Susie received her first pony at the age of four and ever since, has been in love with the world of horses. Her first formal riding lessons were taken at Muddy Creek Farm with Dayan (Keller) Birchler in the late 1960’s. It is the Muddy Creek experience that she credits with exposing her to a lesson setting of such enrichment where children of all ages and riding goals could excel. Susie has the distinction of enjoying horses on every level and in many different disciplines. From being the 1972 C.O.S.C.A. High Point Walk/Trot Equitation Champion to experiencing the thrill of competing at the World Championship Horse Show in Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY, she has thoroughly enjoyed and cherished every moment spent with horses. The hundreds of ribbons she won as a child riding and driving Saddlebreds, Morgans, Arabians and ponies of various breeds are a testament to her devotion to the sport.

Having learned to drive a horse long before learning to drive a car, Susie has a special passion for teaching driving lessons. Driving truly is a way that almost any person, of any age, can enjoy involvement with a horse.

In 2007, she became the final owner of the Reserve World Champion Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony, Pride's Perfection, and enjoyed several victories with him. Lovingly known as “Spanky,” he helps out from time to time teaching driving lessons as well as giving tiny tots their first taste of riding a pony.

Erin's love for horses has always been inevitable. She comes from a long line of horse trainers. Erin's grandfather is the notable Hackney Pony trainer, Ernie Peel. Her father is Rick Peel, who is currently training American Saddlebred horses at Gravel Hill Farms in Hinesville, GA. He has trained many Champion American Saddlebred horses such as RWC Lake View's Yes I am, WC Scarlett Santana, Wings of a Dove, Lullaby Magic, Harlem's Yankee Queen and many, many more. Erin's Brother is Kyle Peel, who is training American Saddlebred horses at Whitneylane Stables in Coxs Creek, KY. And last but not least (of Erin's immediate family) is her mother, Breezy Peel, who has taught many, many people of all ages to ride for pleasure as well as show American Saddlebred horses.

Erin was riding horses with her mother before she could walk, she was showing in leadline by the time she was 4 and competing in equitation by the time she was 8 years old. As a juvenile rider, she competed at the World Championship Horse Show in Louisville, KY 2 years in a row, with Nick at Nite in the Five Gaited Pleasure division where she placed as high as 6th.

Erin started giving beginner lessons when she was 15 years old, as Breezy's assistant instructor at Rick Peel Stables in Evansville, IN (their family owned farm). After graduating high school, she began giving more advanced lessons and taking riders to academy shows and winter tournaments. She also became Rick's assistant trainer. Erin has worked with many breeds of horses such as Morgans, Arabians, Quarter Horses, Hackney Ponies, National Show Horses, Thoroughbreds, grade horses, and of course American Saddlebreds. She has also, dabbled in many different seats; Western, Hunt Seat and Dressage, but her favorite seat and the seat she has the most knowledge in is saddleseat.

Erin joined Medina Riding and Driving Academy in January of 2010 along with her son, 5 year old Gabriel, maybe a 4th generation horse trainer in the making. “We are very excited to be here and I look forward to sharing my love for horses with many Ohioans.”