KATIE MAIR

Katie is a third generation horse person whose grandfather is a retired mounted police officer from England.  Her dad, Jim Mair, has proudly owned Morgan horses since he purchased Kane’s Princess Caroline in 1957.  Katie’s mom, Jenny Grey, showed ponies on the jumping circuit in England as a child and later purchased her first Morgan in the early 1970’s from Katie’s dad.  Katie was born to ride.  She began showing by the age of three and started taking lessons from Joe & Judy Dunville by the age of six.  Katie met Jeff Weatherly when she was twelve years old and the rest was history.  Jeff seemed to see Katie’s passion for horses and what makes them tick.  He teamed her up with JLM Rick-O-Shea for Saddle Seat Equitation and with Scarbro Shylock for Hunt & Western Equitation and Pleasure.  Both horses were always considered a gift to Katie who stacked up multiple championships throughout her junior exhibitor career.

In 1992, Katie headed off to college to Michigan State University, but she stayed close enough to Jeff so she could work horses, teach lessons, and assist with camps.  In 1996, Katie completed her degree in Marketing and took a Management position, but she continued to teach a few lessons one night a week at Jeff’s employer at the time, Pinecreek Farm.  In 1999, Jeff decided to leave the horse business.  Katie was faced with the opportunity that she always dreamed about; A barn full of customers who were comfortable with her and were in desperate need of a trainer.  Katie never looked back.  She credits Mike & Mary Penn of Pinecreek Farm for giving her a chance and the opportunity to break many colts to saddle.  Katie is grateful to Jeff for the opportunity to work with horses like Tug Hill Rockytop, FVA Rolls Royce, Saturday Night Live, From Sir With Love, & Lookaway’s Abigail.

In 2001, Sterling was created and landed a permanent residence in Howell, MI in 2002.  Katie has been blessed with National and World Championships with horses Fait Accompli, U.C. Town Crier, Night Out, Black Orchid Ace Commander, L.A. Ricochet, Cabot First Confession, Ha-Ho Windstar, Foolish Games, Kane Creek Oregon Reign, BMF Take Down the Flag, DDM Nightwind, Sight Unseen, Century Oak Notorious, Century Oak Balinese, JDS Sweet Obsession, Indian Creek Cool Brees and CBMF War Games. She has also trained world champion equitation riders Laura Pecherski, Jordan Cusumano, Annie Thurber, Clara Maxam and Erin Beebe. Night Out was also honored as the People’s Choice Reserve Hunter Pleasure Horse of the Decade and Annie Thurber was the Reserve Champion Saddle Seat Equitation rider of the decade.

In 2005, Katie was featured in The Morgan Connection Magazine as one of “The Five Who Arrived in 2005.” Click to read article

In 2006, Katie was voted by her peers The Trainer’s Futurity Award as the up and coming young trainer of the year.  (Click to read article)

On May 1st 2009, Katie received the news that she was approved for her Morgan judge’s card by the United States Equestrian Federation. She is looking forward to this next step in her professional career.  Katie received her Morgan ‘r’ card in May of 2009, and has since judged the 2009 Massachusetts Morgan Show, the 2010 Morgan Medallion Show, and the 2011 Southern States Regional Morgan Show.

Click here to see Katie’s People’s Choice Award as Reserve Instructor of the Year!

MEREDITH LAZAR-MEEDER

Sterling Training Center was delighted to welcome Meredith Lazar as an Assistant Trainer/Instructor in 2011. Meredith comes with an impeccable set of credentials. She began riding quarter horses in 4-H at the age of 6 and moved into Morgans. Her past champions included Designer’s Hope n the Walk Trot Western and Hunt Seat divisions, Minion Crossfire in the 13 and Under Saddle Seat Equitation division and Liberation Knickerbocker in the Saddle Seat Equitation and Park Saddle divisions.

Meredith earned multiple national and world championship titles as a junior exhibitor. She won the Junior UPHA Challenge Cup World Championship, the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal Reserve World Championship, the Senior UPHA Challenge Cup World Championship and the Reserve National Championship in Youth Park Saddle. Meredith also won Reserve Senior Saddle Seat Equitation Championship in 2000 and World Champion Senior Saddle Seat Equitation in 2002 with Liberation Knickerbocker. She has six years of experience as an assistant trainer at Crystal Farms.

Meredith holds a degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in Socio-Cultural Arts in Education.