COMMENTS BY CLIENTS     

I've always loved horses and as a child dreamed of learning to ride and someday owning a horse of my own. Unfortunately, where I grew up the horse community was very exclusive and I always felt it was a sorority I would never fit into.  As an adult I attempted lessons with three different instructors in California and Idaho.  These lessons were typical and didn't start until I was mounted, lasted 50 minutes and were filled with the instructor hollering at me to "Keep my heals down" and "slide."  I never understood what I was supposed to be feeling or working towards.  Never once was I asked to think about the horse.  Consequently, I never felt that I was a "rider."

Lessons with Samantha Harvey in no way resemble the lessons of my past. First, Sam's lessons do not start once you are on the horse; they start on the ride to her facilities.  She taught me to consider more than the mechanics of sitting on a horse and riding.  She taught me to plan for my lesson, think about what I wanted to accomplish, to assess the mood of my horse that day, to feel my horse's energy and use my own to work together with my horse.  Sam often asks me questions during a lesson, forcing me to think about what I'm doing, how I feel, how my horse feels, etc. Consequently, I was able to not only learn how to ride but about horsemanship and partnership.

In the summer of 2005 Sam was able to turn a timid, insecure rider and her 14-year-old broodmare into a team.  My mare had never done anything but make babies, but by the end of the summer she had evolved into a fearless trail horse capable of successfully completing a series of jumps in the arena, a dressage pattern and jumps in the field.  She gave both my mare and me the confidence to work together and progress toward our goals.
Barbara Schriber,  ID  2004 - 2005

Dear Sam,
You helped me realize a dream come true.  I've wanted to ride English, but more important be able to ride my horse Charlie well. Thanks to your encouragement, patience, techniques my horse and I now work together, we still have more to learn but with you I know we will excel.  I am a 65 year old woman and you took me and my horse on and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  P.S. You are worth every dollar I spent and more!
With Gratitude & Friendship,
Elizabeth, AZ  November 2006 - current

Samantha Harvey is my daughter Ailsa's riding teacher in lovely Sandpoint, Idaho.  We moved to Sandpoint in the spring of 2005 from Hilton Head, S.C. While living in South Carolina my daughter trained at the Moss Creek Equestrian Center.  The Moss Creek Equestrian Center is an extremely professional, high quality riding and jumping center. Arriving in Sandpoint we searched for some time to find a truly capable and talented person to work with our daughter.  We have found that is Samantha.  We were/are extremely pleased with the seasons we have spent with her.  Samantha's professionalism, ethics, knowledge and people skills are top notch.  Her horses are beautiful creatures that are clearly well trained and cared for. The progression of skills presented, and care in teaching, all helped our daughter excel and have a wonderful experience. I highly recommend Samantha Harvey as a trainer.  Our experiences with her have been enriching and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jennifer , ID  June 2005 - current

I ride and own 6 year old National Show Horse mare named Tango. We got Tango in August of 2004, since then she had to be laid off for an injury to her shoulder and then a few months later with an injury to her right hind leg. In between her injuries we would have good days and bad, more bad than good it felt. This included stopping for no reason and not going forward, wrong leads, and charging. Just after the first lesson with Sam, I felt a difference. I think I did the most circling there than I have ever done. Now after only a few months of weekly lessons, Tango and I are closer and more trusting of one another. We can canter around the ring and my hands will be out to the side with no longe line. I also had to close my eyes once I got Tango lined up for a small cross rail. Sam's approach on riding has really helped both of us. In one of my latest lessons I rode an hour and twenty minutes without reins, I would have never thought of even dropping the reins before meeting Sam. I have noticed that Tango is a lot calmer, or well, willing to work, and channels her energy into what I am asking and not into running off. I am a lot more patient and trusting with her. I can't thank Sam enough for all of the help and time she has put into us.
Teagan, AZ  November 2005 - current

May 25, 2007

After attending a clinic with someone else in  Yuma, AZ while Sam was away, this teenage student wrote us again explaining her huge disappointment regarding how she was asked to ride and work with her horse.

"Anyway, I really appreciate all the work you have put into helping me become such an effective rider and to be in tune with my horse. Tango has come so far with your help, and I don't know what we would have done without you. Tango is a pleasure to ride now, and it is not a chore like it used to be before your help. And I am never going back to my old habits again!"

Thanks Teagan

My first exposure to Sam was last year. Due to a debilitating chronic back condition, I found myself unable to ride my horses. I have two horses, which have had training but needed to progress and really needed a trainer who would meet not only my requirements but also someone who had horse savvy and utilized natural horsemanship. Sam is the first person in the area that I felt comfortable leaving my horses with. Sam has an innate ability to discern the emotional response of each individual horse. She never pushes a horse beyond what the horse is ready to assimilate and specifically tailors each session to the individual horse. Sam does not just train horses she interacts with the horses and their owners. My entire perspective changed as I saw the progress made with both of my horses. Sam is a phenomenal communicator with people and horses. I feel privileged to have met such and exceptional equine specialist.
Mary-Ann Hay, Blanchard, ID July 2006 - current