Classical Horsemanship

With a combination of natural talent and classical training, Megan Rau displays an exceptional skill set in her work with horses and students. From her caring interactions with her horses to her professional instruction of her students and maintenance of her barn and land, Megan's love, talent, knowledge, and professionalism shine through. What truly sets Megan apart is her remarkable blend of patience and intuition. She has an innate ability to know precisely when and how to guide her students to the next level, displaying a remarkable level of patience that allows her students to gain confidence without feeling rushed. Megan's intuition, which complements her knowledge and skills, ensures a steady progression of her students and brings joy-filled successes. A visit to her barn brings forth a sense of serenity and energy while instilling both humility and confidence.

Megan demonstrated promptness in responding and scheduling an appointment. As soon as my daughter encountered her, we were confident that she would be a perfect match. With exceptional composure, she explains things with great precision. We are eagerly looking forward to further collaboration with her!

Megan and I are currently tending to an aging gelding who is experiencing some stiffness due to hock problems. We have been focusing on suppling exercises during our groundwork sessions, which have resulted in the horse growing stronger, more flexible, and more obedient. My own expertise regarding the coordination of aids has notably improved as well. Megan possesses the classical dressage knowledge that I require in my teachings. She prioritizes the well-being of the horse and rider as a cohesive unit, expressing herself articulately and patiently while catching any mistakes I make before providing corrective guidance. I believe that Megan's guidance has the potential to greatly enhance my skills as a horsewoman.

I worked with Megan during her credential program at the Foundation for the Equestrian Arts where I served as one of her professors and supervised her instructor role at our riding academy. Megan stands out as a dedicated professional with extensive expertise in riding and training, and a keen interest in the art of riding. However, unlike many riding instructors, she remains grounded and approachable. Megan is equally comfortable executing specialized movements like haute ecole, piaffe, passage, flying changes, and riding under relaxed settings with family and friends. For Megan, the art of riding is not about tack, but tact. As a riding instructor, Megan is both humorous and focused, well-educated and highly skilled, and displays empathy and warmth towards her students. She creates a safe learning environment that encourages riders to make mistakes and work towards a more balanced and connected riding experience. Her approach emphasizes seatwork and balanced riding, and she teaches riders to improve their horses through the use of classical art. Megan's teaching style is both intuitive and intellectual, making her an engaging and fun instructor. Overall, I highly recommend Megan Rau Classical Horsemanship for her exceptional skills and professionalism.

For almost 3 years now, our daughter has been receiving riding lessons from Megan. We have been thoroughly impressed with Megan's remarkable patience and her skill in conveying the importance of profound respect and effective communication between rider and horse, especially when working with a young rider. Under Megan's guidance, our daughter has been acquiring remarkable horsemanship skills, which are truly exceptional and indispensable as they foster the development of confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, these newly acquired skills have had a positive influence on many other facets of her life and learning.