingShort Course on multiple occasions at NC State University in Raleigh, NC. She is a USEF “R” judge for Hunters and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation and “D” for Hunter Breeding. She is also a United States Hunter Jumper Association Certified Trainer.
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