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Wednesday, March 29 2017 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Swept Off Their Feet: Ali Sirota & Jeremy Kelman

Mediterranean Courtyard at The Breakers 

By Britney Grover

Ali Sirota is no stranger to the equestrian community, but the horse world was completely new to Jeremy Kelman when he met her. Though her parents had owned a house in Wellington when she was a baby, it wasn’t until a vacation in St. Martin at 8 years old that Ali was finally ready to get on a horse. “So I started riding literally right then, in St. Martin, and never looked back. I’ve been riding now for 26 years and I worked really hard to make my love of horses part of my career,” said Ali.

Ali and Jeremy rehearsing their first dance in the lobby of the hotel

Ali started Sirota Public Relations five years ago, and began by making an effort to acquire equine-related clients. With offices in both New York, where Ali grew up, and Palm Beach, Ali could work and still ride in the adult amateur hunters — a course that arguably set her up to marry Jeremy. But before she fell head-over-heels in love, Ali fell decisively heels first mid-ride at the Winter Equestrian Festival on March 2, 2014. She fractured the talus bone in her left foot, the connecting point between foot and lower leg. While she escaped needing surgery, she had to keep weight off her foot for 12 weeks — no riding allowed.

“Jeremy and I started talking in the beginning of May in 2014, and I was just recovering from breaking my foot. I actually paid more attention to him than I would have otherwise,” Ali admitted. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Jeremy had no experience with horses whatsoever. He studied finance at Colorado State University, and wound up in South Florida regularly on business. Though he wasn’t looking for a serious relationship, Ali swept him off his feet — including a left foot also broken 9 months prior to meeting Ali.

The Breakers

The Breakers

“Our first date was May 22, 2014, and he proposed on May 22, 2015,” Ali recalled. As Jeremy tells it, Ali’s response to his proposal was “How’s June 18th at The Breakers?” “That’s not true,” Ali argued, “I waited a few hours!” But it was true that by the time Jeremy proposed, Ali had already booked a date at the venue she had dreamed of being married at since she was a little girl.

“I just think that The Breakers is such a unique venue. It kind of takes you back to the Great Gatsby era, the way it’s decorated and the feel. I always wanted a black-tie wedding, so I knew it was going to have to be in a ballroom, and The Breakers ballrooms have character.” Ali’s wedding dreams came true at The Breakers on June 18, 2016, complete with a gown she loved. “I tried on about 50 dresses over two days, which was insane,” she said. The final place she went was Mark Ingram Atelier in New York during an Anne Barge trunk show.

Mediterranean Ballroom

Ready to purchase a different dress, Ali’s mother found a tulle gown with a sheer back and hand-beaded details hiding behind other dresses. “My mom said she knew from the second she took it off the rack that it was ‘the’ dress,” said Ali. “There was no doubt once I put it on that it was my dress. I had so much fun in it, that every day of the honeymoon I would say to Jeremy, ‘I want to wear my dress again!’ I’m obsessed with my dress.”

Something Blue

Something Blue

Cobalt blue not only highlighted the event’s décor, but peeked out from beneath the nine layers of tulle in Ali’s dress. “I always wanted my ‘something blue’ to be my shoes,” she said. “Jimmy Choos have always been fairly comfortable for me, so I did custom-made heels in the cobalt blue. I also had them put ‘A heart J’ on the bottom of them in gold.” The striking color even made a surprise appearance at the reception. When Jeremy’s formal shoes pressed on the pins remnant of his broken foot, he had to switch to the shoes he wore at the rehearsal: cobalt blue Converse.

Star guests at the wedding included Alvin, a 6-year-old miniature schnauzer. “Alvin is pretty much our fur baby, and he was my number one man way before Jeremy came into the picture,” said Ali, “So he needed to be in the wedding.” Strong proponents of Alvin’s appearance in the procession were Ali’s new step-children, 9-year-old Lylah and 7-year-old Eli, who walked Alvin down the aisle.

Brooklynn Siegel, Ali Sirota Kelman, Jeremy Kelman and Lylah Kelman

“It was really important to me to include the kids in the wedding, because we were becoming a family; it wasn’t just about Jeremy and me,” said Ali. “So, I wrote vows for the kids.” Every ear strained to hear Ali’s words as she spoke to Lylah and Eli — by the time the ceremony arrived, laryngitis had stolen Ali’s voice. “I think that was the only reason I didn’t cry, that I was ecstatic I could actually say my vows, even if they weren’t loud.” Jeremy barely made it through his own vows. “He teared up when he saw me walking with my dad, but then I did my vows to the kids and my vows to him before he said his vows for me, and he said, ‘I was in trouble the second you started saying vows to the kids.’”

The Happy Couple

Favorite Moment

Officially a family, Ali, Jeremy, Lylah, and Eli spent the night dancing and celebrating. “I would say that my favorite wedding moment was at the end of the night,” said Ali. “It was really down to us and our closest friends on the dance floor for the last couple of songs, and it was so much fun.” Eli fell asleep before the night was over, but Ali and Lylah had a special stepmother-daughter moment. “The kids’ song and mine has always been Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off,’ so I made sure that the band played it, and Lylah and I rocked out.”

As the Kelmans settle in to married life, Jeremy is growing more and more accustomed to the role horses will always play in Ali’s life. “Jeremy was a phenomenal horse show boyfriend and fiancé, and now a great horse show husband. He comes to my horse shows whenever he can, and on the weekends when we have the kids, they come with us as well.” Though breaking her foot might have slowed Ali down enough to fall in love, it could never keep her from getting back to the ring — with a few extra fans on the sidelines.

Photos by Christian Oth Studio

 

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Tagged under: ali sirotoa, britney grover, jeremy kelman

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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 
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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 🦄

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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

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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