Leslie Butzer: Cloning and Breeding at Ponies & Palms
Tuesday, January 14 2025
By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Molly Kennedy
Leslie Butzer founded Ponies & Palms Show Stables—aptly named, as a pony breeding operation based in Boca Raton, Florida—in the 1990s with the goal of breeding championship hunter ponies. “When I first … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature
Laena Romond: Riding and Running
Monday, January 13 2025
By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Sophia Donohue
Laena Romond has been lucky to have a team behind her every step of the way of her riding career. From her family to the Mount Holyoke IHSA team to the team … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Debby Buck DeJonge: Writing Saved a Riding Life
Wednesday, January 08 2025
Horses are in Debby Buck DeJonge’s blood. “My grandfather was in the Danish cavalry and migrated to America, where he became a famous racehorse trainer, even counting War Horse’s daughter as one of his steeds,” she said. Since Debby’s first … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Amber Birtcil: The Power of Yes
Monday, January 06 2025
By Helen Townes
Portraits by Lauren Ann Wagner
Talent, hard work and never saying no: these have been the key ingredients to West Coast eventer Amber Birtcil’s success as a competitor and trainer. That included saying yes to the rigors … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Susan McClafferty: A Unique Angle on Horse
Friday, January 03 2025
By Shya Beth
The way Susan McClafferty’s passion for horses bridges the art and equestrian worlds is one of a kind. As both a fine art photographer and horse owner, Susan has a perspective on the horse that is … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Annabelle Nieman: Her Meaningful Eventing Journey
Monday, December 30 2024
By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Kelly Murdock
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said, “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” Eventer Annabelle Nieman follows this same philosophy that if you believe … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Natasha Sprengers-Levine & Tara Swersie: Making Strides With STRIDER
Thursday, December 26 2024
By Britney Grover
The equestrian world is uniquely capable of bringing people with different journeys together—like Tara Swersie and Natasha Sprengers-Levine. Despite living in different states and participating in different levels of the industry, they’re both passionate about horses … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
The Eventing Year in Review
Wednesday, December 18 2024
By Valerie Pride
How can it be that I’m writing a year-in-review article? Feels like just yesterday I started these columns—and what a year it has been!
First and foremost, I am sending out so much love and … [Read more]
- Published in General, Weekly Feature
Megan Sorentino: Classical Horsemanship at Falcon’s Landing
Tuesday, December 17 2024
By Britney Grover
Portraits by Averee Dye
Like many equestrians, Megan Sorentino has loved horses longer than she can remember. She started riding lessons at 5 and began volunteering at stables as soon as she was old enough, dabbling … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Marcus Orlob: Luck, Opportunity and Olympic Dressage
Thursday, December 12 2024
By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Melissa Fuller
Marcus Orlob captured the hearts of equestrians across the globe after getting eliminated mid-dressage test at the Paris 2024 Olympics when a judge spotted blood on the leg of his mount, Jane, … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature