I've sent 5 horses to Sam over the years for both riding and driving training and have always been extremely pleased with the results. Sam has the perfect blend of patience and consistency that horses respond to rapidly learning what is expected of them. He also includes sessions with the owners so they can learn to handle the horses in the optimum manner. Harmony Hollows new indoor arena is a great addition to the property. read more

This guy is the best horse trainer I've met. We started off by sending him a horse that everyone else gave up on. This was a horse so bad some trainers refused to even look at him. Other trainers got nowhere. We were told to put the horse down because he was "unfixable". Then we found Sam! And the horse is now safe to handle, predictable, and seems much happier now that he knows what to expect. Sam employs a variety of techniques. I like that he still goes to the clinics of other trainers, so he's always getting fresh ideas. He is very good with solving problems. He does groundwork but he also trains for riding and driving. He is also one of the bravest trainers i've met: willing to ride any horse I bring him without a complaint. If the horse is really misbehaving, I've never seen Sam loose his temper. Sam isn't the cheapest guy around but he's also not the most expensive. And compared to the cost of feeding a horse for months & months while buyers ignore a horse with some behavioral issues -- it's money well spent. He also does single sessions and several times a year he does day-long clinics. He's always dealt with me fairly and honestly. He's also very open and honest with me, and he'll tell me if a horse might not be good for the job we had in mind for him/her. For this area, I think he's one of the best trainers around. I will continue to bring horses to him. read more

I had a large pony I was thinking of putting down, he was dangerous and had no job in life. I heard about Sam through word of mouth. I did not really watch his training methods since I lived a two hour drive away, but I now have a pony that drives. He is still a mean pony but he is a good broke driving animal. Since discovering Sam I have met many other horse people that I respect that send their ponies/horses to Sam. read more

We brought our 12 year old quarter horse to Sam after getting told he was dangerous and may need to be put down. Since he's been at Sam's he has not exhibited any dangerous behavior at all. We have come to believe that our boy didn't like our previous trainer/lesson person because she was easily distracted or excitable. Sam has the most even temperament I have ever seen period! He has worked with our boy for just about 3 months and he's a different horse. He was forward, pushy and threw his head with frustration. He now has a slow even trot and a more forward one, he stands "ground tied" while grooming and tacking up and rarely throws his head at all. Even when doing an exercise Sam described as "head yielding," he gives/yields his head exactly as asked. He responds to gentle pressure on his lead and is exactly what we wanted in a horse! We have discovered that he like to western and we had been doing english, so now he goes both ways. He enjoys round pen work and ring work, but absolutely blossoms on the trail rides. While Sam has been spending time teaching our boy, he also has spent time teaching us how to keep him up on the things he was taught. I can not say enough good about Sam Smucker & Harmony Hollow Farm in Quarryville PA. If you need help with your horse or just need your horse to learn more than he knows, you will not be unhappy if you choose Sam as your trainer. read more

Have observed Mr. Smucker work, and he shows the understanding and patience that is vital, when working with horses. He gives consistent cues to the horse, and takes the horse through one step at a time, rewarding and correcting without letting any ego or temper affect his methods. Both Thumbs Up, for Mr. Smucker of Harmony Hollow Farm! read more