SUE KOIVISTO THOMPSON
by Maggie Nutter and Edna Streit
A little girl in Duluth, Minnesota daydreamed while watching her dad train and breed horses for his family and others. Sue and her four brothers would "scream" around the acreage on horseback, much to their mom's dismay. Sue Koivisto wanted to grow up and become a great horse trainer and breeder. Even though her parents eventually retired from the horse business,
the dream and deep-seated love of horses stayed in Sue's heart.
After graduating from high school, she took a job with a local newspaper and went to vocational school. Sue purchased a home and was building a career in the media world when at twenty-six, she
realized that her heart still belonged to horses. She could not accomplish her equine dream working at the newspaper. Sue sold her home, loaded her mare, Cody's Poco Dee, on one side of the horse trailer, and packed all her possessions on the other side and headed for Powell, Wyoming.
There she enrolled in the college's two-year program to earn her degree in Equine Studies.
In Powell, Sue met her future husband, Jeff Thompson, who was also a student in the equine program focusing on reproduction and ranch management. As a young man Jeff had devoted his life to Christ, and in college Jeff shared the gospel with
Sue and she gave her life to Christ, too. Soon after, in the college's indoor riding arena, Sue and Jeff where married on horseback and started working together to achieve their equine dreams. They graduated in
1990 and started riding colts in the old rodeo grounds by Cascade, Montana while they worked ranch jobs in the area to make ends meet.
To launch their breeding program,
Sue and Jeff decided to breed Codys Poco Dee. Sue was searching for a good stud when Jeff suggested Royal Three Charge, a stallion he
knew and respected from the area. The breeding between Codys Poco Dee and Royal Three Charge was successful. The Thompsons were blessed with a stud colt, Cody's Royal Cisco. Sue and Jeff trained Cisco, and from 1994 to 2007 he won in 14 different events with multiple Versatility Championships in arena and ranch horse competitions. This
was not only a testament to Cisco's mental and athletic ability, but to the dedication and talent of Sue who spent years training him for competition. Professionals in the horse industry know that no matter how highly
pedigreed or athletic a horse is, it will not win without correct and consistant training and showing. During his lifetime, Cody's Royal Cisco sired high school and college rodeo horses, roping champions, barrel racers, halter futurity winners and all-around versatile horses. Cisco also carried rodeo pageant queens and event-sponsor
flags for JS Rodeo Co. in Vaughn, MT. More that that Cisco was the best "ranch gelding" they had on the place to use in training other horses and students.
Through years of experience training colts, Sue learned about helping others realize their goals. Sue and Jeff concluded that if they trained the owners of the horses along with the horses, both the Thompson's and their clients were more satisfied and realized more success. About that topic, Sue states, "Giving riding instruction is the most rewarding part of what I do because it reaches the very heart of those who are in need and want to be better at who they are with their horses. Taking a young horse and being a major influence in the process of its learning is a great responsibility and brings much joy to us here at Western Sky Equine." Additionally Sue maintains, "Being able to diversify in today's market and economy is critical in order to be successful." Our tag line, our motto is "We Specialize in Versatility."
Sue started sponsoring contestants in rodeo queen and princess pageants, coaching them on the riding skills. She has instructed horsemanship class for Sherry Jolley's The Finishing Touch Modeling Agency of Ogden, Utah. Sue's sponsorship of contestants eventually included riding instruction and a horse for the contestant to
www.montanawoman.com MONTANA WOMAN OCTOBER 2008
use in competition. Cisco was often the horse of choice. Sue helped with hauling to rodeos, title chaps for the MRM Queen and room and board while the girls were traveling. In 2006 Sue was a pageant judge at the Home of
Champions Rodeo in Red Lodge, MT, which she felt was a great opportunity to put her experience in the industry to new use. In this decade, Sue was involved in sponsoring Miss Rodeo Montana, Mandy Holland in 2000, Kristy Mensik in 2001, Brooklyn Vosen in 2005, and Megan Hardy in 2007. She also sponsored Lorissa Harris, Miss Teen Rodeo Montana 2007; and Jennifer Marshall, Miss Teen Rodeo 2008; as well as Kirsten Kay Svennungsen, Miss Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup Queen 2007; Libby Gurnett, Miss Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup Princess 2008 and Jourdan Haan, Miss Big Sky Pro Rodeo Queen 2008.
Sue was eager to talk about Libby Gurnett, her most recent students. "I so enjoyed my sweet student Libby Gurnett." We found Digger (the horse that she rode) for her and got her schooling with me for a solid month with her living here and shadowing me daily. Libby is a special young lady for sure and we have been blessed with her in our lives."
Sue Thompson is helping to make another person's dream come true starting with a great showing at the Great Falls All Breed Horse Show in August of 2008. She competed with JJ's Rugged Reward, a two year old American Paint Horse Association stallion that she is currently training for Sutton's Paint Horses of Whitlash, MT. In his first show ever, Sue and JJ's Rugged Reward won 3 and placed in 1 out of 5 classes in which he was entered and won their first paycheck on
him. Jim Sutton, who co-owns JJ's Rugged Reward with his daughter Marjorie, expressed how lucky and blessed they are to have found a trainer as dedicated as Sue Thompson. "Sue and Jeff Thompson are very versatile and able to develop a variety of talents in these your horses. Sue is especially adept at handling stallions."
JJ's Rugged Reward's success in the GFABHS has opened up a line of communication between Sue Thompson and world renowned trainer, instructor and competitor Lynn Palm, who has won a combination of 34 World Championships in equine events. Palm is a long time friend of Jim Sutton and trainer of Rugged Painted Lark, JJ's sire. Sue finds this surreal: that God is placing such wonderful people in her life.
Sue currently works part time at the Montana Expo Park as the Commercial Vendor Manager for Montana State
www.montanawoman.com MONTANA WOMAN OCTOBER 2008
Fair. Sue is very thankful for the flexible schedule she can work until State Fair time and works hard to fit in her training and instructing for several months during the summer. Her riding students are very important to her and although it is a challenge at times, everyone works together with their schedules to get their needs met.
Sue sees the position as huge opportunity to grow in the management position and appreciates the level of accomplishment she has been able to attain by experiencing the Montana State Fair as Commercial Vendor Manager and looks forward to 2009.
With all her other commitments, Sue's number one priority is to love and strengthen her family. She home
schools their sophomore daughter. Sue says, "This gives Bailey Jo freedom to learn at her own pace and frees her up for her horse show schedule and for working with me on the daily chores and training." Bailey Jo competes in Cutting, Jumping and Barrel Racing. She is an awesome rider and very competitive.
Jeff and Sue's son, Tyrell, is a 7th grader in public school. He plays football, basketball, and loves riding his Morgan horse, Sarge, in the mountains. He is also learning to ride colts and is a natural.
When it comes to her husband and family, Sue says "Jeff is the most awesome husband: committed, loving, supportive, and the best teacher I've ever known when it comes to horses. Jeff's folks live here with us and we thank God for their support and commitment to our family and our outfit."
Tragedy struck the Thompson family when their stallion, Codys Royal Cisco died after a rodeo accident in 2007. Sue was emotionally crushed because Cisco was such a big part of their dream and their everyday lives. However, Sue soon realized that Cisco wasn't all of their dream and success. She has seen how much she loves and how important it is to be instructing clients and working with the horses. Sue says she really appreciates the fact that she can work so well with stallions. Her experience with Cisco
has contributed greatly to her adeptness with them.
Sue relates the joy that fills her heart when she sees the riding students, horse owners, and rodeo queens achieve their dreams. "Bailey Jo and I were talking the other day
about what we do through our horse business and what a difference it makes in people's lives. I told her that whether it is rodeo queens, beginner horse trainers we teach or the over-forty empty-nest moms who finally have time to work towards achieving their dreams with
horses, I want to use everything God has given me to help them."
More information about Sue and her training and instructing can be found on her website www.westernskyequine.com
October 2008