Susan Foss
It was apparent at the age of two and a half that Susan was destined for the horse world. While her parents were frantically looking in every yard and swimming pool for their missing child, Susan had found Dixie on the other side of the neighborhood. Dixie was an older mare and the only horse in the neighborhood. When her parents discovered her whereabouts, the scene included a perplexed horse enjoying the affection but wondering who this small admirer was under her belly.
Dixie sealed the fate of a long Dressage career for Susan Foss. In her younger years, while growing up in Palos Verdes CA, Susan spent many hours riding trails, hunt seat and jumping. At age 18 she was exposed to Dressage and was hooked. She began to show and train thoroughbreds. After many horses Susan found Jeffery, a wonderful 4 year old off the track. She trained him to Grand Prix and earned a USDF Silver Medal. She came very close to earning a Gold medal but sold Jeffery at the age of 14 as a school master. During the eighties and nineties Susan had the opportunity to work with many trainers:
Eicke von Veltheim
Major Anders Lindren
Lilo Fore
Ellen Eckstein
Pam Nelson
Tom Dorrance
Dennis Callen
Sandy (Pflueger) Phillips
Charlotte Bredhal
Many other weekend clinicians from Europe
It was apparent at the age of two and a half that Susan was destined for the horse world. While her parents were frantically looking in every yard and swimming pool for their missing child, Susan had found Dixie on the other side of the neighborhood. Dixie was an older mare and the only horse in the neighborhood. When her parents discovered her whereabouts, the scene included a perplexed horse enjoying the affection but wondering who this small admirer was under her belly.
Dixie sealed the fate of a long Dressage career for Susan Foss. In her younger years, while growing up in Palos Verdes CA, Susan spent many hours riding trails, hunt seat and jumping. At age 18 she was exposed to Dressage and was hooked. She began to show and train thoroughbreds. After many horses Susan found Jeffery, a wonderful 4 year old off the track. She trained him to Grand Prix and earned a USDF Silver Medal. She came very close to earning a Gold medal but sold Jeffery at the age of 14 as a school master. During the eighties and nineties Susan had the opportunity to work with many trainers:
Eicke von Veltheim
Major Anders Lindren
Lilo Fore
Ellen Eckstein
Pam Nelson
Tom Dorrance
Dennis Callen
Sandy (Pflueger) Phillips
Charlotte Bredhal
Many other weekend clinicians from Europe
Susan enjoyed a successful career showing throughout CA. In 1989 she was 12th in Prix St. George in CA on Jeffrey (Parable). She also taught riding and during the nineties she started and trained several warmbloods. In 1992 Susan earned her BS in Occupational Therapy from USC. In 1994 she purchased Alexa, an American Warmblood that she trained to Intermediate In the late nineties into 2002 she took a break from showing and then slowly reestablished her work with horses.
In 2005 Susan moved to Dillon, Montana. It was here she eventually met her fiancé, Dr. John Xanthopoulos, a professor at UMW and head coach/founder of the UMW Equestrian Team. Soon she realized that there was a dyer need for an equestrian facility for the team and of course a covered arena for winter riding. Hence, J and S Sport Horses Inc. was born.
Currently, Susan has 3 young Reg. Canadian Sport Horses (Hanovarian/Holsteiner ) in training. She is headed to CA in January of 2008 to work with two trainers that have been with Klaus Balkenhal, the US Olympic Coach in Germany.
Susan is available for clinics, lessons and training.
Contact Susan:
(405)925-0569
Email: mt_dressage@yahoo.com
Currently, Susan has 3 young Reg. Canadian Sport Horses (Hanovarian/Holsteiner ) in training. She is headed to CA in January of 2008 to work with two trainers that have been with Klaus Balkenhal, the US Olympic Coach in Germany.
Susan is available for clinics, lessons and training.
Contact Susan:
(405)925-0569
Email: mt_dressage@yahoo.com
Susan and Alexa
CA Reserve Champions
1st Level Horse of the Year - Amateur 1995
CA Reserve Champions
1st Level Horse of the Year - Amateur 1995