By Jan Westmark – Jimmy Torano has been part of the horse world his entire life. Growing up in Miami, Florida, he started lead line classes with his mom as his trainer. His last year as a junior, he rode with Don Stewart before going to work for Jane Ebelhare as a rider and trainer at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. “I got a great start there, riding many different horses and eventually grand prix horses,” Jimmy said. “After working there for several years, I decided to go on my own and start my own business. I went with Jane’s blessing. She gave me a real leg up, and I owe her a lot.”

By Tafra Donberger. Portraits by Adrienne Morella – Lillian Heard hadn’t intended her life to turn out this way — as an eventing professional working her way up the ranks of the five-star roster. Her original adult-life plans included law school, but a twist of fate in horse form led her to the point she is now, and she wouldn’t change a thing.

By Britney Grover – Located near Cleveland in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. As a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl.) Premier Accredited Center, Fieldstone has long been a leader in the field of therapeutic horsemanship. Their influence reaches thousands of people every year, and now, that influence is expanding.

By Lyssette Williams. Portraits by Kristie Nichols – For grand-prix rider Chenoa McElvain, developing horses to their highest potential is a long-standing family tradition. It all started with her grandparents, Tim and Betty McElvain, who were both avid riders. Betty developed an interest in dressage and after a trip to Europe, Tim and Betty decided to import a Holsteiner stallion and some mares, which would set the McElvain family on a multigenerational journey in New Mexico.

By Britney Grover. Portraits by Melissa Fuller – Sidelines is thrilled to introduce George Williams as our new monthly dressage columnist.
George has dedicated his life to dressage as a rider, coach, clinician and volunteer. After beginning his dressage education with Egon von Neindorff in Germany, George followed his mentor, Karl Mikolka, to ride and train with the Tempel Lipizzans for 20 years, including being program director for 13. He then pursued his own competitive goals to ride on a U.S. team and succeeded with Rocher, earning many championships and culminating in fifth place at the 2003 World Cup in Sweden, team bronze at CHIO Aachen in 2005 and USDF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle Horse of the Year.

By Jan Westmark – Kat Fuqua was destined to be a rider. Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, with grand prix dressage parents and a barn filled with talented horses, Kat started her riding career when she was only 1 year old. “My mom and dad got me miniature ponies and after that I just kept on riding,” she said. Now 12 years old, Kat has reached a level of accomplishment in her riding that keeps her in the winner’s circle, all while traversing the world of middle school. At the 2019 Pony Finals, Kat and Prestige, her 8-year-old Belgian Riding Pony, captured the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Finals. Not only is she a pony wonder-kid, Kat has also moved into the equitation and junior hunter rings with trainer Jimmy Torano. Sidelines had a chance to catch up with Kat at her Collecting Gaits Farm outside of Atlanta to find out more about her ponies, her horses and her life.