4 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Pure Thoughts, run by our
longtime
friends Jennifer
Swanson and Brad Gaver, is
in need of a few miracles after
Tropical Storm Isaac caused
massive devastation – so if you
are able to support them either
physically or fnancially, please
do. In the midst of the Isaac
tragedy, Jen and Brad do have
some great news – they are
getting married on December
15 and everyone is invited. In
true Jen and Brad style they
don’t want wedding presents,
just donations that will go
toward helping the horses at
Pure Thoughts.
I want to thank everyone who has emailed me with words of
encouragement, great story ideas and personal news from your
lives. I love being part of the horse world and sharing it with the
Sidelines family is a great bonus. For those of you who emailed
me asking for a date with Nacho or his phone number – there are
some things a girl needs to keep to herself! (Plus he is happily
married.) I will do the next best thing, however, and invite you
to follow my daily blog called “Editor’s Notes” on the Sidelines
website, where of course I dish about Nacho, horses, Nacho,
ponies, Nacho…you get the picture.
Jan Westmark-Allan
Editor
editor@sidelinesnews.com
e
Letter From The Editor
This is a “good looking” issue of Sidelines, beginning
with our cover photo featuring the very handsome Ignacio
“Nacho” Figueras.
The cover story inside offers a great look at
Nacho (we don’t think the man can take a bad picture) and staff
writers Lauren Giannini and Abby Westmark give us a swoon-
worthy look into the life of the polo player and Ralph Lauren
model. It was a tough assignment; but someone had to do it!
Speaking of tough, the judges for the Sidelines Photography
& Artwork contest faced a daunting task picking the winners and
runner-ups out of hundreds and hundreds of fantastic photos and
incredible pieces of artwork that were entered in the contest. I am
in awe at the unbelievable amount of talent in the horse world and
proud to share a glimpse of it on four pages inside this issue. I am
including three photos from the contest here – photos that I loved
and just had to share. Visit the Sidelines website and see all of the
entries in our photo gallery section, you will be glad you did.
While I am proud that so many photographers and artists shared
their work with us, I am also proud that Sidelines is dedicated
to promoting and supporting horse and dog rescues all across
the county. Sidelines features daily horse and dog rescue and
adoption posts on our Facebook page and we have a blog called
“Tails & Trails” on our website dedicated to rescues that we hope
you visit often.
This issue features two stories about horse rescues: Sand
Stone Farm’s Rescue Effort in Michigan and Pure Thoughts
Horse Rescue in Florida. Both rescues are committed to saving
our equine friends and I hope the “My Story” about Minnie and
Mouse – two ponies at Sand Stone Farm – touches you as deeply
as it did me. It just goes to show that when a group of volunteers
work together, miracles can happen.
Favorites from the Sidelines Photography & Art Contest