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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026
S I D E L I N E S • 2 0 2 6 H O R S E P E O P L E O F T H E Y E A R
70
SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026
MICHAEL MONTREUIL
Michael is a true horseman whose passion for the equestrian world shines through every role
he takes on. As a proud pony dad, former top show groom and now as the assistant manager
of the WEC Ocala show office, he combines exceptional horse knowledge with unwavering
attention to detail and a calm, steady presence. Whether he’s preparing a pony for the show
ring, supporting competitors behind the scenes or helping manage one of the industry’s premier
horse shows, Michael is known for his professionalism, patience and dedication to excellence.
He is the kind of person who keeps both horses and people performing at their very best.
~Matt McHugh
Michael has been a part of my horse life since
the very start. I remember Michael from
when he was a teenager: unorganized, lost
and confused. You could literally find Michael
sleeping in a stall or a car or running around at
the last minute to find his show boots because
he was supposed to show in five minutes.
He’s been part of my life as a competitor and
groom, but most importantly a friend. He would
literally give you the shirt off his back—and he
once did! Well, it was a jacket and it was freezing
and he bundled me up saying, “I’m warm, you
take it.” Now he’s at WEC making a huge
difference for myself and all competitors by being
organized, almost too much—it’s September 2nd
and he already has me completely organized for
WEC 2027! Now you can find Michael in the
office handling everything and anything with his
dog Rupert by his side and a sassy little smile on
his face, organized and ready to take on whatever
the day brings.
Then there’s another side to Michael that
most people don’t know of and that is that he
and his husband, Matt, started a show series
called the Gateway Show Series in northern
Ontario, which has been a hit for all riders and
horses. Michael knows what it’s like living in
northern Ontario and the challenges riders
face, so by giving back to the community, riders
and horses have the opportunity to have fun,
compete and develop their skills at a well-run,
inexpensive show with great people and prizes.
In the end, I’m very lucky to have known
all sides of Michael and to have watched him
develop into the amazing adult he is—but more
importantly, I’ve still gotten to be a friend of his
and be part of his great adventures.
~Katriina Routsalo, Northern Legacy Horse Farm
The first time I met Michael, I was standing
with my back to the ring at a Trillium Circuit
horse show in Ontario, Canada, when I heard
an enormous crash. I turned around to see a
horse’s rear end high in the air, a rider’s rear end
even higher and both of their heads taking out
the jump in front of them. It was Michael. He
led his horse out of the ring laughing. This
big, tall redhead obviously had a great sense of
humor, and as I would soon discover, a pretty
high pain tolerance.
Shortly after that horse show, I was looking
for staff to come and work in Florida. Michael’s