Made with Help from Rick and Rayn
© 2016 Knuckle Hill Farm. All Rights Reserved. 
Knuckle Hill Equine Works Training and Rehabilitation
Hello. I’m Susan May. I spent my youth participating in 4H in Indiana. I received Associates degrees from both Stephens College in Columbia, MO and Findlay College in Findlay, Ohio while also completing a degree in Marketing. The program at Stephens was focused around Saddlebreds, and I was able to gain an understanding of gaited horses and the art of fine driving. Findlay was mainly a western riding program and I learned to train horses under the guidance of Dale Wilkinson, known as the father of modern reining, and Clark Bradley, a genius at developing versatility horses. In 1982, after graduation, I began training horses professionally on a part time basis. I went on to get a masters degree in business, but ultimately chose to use that knowledge to run my business, rather than drive to an office every day. From 1993 to 1996 I worked for a small animal veterinary practice, managing the office and working as a surgical and lab assistant. Those skills would prove invaluable to my work today, in my ability to communicate with vets and my attention to detail in the care of animals. For most of my early career I trained horses for western pleasure and hunter under saddle. I also took dressage lessons whenever I could and gained an understanding of grid work for beginning jumper training. I worked predominantly with quarter horses, paints and appaloosas. From 1996-1998 I worked as assistant trainer for Steve Meadows Quarter Horses in Staunton, VA. In 1998 my husband and I bought what would come to be known as Knuckle Hill Farm. I finally had an opportunity to train horses full time. I wanted to concentrate my time on the horses in my barn and the day to day operations of the farm. I also wanted to broaden my training skills in the field of dressage. I was fortunate to work with Jean Claude Racinet and Jean Luc Cornille, two French dressage masters who focused on riding through an understanding of physiology. At the same time clients were bringing me horses with perceived behavioral issues that were actually related to physical discomfort. In 2008 I received my certification in Total Balance Method, a program that helps horses and dogs through a comprehensive holistic approach involving massage therapy, proper stretching techniques, nutrition study, and Traditional Chinese Medicine skills. I couldn’t do my work without a network of top notch professionals to call on. I’m lucky to work with a great farrier, equine chiropractor and saddle fitter. I have worked with many of the vets in central Virginia and with several of thespecialty clinics in the state.

Knuckle Hill Equine Works...helping horses succeed

About the Trainer

© 2016 Knuckle Hill Farm. All Rights Reserved.
Knuckle Hill Equine Works Training and Rehabilitation

Knuckle Hill Equine

Works...helping horses succeed

About the Trainer

Hello. I’m Susan May. I spent my youth participating in 4H in Indiana. I received Associates degrees from both Stephens College in Columbia, MO and Findlay College in Findlay, Ohio while also completing a degree in Marketing. The program at Stephens was focused around Saddlebreds, and I was able to gain an understanding of gaited horses and the art of fine driving. Findlay was mainly a western riding program and I learned to train horses under the guidance of Dale Wilkinson, known as the father of modern reining, and Clark Bradley, a genius at developing versatility horses. In 1982, after graduation, I began training horses professionally on a part time basis. I went on to get a masters degree in business, but ultimately chose to use that knowledge to run my business, rather than drive to an office every day. From 1993 to 1996 I worked for a small animal veterinary practice, managing the office and working as a surgical and lab assistant. Those skills would prove invaluable to my work today, in my ability to communicate with vets and my attention to detail in the care of animals. For most of my early career I trained horses for western pleasure and hunter under saddle. I also took dressage lessons whenever I could and gained an understanding of grid work for beginning jumper training. I worked predominantly with quarter horses, paints and appaloosas. From 1996-1998 I worked as assistant trainer for Steve Meadows Quarter Horses in Staunton, VA. In 1998 my husband and I bought what would come to be known as Knuckle Hill Farm. I finally had an opportunity to train horses full time. I wanted to concentrate my time on the horses in my barn and the day to day operations of the farm. I also wanted to broaden my training skills in the field of dressage. I was fortunate to work with Jean Claude Racinet and Jean Luc Cornille, two French dressage masters who focused on riding through an understanding of physiology. At the same time clients were bringing me horses with perceived behavioral issues that were actually related to physical discomfort. In 2008 I received my certification in Total Balance Method, a program that helps horses and dogs through a comprehensive holistic approach involving massage therapy, proper stretching techniques, nutrition study, and Traditional Chinese Medicine skills. I couldn’t do my work without a network of top notch professionals to call on. I’m lucky to work with a great farrier, equine chiropractor and saddle fitter. I have worked with many of the vets in central Virginia and with several of thespecialty clinics in the state.