56 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Jan Westmark-Allan
W
hen 14-year-old Jack Lube created his video for the
Sidelines Magazine Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF)
Exclusive Showing Vacation Contest, he had no idea
that it would change his life. The Orlando, Florida rider had never
competed at WEF or any rated show, but it was defnitely a dream
he had in mind when he made his video.
The Sidelines WEF contest gave one rider the chance to
compete in Wellington, Florida, at the world-renown show, all
expenses paid. Riders from all across North America sent in
videos and wrote essays for the contest, but it was Jack who
ultimately captured the prize.
Jack was thrilled when he learned he was the grand prize
winner and said the countdown to week 11 of WEF, the week he
would show, was a long one. Jack, his sister Claire and mom Kelly
made the trip to South Florida. As part of the winning package,
Jack and his family stayed at the beautiful Brazilian Court Hotel
in Palm Beach, near Worth Avenue – on the same weekend that
movie star and musician Queen Latifah stayed at the luxury hotel.
Jack had the opportunity to ride and train with Sean Jones
of the Palm Beach Riding Academy and compete in the Low
Children’s Hunters and the 12-14 Equitation on a gorgeous bay
gelding named DaVinci, owned by Sean and his wife Christina.
“Jack is a talented young man and has a tremendous natural feel
for a horse. But, more importantly, he has a sincere hunger for
knowledge and a true desire to excel in this sport,” Sean said.
“It would be a dream come true to show at an A-rated show,”
Jack said, on the video he submitted for the contest. “I would love
to meet with top trainers in the country such as Missy Clark, Frank
Madden and George Morris himself.”
Dreams do come true, because Jack’s whirlwind weekend
included meeting a “who’s who” of famous riders and trainers,
from George Morris and Reed Kessler to McLain Ward, Frank
Madden, Missy Clark and Ben Maher. Jack not only had the
opportunity to meet all of these riders and trainers, but appeared
on Sidelines TV with George Morris. Reed Kessler invited Jack
and his family to the ingate after competing in the $100,000
Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final. (Reed was
fourth in the class.)
Thanks to Jack’s mother and her unwavering support, Jack
has been riding for three years, competes on an Interscholastic
Equestrian Association (IEA) team and his long-term goals include
competing in the Big Equitation classes. Prior to competing at
WEF, however, Jack’s showing was limited to competing at local
shows on a pony his mom bought for his sister off of Craigslist. A
A Magical Weekend at WEF
e
Jack proudly displays
a copy of Sidelines
Magazine in the Ariat store
while posing with Meg
Krueger, Vice President
of Sales & Sponsorship
for Equestrian Sport
Productions. Meg helped
coordinate all of Jack’s
great surprise presents,
including a pair of
breeches and a belt in the
Ariat store.
Jack shows off his smile after competing in his frst class.
Photo by Emily Allongo Photography
Jack and Olympian McLain
Ward.
Photo by Elena Lusenti
Photography