Susan Yeaman Deal
USHJA Certified Category I Trainer
Susan is an accomplished rider and instructor who has taught hunter seat equitation at Sweet Briar College, St. Andrews College, Eagle's Nest Camp, and elsewhere. The summer camp is a natural outgrowth of her interest in and love of children and horses. Susan teaches lessons year-round, takes students to shows and riding to hounds. Susan rode her horse Penn Park to the 2005 North American Field Hunter Championship.
Susan is an ANRC Level 5 Rider, National Judge, and Steward who serves on the ANRC board as well as the USHJA Youth Council.
Website: www.grovespringfarm.com
Susan's Video Topics:
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An Exercise to Keep the Rider’s Hands Still Before quiet hands are developed in a rider, it is very common to see beginners at the trot “posting with their hands.” In this free video tidbit from from ANRC Level 5 Rider, National Judge, and Steward, Susan Deal, we are introduced to an exercise that corrects this position mistake before it becomes a bad habit. Running Time: 1 minute and 17 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 1 - Training a Rider to Mount and Dismount a Horse Part 1 of Susan Deal's "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In this first video lesson, Susan Deal shows a first-time rider how to mount and dismount a horse. She offers some great tips and safety precautions any new rider should learn to properly get on and off of a horse in a way that is not only safe for the rider, but the horse as well. Running Time: 4 minutes and 2 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 10 - The Beginning Rider’s First Canter Part 10 of Susan Deal's "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In the 10th lesson of Susan Deal’s video series, a beginning rider learns to canter for the first time. The rider is taught to canter in two point position on a loose rein until she is stable enough to sit without bouncing on the horse’s back or balancing on the horse’s mouth. A neck strap is used to enhance the rider’s balance until her base of support has developed further. Running Time: 6 minutes and 9 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 11 - Learning Diagonals Part 11 of Susan Deal's "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In Susan Deal’s 11th topic from her video series, she works with two young riders at different stages of learning their diagonals. As the result of early horse show competition in her young riding career, the first student has learned to look to determine her diagonals and is in the process of learning to feel them instead. Her second rider was taught to feel the rhythm of her pony’s trot and easily pops up on the correct diagonal every time without looking. Running Time: 3 minutes 6 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 12 - The Beginning Rider’s Second Canter Part 12 of Susan Deal's "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In this topic Susan Deal discusses the second step of cantering, teaching a young rider to steer while in two point position. First her student demonstrates an exercise to determine if he is balanced securely enough over his lower leg to maintain jump position while cantering. Susan’s method encourages the rider to feel and then follow the balancing gesture of the horse’s head and neck at that gait. At this point in the rider’s progress, he is stable over his lower leg in the two point and able to use an opening rein to steer, developing independence of hand and leg. Running Time: 3 minutes and 20 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 13 - Putting More Jumps Together: Learning to Ride the Track Part 13 of Susan Deal’s "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In this video, Susan Deal’s young student is just learning to ride a course. The rider is already comfortable over trot rails, trotting into a line and cantering out. In this exercise, she rides over a course of rails on the ground in order to determine her track without having to worry about the jumps. The rider is able to focus on riding to the middle of the rails, keeping her pony straight, developing pace and not cutting her corners. Running Time: 3 minutes and 1 second |
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Forward Riding Series Part 14 - Exercises to Help Young Riders Maintain Focus During Lessons Part 14 of Susan Deal’s "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In this video topic, Susan Deal works with a young student who has difficulty maintaining focus during riding lessons. She reveals some of her creative and effective exercises that make if fun for him to stay on task while improving his riding position at the same time. Running Time: 8 minutes 17 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 15 - Bareback Balance Part 15 of Susan Deal’s "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In the 15th lesson of this video series Susan works on her student’s balance with bareback exercises. The rider is already capable of walking, trotting and cantering with a saddle and the pony is tolerant & comfortable with a rider bareback. These exercises are particularly helpful to enhance the rider’s feel, balance and focus as he must concentrate on moving with the pony’s movements. Running Time: 4 minutes and 11 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 16 - When and How to Determine the Canter Lead Part 16 of Susan Deal’s "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" In this video lesson Susan works her young student on how to determine if the pony is on the correct or counter lead. At this stage of the rider’s education, she can canter a circle and steer through a turn. The rider learns to recognize the feeling through a turn when the pony is on the wrong lead and corrects the lead with a simple change. Running Time: 3 minutes and 34 seconds |
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Forward Riding Series Part 17 - Exercises for Proper Hand & Leg Position Part 17 of Susan Deal’s "Forward Riding Series - Exercises for a Rider's First Year" Susan Deal employs some fun exercises to help her beginning student execute proper hand and leg position. By using exaggerated movements, the rider gains independence in the use of her hand and leg aids and, at the same time, becomes familiar with the feel of her body when it is in the correct position. Running Time: 4 minutes and 30 seconds |
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