Susana Tezanos Moreno’s equestrian aspirations have taken her from Madrid, Spain to the Montreal area, where she has established herself as a successful coach, equestrian centre owner, and competitive event rider.
Recently, she finished eighth in the CCI3*-L at the MARS Bromont CCI with French Kiss, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare, and 10th in the 2*L with her eight-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Clover.
Susana, 45, has been passionate about all things equine since she was a young child growing up in Madrid. She avidly watched the TV show My Little Pony and at age five, her parents enrolled her in riding lessons. A few years later, she got her first horse – an off-the-track Thoroughbred stallion named Veloz.
“While he may not have been the typical choice for a young girl, he taught me lessons that made me a stronger rider through my career,” she says of her rather unorthodox first partner.
Through her coach, Iván Buezo, an event rider on the Spanish team, she was introduced to eventing and quickly developed a passion for it. Two important horses came into her life: one was Mikya, a six-year-old mare that came from Buezo and took Susana to one-star competitions (the equivalent of two-star now) when she was 15. The other was Atena, a mare a friend loaned her that she qualified for the Spanish Championships with and won a bronze medal. Susana and Atena also were part of the Spanish team competing at the European Junior Eventing Championships.
Prior to moving to Canada, Susana attended Universidad Complutense de Madrid and spent six years in France training and working as a riding instructor. Looking for a change in her life and new adventures in 2009, Susana moved to Quebec and started working as an instructor at a riding stable in Saint-Eustache, a suburb of Montreal. In December, 2013, she purchased property and in 2014, opened Tezanos Equestrian Centre in Saint-Eustache.
“Owning a riding club has been my lifelong dream,” she says, although it came with a temporary change in focus. For the first few years, she stepped back from competing herself to concentrate on building and promoting her equestrian business. When she was ready to leave the start box once again, the first horse she bought in Canada to return to competition with was an off-the-track Thoroughbred mare that she rode to the preliminary level. A week before the Bromont CCI2*, Susana was injured in a fall with the mare and had to take a few months off to recover. When she was well enough to ride again, the mare unexpectedly developed a heart issue and died.
“Those were difficult times,” she admits. However, in 2021, she found French Kiss (Frenchie) and a few months later, Clover. Both had been owned by Peter Barry and trained by Olympian Colleen Loach, and as a result of those purchases, Susana began training with Loach (who incidentally won that same CCI3*-L at Bromont riding Chiaro Z.)
“Colleen has made a significant difference in my development as a rider every single day,” she says gratefully. And as a licensed coach, Susana strives to makes the same difference for the students she teaches at Tezanos Equestrian Centre.
“My goal has been to pass on the values I have for the horse and my passion for the animal, whether my students ride for recreation or competition. My aim is to adapt the lessons for all levels, from beginners riding ponies to riders aiming for international competition level.”
She’s been able to support several of her riders in reaching their goals, participating with them in jumper and eventing competitions, such as the Quebec Equestrian Games, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and major horse trials. She currently has two students in the Espoir de Cheval Quebec program who have future goals to compete in the North American U25 eventing championships.
Susana (2nd from left) at home with some of the gang.
As the competition season heats up, Susana is excited for the future and moving up to the next levels in eventing herself with both of her horses.
“My mare, Frenchie, since the first day I jumped her, makes my dream of competing in a four-star seem closer and closer,” she says. She describes Frenchie as “a warrior” that is fearless, yet opinionated, and sometimes not willing to ‘take advice’. Susana says dressage isn’t her forté, yet when Frenchie chooses, she can put in a very good test.
But it is between the red-and-white flags that the mare really shines. “She’s a cross-country machine and has incredible jumping ability. She’s clearly the best mare I could have ever dreamed of owning, and I consider myself lucky to ride her every day.”
Susana has owned Clover, her other current star, since he was three. “He’s wonderful. Everything we’ve done together has been easy. Going up the levels comes easily to him, and he always gets good results.” She says he always says ‘yes’, and she thinks three-star will be attainable for him soon, and perhaps higher. “He’s the favourite in the stable. He loves being petted and cared for. He’s a true gentleman.”
Susana notes that the eventing world in Canada is quite different than in Europe. “In Spain and other European countries, eventing is more accessible due to the high density of clubs and the sport’s general popularity,” she explains. “Because European nations are smaller and geographically closer, it is much easier to travel to international competitions, manage expenses, and obtain necessary qualifications.”
By comparison, in Canada eventing competitions are primarily held in summer, and to train at a high level year-round and maintain the necessary physical condition of their horses, riders often have to compete or even live abroad, she notes. To that end, she has travelled to CCIs in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina in recent years – and we will be watching for Susana, Frenchie and Clover on upcoming leaderboards.
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