United States Eventing Association

Susan Perellis and her Spring Run Farm in Prospect, Kentucky, have been a staple in USEA’s Area VIII since she began teaching in the early 1970s. Over the decades, Perellis has poured her energy into Spring Run, transforming her family’s former cattle farm into a five-barn eventing facility where she has shaped the lives of countless students—from the greenest beginners to those competing on the international stage.

Fifty years ago, Spring Run Farm hosted their first-ever horse trial on the property. Once USEA recognized, the event now runs as a schooling show that remains a staple on the calendars of many Area VIII eventers, thanks to the welcoming environment Perellis fosters both on the farm and beyond.

“Susan treats you no different if you are taking a lesson on a school horse once a week or if you have a $100,000 horse and are doing every horse trial possible,” said Emilie Herzig, barn mom extraordinaire. Her daughter, Caroline Herzig, 14, has ridden with Perellis since she convinced her parents at the age of 9 to let her sign up for riding lessons.

“You are seen equally,” Herzig continued. “Everyone gets to be their own way at Spring Run, and it’s very family oriented.”

Perellis is one of two trainers at Spring Run, assisted by former hunter/jumper rider Samantha McLean who relocated from New York to the Louisville, Kentucky, area for college. When a sorority sister introduced her to Perellis and Spring Run Farm in the fall of 2016, she had no clue what impact it would have on her life a decade later.

“I met Susan and she said, ‘We don’t do hunter/jumpers; we do eventing. Have you ever heard of it?’ And I said, ‘Is that the thing where you do cross-country?’ She asked if I had ever gone cross-country, and I said no, but it sounded cool, and I desperately wanted to be on a horse again, so I signed up to take lessons,” recalled McLean.

Like many college students, McLean found herself on the hunt for a little extra pocket change, so she asked Perellis if there might be any opportunities for her to work around the farm.

“She told me I could come and feed, so I started doing that, and then I started doing afternoon chores—water, feeding, turn in, turn out— all after my college classes. That also gave me more opportunities to ride, because I was around, so she would have me ride this horse or that horse in my free time, and eventually, about a year later, she asked me if I might want to teach the new kids who just wanted to get into riding.”

It started with one kid, then became two, and shortly after McLean graduated college, the program grew exponentially. Before long, she was training beginner riders full-time while pursuing her own competitive dreams under Perellis’ guidance.

Over the last 10 years, Perellis has been so much more than just a mentor to McLean.

“She’s like my other mom—there’s no better way to describe it,” she shared. “My mom is back home in New York, and she gets to visit me every few months, but while I am here, Susan is like my mom.”

The pair have found a strong rhythm working together with the students at the farm. Once riders reach a certain point, they graduate from McLean’s tutelage and move to Perellis, but the two work in sync when taking their large program to shows across the country—even when McLean is competing herself.

“Susan really teaches that you must take your time with your horse and put in the work,” she said. “She teaches that you’re not going to use brute force to get whatever’s done right then and there, and that’s really translated into my own life. You can’t take the easy way out with things and use your strength or power to get whatever you want. You have to take the time to develop the relationship and the deep connection with the horse, not just emotionally but also physically. She’s taught me a lot about becoming a trainer, and so when she coaches me, it’s a little different than she does with the students, because I can see she is trying to mold me into not only being a better rider, but into being a better educator too. I love that, because I can feel she is putting her time and effort and passion into me which is very, very special.”

“She is a warm, loving coach,” added Herzig. “If Susan ever has to give you constructive criticism, it’s never done in a condescending manner. It’s always conversational—’Hey, I’m seeing this isn’t working for you, why don’t we try this instead?’ Instead of putting the riders down and planting a seed of negativity that spreads like wildfire, she is very kind. She is a mother herself, so she knows the importance of encouraging the riders and making them feel their most capable.”

As McLean continues to work her way through the levels, she recognizes that there are opportunities elsewhere to pursue her dream of competing at the FEI level one day—but she values what she has built at Spring Run.

“I could go off and be a working student or a groom and try to do this ‘all the way’ ” she reflected, but I don’t want to. Having a mentor like Susan and learning how to do everything correctly and take my time and understand what I am doing at this level has been amazing. One day, I would love to be a legitimate professional and do all of the things, but I know that is not going to come immediately because I don’t have the funds to support that dream. What I do have is somebody that believes in me and who continues to put their effort into me, and that is pretty special. I think my time here is making me a really good trainer and helping me to really value the horses and the sport.”

At 72, Perellis doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. She still pours her heart and soul into her farm, her students, her staff, and their schooling show.

“The farm started as a cattle farm and a Saddlebred farm,” shared McLean. “Susan turned that farm into everything—she put her blood, sweat, and tears into that place. I think the reason why she still is so attentive to the details and why she still fights for it at her age is because she is so proud of it and wants to continue seeing it thrive the way it is now.”

Her years of hard work have benefited countless riders who have come through her program. Her resume includes many accolades: National Examiner (Level IV) for the United States Pony Club, USEA ECP Level IV Coach, United States Dressage Federation certified instructor through Fourth Level, and recipient of the 2012 Cornerstone Instructor Award. But for those who know her best, her greatest reward is much simpler.

“Susan’s ultimate investment in this sport is seeing that smile on each and every rider’s face— plain and simple,” said Herzig.

In this new series, the USEA will tell the stories of long-time stakeholders in our sport— the coaches, farm owners, mentors and more who continue to shape the next generations of eventers in the United States. Have a person you would like to see featured? Email Meagan DeLisle at [email protected] and share their story.