Biography
Having enjoyed a lifetime's experience with horses in top quality stables, Stephanie Laversin, trainer, began riding and taking lessons at the age of three with Heather and Patricia Keen of Surrey, BC. At the age of six, she began riding with (Olympian) Leslie Reid
Stephanie moved to France in 1992 and began working with show jumpers in a private barn. This led to working with a problem mare that re-ignited her passion for working with troubled horses. She entered the Department of Agriculture's Equine Breeding programs soon after and enrolled in the technical programs at the AFASEC de Gros Bois in Boissy St. Léger.
Through this program, Stephanie apprenticed at the "Haras d'Estruval" in the Pas de Calais. Estruval is an elite breeding operation of AQPS Steeple chasers and sport horses. There she took care of the breeding stock as well assisting with the training, starting and conditioning the horses before sending them to the track ready to begin their careers. M. Legentil is a third generation breeder as well as a licensed trainer and past president of the Steeple Chasing Association of France. His operation has produced well known horses such as: Guinness Cup winner, Granit d'Estruval; Olympic eventer, Debat d'Estruval : big money race horses such as Or Noir AC, Sabre d'Estruval and Enjeu d'Estruval.
After graduating as a higher technician in Farm Analysis and Management, Ms. Laversin worked for Alexandre de Wazière as Assistant Trainer at the "Centre Equestre de Calonne Ricouart,"
The facilities boast 300+ members, national teams in Horse-Ball and Vaulting as well as top show jumpers. Teaching lessons to school groups and adults, Stephanie was also in charge of the exercise and training of the school string as well as all the young horses at the facility.
In 1998, Stephanie received an offer to develop a riding program in Yellowknife at North Country Stables. The facility had ten stalls, ten students and seven horses when she arrived from France in spring 1998. Before leaving North Country Stables in winter 2002, Stephanie helped grow that establishment to an impressive height of seventy students and eighteen full stalls. Stephanie's proudest achievements are past students from Yellowknife that have gone on to become professionals in horse industry either as coaches or trainers.
Moving to Alberta in 2003 to start SL Equine, Stephanie has seen her roster flourish into a steady business since its inception. The majority of SL Equine's current clientele includes young and/or problem horses. SL Equine is now based in British Columbia. Stephanie's future goal for SL Equine is to expand operations into a world Class boarding, teaching and training facility.
UPDATE: Stephanie spent the Summer and Fall of 2009 at Leslie Reid's Top Fox Equestrian Centre in Langley, BC with her mare, Alberta's Famous Rose (Ditto). She continues to be a working student at Top Fox one day per week year round and she had another working holiday in the Summer of 2010. She is excited to have the unique opportunity to work and train with one of Canada's most celebrated Dressage Riders. Certain that this will help her to become a better rider and trainer of the young sport horse, Stephanie is thrilled to be able to share this gift of top-calibre skill and study with all of her horses and students.
