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Monday, July 25 2022 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Designing, Dressage and Competing in Israel 

Lauren Sara

Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Fashion Designer, Product Designer and Author

How long have you been part of the horse world? 

I started riding when I was 8 years old and continued through high school. I took a break through college life in New York City, and riding took a back seat to starting my career and raising my two kids, but I slowly got back into it as horses have always been a lifelong passion. Having said that, I’ve always had horses in my life—I just couldn’t devote every day to riding for much of my early career. 

What part do you play in the horse world?

I started foxhunting as a kid, transitioned to lower-level eventing, and now I’m a competitive Adult Amateur dressage rider. At some point, I’d like to do some lower-level eventing with my dressage horse.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do? 

I love that it’s bringing me back to being like an 8-year-old! My horse Lola has all the best qualities of what a mare is: her solid work ethic, she’s a steady partner and she never gives up. I’ve never had a mare before, but she never stops trying. 

I’ve also made lifelong bonds of friendship with people in the riding world, and I hold that dear.

I will add that if I didn’t have success or substantial achievements in my professional life outside of riding, I don’t think that I would be able to persist as an adult amateur competitor in my riding life. Those successes have helped sustain me, because riding is so humbling! Thank God I have my children, and a profession that I feel proficient at, because I honestly think my ego couldn’t handle continuously being humbled by horses if it weren’t for that. Everybody needs to be good at something, and maintaining the enthusiasm to keep struggling along as an adult amateur is a real challenge.

What’s your biggest achievement in the horse world?

I’m very much wired to set goals and make strategies to achieve them. Within the riding community there are goals, like the USDF medals. Those are nice to achieve, but I’ll share the story of a personal achievement. Years ago I got around a “three-day” at the Beginner Novice level at Stuart Horse Trials in upstate New York. There were a lot of people competing, the event was televised, and there were a lot of big riders there competing. Even though it was a low level, the atmosphere was far and away my biggest competitive experience. With Lola, I made it to the BLM championships in dressage, but that horse trials really took a lot—I had to use everything I had to get around the cross-country course, and I’ll always remember it as something I’ll consider a big personal accomplishment.

Also, I’m sure many women can relate: I’ve been able to keep horses in my life, raise my children and continue my career, and I would consider that my biggest life accomplishment.

You’ll represent the United States at the Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer. What horse will you be riding?

I’m very excited to be named to the U.S. Maccabi Team. We will be catch-riding horses in Israel and our coaches have been looking at videos for a while, of horses that we’ll be leasing. The first two weeks we’re there, we’ll be determining which rider is a good match for which horse, and then each rider can focus on getting to know their mount. 

The U.S. delegation is 1,300 people and the opening ceremony is over 10,000 people in a stadium. Our competition begins on the 17th of July and then we compete for three days, and it will be very hot! I’m honored and very excited for this opportunity to represent the United States.

What are your goals for your life? 

At nearly 60 years old, I work with a sort of goal system in my life and have lots of things that I want to achieve. One thing that I enjoy is that I’m in partnership with a small, hand-manufactured art book business called Wrap Books and I’m eager to have this grow and expand in the next couple of years.

What is the best thing about your life?

It’s very fulfilling that I’m still engaged creatively in my work. It feels wonderful to be useful and have things to do every day. I live on a farm, I have foster ponies, I can be there for my sons and I’m happy that my kids are well, and their lives are taking off. I don’t take that for granted. Anything can happen: A pony can get sick or one of my kids needs something. It can easily get chaotic, so I appreciate the moments when everything is going well. Considering current events, I’m so grateful that we are well, and safe. That is really the most important thing.

Best-kept secret about what you do?

A funny thing about me is that no one that I ride with really knows what I do, and people in my working world think that I ride my horse maybe once a week, though I ride nearly every day. I have these two aspects of my life that are completely separate and it’s funny how it’s very compartmentalized. I work crazy, late hours to get my work done because I spend an inordinate amount of time driving and riding. I work almost around the clock to get it all done. 

For more information, visit maccabiusa.com

Photos by Adrienne Morella, www.adriennemorellaphotography.com

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Tagged under: dressage, team-israel

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
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Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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