22 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Sue Stickle
Gets the Shots
Photographer Sue Stickle is a
dressage rider and photographer
who has spent years capturing
the greatest dressage moments in
equestrian history. Her work has
flled countless magazines and in
this issue of Sidelines, her gorgeous
photo of Steffen Peters aboard Ravel
at the World Dressage Masters
graces our cover – and our pages
are flled with her wonderful dressage
shots. Sue is well known for her great
photography, and Sidelines caught
up with her to fnd out more about
the person behind the lens. We also
asked her for some of her all-time
favorite shots, which turned out to be
some of our favorite shots also.
When did you know you wanted to be a photographer?
When I was 13 my dog died and we had no pictures of her
anywhere, I was devastated! I promised myself I would get a
camera as soon as I could so with my frst real paycheck I bought
a Canon AE1 35MM camera, and pretty much never put it down.
What do you like about photographing dressage shows?
That’s a tough one. There are so many aspects of the show
that I love, from watching a horse go from training level to grand
prix, to chatting with the riders and owners to the travel. Although
sometimes I do wish we had more time to actually see the places
where we wind up
shooting, and not
just the venue we’re
shooting at!
Name your top fve
favorite shows you
have photographed.
The 2008 Olympics
in Hong Kong, it was
my frst Games and
very exciting to see
people I’ve watched
and photographed
dozens of times in the
Olympic Arena. The
2007 Rolex 3-Day.
Again, the frst major
3-day and it was amazing! The horses were just incredible. The
NAJYRC in Kentucky -- to see these up-and-coming horse and
athlete combinations is an amazing opportunity because I truly
believe I will see some of them in the Olympic Arena in the not to
distant future. Lendon Gray’s Youth Dressage Festival, here you
see the beginnings of what horsemanship and team spirit is all
about. ESDCTA (Eastern States Dressage & Combined Training)
CDI***, this venue is one of our frst, and we’ve been covering it
since 1995. We have watched this show evolve from a one ring,
one day show to a fve ring, three day show and CDI***. It’s home.
What has been the highlight of your photography career?
The 2012 London Olympic Games. The quality of the
competition, the venue, the city, and the people – it was all second
to none.
In your own dressage career, what were some of your favorite
moments?
Purchasing my frst dressage horse, a crazy redhead
Thoroughbred mare I called Bonnie. She was afraid of deer but
loved power tools! We also won the Adult Amateur Training Level
Championships when I was competing.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Take pictures! Seriously, I love to scuba dive and never go
without a camera. Our dive masters are fantastic about pointing
out the really cool things to shoot, and for keeping me out of
trouble.
What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could play the
piano. It’s amazing to listen,
and watch, musicians like
Billy Joel and Elton John,
they are truly amazing.
If you could travel
anywhere, where would
you go?
Well, if I couldn’t get to
Grand Cayman, then London
would be at the top of my
list. I would love to get back
there as a tourist and be
able to take the time to really
sightsee.
To see more of Sue’s
photos, visit: susanjstickle.
com
Beezie Madden and
ViaVolo
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro
McLain Ward and Antares
Photographer Sue Stickle in London