Meagan Bruneski is combining her horse, fitness and paddling skills to help empower others in the Cariboo.
Her son Marc, who will be six in September, experienced some trauma when he was very young. Someone suggested she try equine therapy with him when they were living just outside of St. Albert, Alta.
“I had ridden horses on and off as a kid and I thought it was a great idea,” she recalled. “I tried it and it was amazing. It changed my life as a single mom - it was so empowering for him and really, really helped him.”
When she’d bring her son to the barn, she was told a few times she should ride too.
“I asked myself, ‘why don’t I?’ and so then I started riding again. I took lessons a few times a week.”
A few years ago she and Marc moved to Kelowna for her work.
While living there when she met Joel Bruneski from Big Lake online.
The two were married in 2024 and are now living as a blended family in Big Lake, 45 minutes dirve northeast of Williams Lake, where they’ve created a business - MeadowView Reins.
There they will be offering summer camps featuring equine assisted learning (EAL), horseback riding, trail riding, paddle boarding, sports and crafts.
“I really wanted to use my skills and continue working with horses and that’s why I decided to pursue my equine assisted learning coach certificate,” she said.
She also offers equine assisted learning and equine training one-on-one, with small groups, families, even corporate groups.
“”It could be with children who are being bullied and struggling to be emotionally-regulated and they need a way to deal with it or they struggle to express their feelings.”
A program she runs called In front of the herd was designed by EAL Canada to give youth leadership skills through working with horses.
Birthday parties at their place are another option and at the end of May they hosted one for Marc’s horse Boo who was turning five-years-old.
Boo had been diagnosed with cancer, but it turned out not to be a misdiagnoses so Marc said he wanted to celebrate with a party.
"He's really good with kids," Marc said as he stood beside Boo for a photograph. "We got him when he was four."
The Bruneskis also want to offer date nights and ladies nights and have a private fire pit set up with a view overlooking the lake.
“If they want to stay late and look at the stars they are welcome to do that,” she added.
Meagan has a contract with the city of Williams lake for EAL programs so people who don’t want to travel can check these out through the city of Williams lake recreation.
Born in St. Albert, Alta, Meagan grew up involved in sports, especially track and field.
“I actually represented Canada in the 2001 World Championships in Hungary. I ran the 800-metre.”
Her athleticism garnered her a two-year track scholarship at the University of Regina but an injury during a race changed her future course.
She went on to do some interior design work and become a personal trainer in 2009 and later finished a degree in movement science.
“When I could no longer run I got into the sport of dragon boating and outrigger canoeing,” she said, adding in 2014 she went to the Club Crew World Championships in Italy and her Vancouver dragon boat team won three bronze medals.
