Whisper Creek Idaho Dressage specializes in dressage instruction/training, dressage show management and the development of dressage sport horses.
Our trainers are USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists and have combined experience in showing, coaching and/or managing state, national and international level dressage shows. Our dressage horses have received regional, national and international award recognition.
We believe that anyone can benefit from dressage training. Our goal is to help the horse and rider find balance and connection in order to develop better harmony and physical fitness. We are enthusiastic to utilize and share our knowledge and experience in dressage management, training and riding instruction.
By the time she was 18 years old, Meghan Slaughter has earned her USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for her proficiency in First Level through Grand Prix, the highest level in dressage. Meghan holds the record as the youngest rider, amongst a small handful of Grand Prix riders, in the State of Idaho to receive her USDF Gold Medal. She also received her USDF Bronze and Silver Bar in musical freestyle, currently being the youngest rider in USDF history to have earned the Bronze Bar. As a Junior/Young Rider, she competed at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships, representing the USDF Region 6 Team, with our Grand Prix horse Spinnaker. She also won numerous USDF Region 6 championships including FEI Junior Champion.
After completing her Associate of Arts in General Studies degree from Idaho State University while she was still in high school, she graduated with high honors from Cal Poly University at San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary degree. During her freshman year at Cal Poly, Meghan joined the Dressage Team and earned Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Region U Individual Champion and joined the rest of the Cal Poly Team at IDA Nationals 2015 where she won National Reserve Individual Champion. From assistant coach in her freshman year, Meghan became Head Coach and Dressage Trainer for Cal Poly for the remainder of her undergraduate years. She helped the Cal Poly Dressage Show Team (training both students and horses) continue their streak as Regional Champions and has enjoyed guiding all of the club members through their dressage education. For her distinguished work at Cal Poly and continued dressage community service, Meghan was awarded the 2017 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award.
Meghan has trained with FEI level trainers Ernst and Janet Herrmann and Heather Oleson. She has also trained, in either clinics or regularly, with other FEI level trainers such as “S” Judges Melonie Kessler and Barbi Breen-Gurley, Jeremy Steinberg, Carmie Flaherty (Canadian Level 3 Certified Dressage Coach), Christian Schacht and Rider Pilates clinician Beth Glosten, MD, to name a few.
Meghan has joined the Whisper Creek Idaho team as Lead Trainer, using her extensive experience to provide quality dressage training and instruction. She is also currently training Whisper Creek Idaho's developing dressage sport horse W Estanislau (2010 Hanoverian out of Wolkentanz II).
Manager/Trainer: May Calins Slaughter, BS, BBA, MS Ed
With her degrees in biochemistry, business administration and exercise physiology/health education, May had worked in both academic and hospital based health/athletic education programs. After moving to acreage in a rural community, she pursued her interest to transition to working with both equine and human athletes.
While working with racehorses as a licensed trainer/owner for almost a decade, May became involved in dressage as a show mom, supporting her daughter’s efforts from Training Level to Grand Prix. She has since become a USDF Bronze Medalist and is now training and showing in Fourth Level and Prix St. George with her Trakehner gelding Spinnaker. With almost 20 years of English riding and dressage experience, May has trained with FEI level trainers Ernst and Janet Herrmann and Heather Oleson. She has participated in clinics with other FEI level trainers such as “S” Judges Melonie Kessler and Barbi Breen-Gurley and Rider Pilates clinician Beth Glosten, MD.
May’s past experience extends to managing her small family farm sport horse and miniature cattle breeding program. She is also Level I, II, III USEF Licensed/USDF Recognized Dressage Show Manager and continues her education towards becoming a USEF Licensed Technical Delegate.
