References
Windy—Three Year Old Saddlebred/Paint Filly:
Windy was a 3 year old colt starting project that I worked with over the summer. Below are owner’s remarks:
I have known Michelle Kuester over 3 ½ years. I was lucky enough to meet her when I purchased a horse from a person that wasn’t truthful about their horse. Michelle was recommended as a trainer by several local horse people I knew. In just a short time Michelle had this horse loading itself in and out of the trailer and riding on trails. I was very impressed!
Over the years I have gotten to know Michelle quite well. I really appreciate her expertise and admire the natural ability she has with horses. Michelle lives quite a distance from me but I had no question in my mind that she would train my little filly.
Windy just turned 3 this spring and is a double registered Saddle bred Paint. Windy can be very good when she wants to but she can also have an opinion. She was starting to test me! She was ready to be broke! I took her to Michelle this summer for training. I was able to visit several times to observe her progress. Under Michelle’s gentle yet firm direction my little filly was transitioning into a respectful young riding horse.
When I rode Windy the first time I was amazed at how responsive she was. She stood perfectly to be saddled and mounted and can start and stop on a dime with just a whoa! Michelle demonstrated how athletic Windy was by jumping her over several barrels in the round pen. I was WOWED!
Since I have had her home she has been a dream! I believe Windy will be my forever horse because of the awesome job Michelle has done with her! I would highly recommend Michelle to anyone who needs help with a problem horse, starting a colt or just wanting to tune up their own riding skills. Thanks again, Michelle!
~Julie Starr
Mosinee, WI
Scout-15 Year Old Tennesee Walking Horse:
I’m not someone that usually takes the time to write regarding someone that does a good job. My life is very hectic and like most of us it’s hard to find the time, but when you meet someone as genuine and knowledgeable as Michelle Kuester it makes it difficult not to recognize someone who consistently goes above and beyond.
I stumbled across Michelle’s name while searching for someone to train my horse, but also help me become a better horsewoman. It wasn’t until after I met Michelle that I realized I hadn’t stumbled at all. I was meant to meet her and work with her and my horse.
She did an amazing job with my 15 year old gelding. He had never been lunged before and his first instinct has always been to get up and go. She helped him become much more versatile and he thrived under her training. His greatest joy is figuring out what I want from him now.
Michelle has been there for me every step of the way. She has helped me think more like a horse. I’ve learned to be a better rider. Her knowledge and patience are endless. I’ve consulted with her concerning training, nutrition, tack, illnesses, routine care, and grooming. She’s always had an answer and been willing to help.
Michelle is now working with my second horse and my 6 year old little boy. She can identify with people and horses of all disciplines and ages. The peace of mind that I get knowing that she is teaching my son all he needs to know about horses the right way is indescribable.
I will be working with Michelle for years to come with every horse I own. My family is very fortunate to find someone with her expertise and talent and yours would be as well.
I have also recommended Michelle to several horse people with different needs and she has exceeded all their expectations.
–Kerri Adkins
Olive Branch, MS
Jack-3 Year Old Quarter Horse Gelding-Colt Start:
After several attempts to locate a trainer for my 3 year old horse, I spoke with Michelle about working with him. After our conversation, I knew I had located the trainer I was looking for and he would be in good hands. She encouraged me to visit him anytime I wanted. On my first visit she demonstrated what she had been working on with him. I was amazed at what she had done with him in only a couple weeks. The integrity, respect, and patience she had while working with him was incredible. Her quiet calm ways were passed on to him with a firm but gentle approach. She taught him respect for humans (not fear of them) without breaking his spirit. I am grateful for what she taught him as well as what she taught me about working with my young horse.
–JHL (Hernando, MS)
Peppy- 9 Year Old Quarter Horse Gelding:
I contacted Michelle about working with my 9 year old American Quarter horse Peppy. Peppy was a stud horse I had used for breeding on my farm and when the horse market fell off I had him gelded. She agreed to work with Peppy even though he had NEVER been successfully rode under saddle. I’m so glad she did because she made a world of difference in him. Her calmness and patience is passed on to him in every area. He stands quietly to be saddled and moves off smoothly and stops with just a whoa. She has given new life to a horse most people would have written off. Michelle is a great person and even better trainer. I cannot say enough good things about her and the job she does with horses.
-Craig Farley
Pontotoc, MS
Asher-8 Year Old Paint Gelding:
My daughter was taking lessons at a facility in North MS and we were having issues there being a horse healthy enough that could do the things she wanted to learn in her lessons. We asked the owner if we could ride and possibly lease a healthy horse she had named Asher that was not being used as a lesson horse. She finally agreed to allow my daughter to ride him but since he hadn’t been ridden in a long time she said we would have to see how they did together before she agreed to lease him to us. Well, Asher and my daughter hit it off and while it was a work in progress they began to do so well together. Then one Saturday we showed up at the barn for a lesson and learned that Asher had been sold. My daughter was heart broken. She had grown attached to Asher during their time together. About 4 months later we learned that Asher was again for sale so I bought him for her. The barn owner and her instructor planned to surprise her with her new horse and old love. Unfortunately, when Asher arrived back at the barn in the trailer he was not the same horse he was 4 months earlier. He exploded walking out of the barn, knocked my daughter over, and almost stomped her. He would not tolerate his bridle, having his face or ears touched, having the reins on his neck, or having anything on his back. Every time you tried to put something on his back, we would buck, kick, and charge. He twitched when you put anything on his back and he was worse on one side vs the other. So for about 6 weeks my daughter just spent time with him and did the ground work he was able to tolerate. He still couldn’t be saddled or bridled. That’s when I started searching for a trainer and came across Michelle’s website. I called and talked to her about our situation. I really liked our talk so after awhile of trying to figure out what to do, I called her back and asked her to come look at him. She came out, and she worked with him, she was calm with him and never said a word to him in frustration. She worked him for a good while. When she was done she said we made the list of the top 5 strangest things she had seen and that his issues weren’t going to be settled with once a week visits. She thought she could fix him but she would need to work with him on a daily basis. I was really impressed with her watching her work so I thought about it for a day maybe then I called her and asked when she could come get him. He spent 3 months with Michelle and now my daughter can tack him up and ride him like she used to. He no longer has this distant afraid look in his eyes…. he’s so much more relaxed and loving. I can’t thank Michelle enough for what she did for him. Before I found Michelle, I really thought we were going to have to get rid of him because he was so unpredictable and unsafe. I don’t think he would have ever hurt my daughter intentionally but that he was just trying to protect himself from a repeat of what could have been traumatizing experiences. Now he doesn’t have that fear in his eyes and that is so worth the time it took to get him past his issues. He’s back to being a sweet goofy horse that we hope to have many years with. Thanks Michelle!
A.M. Olive Branch, MS
Honey:
The day I got Honey almost 3 years ago now she was very young, scared and untrusting, but as soon as I saw her I knew she was my horse and took her home. I worked with her myself just getting her to trust. Because of whatever happened in her past working with her on certain things such as putting a saddle on her was dangerous not only for me but for her also. People started telling me she was just a waste of pasture space and would never amount to anything, so to prove those people wrong I started searching for trainers, preferably a woman because Honey was terrified of men. I wanted to find a trainer who used gentler methods of training and I found Michelle. During the time Honey was with Michelle I got to visit her and learn how to work with her and every visit I was amazed at how much progress she was making. I loved that while Honey was there she got the best care possible and was treated as if she was one of Michelle’s own personal horses. When it was finally time to bring Honey home, Honey was the horse I knew she could be, possibly even better than I imagined and now I can ride her with confidence. I still communicate with Michelle about how Honey’s doing and she gives me tips and exercises to do with Honey if I ever need it. I would definitely recommend Michelle to anyone. She does an amazing job.
MS- Philadelphia MS
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