Hope Cooper: Dressage and Education Run in the Family
Sunday, August 07 2022
By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Hope Cooper has a passion for learning—in the dressage arena, in academics—it’s in her DNA. Her father is a lawyer and her mother, Dr. Jane Karol, is both a Grand Prix dressage trainer and psychotherapist. Growing up at her family’s Bear Spot Farm in Concord, Massachusetts, proved to
- Published in Weekly Feature
Melanie Doughty: Studying at Home and Riding Abroad
Wednesday, November 10 2021
By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller For Melanie Doughty, balance is more than a principle of dressage; it’s a way of life. As a top FEI Young Rider, owner of two horses, sorority sister and international business student at Rollins College, Melanie juggles everything with grace. This summer, Melanie built upon her resume of
- Published in Weekly Feature
Kat Fuqua: Following ALL Her Horse Dreams
Wednesday, August 04 2021
By Britney Grover Portraits by Shawna Simmons Some people took up new hobbies like gardening or knitting during the global pandemic in 2020. Kat Fuqua took up dressage shows. Even knowing how Kat excels in the hunter ring from ponies to USHJA International Derbies, breaking records and earning hundreds of division championships, her dressage debut
- Published in Weekly Feature
Bianca Schmidt: Going Farther Than Gold
Wednesday, July 28 2021
By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Over the last few years, Bianca Schmidt has burst onto the dressage scene with a fierce drive to succeed. Not only has the 19-year-old rider triumphed at the North American Youth Championships, Bianca became a USDF Gold medalist as just a teenager. Now, she’s looking forward to returning
- Published in Weekly Feature
North American Youth Championships and the Importance of Friendly Rivalry
Saturday, June 12 2021
By George Williams Every year as the days get longer and summer is almost here, I start looking forward to what has become an institution: one of the most instrumental dressage competitions we have in North America, the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC). While it’s gone by different names over the years, it has
- Published in Sidelines Feature
Madison Rauschenbach: Jumping on Opportunities to Get to the Top
Monday, April 12 2021
By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller Madison “Maddie” Rauschenbach learned at an early age that when an opportunity presents itself, you have to jump on it — literally. At 18 years old, Maddie’s willingness to jump on any horse offered to her has propelled her to be a winner in the jumper, equitation and
- Published in Sidelines Feature
Tillie Jones: Cheering at College and Down Centerline
Monday, April 05 2021
By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Tillie Jones has a lot on her plate, but she juggles her many endeavors with grace. The Nebraska Wesleyan University sophomore has been able to enjoy the traditional college experience as a proud member of her school cheerleading squad, a sister in the Delta Zeta sorority and a
- Published in Sidelines Spotlight
Callie Jones: Working Hard and Winning Big
Sunday, October 18 2020
By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Callie Jones is a first-generation rider who has charmed the dressage community with her humble attitude and hardworking spirit. Even with her collection of North American Youth Championship medals, her national titles and her name gracing top FEI rankings, Callie will never forget her small-town roots. The 22-year-old
- Published in Weekly Feature
Kerrigan Gluch: From Working Student to Nations Cups
Monday, August 17 2020
By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller When Kerrigan Gluch was 15, she took a leap of faith. The horse-loving teenager left her family and normal lifestyle behind to chase her dreams of dressage success, gold medals and international competitions. At 23, Kerrigan’s dreams have come true. Though her career is just getting started, Kerrigan
- Published in Weekly Feature