52 SIDELINES AUGUST 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Continued on page 54
Susan Treabess:
Taking Life by the Reins...
One Hand at a Time
By Lindsay McCall
Susan Treabess of Winters, California, was born without a left
hand, but that hasn’t stopped the talented rider as she represented
the USA at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington as
a Grade IV para-equestrian dressage rider. “Having one hand
always gets you double looks. And I wear a ‘hook’ prosthesis so if
I’m in anything short sleeve it’s a beacon. That’s nothing new, I’ve
experienced that my entire life,” Susan said.
Susan is a new mother, and runs a dressage training facility
called Winterhaven based out of her hometown. She is also in full
competition mode and is looking forward to a hopeful position on
the United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team at the 2014
World Equestrian Games. Sidelines caught up with this amazing
woman to find out more about her life and how she hasn’t let her
disability slow her down.
How do people react to the fact that you have a hook
prosthesis?
The different responses from people are really interesting.
Some are curious, some ignore it like it doesn’t exist, some people
feel pity but most people look at me for me once they see through
the “one-armed-girl” glamour. It’s to be expected, it bothered me
when I was a teenager and first in college, but now I understand
its human nature and frankly I respond the same when I see
someone without a leg or in a wheel chair.
How have you dealt with your dressage training with your
disability?
The subject of someone’s disability, especially outward disability,
can be touchy. So in training I personally gravitate toward people
who basically say “great, you have one hand, now here’s what
you need to improve.” I like no-nonsense coaching, people who
will push me past having one hand, but also modify certain things
if need be. My main riding instructor and mentor, Ellen Eckstein,
never let me play the one hand card growing up. When I first
started towards international competition I used double bridle bit
converters for a while which allowed me to have one rein instead
of two. Until I went to Steffen Peters for a week and he told me
point blank “you need to learn to ride without bit-converters, they
aren’t doing you or your horse any favors.” Or Dennis Callin who
pushed me to leave my professional job in the California State
Senate, which I was very successful at, to ride and train full time
because: “That’s the only way you’ll achieve the goals you set out
for. You’re a good enough rider but this can’t be a hobby.”
What is it like to compete with only one hand?
When I first started, I think some judges would feel sorry for
me and give me pity points. I was really worried about that for my
first few years. Then I started searching out more conservative
judges, or judges that my dressage friends call “tough.” I didn’t
want high scores, I wanted fair scores that would help me improve.
I stopped giving show management my dispensation card, wore
long sleeves past my hook so judges wouldn’t notice and I wouldn’t
show the para-dressage tests in open shows. I showed PSG & I1
that year. A friend of mine scribed one of those classes and after
Susan and Fugitivo XII at the 2012 Dressage Affaire
CPEDI3* in Del Mar, California. Susan was born without
her left hand, qualifying her as a Grade IV Para-Equestrian.
She also competes and trains in high-performance able-
bodied competitions.
Susan and Moneypenny at the 2010 Alltech FEI World
Equestrian Games Selection Trial jog for the USA Para-
Dressage Team.
e
Para-Equestrian
