Testimonials

Gaye

Get there at 4:30, groom etc.. lesson around 5? You tell me, as I don't want to lose opportunity by being wishy washy..
I will do the homework this time!
This is so cool. Lessons at 53 in a perfect venue with a perfect teacher at a perfect price! YAY! There IS a God! Do I bring my saddle or use yours?

Gaye,

I can’t begin to tell you how much you have meant to me. After losing all my confidence trying to make it work with the wrong horse for a year and a half and finally letting him go, you introduced me to Strider. I have gone from being terrified to get on a horse to itching to get out on the trail once the ground dries out. I had thought that I wanted a horse that trots, but am loving Strider’s foxtrot and never ask for the hard trot on purpose any more. Gaited dressage here we come! In just over 2 months, I have done so many things with Strider that I was never able to do with my mustang. It is so nice to go from a horse whose responses varied from NO, f*** you, and let me show you my ejector seat, to a horse who on the rare occasions when he does say no, goes sweetly OK when you ask him to reconsider. My confidence is returning and I am having fun with my horse. Strider is awesome and so are you! Thank you so much.

Gaye

He was AMAZING undersaddle. We worked on most of the same stuff we did the night before. Mostly at a walk around the barn... the arenas were packed. We worked for 30 min alone at a mounting block. At first he was moving a bit, but with lots of backing I was able to mount 7 times at a stand still.

I really thinks he enjoys his new stall and being able to get outside. He did not pin his ears at all when I went into his new stall.

I hope he continues to improve.

Thanks for the update... makes me happy to hear!

Gaye

I spoke with ..... this morning. She said she thinks the mare may be sold--apparently someone came to see her yesterday and liked her a lot. But of course nothing is for sure, so I'll follow up with her when I return on Sunday. For sure I"ll try to schedule the trial--if it happens--when you are there.

Still leasing my two horses and now .... says I can lease Bailey, her favorite mare. She is a 16 year old QH, beautifully trained, nice and forward. I so appreciate you introducing me to ...... She's been so generous with me and I adore her, ...., and their adorable kids. It's changed my life and it's all because of you!

Gaye

Thanks for taking him, I really don't trust anyone else with him and you do just what you think he's capable of, don't have to push it and if that means he only gets round-penned, so be it. No pressure on you at all.

Hi Gaye:

Forgot to drop you a note to tell you things are going much better with Glory. You were right...desensitizing her was the missing step!

Thanks so much!

I would love that.
The lessons are an hour are they?

I'd love to set that up, absolutely yes!!!
Thanks so much, Gaye!
Now we have to figure out when and what day etc...
This will be fantastic for me to not only ride but to learn and be a better rider.. get my foot in the door as t'were!
YAY!

Hi Gaye,

Thank you for your very helpful email. I appreciate all the info. We have a snaffle bit but haven't used it yet -- we can show it to you so you can see if it's the right kind. ....did take some lessons, but mostly a couple of years ago. She walked and trotted a little, no cantering. She was steering on her own. She didn't do patterns.

It would be wonderful if you could train Fancy too. Starting on the17th at $500 a month sounds great. I'm sure we'll want to continue with you for riding lessons since ......learned so much and had such a positive experience with you. She's been practicing what you taught her every day and is excited about Fancy again! Thank you for all of you help. I think the three of you will work really well together.

I have been involved with horses for the past 26 years. During this time, I have bought and sold a fair amount of horses. Recently I purchased a 3 ½ year old Kentucky Mountain horse from Gaye DeRusso. From beginning to end of the transaction it was the best horse buying experience I have ever had.

Gaye was very honest, professional, knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She took me on several trail rides with Rawhide before I bought him to make sure we were a good match. She explained and showed me how she had trained him, and gave me the information I need to continue his training. After I purchased Rawhide, she still returns my e-mails and phone calls promptly, and continues to answer any questions I may have.

I feel very comfortable referring Gaye to anyone who wants to purchase a horse. With so many dishonest horse people out there, it was refreshing dealing with Gaye DeRusso.

Sincerely,

Good morning!
I was actually getting ready to drop you an email. The last check is on it's way. Jesse's doing well. It's taken some work, but he's picking up the left lead better these days and becoming more accomplished at opening and closing gates too. This spring/summer I'm going to see how he does with cattle. Hope all is well down your way?
talk to you soon,

Hi Gaye,

It was nice meeting you yesterday at Leap of Faith. We are the family with Fancy, a 6 year old paint mare, new to the barn. I would love to have my daughter ...... and Fancy trained if you can possibly squeeze us in (you mentioned possibly on the weekends?) And of course I'd love to participate, too.

Thanks very much,

Hi Gaye, thanks for your email. I know he needs a lot of work under saddle so I'm hoping you are able to help me with that as well!! I would love to do lessons under saddle let's plan some when I get back next week.

I have only been on him twice and it was more me just getting him comfortable with me... minimal work. We did do a short WTC in the indoor arena.

I mounted him on a block and he stood for me ok. Took a couple steps when I got in my seat but I backed him up and made him stand there.

Is the bit I'm using ok?

Thanks!

Wow! This came out waaaaay better than I hoped it would. Thank you sooooo much.

Gaye, Going to ride fresian tomorrow , it was hard to tell from the video they sent,will let you know .Thanks for all your help

Hi Gaye, Thanks again for all the info. You are always very helpful and I appreciate it. I will keep you posted on how Dusty is doing.

Hey Gaye,

It has been a long while since we have "talked"...Today was a reminder of all you have done for me and my family. I will always and forever be thankful to you for Bocelli (my BEST FRIEND) and then Argento, Chianti and Enzo but most of all thank you.

Thank you for You and having the belief in me that I could ride Bocelli and we could become the best of friends.......You said to let Bocelli be my friend, and he is the BEST. Each day I pinch myself because I learn something from him every time and am so happy he and I crossed paths. And each time I go out with him I remember some horse wisdom you emparted on me.

Thank you for today and always being there for .......and her girls, I really appreciate it and all of today would not have been possible if it weren't for you...and me, one day just surfing the net and happening upon a website The Majestic Rider...and falling in love with Bocelli! Yikes, I am starting to sound like one of the weirdo stalkers that fall in love with him...

Today for you may have been just another horse show, not for me, TODAY with ...., ...., ....., ...... (and Enzo) was nothing short of AMAZING, and INSPIRING and HUMBLING to see what these unbelievable creatures WILL DO and CAN DO with a little help from man and a fabulous trainer like yourself...........With all of life's ups and downs and hardships in the world, the time today was so special (OH did I repeat myself again ??) for me to see all of them "in action". You have been so encouraging for the girls in giving so much of yourself to them and .... and TODAY your horse, Sundance !

Maybe by next year Bocelli will be able to get in a trailer and we can enter a few classes. He has gone in once...I just have to get a truck and trailer for him to get into !

Cheers and we will have to have a cheer soon,

Gaye, we did our first beach ride today and he did great, im sending a pic form bodega bay

Gaye Thanks! for the referral, As for ..... and Pepper, they're doing great. I'm still working with them weekly. Pepper is a fuzzball right now! lol. ...... rides her bareback at times, and got herself a Dr Cook's Bitless bridle that Pepper works really nice in.

Recently, they did a weekend clinic with a mounted patrol instructor and did fantastic. There were sirens and a car in the arena, a carwash, loud noises, a bunch of different obstacles including a jump that the instructor set fire to and ...... rode Pepper over it!! There were accidents with 2 other horses. One of them bucked the rider off, other horses were freaking out, and one of the horses got his bridle caught in the carwash and bolted with it out of the arena! While all this stuff went on, .......did her one rein stops with Pepper and kept her totally under control. Pepper did fantastic.

I'll make a note to get a good picture of her and Pepper in action and email it to you this week. promise!

Gaye,

I cannot say thank you!! Sooo much for all the help. I know I took up lots of time. Hope you forgive me. I did learn alot. Your are the Greatest!!

Strider and His New Owner

Gaye,

Scotty went to the Dunes and on the beach yesterday, what a good boy, he was
in front at a nice forward walk, then we got to the beach part, he wasn't
too sure about that, so the other 2 horse lead him, and he was Great,
followed them right down on the beach, snuggles himself between the two when
he needed to, then got brave and moved out in front (till the next beached
sea monster, then he waited quietly for his friends to lead him past). He
was really easy, and really good.

Gaye,

we did pretty well. Groundskills in the round pen, then across the street around the staging area, out the gate to where the trail goes back down to LFF, back to the staging area, out the back gate of the staging area, to the trail behind the barn. Stopped for a few bites of new grass on the way. Lots of backing, yielding front and hind out and about. Then about 45 minutes of undemanding time or sharing territory; he finally hooked on. I left him in the turnout and went back up and made his mash. I didn't get things in the right order and am not sure I remembered everything. Got one backup off just my finger wiggle :-). I kept catching myself being too far forward on the circling games. Got turns at liberty both directions. He was better at staying out of my space today without my having to ask. I really need to get my energy up more to get more energy from Strider. The yields were better in the round pen, which means I need to practice out and about. Not letting him go forward during the yields is what I need to remember. I didn't do as much in the round pen as yesterday because I wanted to have enough to play out and about, so he was a little more reactive to what was going on around him.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night!

Gaye, Nice videos on your website! You should have come introduced yourself at the show!!! I'm usually friendly (hehe)

We should still get together sometime and go for a trail ride or at least get to know each other. I like your gelding that you kept for yourself. The black with the stocking legs? Sabino? He's really nice! You should show him!!

P.S. Looks like you're doing a great job training horses. It's nice to see someone else out there doing things correctly.

Hi Gaye,

Just a note to say how thrilled I am with Scotty’s training! He is doing great at home, and as soon as the rain gives us a break, he will be out on the trail getting long slow miles for this year.

Thanx for the wonderful lesson, I feel well informed of your training methods and will continue in the same. I’ll let you know when he does his first 25 mile ride

Thanx again, and I may have another horse to send you in the spring!

Hi Gaye,

I haven't been in touch sooner because I have been having so much fun with Trigger! We have been having great rides at a number of different locations in the south bay. Everyone is so impressed with how well Trigger trailers, never a problem loading he just hops right in. We made it through the couple weeks of testing earlier in our partnership and it has been great since. I've attached a picture taken last month ( taken with a cell phone so not the best quality) at Henry Cowell Park in the Santa Cruz mountains. It was the biggest water crossing I've ever done and Trigger took it on like a pro!

We did an endurance race a couple of weeks ago and that went well. I don't know if we will do anymore races. Trigger is very competitive and I'm not so much. I really enjoyed the rides we did to prepare for the race though.

I hope all is well with you.

I love my horse!!!

Gaye

Wow, this is alot of information. I didn't realize we did so much in our lesson. The time just flew by!

I love that you break everyting down to the core. Thanks for taking the time to write all of this down for me.

Thanks for our lesson today,
Gaye! I can see that you have alot that you can teach
me. Your knowledge and experience is vast and I like the way
you handle the horses.

I look forward to our next lesson. In the meantime
we'll do our homework.

Hi Gaye, Here are a couple photos of Bandit. We picked him up today and he is at Missy's on a two week trial. When we arrived at Xenophon to pick him up he nickered at me. I guess those carrots go a long way!

I'm a little nervous about being a horse owner but I've got two weeks to make up my mind, which is a blessing. He settled into his new digs easily and with grace. He looks so cute in his little stall. Tomorrow Missy and I will both ride him and I'll spend the whole day with him.

Thank you for all your support over the years. I can't tell you how much it means to me.

I got an update and sad to say Bandit did not pass his vet check. (Gaye)

Gaye....I am speechless....you are such an incredible person. First off I wouldn't dream of you dropping cash's price. Cash, as well as the training you have put into him is worth every penny! Thank you for even considering it! I appreciate you giving me the extra time in paying you. I mailed the check last night so you should have it by Monday.

As for the rest of your email I find myself speechless as is not often the case. THANK YOU The effort you put into these emails is incredible and I would love to help you make some videos or lessons etc. We should do some MP3's of you talking someone thru a lesson, it would be invaluable to all who bought it! I am printing this email and we are going out today with it. I will let you know how it goes.

Lots of Love,

Thanks for our lesson today, Gaye! I can see that you have alot that you can teach me. Your knowledge and experience is vast and I like the way you handle the horses.

I look forward to our next lesson. In the meantime we'll do our homework.

Hey Gaye,

Is it .... of Sac. P.D. Mounted?...After seeing the photos and
updates that I sent along to you regarding Rembrandt on your webs site a
month or so ago, he called me checking on your operation

.I gave him good
reviews... You might want to think about training horses for police work,
there is definitely a need in the area.

Back to Rembrandt, I would like to do another 30 day extension on
him...re-check his foot for any further wear or tear, and make a final
decision then ?

I am working today and tomorrow, so get in touch on my cell at ...
if further discussion is necessary.

Hi Gaye

Great that helps alot, thanks. I can see it clearly in the slow motion.

> We took Brad out into the arena last night, and I and could hear (and see) the three beats of the canter clearly. So that was great. We tried to get him to go faster in a walk on lead, but he keeps breaking into a trot. I'm having a hard time getting him to speed up his walk, (without confusing him) so I need practice with that. He did his front quarter yielding turns very well, no problem. He's a little shy on the left side still, so he backs up a bit. But .....said he did it nicely rotating on his hind legs. ..... was pretty impressed when I showed him how to get Brad to lower his head! haha..it's so fun being able to show .....
something new for a change. ...... says he thinks he should schedule a lesson with you on the fast walk under saddle. He says Brad does it easily on the trail, but not in the arena. If you guys do that, I will film it.

That slow motion of Sundance doing a fast walk helps too. I really like the pict where he's kissing you.
(Oh, and I really like that rocking horse motion...thanks for including that.)

Anyway...I'll get on with my day. When you have an opening for a lesson, let me know.

Thanks again,