I saw a report on Bel Canto Farms about Suzanne Warmack. It prompted me to write a report about my experience there in August of 2013.
I was looking for a place to take riding lessons. I emailed Ms. Warmack and told her what I wanted and she said she could help me. I took a friend with me and went out shortly after the email conversation.
First of all, when I got there she was very rude because I had brought a friend without asking her first. Why would this be a problem if you were on the "up and up"? She had the horse I was to ride in the cross ties. Told me to go ahead and groom him and get him ready. I am not a beginner rider. She reprimanded on how to do this. Then, the horse tried to bite me several times and generally not well behaved. After the grooming and saddling (with the horse NOT being happy), we proceeded to the arena where she put me and the horse on a lunge line, which I had no problem with. I had NO reins and she had complete control of us. She had me trot both directions and then asked me if I wanted to try the canter. I did. When I gave him the cue he bolted ON the lunge line and she could not control him. Since I had no reins I had NO control of him. It took about 3 minutes before he finally stopped. She wanted me to go the opposite direction! I told her I had had enough. I then learned she had not lunged the horse BEFORE I got there!!!AND found out he was an "off the track" race horse! YOU DO NOT give lessons on that type of horse!!!! Then she took us out in the pasture. There was a mare and my horse started snorting......I asked her what to do if he started acting up. She replied, "BAIL". That's when I got off. When the horse took off on the lunge line, my back was severely torqued. In a couple of days I went to the doctor. I had 4 ruptured discs and a stretched ligament in my hip. All due to this ride! Since that time I have had constant problems. I told he about it and she tried to blame ME! I have since talked with at least a dozen people who had the same experience that I did. She is a very dangerous woman who has no business working with horses and humans. She has no money to properly work with animals and is NOT a trainer. She is rude, condescending and demanding. DON"T, I repeat, DON'T go here! She will hurt you!!!