month before the Championship. This would be Shannon’s first International Show, first time to represent Canada and the first time a Canadian Andalusian competed in dressage. This was an opportunity of lifetime that made Shannon want to compete at a higher level of competition. In the meantime, Shannon had heard that Sayoko Nakatani had decide to close her equine training facility. Shannon decided to contact Sayoko to see if she would sponsor her dressage career by providing Shannon her top quality dressage horse, Monaco, a KWPN (Dutch Warmblood Horse of the Netherlands) . Monaco was 8 years of age and was trained to second level. Sayoko agreed and a partnership developed. Shannon was responsible for the training and showing of Monaco. “He was a tough horse with a strong will in the beginning, but as our partnership developed Monaco would do anything for me,” she said.
“When the opportunity presented itself, Shannon had the courage to take a risk that would change her life forever.”
Shannon began training and showing Flamboyant in the 2010 Western Canadian Dressage Show Circuit with great results. 2011 brought great excitement to their family as Shannon was expecting. Their son, Colton, was born in 2012. Now began the challenge of balancing training with being a mother. Shannon was up for the challenge. She began searching for a coach closer to home.
The horse was shown under Sayoko’s name and Shannon was listed as the trainer. Sayoko would attend numerous dressage events. “This was a wonderful experience as it gave me a start. Sayoko believed in me and she was so supportive and wanted me to learn and improve,” states Shannon. By 2004, Monaco moved up to third level and in 2006 they competed in the Prix St. George (PSG) and I1 levels. University would also be the place where Shannon would meet her future husband Lee Sluser. Lee completed his Diploma in Agriculture in 2002 and Shannon graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce in 2006. The young couple were married in 2006 and moved to Glenavon, SK to be part of Sluser family farm and develop Gateway Dressage. It was a busy time at the farm, but Shannon continued to train Monaco and other Andalusians that they bred and raised, plus compete at an advanced level. Shannon knew Monaco was ready to take the next step. She contacted Gina Smith, a Canadian Olympian and Olympic Bronze Medalist to be her coach. Gina agreed, so she packed her bags and headed east. She spent one month training in 2006 and two months training in 2008 with Gina near Ottawa. During this time she participated in the CDI competitions in Ontario and Quebec. Sayoko continued to support and sponsor Shannon financially. “If it wasn’t for Sayoko’s support, there would have been no way I could have competed in this level of competition. Her support has meant the world to me and my family,” explains Shannon. Returning home from Ontario, Shannon and Monaco competed and won the Saskatchewan, Alberta and Western Regional Dressage Championships at an Advanced Level and were long listed for the Canadian Team; an outstanding accomplishment for this horse and rider combination. However, Shannon knew it was time to begin looking for a new horse.
Above: Shannon, Colton and Lee Sluser
Crystal Kroetch, a Pan-Am Games medalist from Calgary became Shannon’s coach. Shannon would haul her horse to Calgary for training. Shannon was inspired by Crystal’s knowledge and passion for the sport. Crystal convinced Shannon to bring her horse for training to Lady Jean Ranch, Jupiter, Florida from January to April in 2014. Crystal hauled Flamboyant down with her horse and Lee, Shannon and Colton flew down to join them. Shannon and Colton would stay down for the three months with Lee flying down every third week. Lady Jean Ranch hosts a few top riders from North America and is 30 minutes from Wellington, where top riders from around the world train and compete in the winter circuit. There is a competition every weekend and 2-3 CDI competitions every month versus 1 CDI competition per year in Western Canada. To qualify to enter a CDI event you must have dressage scores over 62% at the advanced level at national level shows.
Shannon and Sayoko decided to sell Monaco in the spring of 2009; a sad day when Monaco left the Sluser farm. Shannon began looking for a new horse. She knew Gina Smith had a beautiful Hanoverian gelding named Flamboyant that she imported from Germany as a 3 year old. Gina had been training and riding him since 2006. Shannon fell in love with this horse the moment she saw him in 2007, but the question was affordability. Shannon discussed the horse with Sayoko and Sayoko decided to re-invest by purchasing Flamboyant.
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Left: Lady Jean Ranch, Jupiter, Florida, where Shannon trains in the winter.
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