Chenoa McElvain: A Desert Bloom with Deep Roots
Friday, January 24 2020
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.
- Published in Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Dressage: Getting to Know George Williams
Thursday, January 23 2020
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.
- Published in Weekly Feature
Unbridled With Kat Fuqua
Friday, December 06 2019
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.
- Published in Weekly Feature
The Power of Thoughts
Thursday, November 07 2019
By Margie Sugarman
I found some not-so-nice comments about me and my horse on a message board. I know who wrote them — there’s a particular group of women in my region I avoid as much as possible, but now … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Michele Hollis: Equestrian Doctor and Doctor to Equestrians
Monday, October 28 2019
By Tafra Donberger
Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek
Armed with a little black bag and an iPad, Michele Hollis, M.D., is bringing medicine to the places equestrians need it most: barns, ring side, you name it, she can help where … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Mary Helen Shaughnessy Knows WIHS From the Ground Up
Saturday, October 19 2019
By Lindsay Brock
Mary Helen Shaughnessy has experienced the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) from many different angles — as a wide-eyed junior rider watching her heroes and as a nervous competitor at the in-gate. She’s also traveled the world … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Steve Messenger: Immortalizing Horses Through Art
Monday, September 30 2019
By Shya Beth
Show jumping throughout the years has changed into a global, larger-than-life sport, and the same could be said about Steve Messenger’s colossal equine paintings. Steve has an uncanny ability to collect emotions together on his canvas, bringing … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Christian Rogge: From the Top of the Sport to Fatherhood
Friday, September 13 2019
By Kathryn McMackin
Portraits by Kristie Nichols
For Christian Rogge, 2019 has been a year of new adventures. In January, Christian and his wife, grand prix rider Hailey Henderson-Rogge, welcomed their baby son, Hans, into the world.
“I’m pretty sure … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
McKinley Harvey: These Boots are Made for Dreaming
Tuesday, September 03 2019
By Amy Hempe
Portraits by Bianca McCarty
McKinley Harvey developed her work ethic at an early age. “When I was a little girl, I’d get up at 5 a.m. to take care of my horse. Nobody else in my family … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Yulia Bratkovskaya: Modeling An Equestrian Life
Thursday, August 29 2019
By Lyssette Williams
Portraits by Lori Ovanessian
Five years ago, Yulia Bratkovskaya moved from Russia to the United States to springboard her riding and training career. What she didn’t expect was the circuitous journey she ended up on. “I started … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature