4 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
will enjoy this glimpse into the world of
the Emerging Athletes Program.
Sidelines
writer Lauren R. Giannini
also gives us a glimpse into another
world, thanks to her travel story on her
adventure in Africa. Lauren needed to
get away from it all – and she certainly
did. With any luck, Lauren’s story
might inspire you to head out on your
own adventure. Lauren also shares
another adventure with us in this issue
in her story on Alice Debany Clero
called “Jumping from the U.S to Paris
to Dubai.” Alice grew up in New York and during her junior career
rode with George Morris. Alice’s equestrian travels resulted in
a friendship with Princess Haya, who asked Alice to coach the
Dubai Show Jumping Team. Talk about adventure!
Sidelines
loves it when our readers Catch the Sidelines Spirit –
and Indiana rider Alli Thompson has caught the spirit and is our
February mascot. We welcome her aboard. We also want to give
a shout out to Whit Watkins of Moody, Texas. Whit won the fifth
annual USDF Region 9 Teaching Excellence Award at the Great
American/USDF Region 9 Championships and received a $5,000
award. Way to go Whit!
Whether you are showing on the winter circuit, working with your
horse at home or still dreaming of owning your own horse – just
don’t follow Julia’s example! – I hope you are finding adventure in
2014, especially the equestrian kind.
Catch the Sidelines Spirit!
Jan Westmark
Editor-In-Chief
Letter from the Editor
It’s hard to believe that our February issue is
already here –
which means the winter show season is in
full gear throughout the country. We are kicking off the February
issue of
Sidelines
with cover girl Mary-Haskins Gurganus and
her stunning stallion Richmond. Mary-Haskins, or M.H., took
time off from riding to be a mom but is now back and combining
motherhood and her dressage career. She’s doing a great job at
both and we are glad to see her back in the spotlight.
M.H. isn’t the only one who has returned to the ring. Jamie
Krauss Hess, daughter of TV journalist Joan Lunden, is also back.
I know you will enjoy her story called “Return To Riding,” including
her words of wisdom on discovering the “value of the journey.” I
think many riders will be able to relate to what Jamie has learned
about the joy of riding and having a horse in your life.
This issue is action packed – just like the show season. We
have great dressage stories, from Olympic rider Tina Konyot,
to a comeback story on a dressage horse named Sirtaki to the
passion of dressage rider and trainer Jordan LaPlaca. If you are
a dressage enthusiast, make sure you check out our story on the
Global Dressage Forum – an event that will be bringing a star-
studded line-up of dressage riders to South Florida.
You definitely don’t want to miss our story on Julia Davis and
her big secret. In this “don’t try this at home” story, Julia bought
a very inexpensive and malnourished pony without telling her
parents and proceeded to hide it from them for several months.
Not only did she keep the pony a secret, Julia had almost no
riding experience and the pony was very green. With a lot of
determination, courage and luck, this dynamic duo made it to the
top – competing at Devon, Pony Finals, and the NAL Finals. Each
person on my staff who read the story as we were getting this
issue ready for print had the same reaction – “wow, what a crazy
story!”
I love hearing from the equestrian community – especially when
they email me with the inside scoop on a story like Julia’s. Thanks
to Ashley Gasiorowski in North Carolina for sharing the story with
me. Speaking of the inside scoop, Marissa Degner, daughter
of
Sidelines
writer Doris Degner-Foster, attended the USHJA
Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) and gives us a behind-the-
scenes account of what the EAP is all about. I know young riders
Julia Davis jumps from a secret to success.
Photo by Sierra Walt
Whit Watkins wins the Region 9 Teaching Excellence Award.
