Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.

I grew up in rural Tasmania and was fortunate to have a series of ponies/horses throughout my childhood. Being apprenticed to a race horse trainer with steeplechasers led me into jumping. Tasmania has an active hunt scene (drag only, no live kill) with large, wild properties to hunt on. I hunted most weekends and fell in love with the red riding coats, howling hounds and the thrill of riding at a gallop in a herd jumping everything that came your way! From hunting it was a natural step to showjumping and so every weekend I was jumping something somewhere.

Then I moved to Sydney to study and horses had to take a break. After years travelling the world and living in cities I started a family and wanted to raise my children in the country. The first thing I did was buy a pony! And then a horse! And then another horse! And so commenced my journey with children and horses. When they joined pony club I trained to become a pony club instructor. This then led to teaching children in our area. This led me to embark on my Equestrian Federation of Australia Instructors Qualification. And the next step was a degree at Charles Sturt University in Equine Science (graduated with distinction).

While studying I worked as a Riding Coach and Trail Guide at a riding establishment (5 years). I ran large horse camps in school holidays and competition days. This was where I began my love affair with brumbies. I rode 2 green-broke brumbies and fell fully in love with 1 of them (he now lives with me!). I moved to the Northern Rivers and started working as a Riding Instructor and Trail Guide at another horse ranch and also at a Saddlery/Stockfeeds shop.

Around 7 years ago I was introduced to Bitless Bridles. I couldn’t believe there was such a product on the market and I hadn’t known about it! The Dr Cooks cross-under bridle feels the same as a bitted bridle with the same amount of control. I began riding the brumbies with it, plus my 2 TB workhorses and ALL my horses at home. It didn’t seem to matter what temperament the horse had, it worked with everyone! I found riding my work horses in it they became much calmer and happier to work. I started introducing my riding students to it, with miraculous results. One of my students competed bitless in showjumping at a local show and took out the blue ribbon! I started to wonder why everyone wasn’t riding in bitless bridles. I applied and was accepted as a BBAC (Bitless Bridle Associate Clinic