March 2022 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN March 2022 Page 61 44 Edgefield Rd. • Quarryville, PA 17566 Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! Sue Ott is the recipient of the CHA 2021 Certifier Award. The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) has over 150 certifiers around the US and Can- ada. The CHA Certifier Award goes to someone who has shown outstanding service to CHA by conducting meaningful certifica- tions and influencing the careers of numerous equine professionals over many years. Susan Berger, a fellow CHA Certifier says, “Sue was one of the first certifiers I worked with. We worked together many times. I have a huge respect for her as a horsewoman, educator, and colleague. She can be quite matter of fact as she evaluated prospective instructors and at the same time very fair and encouraging in the words she uses to help them grow. She is creative (have you seen the remarkable hanging wreaths she makes?). She is humble (I imagine many who work with her don’t know how very ac- complished she is as an eques- trian). Other words that come to mind…intuitive, high energy, a ready smile, thoughtful and caring.” Some of her CHA certifi- cation participants have this to say, “Sue really knows her stuff. I appreciate her empathy for students and horses. She is very knowledgeable, educational, informative and caring. Easy to understand and FUN! Informative and flexible when needed. Friend- ly, energetic and always helpful. Well organized, went above and beyond.” Beth Powers, a Past Pres- ident of CHA says, “We used to volunteer in the CHA booth at trade shows. We spent many hours together in our "stall" talking to folks about the value of a CHA membership, watching people go by and eating fair food. It was time spent at these events that I learned about her passion for horses and teaching. And it seemed that every year she would tell me about new life adventures with her husband, different jobs and horses.” Sue was in a photo sitting on a horse for the first color brochure CHA made for promo- tional purposes many years ago. She has been a CHA member since 1990 and was recom- mended as an Assistant Certifier for CHA at her first clinic. She has conducted 29 certifications, including 27 English/Western Instructor and two Seasonal Equestrian Staff. Sue Ott is CHA Certifier of the Year Remember...tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian!