Sidelines August 2024

BRITTNI

RAFLOWITZ

Journey From Ponies to

Olympic Ambitions

JEFF AND

JESSICA FRIEDRICH

Making Dressage

Dreams Come True

MIMI MOULTON

Rediscovering the Reins

2024

Fashion Issue

August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

SIDELINES SUCCESS

ALEXIS IACCARINO

Coming Home to Gleneayre

SIDELINES SUCCESS

MARK MINESS

A Life Made Better by Horses

HUNTER-JUMPER

ELEANOR RUDNICKI

Winning in the Ring

ART

JACQUELINE MASK

Balance Between Perfection

and Personal Contentment

SIDELINES SUCCESS

MIMI MOULTON

Rediscovering the Reins

DRESSAGE

GEORGE WILLIAMS

The Importance of Aspirational Competitions

HUNTER-JUMPER

ROB VAN JACOBS

Mid-Year Evaluation

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

ISABEL SEMPE & NATURAL

EQUINE ESSENTIALS

Happy Horses, Naturally

On the cover:

Show jumper Brittni Raflowitz and her

stallion, Presley Star, known as Presy,

in Wellington, Florida.

August 2024

About this photo:

Brittni’s biggest dream is to represent the Israeli

team in major Nations Cups and Championships,

and one day be on the Olympic team.

Photos by Melissa Fuller,

melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com

Volume 36 Issue 8 SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is owned by CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC. and is published twelve times a year for $29.95 per year.

August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

SHOW JUMPING

JESSICA LETO

Finding Her Own Way

EVENTING

VALERIE PRIDE

Using Schooling Shows to Get to Big Wins

COVER STORY

BRITTNI RAFLOWITZ

From Ponies to Olympic Dreams

DRESSAGE

JEFF AND JESSICA

FRIEDRICH

Making Dressage Dreams Come True

100

UNBRIDLED

MOLLY OAKMAN

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

MARGIE SUGARMAN

Dealing With Emotional and Physical Pressure

SIDELINES SUCCESS

DANI G. WALDMAN

Flying Feathers and Horse Bytes

DRESSAGE

GEORGE WILLIAMS

In Europe Ponies Are Fashionable

EVENTING

BECKY STADEN

Pursuing High Performance

and Higher Education

SHOW JUMPING

TORY KETCHUM

Bringing Back Joy After Burnout

IN EVERY ISSUE

14 Letter From the Editor | 16 Letters to the Editor | 89 Sidelines Business

92 Sidelines Equestrian Gallery | 94 Barns, Farms, Trainers, Clubs

94 Tack and Feed Stores | 95 Real Estate | 95 Equestrian Services Directory

98 Advertisers Index

Becky Staden

Photo by Kacy Brown

Jessica Leto

Photo by Melissa Fuller

August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

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CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC.

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Bob Bell | bob@sidelinesmagazine.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jan Westmark Bauer | editor@sidelinesmagazine.com | 828-575-3965

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Britney Grover | britney@sidelinesmagazine.com

WRITERS

Shya Beth, Kimberly Gatto, Jessica Grutkowski, Britney Grover, Allie Heninger, Laura Scaletti, Helen Townes

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kacy Brown, Jeni Brunner, Sophia Donohue, Sara Farrell, Melissa Fuller, Pam Jensen, Isabel J. Kurek, Kristin Lee, Lindsey Long, Adrienne Morella,

Lori Ovanessian, Kristie Scholten, Laura Ann Wagner, Shawna Whitty

COLUMNISTS

Rob Van Jacobs, Valerie Pride, Margie Sugarman, George Williams

SOCIAL MEDIA

Michelle Greene | michelle@sidelinesmagazine.com

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CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC.

PO Box 61043 | Charleston, SC 29419 | Office 828-575-3965

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August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

It Takes Courage

to Pursue Our

Equestrian Dreams

JAN WESTMARK BAUER,

Editor-In-Chief

Stay in touch by emailing editor@sidelinesmagazine.com

and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @sidelines_magazine

Letterfrom the editor

Brittni Raflowitz

Photo by Melissa Fuller

Jeff and Jessica Friedrich

Photo by Melissa Fuller

Mimi Moulton

Photo by Melissa Fuller

’m excited about this issue, as all our equestrians featured have something in common—they

are striving to be their best in the saddle and the barn, and are pursuing their equestrian

dreams. That includes show jumper Brittni Raflowitz, who graces our cover in a gorgeous

shot by photographer Melissa Fuller.

I knew Brittni when she rode ponies, and it’s amazing to see her grown up and on the cover of

our fashion issue. While Brittni’s dreams include competing in the Olympics as part of the Israeli

show jumping team, she is also dedicated to the care of her horses, which includes a breeding

operation, six stallions and her heart horse, Hilton Van De Breepoel, whom you will get to know

when you read her story.

Brittni has been obsessed with horses since she was tiny and she had a wonderful childhood

that included swimming her horses in ponds and galloping bareback to her friend’s house, while

also achieving success in the show ring. Brittni competed at Pony Finals earning team gold, and

the Young Riders Team, where she brought home team and individual medals. She was also

named to the USEF Show Jumping Development Tour in 2016. Now her goals include the

Olympics, and I look forward to watching her accomplish her dream.

I’m also excited to feature Jeff and Jessica Friedrich in this issue. They have a great story

including how they met—which made me laugh—to building their dream dressage facility,

Donato Farms, in Wellington, Florida. They built the farm with the goal of creating a world-

class training center that contributes to the development of horses and riders that will represent

the United States in dressage. That’s an incredible dream!

For over 20 years, Jeff and Jessica have had the Walt Disney quote, “All of our dreams can

come true if we have the courage to pursue them,” hanging in their house. Jeff and Jessica are

certainly pursuing their dreams, and many equestrians are benefitting from their dreams.

I also loved getting to know Mimi Moulton in this issue. Mimi grew up riding, from ponies

to Big Eq and show jumpers, but then took a 20-year break to pursue a career in fashion and

to raise a family. Mimi’s dreams of having horses in her life again were strong, and she had the

courage to pursue them—and she is back in the barn loving her horses and is an active and

successful competitor.

I love that we can pick up the reins at any age; all it takes is a dream—and courage. I hope as

you read the stories in this issue, you’ll enjoy seeing fellow equestrians living out their dreams.

And if you have a horse dream that hasn’t been fulfilled yet, I hope you have the courage to pick

up the reins and pursue it.

August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

I’m absolutely thrilled that Halo and I were

featured on the cover of this month’s Sidelines

magazine (“Carsyn Korotkin: Fun With Family,

Ponies and Singing” by Laura Scaletti)! It’s

always been a dream of mine to appear there!

The feature article was amazing and I would

like to thank the entire magazine for doing such

a special job, from the photo session to the

interview! I loved it all!

—Carsyn Korotkin

This is wonderful and well deserved (“Carsyn

Korotkin: Fun With Family, Ponies and Singing”

by Laura Scaletti)! Exciting!

—Mary McKenzie

Beautiful pictures and a great article (“Carsyn

Korotkin: Fun With Family, Ponies and Singing”

by Laura Scaletti). Congrats, Carsyn!

—Alyssa Korotkin

Talented young lady (“Carsyn Korotkin: Fun

With Family, Ponies and Singing” by Laura

Scaletti)! She rides and sings beautifully!

—Kimberly Aldrich-Farrell

A very talented young lady in so many ways

(“Carsyn Korotkin: Fun With Family, Ponies and

Singing” by Laura Scaletti).

—Ralph and Holly Caristo

Happy to be featured in this month’s issue of

Sidelines magazine (“Robert Reyers: Partying

It Up for Proper Horse Care” by Britney

Grover). It was a pleasure being able to share

my experiences with Brooke USA and the great

work they are doing!

—Robert Reyers

juLY Issue

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CONNECT WITH SIDELINES MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK

AND INSTAGRAM TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION!

LettersTo THE EDITOR

What a gorgeous cover (“Carsyn Korotkin: Fun

With Family, Ponies and Singing” by Laura

Scaletti)! Carsyn is so incredibly talented!

—Jill Levine Hechtman

I am so honored to be featured in the Sidelines

Pony and Junior edition (“Cheryl Patton: Giving

Riders a Great Start With Clovermeade Ponies”

by Britney Grover)!

—Cheryl Patton

Congrats, you deserve it (“Cheryl Patton: Giving

Riders a Great Start With Clovermeade Ponies” by

Britney Grover). We love our Clovermeade ponies!

—Elaine Stejskal McCutchan

Congratulations to our dear friends Clovermeade

Welsh Ponies and Cheryl Patton for the great

article and photos in this issue (“Cheryl Patton:

Giving Riders a Great Start With Clovermeade

Ponies” by Britney Grover). We are proud to

have our Clovercroft Rocky Too mentioned as

one of your favorite ponies! We are blessed to

own the best, cutest and kindest pony ever born!

He is a true testament of intelligent breeding

and excellence. Thank you, Cheryl, for your

continued support towards Angel Heart Farm.

—Tracy Kujawa

Thank you for all the contributions you have

made to good pony breeding (“Cheryl Patton:

Giving Riders a Great Start With Clovermeade

Ponies” by Britney Grover).

—Sally Hoffa Davidson

Outstanding (“Robert Reyers: Partying It Up

for Proper Horse Care” by Britney Grover)!

Brooke USA is a great organization.

—Meribeth White

Thrilled to finally be able to share this with

everyone! Isabelle and Zoe are featured in a story

by Laura Scaletti with the most beautiful photos

by Kacy Brown (“Izzy & Zoe Grutkowski:

Identical Twins Double Down on Riding” by

Laura Scaletti). Thank you, Team Sidelines.

—Jessica Grutkowski

Check out the July issue of Sidelines magazine

to see the feature they did on my artwork

(“Kenna Al Sayed: Expressive Sketches on an

International Scale” by Shya Beth)! So excited

to be in this magazine.

—Kenna Al-Sayed

Beyond special! I have long admired the pages

of Sidelines magazine and to have my own

photos included is a dream come true (“Caroline

Passarelli: Pony Specialist” by Britney Grover).

Having my baby sister, Caroline Passarelli,

featured makes it even sweeter.

—Sophia Donohue Photography

Thanks so much to Laura Scaletti for the great

article (“Liz and Ella Tarumianz: Enjoying Mom

and Daughter Horse Life” by Laura Scaletti).

What a cool coincidence my longtime friend was

assigned to write about us!

—Liz Tarumianz

Congratulations, Kenna (“Kenna Al Sayed:

Expressive Sketches on an International Scale”

by Shya Beth). You more than deserve it!

—Juliet Harrison

Congratulations (“Kenna Al Sayed: Expressive

Sketches on an International Scale” by Shya

Beth)! Your creations are so exquisite! And you

look beautiful!

—Sarah Butler Evans

This is so special, and the pictures are gorgeous

(“Liz and Ella Tarumianz: Enjoying Mom and

Daughter Horse Life” by Laura Scaletti)!

—Lauren Rabb

Wow! This is wonderful (“Liz and Ella

Tarumianz: Enjoying Mom and Daughter

Horse Life” by Laura Scaletti). Beautiful photos,

too. How very special! Ella is growing up so fast!

—Cynthia Leigh Peterson

Incredible story (“Emily Norman: A Magical

Journey to Pony Finals” by Jennifer DeMaro)!

Congrats and well-deserved recognition!

—Melissa Phillips Burhenne

Emily has an untouchable drive yet the sweetest

smile and spirit (“Emily Norman: A Magical

Journey to Pony Finals” by Jennifer DeMaro).

I’ve always said, “You’re going places girl!” And

that she is! Yay, Emily!

—Azia Johner

sidelines spotlight

Sidelines photographer Kacy Brown, right,

took the photos of eventer Becky Staden. Don’t

miss Becky’s story in this issue and the adorable

photos of Becky’s dog, Taco.

August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

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LettersTo THE EDITOR

CONNECT WITH SIDELINES MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK

AND INSTAGRAM TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION!

LettersTo THE EDITOR

Campbell Elizabeth Manahan, riding SHF

Cranberry owned by Kate Kocher and led by

Kirby Wycoff, in the 2024 Devon Leadline

Class. If you missed other cute pint-size riders

at Devon, check out the July issue of Sidelines

online or in print to see their adorable page!

Photo by Kind Media

If you missed the story on Cheryl Patton and

Clovermeade Ponies, check out the July issue of

Sidelines for a great story and adorable photos of

ponies. From left to right: farm manager Mary

Kathryn Glenn, Cheryl’s daughters Elizabeth

Ivanovich and Ginny Laird, and Cheryl.

Sidelines loves our photographers, and

sometimes they get to meet and hang out

together! So excited to see Kristen Lee, left,

and Shawna Whitty at the Upperville Colt and

Horse Show.

Joni Werthan, left, and Brenda Black at the

Music Country Grand Prix at the Brownland

Horse Show in Franklin, Tennessee. Sidelines

featured Joni in a story in December 2023 and

Brenda took the photos! Great to see you ladies!

Drew Sheesley of Pineville, North Carolina,

is a private first class in the Army and he

volunteers at the Carolina Horse Park when

not stationed at Ft. Liberty. Thank you for your

service, Drew!

Photo by Pam Jensen

John and Helen Townes enjoyed the Music

Country Grand Prix at the Brownland Horse

Show. Helen is a writer for Sidelines—don’t miss

her stories on Mimi Moulton and Jessica Leto

in this issue.

Thanks to Jeremy Rowles for showing off

a Sidelines magazine in the lobby of The

Equestrian hotel at the World Equestrian

Center (WEC). If you haven’t visited the

beautiful hotel, make plans to go!

Everyone’s jumping for joy over the Sidelines July

Pony and Junior issue, including, left to right,

Kendall Dey, Sidelines photographer Melissa

Fuller, Kingsley Dey, and Kimberly Dey. It’s not

too late to read it, head to the Sidelines website

and enjoy!

August 2024 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE