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Gateway Dressage has evolved over the years from a mother-daughter
team. The love of horses and a thirst to develop mounts that excel
at the art of dressage has been an exciting as well as satisfying
endeavor and has culminated in our joined partnership.
Shawna Camphaug fell in love with horses and started riding dressage
as a young girl. Marriage, work and children never dimmed her interest.
Having a daughter who shared this passion added fuel to the flames.
Pony Club and local shows filled the summers for both and a true
appreciation of the requirements of horse and riders were always
evaluated. The Andalusians became a dream for Shawna as she saw
them under saddle and came to realize their special talents and
traits. With encouragement from all family members she went in search
of a foundation stallion with top bloodlines and potential for the
art of dressage. Lepanto entered our lives and has changed it forever.
Shannon was almost born in the saddle, so to speak. At an early
age she was always trying to get on any horse out in the pasture.
Pony Club allowed her to actually learn to ride and care for horses
and she was deeply involved in the Canadian program. Jumping did
not satisfy her and dressage became a central focus. In 1996 she
took her 17 hh jumper and taught him dressage and in the Sask, Summer
Games she won individual and team bronze.
A summer holiday to British Columbia in 1999 for lessons with Henk
Glijn was a turning point for Shannons passion. Henk encouraged
her and mother and daughter moved to BC to continue her training
with Henk and finish her grade 12. Upon graduation she commenced
working with Henk at Shushwap International at White Lake, BC for
Sayoko Nakatani. For a year she was immersed in training and handling
of top mounts from Holland. She had the opportunity to ride Grand
Prix trained horses and train our stallion Lepanto.
In 2002, Shannon stepped up to the plate to help her father by being
a stem-cell donor. The ordeal was much more involved than anticipated
by her family and she was ill on and off all year. The fall of 2002
Lepanto fell on ice and tore a major tendon. Surgery was performed
by the Western Canadian Vet College, however the prognosis was not
optimistic. Shannon believed in Lepanto's heart and with each dismal
follow-up visit to the College she refused to accept their diagnosis
and continued to hand walk and exercise the stallion. Slowly, to
everyone's amazement he started to improve.
In the spring of 2003, with no coach, she felt that the window of
opportunity to become a young rider had passed her by. She was so
proud of Lepanto's achievements she wanted to ride the Young Rider
tests to prove to everyone, and mostly herself, that she had accomplished
the required movements. It was to be one show with personal satisfaction
the gold cup. Thanks to the judge at that show, who talked to Shannon
and took it upon herself to guide her through the process of qualification,
her dreams of becoming a young rider sprung alive. Betty Wells entered
our lives at this point and became a integral part of the team.
She unselfishly helped Shannon with her expertise and support. Her
coaching was instrumental in Lepanto qualifying and becoming a member
of the Western Canadian Young Rider Team, in Bromont, Quebec. Lepanto
soundness was confirmed by the team of vets at the jog prior to
competition, which, due to his history, was a miracle in its own
right. Lepanto became the first PRE Stallion to qualify and compete
in the North American Young Riders Competition.
Sayoko Nakatani entered her life with Shannon's employment at Shushwap
Meadows and since then has supported and encouraged Shannon to follow
her dreams. Sayoko sent her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Monaco, to
Shannon in the spring of 2003. A close bond between the two developed
and they began showing in 2004. Their accomplishments include Saskatchewan
and Alberta Third level Championship in 2004. The Alberta Fourth
level Championship in 2005 and in 2006 is competing Prix St.George
and I1 scoring consistently in the high 60's and 70's with the support
of Sayoko. A special horse from a special lady! Clinics with Neil
Ishoy, Olypian Charlotte Bredahl Baker in California and Olypian
Cindy Ishoy have added to Shannon's learning curve. The team was
chosen to participate in the "Anky" clinic in Spruce Meadows
September 2006. Sights set on International competition on a National
team, they both continue to improve.
In 2006 Shannon graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with
distinction. In February of this year she married Lee Sluser and
with his encouragement has continued with her dedication to the
sport of dressage and producing world class dressage mounts.
So many wonderful people have entered our lives and touched us both.
Laura Williams and Debbie Freeman in the "Pony Club Days".
Connie Argue, our judge from Young Riders testing. Betty Wells and
Holly Wells for the wonderful people they are. Sayoko for the special
friend and supporter always. The list just keeps growing and each
is so special to us both. Our story is theirs.
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