Clermont Equestrian
Our Trainers
Lead Trainer & Owner of C's
Manon Cremer Ceja
Manon is a multi-discipline rider and trainer with several years of international experience. She focuses on the mechanics, technique, individuality, and horsemanship of riding horses that creates quality riders and strong relationships with horses. She has always loved horses, which comes through when she rides and trains others in the sport.
Manon has 20+ years of international experience with horses, including riding in English, Western and in Parelli Natural Horsemanship. She has shown in hunter jumper, show jumper, cross country, dressage, and western reining. She has 10+ years of experience training horses. Since 2020, she has focused on instructing riders primarily in English riding, but also trains in both Western and Natural Horsemanship.
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She has shown internationally in Europe and in the United States at levels including, French Equestrian Federation (equivalent to FEI or USEF in the USA), Grand Prix, and National Reining Horse Association, just to name a few. Some of the shows she has competed at include WEF, HITS, Tryon, Venice, Fontainebleau, Lamotte-Beuvron, Saint-Lo, and Equita'Lyon.
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She has completed all 1-7 Gallops in the French Equestrian Federation (FFE), as well as all 5 of "savoir" knowledge of FFE horsemanship, and showing at the highest level of dressage, show jumping, cross country and completing an equine written test. She has also completed all 8 degrees of horsemanship with La Cense and is a level one partnership graduate in Parelli.
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She has trained with internationally renowned professional riding instructor and trainer, Andy Booth. In the USA, she trained with a handful of leading equestrians including Debbie Stevens, who constitutes the highest level of competition and has represented the U.S. at numerous team competitions in Grand Prix and held the Ladies' High Jump record at 7'. In France, she trained with Francis Rebel who was the former trainer of the Cadre Noir de Saumur and National Pony Trainer of the FFE, as well as with Micheal Robert who is leading the French International Grand Prix show jumping.
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Manon took a break from showing at the higher levels in 2018 to start a family with her loving husband, Rob Ceja, where they had two beautiful children and opened up C's Horse Ranch. This is where she began to focus on teaching the next generation of great horsemen and women.
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The reason Manon became a trainer is to replicate that smile she had as a little girl, so she can transfer that same passion and love for horses to others. Wether that is teaching beginners the basics, helping riders regain confidence after taking time out of the saddle, or expanding on training with experienced riders, Manon does it all because of the joy she sees riders have with horses. She loves the sport, loves to learn, loves to teach, and loves to inspire generations to come.
Beginner Level Trainer
Katie McGaffick
From the age of 7 years old, Katie has dedicated her time to horses by riding, showing, and caring for them. She began showing in the hunters and equitation, then branched out into the jumper and dressage arenas. Now, she shows predominantly in the jumpers and equitation at A rated competitions and local shows.
Since 2021, Katie has taught beginner and introductory level lessons and has been part of the Clermont Equestrian team since 2020. She caters to children and new students by teaching in a way that is informative and explanatory while still maintaining a fun and enjoyable experience for all.
Katie is passionate about giving others the skills needed to properly care for our equine partners kindly and compassionately. She incorporates dressage fundamentals and proper riding techniques into her teaching from the students very first ride. Katie uses positive reinforcement in lessons to foster a healthy, success seeking mindset in the students she teaches. She is happy to share her knowledge of horses and riding with others in hopes that both current and new generations will have the opportunity to learn and grow from their experiences with equines.
