Known for making fine horses and riders, coach/teacher and clinician Susan Tomasini focuses on her mission of training and riding with a “Soft Feel”. We define Soft Feel as “the Language of Lightness in the conversation between horse and rider”. Her lessons, clinics and training all reflect this pursuit.
Susan has developed Fusion Horsemanship® with the goal of “Taking You Back to the Future of Excellent Horsemanship“. She teaches horses (and their riders) to move with softness and self carriage using a combination of Classical Horsemanship and the Western Tradition. Schooling and coaching focuses on developing a sound, athletic and content horse.
As a founding partner of Cowboy Dressage World and an Advisor for Cowboy Dressage trainers and clinicians, she has gained a reputation for rapid, effective results based upon her unique communication style and deep knowledge.
All teaching and training is “Purpose Driven”. You will not only learn what to do, and how to do it, but the WHY behind every element and pattern.
Here’s and overview of my training beliefs and approach
Any horse and rider, doing any discipline, will benefit from this training.
Fusion Horsemanship® – What is it?
(Designed and taught by Susan Tomasini: Teacher, Clinician and Perpetual Encourager)
My passion is giving horsemanship lessons and clinics.
Last year I coined the term “Fusion Horsemanship” to describe how I train, teach and ride. Here’s my first cut at describing what it is, and how it guides me (there is also a growing list of articles at the bottom of this page that reflect my horsemanship principles and beliefs):
Imagine –
- You and your horse moving together as one.
- Your horse responds immediately to your lightest cues.
- Your horse schooled to be sound, athletic and content
- Relaxed, willing, happy, your partner.
Fusion Horsemanship is designed for all riders wanting to improve their horsemanship skills and train their horses to a higher level of responsiveness, lightness, softness and partnership performance. Any horse (or mule), doing any discipline, will benefit.
Fusion Horsemanship draws from the best Masters of Horsemanship through feel, Cowboy Dressage (I’m a Cowboy Dressage World founding partner), the Vaquero Tradition, Classical Dressage, and purpose driven ranch work.
Fusion Horsemanship is a never-ending journey complete with many destinations to enjoy while on the way. Fusion is the place where resistance ends and oneness begins, a unity in purpose and performance.
The horse and rider are taught to move together as one with no need for gimmicks or roughness! It is communicated by the language of lightness in the conversation between horse and rider. My mission is to teach this language to all who would desire to know it.
Fusion Horsemanship: the step by step mental and physical training of horse and rider with the goal of doing any riding disciplines more athletically, seamlessly and accurately.
It follows the pyramid progression of classical dressage from rhythm to collection. The goal is that all riders and their horses become athletic, willing, sound, and dependable partners in all they endeavor to do together. You will develop a balanced, independent seat and move with your horse in self-carriage.
It is the methodical practice of rhythm, relaxation, suppleness, contact, connection, impulsion, straightness, collection, all in that order:
Before you can achieve suppleness, you must establish relaxation with rhythm
- Before you can achieve contact, you need to achieve suppleness.
- Before you can achieve impulsion, you need to establish connection or contact.
- Before you can achieve straightness, you need impulsion.
- Before you can achieve collection, you need straightness.
Fusion Horsemanship is the practice of this progression, by way of exercises and movements, to produce a horse and rider that exhibits partnership and harmony in all you do together.
I invite you to experience “the language of lightness in the conversation between horse and rider”. You will ride better then ever before, guaranteed!
Feel free to contact me if I can be of service.
Hope to ride with you soon!
Sincerely,
Susan Tomasini
Useful articles:
For the good of our horses, we need to be schooling for:
this –
not this —
or this.
Please read this excellent article: “What Being On the Forehand Means to the Horse“