SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Tuesday, December 06 2022 / Published in Weekly Feature

Riding the Ups, Downs and Everything in Between

By Liz Halliday-Sharp 

Eventing is certainly a sport that demands resilience. It’s dangerous and challenging, and requires hours of training and perseverance. The feeling after a successful weekend of competition can be truly addicting and is what spurs on so many of us to keep working harder. But what about the weekends that are a total disaster? How we all deal with the good, the bad and the ugly is what really defines our strength as event riders.

This topic is particularly close to my heart after facing one of the most disheartening and disappointing weeks that I’ve had in years at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. October was a wild month for me with multiple competitions both in Europe and the USA, and it really felt like the dream coming true to have enough good horses at a high level to bounce between big FEI events around the world. After a great top-five result in the Boekelo CCIO4* in the Netherlands, I was excited to race back to the USA to compete at the Maryland 5 Star with both Cooley Quicksilver and Deniro Z. 

Both of these horses are seasoned, experienced five-star competitors, so I arrived with high hopes for a good result. Our initial bit of drama began at the first horse inspection, where Deniro Z was held, and ultimately not accepted. This was a huge blow to me, my team and his owners, and was also a tremendous shock as he had felt completely sound in the days leading up to the jog. It appears that he bruised his foot, maybe even on the stones at the venue, and while he was fine on the soft ground, he was the slightest bit sore on the hard jog strip. At the time, it was frustrating, embarrassing and devastating all at once, but in hindsight I believe that everything happens for a reason and perhaps the universe had other plans for us rather than the five-star that weekend. I am of course also relieved that I didn’t compete Deniro if he was not 100%, and after some foot packing and two easy days, he was back to himself again and we had to just put it down to terrible timing.

After dealing with the disappointment that we faced with Deniro, I then tried to put all of my focus into Cooley Quicksilver, known as Monster. I knew that he was the fittest he had ever been and that he had successfully completed three other CCI5* events before, including finishing fifth in the Luhmühlen CCI5* earlier in the year, and I felt that we had a real chance at a top placing. After a solid dressage test that put us in fifth place, we were first to leave the start box on Saturday and I was prepared to fight hard for a good result. I remember thinking that Monster was not his normal, cheeky self in the warm-up, but at the time I didn’t overthink it and just tried to stay focused on the task ahead as he was still jumping well. Once we got out on course, however, I noticed that Monster didn’t seem to have the scope or the jump that he usually does. It was a difficult position to be in, as he was still answering the questions and galloping pretty well, but he felt under-powered and not like the horse that I know. I ultimately made the difficult decision to pull him up part way around rather than try and finish the course, as it was clear that something wasn’t right. After checking him out thoroughly, we discovered that the poor boy did indeed have a virus, which explained a lot! He is a real fighter for going around so much of the track feeling subpar, and I’m so glad that I retired him on course when I did. Monster is thankfully now 100% healthy and enjoying a much-deserved holiday!

It has been a long time since I’ve had a competition go quite so horribly wrong, and it was a reminder to me that eventers need tenacity and determination. It’s easy to always remember the good days, and when things are going well and there’s no better feeling, but it’s how you deal with the bad days that defines you. On the Sunday night of Maryland, I got on a plane to France for the 7-Year-Old World Championships in Le Lion D’Angers, so I had plenty of time to think things through. What I realized is the very best event riders in the world all have bumps in the road more regularly than we think, but what makes them great is their resilience, their love of the sport and their ability to always look forward, keep improving and never stop fighting. 

Caption:

Liz, on Cooley Quicksilver, knows that as an eventer, facing bumps in the road is inevitable.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: cci, cci5*, Cooley Quicksilver, eventing, Land Rover

What you can read next

Unbridled With Mary Knowlton
Dudley Macfarlane Will Never Grow Out of Horses
Christian Rogge: From the Top of the Sport to Fatherhood

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Yay for June! We have another great edition for yo Yay for June! We have another great edition for you all that we can't wait for you to read. Up first are Evan and Ashley Donadt a dynamic duo that has won the hearts of many! Stay tuned for many great stories like this by following us on Instagram and Facebook or subscribing to get your very own copy of Sidelines Magazine!

What happens when a horse-crazy equestrian girl meets a never-touched-a-horse-before guy? If you’re Ashley and Evan Donadt, it might just be the beginning of a happily-ever-after that includes a solid dressage program and extremely popular social media channels featuring good-natured humor and horses.

Ashley, a lifelong equestrian, began her horse experiences with the local 4-H club, progressed to lessons with the local dressage trainer when she was 10, then her own pony when she was 11. Conversely, Evan grew up in Massachusetts, without any horse experience to speak of. The odds of them meeting were fairly low, until fate landed them both in Southern California.

Evan knew from the start that spending time with Ashley meant spending time at the barn. In fact, Ashley told him straightaway, “The horses come first always; you’re going to be second!” Evan wasn’t deterred, and instead found the loophole: spending all his own free time with her at the barn.

Read Ashley and Evan's full article in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! You can also click the link in our bio. Don't forget to subscribe to get your very own copy delivered right to your door! Thank you Evan and Ashley for allowing us to share your story!
📸Portraits by Jeni Jo Brunner

#sidelinesmagazine #sidelines2023 #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
As we head into June we wrap up our May women entr As we head into June we wrap up our May women entrepreneur, edition. We were so lucky to be able to feature so many amazing women within the Horse industry. We have one more to share with you, and if you missed any of the women entrepreneur stories head to our website for all of our past issues! Enjoy! 

Hurry Up and Wait” is a familiar saying at hunter-jumper competitions. Unlike other disciplines, where 
riders are assigned specific ride times, hunter-jumper riders typically must check in with the starter at 
the in-gate throughout the day to determine when they will show. In 2019, Emma Fass decided to put 
her computer science background to use in the show industry and created RingSide Pro to allow riders 
to be “ringside” wherever they are.
Throughout high school, Emma competed at horses shows on her horse Son Of A Sailor, aka Ernie, 
oftentimes trailering Ernie into the show for the day with her mom. “That was stressful because we 
didn’t know how the show was running until we got there. Even once we were on the show grounds, we 
struggled to find information. It’s a hike to the rings and the speakers in the barns tend to be 
unreliable,” Emma said. “I would think to myself, There’s got to be a better way.”

For more information, visit www.ringsidepro.com

Read Emma’s full story at sidelinesmagazine.com, and never miss an edition of Sidelines magazine by subscribing. 

@ringsideproinsta @emmafass 
📸Photos by Kirsten Konopnicki, kkonophoto #Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
The June issue of Sidelines Magazine is here!!! G The June issue of Sidelines Magazine is here!!! 
Get ready to meet the cutest, funniest and very talented equestrian couple from California - Evan Donadt and Ashley Donadt. Thanks Jeni Brunner for the great cover photo! 

Evan is a Tik Tok and social media star, along with several of their horses and ponies. So get ready to laugh, and also be inspired by their relationship and Ashley's dressage goals - she's headed to the top! You will love them and their story will make you want to follow them on social media! 

We also feature hunter-jumper rider Will Baker who has a new farm near Ocala, Florida, complete with a cute donkey (and lots of amazing horses of course), equestrian artist Jan Lukens of Jan Lukens Fine Art (if you were a fan of Gem Twist you will love his paintings!), talented Texas dressage rider John Mason who has a great story, hunter-jumper rider Addison Reed who is now showing in the Grand Prix, and we catch up with the amazing Kate Egan and her larger-than-life horse and her story about how she won a car!

Former eventing groom Courtney Carson tells us about her new career, eventer Nicole Zardus shares her story of retraining racehorses for the eventing and foxhunting world, and we catch up with the very talented rider Luke Jensen who is now a professional rider for North Run's Missy Clark and John Brennan. Don't miss Luke's touching story about the horse Jamaica! 

We feature Robert Crandall in our Unbridled column, along with our great columnists who share their wisdom: eventing with Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing, dressage with George Williams, hunter-jumper with Rob Jacobs R.L. Jacobs and sports psychology with Margie Sugarman. Also enjoy the Show Time pages from The FEI World Cup Finals and the American Equestrians Got Talent competition. It's another great issue!!

Don't forget to visit our website and order a subscription - one year for $14.95 - you can't beat that! In the meantime, enjoy the June issue. Link in bio! 
#Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
🌞 🐴 The HITS-on-the-Hudson Summer Series in 🌞 🐴 The HITS-on-the-Hudson Summer Series in Saugerties, New York, is officially underway! Don’t miss your chance to experience the new Wordley Martin renovations, including the redesigned Grand Prix Ring, featuring Wordley Martin’s premium footing blend. Make it a summer to remember on a riding surface you can compete on with confidence. For more information about building your own Wordley Martin arena, visit WordleyMartin.com.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • TRIANGLE FARMS HORSE SHOWS
    H/J Rated ‘A’ and ‘C’ Shows Hunt Horse Complex, Raleigh, NC www.trianglefarms.com

    [Read more]

  • Jeremy Greene, Realtor
    Specializing in Luxury & Equestrian Properties Wellington, Loxahatchee & South Florida Corcoran Group Real Estate Jeremy.Greene@corcoran.com 716-997-8681 * www.corcoran.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Conor Swail Was the Best Bet in $15,000 CSI2* Markel Insurance Welcome at San Juan Capistrano International
  • Lillie Keenan Leads in CHF68,000 South Coast Plaza Welcome Speed at San Juan Capistrano International CSIO5*
  • McLain Ward Wins CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix at San Juan Capistrano International

Category

Recent Posts

  • June 2023 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • Kayden Muller-Janssen: Equestrian Royalty to Disney Star

    By Kimberly Gatto   For every little girl ...
  • Kelly Prather: An Eventing Journey Around the World

    By Tafra Donberger   Sisters are often at ...
  • Lauren Pileggi Friga & Show The Bows: From Puppy Woes to Smiles and Bows

    By Jan Westmark Bauer   Lauren Pileggi Fri...
  • Kate at the In Gate: Busy With Photography, Riding and a New Direction

    By Jan Westmark Bauer   Kate Kosnoff, bett...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!