A female equestrian rider dressed in formal riding attire, including a helmet and navy coat, riding a brown horse in a dressage arena with green trees and hills in the background.

ABOUT OUR HEAD TRAINER

Arete Equestrian is proudly owned and operated by USDF Silver Medalist Teresa Cusker, a professional rider based in Bozeman, MT. In 1999, Teresa began riding at a local dressage stable just south of Rosemount, Minnesota, and was instantly hooked. From that time on, her life’s ambition was becoming the most successful rider, trainer, and coach that she could be.

Never one to turn down an opportunity to ride, Teresa worked diligently as a stablehand, working-student, and groom to accelerate her career. She developed a knack for riding and developing relationships with unorthodox and “quirky” horses, developing each one to their highest potential. Teresa has helped develop several young horses undersaddle and enjoys helping progress their education in the sport of Dressage.

Teresa’s ambitions include obtaining the last two scores for her USDF Gold Medal, competing internationally, and eventually moving forward with education to become a licensed USDF judge. She enjoys helping all levels of riders, and maintains the viewpoint that dressage is for every athlete, no matter the saddle or discipline. Teresa currently coaches riders from a wide variety of disciplines, including: Working Equitation, Eventing, Reining, Barrel Racing, Hunters, Jumpers, and Western Dressage. She enjoys spreading the joy of Dressage and training to everyone.

A female equestrian riding a dark brown horse on a dressage arena with a backdrop of green hills and buildings.

Teresa draws inspiration from a diverse range of nationally and internationally recognized professionals. She has had the privilege of training with multiple well-known clinicians, including Team USA riders. Additionally, she has learned from multiple international CDI Grand Prix riders, including Jenny Roberts (Baldwin), Andrea Velas, and Nadine Schwartsman. Teresa also regularly lessons and rides with her coach Christine Robinson, a USDF Gold Medalist with multiple USDF Regional Champion finishes up to the I-1 level.

Young woman in riding gear riding a horse with a blue ribbon and holding a silver tray, on an outdoor riding arena with buildings and trees in the background.

Outside of Dressage, Teresa has achieved success in regional equitation Medal Finals and hunter derbies, and she enjoys riding and coaching in the jumpers as well. She has coached a diverse range of riders at various levels across all three rings. Her students have qualified for the USHJA Finals in Las Vegas and have earned year-end awards from local show associations, along with numerous Champion and Reserve Champion finishes in several local show series.

A woman wearing a helmet, riding jacket, and white breeches riding a brown horse with a white blaze in an outdoor dressage arena surrounded by white fencing.
A female equestrian rider in a black riding jacket, white riding breeches, and black helmet sits atop a chestnut horse in a dressage arena with lush green fields and trees in the background.
A female equestrian dressed in black riding jacket, white riding breeches, and a black helmet riding a white horse in a dressage arena with a background of yellow flowers and green fields.
Woman in a gray sleeveless shirt and blue cap stands outside on grass, smiling, holding a black lead rope, next to a dark horse with a ribbon indicating a prize. 
“Teresa is an extremely knowledgable and talented horsewoman! She understands how to communicate with horse and rider to foster success in many different riding disciplines. She has helped me and my green horse grow immensely since we have started training with her!”
— Tara
A woman in equestrian attire, wearing a helmet, stands with a brown horse on a riding arena, touching the horse's face.

In the field of Natural Horsemanship, Teresa has trained extensively with several students of Buck Brannaman and Pat Parelli—integrating insights from these esteemed professionals into her groundwork, riding, and training methodologies. Her groundwork style that she has developed on her own most similarly follows the ideology of Warwick Schiller and Tristan Tucker. Teresa believes that the groundwork should help the horses learn to self-regulate, and through clear instruction, should build a foundation of trust and partnership with which to progress upon under saddle.

Teresa has experience in starting and producing young horses, as well as restarting those labeled as “problem horses.” She is adept at resolving training issues and takes pride in her kind and gentle approach with all her equine athletes. Emphasizing positive reinforcement and personal growth, Teresa focuses on setting both students and horses up for success with their goals. She firmly believes that “dressage is for every athlete,” no matter the saddle or discipline.