Testimonials

“Sadie… an all around superb horse woman on all levels. She can ride beautifully with subtlety, imbue the horse with confidence, and is uncommonly perceptive about the horses needs and the owners needs emotionally and physically. Her calmness and depth and width of education, i.e. a truly ginormous ‘tool box’ yields results with no drama or wasted energy, expects and receives mutual respect and trust. She understands where you want to go with your horse, makes a plan and helps you get there. She is reliable and charming and always learning more, so that she can teach more. A remarkable woman.”

—Janet Fram

“Sadie has been working with my two horses and I since 2023 Her skill, energy, expansive experience and knowledge, training and bodywork has been absolutely tranformative.

She has furthered my riding skills and continually shows me techniques to help the horses continue their progress between sessions, I now understand and recognize some changes in their bodies as well as their minds as training progresses I had a good relationship with my horses before we met but now it has blossomed into something so much greater. The trust and connection is amazing. Sadie is very instinctive at knowing what each horse needs on a particular day in order to progress in a healthy and productive way. She has the knowledge and training to then continue their education as far as you want as long as it’s good for that horse.

I love knowing that for her, the horse comes first.”

—Valerie Fuccillo

“My daughters have been working with Sadie for a little over a year now and the knowledge and experience that they have gained working with her has been remarkable! Sadie’s methodology and skill in teaching has had such a huge positive impact on my daughters* education in not only riding but horse biomechanics and anatomy. When putting all these important factors that she has taught them together, it has exceeded our expectations in not only their ability to ride but for the best working relationship between them and their horse. We couldn’t be happier with all that Sadie has taught us.”

—Alison Dryfoos Mazzie

“I started training with Sadie on a client’s horse last year, leading me to quickly realize I’d found the right fit for my personal horse. I’d been looking for someone to help me start my first homebred slowly and correctly for years, but always ran into people who wanted to move faster than we were both mentally and physically ready to go. Sadie met us where we were at and has taught us both so much, both slowly and correctly in the way I’d been searching for. She’s helped me understand a ton of equine (and human!) quirks, learn all the right tools, and helps my horse and I form a closer bond as a team. Sadie has been such a privilege to train under and has taught me so many lessons both in the saddle and on the ground. Watching her examine both the equine and human mind is truly amazing, and has broadened my understanding of my horse(s) and myself as a horse person. There’s no one I’d recommend more!”

—Maggie Knotts

“Sadie is one of those people who is wise beyond her tender young years.  She has such a keen intuitive sense of horse energy and, in a way, can read their minds just by her surgically precise way of interpreting each ear twitch, the look of the eyes, the tension in the shoulder, the posture, when they took their last breath and when they’re holding their breath.  She can tell where their attention is at any given moment.  She has the kind of knowledge of horses that most people work a lifetime to acquire.  And it’s all based on the energy of the horse, NOT the human, even though the human definitely has an influence.

She enters into the horse’s world when she works with them, with no agenda or timeline, and definitely no rushing through their sticky spots.  She gives them time to process and come to their own conclusion, right or wrong (human judgement).  In so doing, the horse begins to manage his own body and emotions, not have it managed by the owner or trainer.

So many people say they do this, but Sadie actually does.”

—Janet Bochiccio

“Wow! My horse was SO HAPPY under saddle tonight! And the way his left hind came under during part of our trot was insane! His back felt entirely different! I’m literally flabbergasted and my jaw dropped multiple times!”

—Kirsten LaVassar

“If you’re looking for a talented trainer to help improve the effectiveness of your seat and to help your horse develop pure gaits and a correct top line, I highly recommend Sadie Buchenau.”

—Maria Glinksy