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Wednesday, May 27 2015 / Published in Weekly Feature

Time to Cowgirl Up!

Kerstie Allen (Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi)

Kerstie Allen (Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi)

By Kerstie Allen

At least once a year, I trade in my polo helmet for a cowboy hat. It’s summertime in America and this means rodeo. The biggest and best rodeos are during this time of the year and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Big prize money brings the best of the best to town and as competitive as I am, I have to be involved.

It’s quite the contrast as I unhook the 32-foot gooseneck polo trailer and exchange it for the slant bumper-pull to load my one horse. I grab my friends and we hit the road. As we get underway, I can literally feel the weight and pressure being lifted. We’re rodeo bound and about to have some real fun! The thought of saddling only one horse sounds so appealing after a long season of saddling a minimum of six polo ponies for one game.

Following the rodeo trail, we drive through scenic middle America: endless flower-lined country roads blooming in bluebonnets and a riot of other colors all swarming with honeybees. We sing along to old country songs that I have no idea how we even know the words to. It’s funny how just owning a horse can lead you to so many destinations.

As we get a few miles from the rodeo, we can feel the energy and excitement. Banners and hand-written signs point and direct us to the rodeo grounds. Anyone who owns a horse within the county, or maybe in the state, is here riding around, anxious to join in on the grand parade. If you can climb aboard a horse, this is the time to do it. It’s great to see all the different breeds of horses and ages of people join together to put on such a diverse and enthusiastic show.

Kerstie and Angel barrel racing. (Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi)

Kerstie and Angel barrel racing. (Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi)

I love barrel racing. I haven’t competed professionally for a few years as my best barrel mare, Cruel Girl, injured herself. Together she and I made it to the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Circuit Finals as a rookie. On my most recent trip I competed in a non-pro rodeo, which was a good way to get back in the game before the huge Fourth of July rodeos.

Barrel racing consists of running a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels against the clock. Fastest time wins, to the tenth of a second. If you knock a barrel over it’s an added five-second penalty, so cutting it close but not too close is the key to success. Unlike polo, in barrel racing your success relies on only one horse. You only have, on average, 16 seconds or less if you want to win money. Everything must go perfectly. A slip, wrong lead change or a slight hesitation will cost you a win.

Barrel racing is usually after the half-time show. There’s no half-time divot stomp like in polo, but instead, a hilarious clown act. You can even see the most serious person in the crowd laughing like a child by the time it’s over. There are usually 10 barrel racers that run in each performance, so getting lucky in the draw and drawing first will really help your chances as with each run the ground will get dug up — making it more difficult to execute that perfect turn.

Kerstie with fellow barrel racer Katy Smith, the owner of Angel. (Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi)

Kerstie with fellow barrel racer Katy Smith, the owner of Angel.
(Photo by Sheryel Aschfort, The Polo Paparazzi)

Even though this was by no means my first rodeo, when I heard the announcer call my name, with the music booming along to the beat of my heart, my excitement was uncontainable. There was no turning back; it was time to cowgirl up. Down the alley we ran at top speed, me hoping my horse will notice the barrel I’m aiming her at instead of the thousands of people, banners and millions of other distractions that appear at the gateway. We go to the right barrel first, now for a lead change for the second and then around the third and it’s a race for home. It all happens so fast it’s hard to tell how we did, and we won’t even know until the end of the week-long rodeo if we placed!

There are probably better ways to make a living but there’s not a better way to live life.

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Tagged under: Barrel Racing, kerstie-allen, passion-for-polo, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, rodeo, Sheryel Aschfort, sidelines-magazine, The Polo Paparazzi

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

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 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
Don't get caught without your green on today!🍀🍀
 
In today's featured article, we have Jessica Howington, who is dressed for the occasion in her green shirt! Jessica is the Owner/Rider at CrownView Dressage, a Realtor with Showcase Properties of Central Florida, and a Nurse Practitioner! Jessica has been involved with horses since she was a little girl. Everything from bareback to eventing she tried until she found her love for dressage.

Today, she and her family own CrownView Dressage, a 157-acre training, boarding, and breeding facility in Ocala, Florida. Jessica started training and teaching but felt as if her life was still missing something. Until Jessica focused on horses full-time, she didn’t realize how important the healthcare field was to her life. Jessica missed seeing patients and being in the medical field. Jessica is now back to working again as a nurse practitioner while also focusing on training her five competition horses, including her Grand Prix mare Cavalia. 

Jessica feels lucky 🍀 to have two amazing parents who have supported her in all of her endeavors and instilled the importance of work ethic, morals, dedication, and sacrifice. 

You can read all about Jessica and how she's finding fulfillment in her busy lifestyle in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! Click the link in our bio for more 

✳️Tag us in your “lucky” photos for a chance to be featured on our story! Happy st. Patrick’s day everyone!🍀🍀

📸Photos by Melissa Fuller, msfullerphotography.com 

#stpatricksday #irish #stpattysday #green #ireland #luckoftheirish #stpaddysday #shamrock #happystpatricksday #lucky #saintpatricksday #leprechaun #stpatricks #stpatrick #kissmeimirish #clover #paddysday #march #potofgold #stpattys #love #beer #guinness #shopsmall #handmade #stpatricksdaydecor #stpatricksdayoutfit #fourleafclover #stpatricksdayparade #luckycharms
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