Sue Maloney

Sue 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 the land of jumping. Tasmania has an active hunt scene (drag only, no live kill) with incredibly large, wild properties to hunt on. I hunted almost every weekend throughout the hunting season and fell in love with the red riding coats, howling of the hounds and the thrill of riding at a full pelt gallop in a herd jumping everything that came your way! From there I became interested in jumping but it never held the same excitement for me as hunting.

Then I grew up and moved to Sydney and horses had to take a break. After many years travelling around the world and living in cities I started a family and wanted to raise my children in the country. The first thing I did when we found ourselves on a rural property 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 went off and did my instructors training to become a pony club instructor. This then led on to teaching many children in our area. This in turn led me to embark on my Equestrian Australia (then Equestrian Federation of Australia) Instructors Qualification. At the same time I completed a Bachelor Degree at Charles Sturt University in Equine Science (graduating with distinction). I have also completed a TAA Cert IV (Training and Assessment), Animal Studies Cert III and Senior First Aid Certificate (current).

While doing all this study I was also working as a Riding Coach and Trail Guide at a riding establishment (5 years). At this employment I organized and ran large horse camps in school holidays and competition days. This was also where I first began my love affair with brumbies. I rode 2 green-broke brumbies there and fell fully in love with 1 of them (he now lives with me!). After leaving this establishment I moved to the Northern Rivers area and started working at my current place of employment (4 years). At this establishment I’ve worked as a Riding Instructor and Trail Guide and in retail at a Saddlery/Stockfeeds shop (3 years).

Around 6 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 cross-over bridle feels the same as a bitted bridle with the same amount of control and very lit