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Friday, November 11 2011 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Megan Heeder

Megan Heeder, an 18 year old from East Lansing, Michigan, took part in the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program this summer with Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye. “I had great lessons over the weekend through the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program before competing in the 2011 inaugural Midwest Dressage Festival,” Megan said.  “The show was a terrific way to end a weekend of intensive dressage training.”

Megan trains with Maryal Barnett, although she currently doesn’t have a “home barn” because she is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.  “The past five summers I have also ridden with Lendon, while living in Bedford, New York as a working student.  Those summers were some of the best times of my life,” she said.

Megan began her riding career when she was six, riding ponies at a local stable.  “After the first lesson I was hooked!  I quit dance, gymnastics and tennis because all I wanted to do was ride.  When I turned nine I got Sonny, a wonderful Morgan gelding, and began taking dressage lessons with Maryal.”

 

Megan and Simba at the Youth Dressage Festival in New York Photo by Marybeth Heeder

Sidelines:  What do you consider your career highlights?

MH:  One of the competitions I will remember forever is the 2009 Youth Dressage Festival in New York.  Simba and I had been together for about six months before the Festival and faced some daunting training obstacles.  We were Grand Champions of the show and he seemed so proud, as if he knew how wonderful he was.  Standing on the podium and seeing all the diligence and hard work come together was a fantastic moment.  I also showed in three NAJYRC qualifying competitions this summer.  This was an amazing learning experience for me because I had only showed in about five recognized shows before beginning the challenging process of qualification.  Simba and I narrowly missed making the team and that was disappointing; but I learned a great deal from the opportunity.

 

Sidelines:  How did you end up at the University of Notre Dame?

MH:  I had to decide between the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University.  It was a very difficult decision for me, because my horses were staying in Michigan regardless of where I went to school and both schools had things I liked.  Ultimately I knew I wanted to go to Notre Dame, but was reluctant to commit because I knew I couldn’t take my horses with me.  After hearing about my dilemma, Kim Boyer told me she had a young horse going down to South Bend, where Notre Dame is, who needed a rider.  At that point I had one day to make up my mind, and that was enough to make me decide to go to Notre Dame.  I am very excited to begin working with Cochise HGF in December.

 

Sidelines:  What are your riding goals?

MH:  My ultimate goal is to ride in the Olympics; but I have decided to focus on my education for the next four years, at least.  I am looking forward to working with a young horse after having the opportunity to ride a schoolmaster for the past two and a half years.  I will be able to continue developing my riding and education as a horse person while getting my academic education as well.

 

Sidelines:  What has being a dressage rider taught you?

MH:  I have met some of the most amazing and generous people though dressage. Because I am the oldest of six children, competing in recognized shows, especially FEI classes, was cost-prohibitive.  Many generous individuals have helped me by attending fundraisers and donating their time and energy to give me the opportunity to make my dreams a reality.  Dressage has given me the opportunity to see the beauty of the human spirit and meet some of the most influential people in my life.  Being away at college has also made me realize how special my horses are.

 

Sidelines:  What other hobbies do you have?

MH:  In addition to riding I also run and sing.  I am on the Notre Dame cross-country and track team and also sing weekly at mass.  As a child I was in the Michigan State University Children’s Choir, which won two Grammy awards.

Running and training has given me perspective on training and working my horses. I can sympathize how they feel after a hard workout and understand how important hacking and recovering is for the horses.  Singing is an art form that parallels dressage in many ways.  My musical training has helped me in creating freestyles; I did all of the music for my junior freestyles on my own.

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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
#horseshow #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #horselove #horsestagram #instagram #showjumping #equestrianlife #equine  #horsebackriding #dressage #horselife #pony #of #horserider #horseshoe #horsemanship #horseshowlife #riding #instahorse #horseaddict #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

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 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
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