Megan’s passion for horses was apparent
at a very young age and every chance she had she would be feeding them, petting
them and trying to ride any horse she could get her hands on! At age seven she
started taking lessons and joined the Penticton Pony Club. Her dedication to
the sport and care of horses was clear to her parents at this point and they
bought Megan her first horse; an unbroken 2 year old pony for $150.00. At age
nine Megan began lessons with a German riding instructor named Manfred
Seidlitz. At Manfred’s barn Megan had the opportunity to ride several horses a
day as he had 20 head of horses at any given time. Manfred quickly gave Megan
the responsibility of riding all horses that came into the barn prior to them
being used for the lesson program. She also took over teaching the lunging
lessons for Manfred and worked with new beginner riders. Megan also relished in
any chance to help work with and break the young ponies.
It was after this transition to her own
property that Megan met and started training with Christian Von Stetton. Chris
is an accomplished horseman in his own right having been trained by the head
masters at the Spanish Riding School of Lipizzaner Stallions in Vienna and
attended the famous School Cadre Noir in Saumur France. Chris’s tutelage opened
Megan’s eyes to the art of Classical French riding and she has never looked
back!
Over these teenage years Megan competed
extensively in 3 day eventing up to the preliminary level and many provincial
dressage shows up to second level. She consistently brought home the ribbons!
After graduation Megan Spent a year as the working student at Chris’s stable.
Throughout her twenties Megan went on
to achieve her Competitive Coaching level certification and also graduated top
in her class from the BC College of Equine Therapy. Megan also studied at
length the skills and knowledge of Natural Horsemanship.
Together with the classical training
systems, horsemanship and equine therapy Megan is able to ride with an
understanding of how the horse thinks and learns and how each position and
movement either hinders the horse’s natural movement or increases their
agility, flexibility and balance.
Megan continues to ride with Chris and
for the past couple of years has been attending clinics with the School of
Lightness’ advanced instructor, Melanie Bulmahn. Megan also remains an active volunteer
of the Penticton Pony Club as not only a parent of new club member but on their
executive as the Education co-ordinater.
Megan still lives
on the family farm in Kaleden maintaining Laidlaw Equestrian Centre as fully
functioning riding facility with horse training, lessons, boarding and equine
therapy services. Megan is available for
consultations, coaching, training and equine therapy year round.
Megan’s goal is to spread the knowledge
of riding in a way that leaves the horse’s spirit intact and works with the
biomechanics and psychology of the horse, not against it.
Mikhaela Weremchuk
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