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Monday, October 26 2015 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Shya Beth — Artistic Wunderkind

By Lauren R. Giannini

Shya and her OTTB, Matt Dillon-US Marshal

Shya and her OTTB, Matt Dillon-US Marshal

For Shya Beth, who turns 15 next May, life on the farm in Sussex County, New Jersey, is just about perfect. She has ducks, chickens, geese, alpacas, cats, one donkey, a pony and two horses. Best of all, Shya and her mother, Mary Beth, share their passion for art and horses.

“I have a huge sculpture project going on right now — my “Blue Jean Horse Project.” I’m planning to make a dozen of them, life-sized: “Jumper,” “Mustang,” “Polo,” “Racehorse,” “Reining,” “Dressage,” various breeds and mythological horses as well,” said Shya. “I’ve been collecting denim, sewing pieces together, making the frames out of chicken wire and wood. I want to have them signed by riders and trainers. My goal, after they’re displayed at various shows across the country, is to have them displayed together. That’s in the future.”

Shya’s plans include setting up a special website for the “Blue Jean Horse Project.” “I’m going to raise funds for going to the shows by selling small and large versions of the Blue Jean horses as well as horse heads,” she said. “I plan to make a documentary film about each horse in the ‘Blue Jean Horse Project.’ After the horses have been on display at as many shows as possible, I want to auction them off to benefit horse-related charities.”

She’s enterprising — full of energy, ideas and doing. On May 30, 2014, she launched a blog, The Flying Shetlands, to showcase equine art and artists around the world. In May 2015, she created #EquineArtHour, a Twitter group for equine artists and horse art enthusiasts. To focus on Blue Jean horses, Shya put #EquineArtHour on ‘holiday’; when it starts up again, it will meet as usual on Sunday, 4 to 5 p.m. EST.

artShya5Horses & Art in Her Genes
Shya began riding before she could walk. She drives her Shetland Pony, Patchie, and trail rides Belle, her Haflinger. Matt Dillon, the off-the-track Thoroughbred she acquired a year ago, is in training with Shya and her mom to be a jumper.

Shya can’t remember a time when she didn’t love to draw and sculpt. She also loves to do calligraphy. Her passion for art is understandable, given that her mother’s an equine stained glass artist. Shya loves going to museums and admits she’s extremely partial to the works of contemporary French sculptor Saône de Stalh, and paintings by two British legends, George Stubbs and Sir Alfred Munnings. “My favorite medium is sculpture — the bigger, the better,” said Shya. Several years ago, she fashioned a decorated carousel horse from a spring-mounted ride-on toy. In 2014, she created “Fleur,” a three-dimensional jumping horse, 6 feet 10 inches by 8 feet 10 inches, inspired by her young OTTB, made with hundreds of flowers crafted by hand, recycled printing paper, bamboo, wood and chicken wire. “Fleur” went on display at the Centenary College Equestrian Center.

Shya with her Blue Jean Jumper sculpture

Shya with her Blue Jean Jumper sculpture

Next on Her List
“I’d love Scott Brash to sign my ‘Blue Jean Jumper,’” said Shya. “We watched him win the Rolex Grand Slam at Spruce Meadows. Some day I’d love to go to Spruce Meadows. I’d like to have my ‘Blue Jean Jumper’ documentary film finished in time for the Equus Film Festival in New York City in November 2016.”

Busy doesn’t worry Shya one bit. Homeschooled by her mother, this young artist-equestrian shares lessons that spill over from riding and training into art and life.

“Try and try again, keep going and see what works,” said Shya, “and learn from whatever doesn’t work!”

For more information, visit TheFlyingShetlands.wordpress.com

Shya with her sculpture, Fleur!

Shya with her sculpture, Fleur!

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Tagged under: blue jean horse project, equestrian art, equestrian-artist, flying shetlands, horse-art, shya beth

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Sidelines Magazine
HELLO OCTOBER!!! Kicking off the month with Intern HELLO OCTOBER!!! Kicking off the month with International-level dressage rider Amelia Newcomb. Who is committed to making dressage accessible to anyone who wants to learn and improve in the sport. With a mantra of “Dressage for All,” Amelia, her husband, Germán Schneider, and the rest of her team at Amelia Newcomb Dressage believe that anyone and everyone can learn to love their ride. 
With over 100,000 YouTube subscribers around the globe, Amelia is able to share her joy and 
enthusiasm for the sport with more equestrians than she ever dreamed of through her online training 
platform. Amelia’s curriculum breaks riding down into a simple, proven system that anyone can follow 
and get results, regardless of age, discipline or location.“My goal is to make good dressage training accessible to everyone who is interested in learning. One way I do that is by producing quality videos to educate and encourage dressage students along their dressage journey,” Amelia said. “The transformations that my students get are insane and my business is changing the entire sport of dressage and the way people learn to ride.”
While Amelia is a talented USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist today, she knows the struggles 
associated with trying to make your way in the sport without abundant educational resources. “I grew up in Colorado, where there weren’t that many dressage resources available. I was so hungry for knowledge, I would go to big shows just to watch the big-named trainers work,” Amelia said. “That’s why, when given the opportunity to share what I’ve learned along the way, I decided to go for it and start my YouTube channel.” 
➡️Catch the full story at the link in our bio!! 
⬇️For more information, visit amelianewcombdressage.com and on Instagram 
amelicanewcombdressage

📸Photos by Lindsey Long, lindseylong.com
#Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
The WPCSA American National Welsh Pony and Cob Sho The WPCSA American National Welsh Pony and Cob Show is happening now! Don’t miss another second by streaming it live! 🐴

📹👀HOW TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM
The WPCSA will again be streaming footage live from the ring at the American National Show next week. You will need two free passes to get to the feed this year.

1️⃣�The first is a USEF fan membership which you can get through this site:
Join or Renew | US Equestrian (usef.org)

2️⃣ Once you become a fan member, you will need to log in to the USEF Network on ClipMyHorse. A video demonstrating how to do this can be found here:
Existing USEF Fan - Watch the USEF Network - YouTube 

📸Pictured- Grand Champion Section B under UK judge. 
Owner-Barbara Chappell
Handler-Paul Maye /Maye Show Ponies Fairfield, VA
A note from our editor. It's here!! The October is A note from our editor.
It's here!! The October issue of Sidelines Magazine! So happy to have the fabulous Amelia Newcomb  on our cover. Amelia is a dressage rider with over 100,000 students! You read that right! Amelia has a very popular YouTube Channel where riders from around the word can learn and improve on their dressage - and it's not just dressage riders who are benefitting from Amelia Newcombe Dressage on Your Tube but riders of all disciplines - don't miss her story! Thanks to Sidelines photographer Lindsey Long for the beautiful photos. This issue has so many great stories! Catch up with eventer Zachary Brandt Equestrian (make sure to see how much he loves his dogs), and meet show jumper Katherine Anne Brewer and her horse Super Bunny, artist Samantha Dawn, equestrian Megan Smith who teaches Pilates 4 Equestrians; and Ela Ladwig a dressage rider and trainer who's multi talented because she's also a talented artist also. We have an amazing story on hunter-jumper rider Lisa Mooney who has a story you don't want to miss!! We also have a story on Tyler Held who's passion for eventing has taken her on quite the journey, and we catch up with Jimmy Toon in our Unbridled column. This issue also features our Save The Date section where you can check out show dates for this year and next from horse shows around the country! So get out your calendar!! And don't miss our great columnists, hunter-jumper with Rob R.L. Jacobs, eventing with Liz Halliday Eventing and sports psychology with Margie Sugarman. And check out the photos of riders at the 2023 The Hampton Classic Horse Show also! It's another great issue! Make sure to subscribe to Sidelines also - one year for $14.95 and the magazine is delivered right to your house or barn!! 
Enjoy the October issue: https://sidelinesmagazine.com/app/#/reader/50029/1767167

Link in Bio!!!
Are YOU ready for it? The wait is over! The Capita Are YOU ready for it? The wait is over! The Capital Challenge Horse Show has officially begun! 

Not able to attend the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show? 🏆 No problem! Watch all 11 days of competition for free with the live stream, sponsored by C. Jarvis Insurance Agency Inc., on capitalchallenge.org or usefnetwork.com. 🎥
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