Zayna Rizvi: Horses from Family to Finals
Monday, September 04 2023
By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller Growing up, Zayna Rizvi put fashion ahead of function when it came to her riding attire. “I would only ride my first pony, Buttons, in a princess outfit. I refused to wear regular riding clothes and only wanted to ride in my tutu,” she said. The 2021
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Samantha Wolfram: Finding Success in America and Overseas
Monday, September 04 2023
By Juliana Chapman Portraits by Kirsten Hannah “There is no quick fix when it comes to horses,” said Samantha Wolfram, a 22-year-old equestrian professional. “You can’t flip a switch and the horse comes out broke and is easy to ride.” For most equestrians, this statement is a testament to the grit and reality of
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Cedar Potts-Warner: At Liberty and Beyond
Monday, September 04 2023
Story and Portraits by Jennifer DeMaro Picture a suburban neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi, with a large yard, a miniature barn with fencing and a miniature horse named Little River in it. Cedar Potts-Warner grew up living every young girl’s dream of having her own pony in her backyard. Cedar’s mom worked tirelessly to obtain
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Jordan Melfi: Turning a Secret Horse Life Into a Career
Monday, September 04 2023
By Veronica Green-Gott Portraits by Shelly Carter Jordan Melfi exemplifies the meaning of perseverance. Once shamed for his love of horses, Jordan never gave up on riding and is now traveling the East Coast building a reputation for having a positive attitude and working hard to create a career for himself alongside his four-legged
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Olivia Williams: From University of Notre Dame to European Dreamin’
Monday, September 04 2023
By Veronica Green-Gott Portraits by Melissa Fuller Olivia Williams, who started her riding career in a town with a population of less than 200 people, has now competed at some of the top equestrian destinations all over the country. A sophomore in college, she grew up in San Francisco where she spent the majority
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Raymond White Jr.: Sharing His Sister’s Story
Monday, September 04 2023
By Britney Grover Cheryl White was just 17 years old in 1971 when she became the first female Black jockey in history—but you’ve probably never heard of her. Her brother Raymond White Jr. is on a mission to write Cheryl, who passed away in 2019, back into history, where this barrier-breaking pioneer belongs. She
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Kisa Kavass: A Storyteller at Heart, Capturing the Unknown
Monday, September 04 2023
By Shya Beth Art is created to explore, document and describe time, emotion, connection and history. While there are artists who are painters or sculptors, there are also artists who are storytellers, first and foremost. That is decisively where photographer Kisa Kavass lands, with each photograph a visual sculpture of light and shadow. Kisa’s work
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Cassie Sanger: Adding a Nations Cup Team to Her Eventing Firsts
Monday, September 04 2023
By Amber Heintzberger Portraits by Alex Scribner Balancing school and riding has become a fact of life for Cassie Sanger. As the 18-year-old from Lakeville, Connecticut, looks forward to starting college in Richmond, Virginia, this fall, she seems unfazed by the balancing act necessary to keep her two upper-level event horses in training and competing.
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Beatrice de Lavalette: Surviving the Brussels Airport Bombing to Ride in the Tokyo Paralympics
Monday, September 04 2023
By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller Beatrice de Lavalette lives by the motto, “No matter what happens to you, you decide your future.” On March 22, 2016, Beatrice’s life changed in an instant when she was standing just a few feet away from a suicide bomber at the Brussels Airport in Zaventem, Belgium.
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Susan Friedland: Trotting on the Trail of Misty and Marguerite Henry
Sunday, August 27 2023
By Laurie Berglie Portraits by Carolyn Rikje Susan Friedland has worn many hats—history teacher, blogger, horse book author—but her favorite hat is probably her riding helmet. Since 2013 her passion has led her to sharing her equestrian knowledge with a global audience through her blog, Saddle Seeks Horse. It’s where her followers can find product
- Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature