It’s Business with Pleasure for Susan Towson
Heywood, Inc.: Virtual business
management for the busy equestrian
day. However Susan stresses that every
client has his or her own diverse needs,
Susan Towson is a small, blond which keeps her on her toes and in tune
sprite of a lady who moves at a relaxed, with the diversity that comes naturally
yet energetic, mock ten speed. She is with this industry. Her unique blend of
passionate about the sport of hunter clientele includes owners and breeders
and jumpers, and has a knack of mak‐ as well as well‐respected professionals
ing top, extremely busy and successful, in the hunter/jumper industry, many
professional trainers feel comfortable of which also entrust her with their
with possibly the most difficult part personal financial matters.
of their jobs...business management. While most people would be over‐
From giving daily lessons to prepping whelmed with the varied workload
for the next horse show and everything
myself available to help a couple of
that multiple clients generate, Susan
in between, professionals and active
individuals out with their business‐
thrives on it and has developed an effi‐
horse owners operate with a unique set
related tasks. They saw how helpful
cient and organized system for getting
of challenges that come with owning
it was, and my new business plan just
things done. She finds communication
a small enterprise that rarely, if ever,
grew from there.”
skills, combined with the fact that al‐
closes for business.
One of her first major endeavors was
most anything can be accomplished
After working with HITS for a num‐
to help out with the newly formed or‐
over the phone, fax, and the Internet,
ber of years, managing the Marshall
ganization, West Coast Active Riders
enable her to work with clients on both
& Sterling League, Susan moved to
(WCAR). Richard Spooner, WCAR’s
coasts. “Distance and location have
California in 1996 from the East Coast,
founder and former President, espe‐
never been an issue. I have been just as
joining show management at the Blen‐
cially remembers the major role she
successful working with clients in New
heim EquiSports horse shows in both
played in organizing WCAR’s first two
York as in California.”
Del Mar and San Juan Capistrano. Rob‐
European tours. “Susan stayed on top
Currently based in Encinitas, her vi‐
ert Ridland, President of Blenheim
of everything and was able to deal with
sion for a business management and
EquiSports, recalls how easy it was to
a whole host of issues that came her
virtual assistant service quickly became
work with Susan at not only the shows,
way. Much of our success was a result
an invaluable asset for trainers and oth‐
but also his training business EquiS‐
of the help she provided us,” enthuses
ers who are too busy, on the road or
port. “Whenever Susan was in charge
Richard.
simply unable to handle the adminis‐
of something, I knew I could breathe a
A natural born multi‐tasker, Susan’s
trative tasks that are necessary to keep
little easier. Every detail was covered.”
extensive equestrian background allows
a successful business running. With an
Working so many years, in various
her to perform a variety of services for
extensive back up support group, from
parts of the horse show community,
equestrians that caters to all aspects of
accountants to association staff mem‐
is what made her transition to private
business including organizing billing
bers to graphic designers, clients often
business manager a natural progres‐
(both receivable and payable), custom‐
rely on Susan to take care of all the de‐
sion. “I developed wonderful relation‐
izing agreements and coordinating the
tails from start-to-finish for any range
ships with many of the trainers, rid‐
sale or lease process, customer rela‐
of projects.
ers and owners I worked with at the
tions and maintaining association com‐
Perhaps most importantly, Susan takes
shows,” says Susan. “I initially made
pliance from regional organizations
sincere pride in watching her clients’
to the FEI. She’s also knowledgeable
businesses grow. “My clients are very
about practices specific to
important to me. I work for great peo‐
equestrian‐related businesses, which is
ple and I feel privileged to be involved
helpful with year‐end preparations for
in this great community.”
the accountant.
She is quick witted, sometimes a little
Susan is available by phone at (760) 479-
dry in her humor, yet relaxed and effi‐
0903 or by email at stowson@heywoodinc.
cient as she works her way through the
com.
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