Raised on a farm in Maryland, Susan was on a horse at age four and hasn't been off one in over fifty years of horseback riding. She raises and trains her own Arabians, trains outside horses, is a riding instructor, and has a background of outfitting and guiding pack trips on the Colorado Trail in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. She has worked as a wrangler on a dude ranch in Mancos, Colorado, and as a trail guide in Durango. With her former husband, Susan rode the depths and breadths of the San Juans, pushing cows from one grazing permit to another, putting in long hours and hard days during the fall gathering.

Susan is a dauntless explorer who has traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Peru, Mexico, living in Greece for three years while exploring neighboring countries and the Aegean Islands. Susan first rode into Copper Canyon in late winter of 1999 and an additional trip later that year into Urique Canyon and Batopilas Canyon opened her eyes and whet her appetite for exploring more of this unique landscape. She also believed this to be an opportunity to share with and introduce others to the extraordinary beauty of these rugged and remote regions of one of the world's most spectacular wonders.

Susan offers assistance in tailoring your individual travel plans. For the motor trip from Arizona to Creel, Susan provides historical information about Chihuahua, the Mennonite communities along the way, the Paquime ruins near viejo Casas Grandes; and assists guests with orientation to Creel.

Susan offers rides to Creel once a month for those wishing to combine a visit to Southeastern Arizona with a horseback vacation in the Sierra Tarahumaras of Mexico, or for riders who are ready for the immediate Mexican adventure! She will also offer assistance for those wishing to reach the barrancas by other travel means, and will help them make connections with guide and horseman, Norberto. In her remaining time in Arizona, Susan has a private practice in psychotherapy and counseling. Most of her professional work is outdoors, much of it utilizing horses and other animals. Therapy retreats are offered both at her ranchito in Arizona and as part of any of the tour packages to Mexico (http://personal.riverusers.com/~laquerencia).