Brooke Myers

Brooke Myers is Suzanne’s 9 year old daughter. She grew up learning Next Level Horsemanship techniques and began riding with Suzanne as an infant in a backpack Suzanne used to carry her while riding her seasoned horses. Brooke received her pony when she was three years old has been riding her trusted friend ever since. She is quite proficient at the groundwork and riding exercises emphasized in the NLH program and clearly exemplifies how easy this program is for youth to embrace in their experiences with their own horses. Brooke recently received her first official pony for training this year and is excited about her new found role in the NLH program.

“My name is Brooke Myers. I’m eight years old. I love horses and ponies. Also I have one pony of my own and a horse. My pony’s name is Apple Gray and my horse’s name is Zip. I got my pony when I was three years old. I got my horse this year when I was eight. Zip was my mom’s show horse. I can do whatever I want to with them. I can jump up on my pony and he won’t even twitch. Also, Apple Gray is not afraid of anything not even a tarp or a fire truck. I started out riding on my mom’s horse Zip on the front pack my mom wore, then the backpack when I was a baby. Then when I got older I moved up to the buddy-saddle with mom on Zip. Then a few years past and I got my very own pony which was Apple Gray. Apple Gray is very, very fast. I can gallop on him. Also I can lay him down and make him bow!! I got involved with the program by my mom (Suzanne). I do everything with Apple Gray and Zip. Like all of the groundwork and riding. I’ve gotten so good that my mom got me a pony to train.”~~Brooke Myers

Glenn Myers

Suzanne’s husband Glenn is a graduate of Penn State University and holds a degree in Animal Production. He has taken many courses in animal science, agricultural management and food science. After graduating from college Glenn held a managerial position with Taylor Packing – the largest beef packing plant on the east coast, and currently manages the Meats Laboratory at Penn State where he oversees production, processing and retail sales of various meat products produced there. Glenn has been instrumental to the success of NLH in many ways.

Initially he designed and constructed all of the buildings for the training facility and oversees many areas of farm operations including pasture management, hay production, maintenance and repair of equipment, buildings and other operational items. Many times he has specially designed and built equipment and other items needed for specific purposes on the facility. Glenn has been and continues to be a key contributor to NLH’s continued success, growth and development.

Rhiannon Schneider

Rhiannon joined NLH in the summer of 2006 after graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and an Equine Science Minor. She took many courses in equine nutrition, management and animal science which gave her valuable knowledge and skills for employment in the equine industry.

Her experience with horses was gained partially from her duties as an equine care assistant while attending Penn State as well as from a formal internship at the premier Hanover Shoe Farms – North America’s leading standardbred breeding farm located in Hanover, PA. She is currently finishing a Master of Science degree in Pathobiology at Penn State. Her course work entails immunology and mechanisms of disease and she is working on a non-invasive equine research project aimed at investigating differences in T-lymphocyte (immune cell) activation in foals following vaccination for West Nile Virus using different commercially available vaccines.

Rhiannon started at NLH as a stable assistant with a strong interest in learning to train horses. She began to apprentice with Suzanne and quickly developed her skills in NLH training techniques. Rhiannon is now one of the equine care specialists and a very valuable member of the NLH training staff.

“My fascination with horses started at an early age being mostly limited to ‘My Little Ponies’, Beyer Horses, and pony rides at the Philadelphia Zoo. I lived near the city of Philadelphia until I was about 14 years old. Then I moved to northeast PA and although horses were more popular around me, my actual hands-on horse experience was still limited. After college I began working for Suzanne in cleaning stalls, feeding, and taking care of the barn. The more I had a chance to watch Suzanne train horses, the more I developed the desire to train horses myself. Since I started working for Suzanne I have been developing my skills of the training techniques both on the ground and under saddle under the patient instruction of Suzanne. While working there I fell in love with one of Suzanne’s mare’s fillies and now own my first Quarter Horse. ‘Diva’ continues to be my project on which I often practice new techniques which has only increased the bond and strength of our relationship as we learn together. My next goal is to compete in a mustang challenge in the near future and I wish to demonstrate that the techniques used by Next Level Horsemanship are effective at advancing any horse and can be learned by someone that does not necessarily have to have previous horse experience.” ~~Rhiannon Schneider

Lauren Ross

Lauren joined NLH in September of 2007 after a formal summer internship at the premier Hanover Shoe Farms – North America’s leading standardbred breeding farm located in Hanover, PA. Lauren is currently in her senior year of a Bacheloreate degree program in the College of Agriculture at The Pennsylvania State University where she is majoring in Animal Science with a business option and minoring in both Equine Science and Agribusiness Management. Lauren has had prior experience as a veterinary assistant and assistant horse handler, participated in the management of the student run Penn State Select Quarter Horse Sale and has had varied experiences in agri-management through her work as an assistant at a premier orchard in Wexford, PA. Lauren began working at NLH as a stable assistant but soon began apprenticing with Suzanne due to her strong interest in learning about training. Lauren is now one of the equine care specialists and a valuable member of the training staff at NLH.

“Where I stand as a horse trainer today is from the simple relationship and journey my horse “Turbo” and I have taken. As a little girl I always had fantasies about owning my own horse, and when I found out I couldn’t get one my twin sister became my horse and I would ride her instead (we took turns!) I never thought it could or would actually happen one day, let alone be the path that would lead me to be a part of Next Level Horsemanship. Well I finally got my horse but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school when he took me for a joyride that I realized he wasn’t named ‘Turbo’ for nothing. Yes, it was that day he took off with me, and I decided I would never ride him again. But… I did get back on him, because like most “cowgirls/cowboys” I was just as stubborn and determined to stay on him as he was to get me off of him. And I was even more determined than ever to find a better way for us to communicate with each other. It may seem sentimental, but the ‘ride’ that Turbo has taken me on has only strengthened my understanding of what it takes to develop that communication and the patience, body language and trust that develops between a horse and rider when you attain it. It is amazing what a rider can learn from a horse and I know I have bonded and grown with each horse I encounter at NLH. Thanks Turbo…you taught me you have to be tough to get back in the saddle (and a lot more stubborn than you).”

~~Lauren Ross