Like many other horseman and women, Megan Wagner has been involved with horses since the beginning of her life. Her family has been involved with the equine world, so, naturally, the bug bit Megan and she was a goner. “My parents made the mistake of getting me riding lessons when I was five to stop me from sucking my thumb. If only they had known! I have shown something ever since,” Megan said.
The now 29 year-old competes in the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC)–a thriving circuit. ApHC is structured similar to AQHA and APHA, where exhibitors compete for points to qualify for the World Show. However, youth do not have to qualify for their world show, but open and amateur riders do. Each show averages about four judges, but a new trend has popped up. “Last year the club started having three judges and one is double pointed. We showed at one of those shows this year, and it was great,” Megan told GoHorseShow.
Wagner currently shows two appaloosas, a six-year-old gelding, Be My Example (Chachi), who she will show in the all-around events, and a four year-old mare, FlyingTheFriendlySkies (Versace), who she will show in the hunter under saddle classes. She also owns a three-year-old mare, Sticker Chock, whom her trainer, Arturo Maestas, will show in the open trail and pleasure this year. Maestas, who has been training for over 15 years, has worked with Wagner for a year now and is described as “hard working, kind and funny.”
The Colorado native is no stranger to larger shows and competing at a top level. One of her favorite wins occurred at the 2011 Nationals. “I was reserve in the Amateur Hunter Under on a horse I had from a yearling named, Well All Be. No one ever thought he would win anything,” Megan recalls. “We joked he had a disease– ‘chronically tenth.’ I cried when they placed us– I was so proud of how hard he tried.”
Wagner, who currently lives in Pilot Point, Texas to be closer to her horses says that her favorite horse show memory involves watching her father become Reserve World Champions in the Amateur Working Cow Horse last year at the ApHC World Show.
“That has to be one of my favorite memories–I was so excited that I bruised my poor mom’s arm because I was shaking her so hard. It is fun to get to share his success. My mom and dad have supported me in everything that I do no matter what, so to get to return that, even though I am just cheering, is a good feeling.”
While also competing at a national level, Megan recently purchased an equine retail store called Vetline, with her parents support. The store, located in Pilot Point, Texas, carries everything from breeding supplies to supplements and is able to ship on the same day. According to Wagner, being a business owner and staying active in the show world has certain trials which have proved to be Megan’s biggest test.
“Last year at the ApHC World Show I drove back and forth from Fort Worth to Pilot Point almost every day of the show,” she told GoHorseShow. “I was so exhausted by the end of the show that I could hardly get through my patterns. Thankfully, Arturo was very understanding and did his best to make it as easy for me as he could. I think we only had one or two major meltdowns! I’m ever thankful that I can show as much as I do and that I get to work in the industry though!”
For this current show season, Megan plans on concentrating in the all-around events, something she is somewhat unfamiliar. “I have primarily shown hunt seaters and in a few all- around classes but this year my goal is be a strong as I can across the board,” she said. “Chachi (Be My Example) is the first true all-around horse I have ever had and last year was his first year doing any of those classes. He is much farther along now so I am excited for this year!”
With a promising show year in sights, Megan would especially like to thank Melanie Larrabee who has bred all of the horses she is currently showing. “I wouldn’t have either of my amazing horses without her!”
Watch out for Megan Wagner showing Be My Example and FlyingTheFriendlySkies at all the major ApHC shows. Click here to check out her ad in the May issue of GoMag.
Photos © Shane Rux
