The Inner Voice of Fear

By Margie Sugarman I’ve been riding for 30-plus years and for the most part have not found myself concerned or nervous about the danger of the sport—until recently. I’ve become a mother, and since then there is a voice in the back of my head reminding me that if I get hurt it’s not just
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Becoming a USEF Licensed Judge: An Impactful Passion in a Space Where Most Don’t Look Like Me

By Rob Jacobs  When did you discover the love for judging equestrian competitions? Fall of 2009 while a junior in college, I took a course called “Form to Function.” This was a course on judging different disciplines in the equestrian industry. Hunters and hunter seat equitation interested me most, considering most of my riding experience

The Importance of Good Judges

By George Williams Whether they like it or not, today’s dressage judges are truly the keepers of our sport. This is true perhaps now more than ever before. The reason I believe this, is that as our sport grows and matures, it’s becoming more competitive than ever—and, if I dare say, even more sport-like. When
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Happy New Year: Top 10 Stories from 2021

Happy New Year!   As 2021 is coming to an end,  Sidelines wants to thank our wonderful readers, followers, advertisers and feature equestrians for making this year the best it could be! We look forward to a happy, healthy and horsey 2022! Here is a recap of the Top 10 most read stories from 2021!
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The Olympic Movement’s Role in Equestrian Athletes’ Right to Compete

By Armand Leone, Jr.  In the U.S. horse community, judicial courts exist to address criminal matters such as horse abuse and insurance fraud, while civil courts address other types of fraud as well as things like contract breaches and misrepresentation. However, in the U.S. and internationally, when a dispute arises about an equestrian athlete’s ability

Eventing With Boyd Martin

You’ve had an amazing year with On Cue. Can you recap some of the highlights? This mare had a sensational year, placing second overall at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and being short-listed for the Olympics. After winning the Advanced championship at the American Eventing Championships, she was in sizzling form coming in to
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Hillary Dobbs: Teamwork and Family Make the Best of Many Worlds

By Britney Grover Portraits by Melissa Fuller Once, Hillary Dobbs envisioned a life as a professional show jumper. After an impressive Junior career under the tutelage of Missy Clark and John Brennan, her early professional career got off to a promising start—with dozens of Grand Prix wins, multiple Leading Rider awards from national shows and
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Harmony Reigns in U.S. Dressage

By George Williams Many of us were drawn to dressage by the artistic ideal of striving to create such a perfect harmony between horse and rider that they truly merge and perform as one. Unfortunately, more often than not, we as riders fall short in this endeavor.  However, at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, there

Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show: Showing With a Purpose

By Britney Grover In September, Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show celebrated its 10th show—and a return from the COVID-19 pandemic cancellation last year. What began as a celebration of Thoroughbreds, held each year at the Fair Hill Training Center racetrack in Elkton, Maryland, has become not just a beloved hunter and jumper show but a strong
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Sterling Malnik: Success in Three Rings 

Story & Portraits by Ruby Tevis For Sterling Malnik, growing up in Palm Beach County, Florida, was the perfect place for a horse-loving girl to spend her childhood. With five siblings and four half-siblings, Sterling’s childhood was never short of company—or horses. From Pony Finals to hunter derbies, equitation cups to the Junior jumpers, 15-year-old
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