About

From a very early age Michelle knew that horses would always be a part of her life.

At the age of five she was asked by her French Immersion Kindergarten teacher to draw what she wanted to be when she grew up. In translation, “I want to ride horses” is the answer. Introduced to horses early by her Aunt Heather Davey, Michelle had the bug for horses ingrained in her.

Lead line clasess were followed by walk trot, then junior riding in the Portage Horse Club. Michelle was lucky enough to use horses lent by others in the beginning, but was excited to finally have her very own horse “Sonny” – Super Ole Man when she was 10. Sonny didn’t have a very long show career, but it was successful while it lasted. Sonny still lives with Michelle at Brandon and is running for the longest living lame horse award.

When Michelle was 12 she was lucky enough win a weanling from AlCar Farms at Brookdale while showing at the Neepawa Fair. She had pick of the colts and narrowed her choice down based on color. Luckily it was a good move and Ricki he was named.

While Ricki was long off riding, Aunt Heather stepped in again and lent Michelle some horse power. Trinket was a finished barrel and pole horse but also showed well in showmanship and equitation as well as English riding. Michelle showed Trinket at 4-H provincials and fairs.

When Michelle was 15, Aunt Heather and friend Pat Kleemola found Michelle a barrel horse that would be suitable to enter at rodeos. Shorty was generously leased from Bev Young and it was that year Michelle started going to rodeos. Shorty qualified Michelle for the Junior Barrel Racing at the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association finals, but Michelle ended up using Pat’s horse Darcy at the finals due to Shorty’s struggle with soundness. Michelle still remembers her first rodeo “I was getting ready and my aunt Heather stopped me and said “you probably don’t need to do up your top button here” Being so used to showing, I didn’t know any different.”Michelle placed second at that first rodeo and the rest is history.

In 1996, the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association was formed. Again, Auntie Heather came through for Michelle and lent her a horse she could compete on while Ricki was still in training. This time Michelle was privileged enough to ride “Bunny” a mare that ran on heart. Sweet as can be, Bunny was a snappy little barrel horse and quick pole horse. Michelle was the first Vice President of the MHSRA as well as runner up in barrels and poles and runner up cowgirl. Michelle was honored to carry the Canadian flag at the first ever Manitoba High School Rodeo.

	Once Ricki was ready to head to town, Michelle took him to Heartland Rodeo Association rodeos and qualified for their finals several times. While at HRA rodeos Michelle also competed in the Steer Undecorating event also qualifying for the finals and winning the year end award on another one of Aunt Heathers horses, BJ.

Michelle’s sister Megan Sapinski had grown out of Michelle’s old Sonny horse and had been using Aunt Heather’s horse Kitten, but Ricki was looking for work. Megan used Ricki for 3 years of High School Rodeo and won the All Around Title twice as well as competed at Nationals with Ricki in barrels and poles. Michelle was very proud of Ricki and Megan for their accomplishments having influenced both horse and rider.

In 2000, upon graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an Agronomy major, Michelle moved to Brandon, Manitoba. Michelle and partner Murray Moran purchased 80 acres with an indoor riding arena. She worked away from home as an Agronomist for several years until changing paths. Michelle’s passion for teaching led her to the community college in Brandon to teach for a term. Michelle continues to work on contract for the college’s distance education department. Working in a classroom setting helped Michelle work on her teaching skills for riding students and also applies much of what she has learned to teach her four legged students. Every horse is her student.

In 2003 Michelle purchased Cantspotthischick from Randa Nugent and in 2004 she hauled to Alberta for several Canadian Barrel Futurities. This opened a whole new world of opportunity for Michelle and opened her eyes to the possibilities within barrel racing. CC brought Michelle many new contacts and taught her so many valuable lessons. Michelle and CC won the amateur championship at the CGRA 2004 Derby and were short go qualifiers there and at the Northern Lights Futurity. This also started her involvement with the Northern Lights Futurity and with the Canadian Barrel Futurities.

In July of 2004 Michelle purchased www.RodeoClassifieds.com from Albertan Janice Waltze. This allowed Michelle to work from home and focus on business, but also on raising, riding and training her horses. RodeoClassifieds.com has grown to be Canada’s number one site for barrel racing horses, prospects, rope horses and more. The Round Pen discussion forum provides for interesting discussions and helpful horse information.

It was in 2005 that Jetmeawave decided Michelle should buy him. Michelle was not in the market for yet another horse, but something told her she needed to buy Jet after hearing he was up for sale by his owner Danielle Beischer. Jet was already leased to high school rodeo cowgirl Melissa Wilson so he finished his year with her before coming into training with Michelle.

Jet was taken to a few rodeos in 2006 and was successful enough to qualify the pair for the MRCA finals and win the year-end runner up award in the HRA. This was an accomplishment Michelle was looking to achieve for several years. Jet and Michelle also placed in every round of the MBRA finals in the 1D (1,3,6). Ending 2006 in fine form, 2007 was looking to be promising. Michelle pulled her CCA card for the first time in 2007 confident Jet was still just coming on. Placing consistent throughout the year Michelle and Jet qualified for the CCA finals in 7 th hole competing at only 25 rodeos. – Mike Copeman Photo. In 2008 Michelle and Jet had another banner year winning Shaunovan, Swan River, Consul, Herbert, second at Grunthal and placing at many more. Michelle felt it was their best year yet and Jet keeps getting better and better.

On September 6, 2008 Michelle married longtime partner in crime (and horses) Murray Moran!

In the meantime, Michelle was always buying, training and selling some good prospects. For the most part she spends her spare time reading about and watching great trainers striving to continue learn and hone her skills. After taking and auditing clinics and learning from great trainers like Judy Myllymaki, Ed Wright, Charmayne James, Molly Powell, Bruce and Rayel Robinson, Sue Smith, Kirsty White and Dena Kirkpatrick as well as studying techniques used by Joyce Kernek, Sharon Camarillo, Sheri Cervi as well as Marlene McRae, Michelle as developed her own style based on the foundation of many that compliments the horses she rides. Michelle continues to learn and improve on her riding in order to bring out the best in every horse.

2009 was another banner year for Michelle and Jet taking them to the CCA finals in 6th spot.  They were the runner up duo at the finals and Jet was honored with the CCA Ladies Barrel Horse of The Year award.

On June 1, 2010 Michelle and Murray welcomed baby Grady James Moran to the world.  He was 9 lbs 10 ounces and 22.5 inches long.

In 2011, Michelle and Jet were named the Manitoba Finals Rodeo Champion Barrel Racers!