ALICIA
BERGER
Piaffing Past Impossible
HALEY SMITH
Vaulting Into a
Dressage Career
BRITT BURSON
Pirouetting on the Prairie
2026 Dressage Issue
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
18
DRESSAGE
HALEY SMITH
Vaulting Into a Dressage Career
28
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
MARGIE SUGARMAN
Raising Emotionally Strong Young Riders
30
ART
JILL JOHNSON
Drawing Back to a Destiny of Art,
Horses and Healing
34
DRESSAGE
BRITT BURSON
Pirouetting on the Prairie
42
JUNIOR RIDER
NORA PIETERS
A Living Legacy Learning
From Every Ride
48
EVENTING
LAUREN DAUGHERTY
Making Baile Hill Farm Home
54
EVENTING COLUMN
EMILY HAMEL
Creating a True Partnership
On the cover:
Alicia Berger with Aqua Marin, owned by
Alicia and her mom, Marianne Berger,
in Wellington, Florida.
February 2026
62
About this photo:
Alicia, with Aqua Marin, was the 2024
Horseware Ireland/USEF Young Rider
Dressage National Champion.
Photos by Emma Claire Stephens
Volume 38 Issue 3 SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is owned by TRAUB CAPITAL PARTNERS and is published twelve times a year.
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
10
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
48
42
Lauren Daugherty
Photo by Addie Beguelin
Nora Pieters
Photo by Sophia Donohue
IN EVERY ISSUE
12 Letter From the Editor | 14 Letters to the Editor | 73 Sidelines Business
74 Barns, Farms, Trainers, Clubs | 74 Tack and Feed Stores | 75 Real Estate
75 Equestrian Services Directory | 78 Advertisers Index
SIDELINES is owned by
TRAUB CAPITAL PARTNERS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jan Westmark Bauer | editor@sidelinesmagazine.com
828-575-3965
EDITOR
Britney Grover | britney@sidelinesmagazine.com
ADVISORY BOARD
Ashley Baker, Peter Englehart, Steve Gintowt, Joe Norick
WRITERS
Sarah Welk Baynum, Shya Beth, Diana Bezdedeanu,
Laila Edwards, Kimberly Gatto, Jessica Grutkowski,
Annelise Klepper, Laura Scaletti, Helen Townes
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kacy Brown, Jeni Brunner, Sophia Donohue, Sara Farrell,
Melissa Fuller, Pam Jensen, Isabel J. Kurek, Lindsey Long,
Adrienne Morella, Kelly Mudd, Lori Ovanessian, Kristie
Scholten, Laura Ann Wagner, Shawna Whitty
COLUMNISTS
Emily Hamel, Margie Sugarman, George Williams
ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING
advertising@sidelinesmagazine.com
SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Jyoti Parry | jyoti@sidelinesmagazine.com | 561-635-0253
Liz Porath | liz@sidelinesmagazine.com | 704-401-4045
HORSE SHOW AND MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS
Jan Westmark Bauer | editor@sidelinesmagazine.com
828-575-3965
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
distribution@sidelinesmagazine.com | 828-575-3965
ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER
Mark Kerley | Lucky Rabbit Studio
AD DESIGN
Mark Kerley | ads@sidelinesmagazine.com
SIDELINES is owned by
TRAUB CAPITAL PARTNERS
PO Box 130 | Saugerties, NY 12477
www.sidelinesmagazine.com
SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is published monthly by Sidelines.
Periodicals postage paid at Fulton, MO 65251 and at
additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Address changes should be sent to Sidelines
Magazine, PO Box 130 | Saugerties, NY 12477
©Sidelines, 2026 All Rights Reserved
58
HUNTER-JUMPER
LIZ PERRY
Starting Over and Stepping Strong
62
COVER STORY
ALICIA BERGER
Piaffing Past Impossible
70
DRESSAGE COLUMN
GEORGE WILLIAMS
Complexity of the Aids
11
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
12
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
Celebrating Connection
and Harmony
With Dressage
BRITNEY GROVER
Editor
Stay in touch by emailing britney@sidelinesmagazine.com
and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @sidelines_magazine
Letterfrom the editor
Alicia Berger
Photo by Emma Claire Stephens
Haley Smith
Photo by Elena Doloti
Britt Burson
Photo by Stacy Tierman
ebruary has always seemed to me to be the perfect time for our dressage issue.
While others celebrate with chocolates and roses, we celebrate the connection and
harmony that dressage should epitomize—as well as all the relationships that make
success in the ring possible.
Alicia Berger, on our cover with her horse Aqua Marin, knows how important those
relationships are: She says her mother, Marianne, was sometimes the only person who believed
in her and her horse. But proving naysayers wrong is something Alicia has gotten very good at,
whether taking that horse to FEI or juggling riding in Florida with pursuing a double major in
mechanical engineering and pre-med at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
Together, Aqua and Alicia have achieved goals she once thought impossible. Training with
Olympian Jan Ebeling, Alicia competed on the European Young Rider Tour in 2024—including
at the prestigious CHIO Aachen. “I honestly never thought I’d get there,” she said. “It was so
surreal to walk through the quintessential Aachen archway with the purple flowers. I just kept
thinking, This isn’t real life. I think it was the most magical experience I’ve had on a horse.”
Based on the opposite coast, Haley Smith has also competed at CHIO Aachen—in vaulting.
Haley discovered her love for vaulting at 10 and made it to her first national championship in
2010, though it didn’t go particularly well! Eventually, her passion and drive carried her all the
way through to medaling in international competitions. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic,
Haley found that she could experience the harmony and connection of vaulting in dressage and
a fated chance to ride Steffen Peters’ Olympic partner Suppenkasper, or Mopsie, sealed the deal:
Now, Haley has her own dressage program and is an assistant trainer to the Peters’ at beautiful
Arroyo Del Mar in San Diego, California.
Rounding out our dressage stories and representing the Midwest is Britt Burson. Britt has
been focused on dressage since she was 11 years old. “Ever since I was a little kid—I know this
is odd—but I don’t get nervous before shows,” Britt shared. “I stay quite focused and calm.” I’m
sure Britt’s horses and students alike benefit from her demeanor. Britt goes to between two and
four barns a day when she’s at home in Illinois, and she loves dressage in the Midwest. “There’s
a good sense of community among trainers. We all try to support each other and admire each
other’s work,” she said.
The world needs more of that kind of community—more people recognizing what they have
in common and seeking out harmony, communication and connection rather than normalizing
division. As you read our dressage stories this month—and all of the other wonderful stories in
this issue—may they inspire you to find more connection in your life, both horse and human!
13
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
14
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
Stay in touch! Email letters to editor@sidelinesmagazine.com
LettersTo THE EDITOR
CONNECT WITH SIDELINES MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK
AND INSTAGRAM TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION!
Sidelines Spotlight
Sidelines writer Diana Bezdedeanu, at Kilkern Farm
in Millis, Massachusetts, says Mac approves of the
Hot Horseman issue!
“This is my 84-year-old dad, Erik Jensen, at the 97th opening meet of the Arapahoe
Hunt in Colorado.”
—Kristina Jensen
Photographer Elena Doloti, right, took the photos of
Haley Smith for her story on page 18.
Thanks to photographer Stacy Tierman for the beautiful silhouette of dressage
rider Britt Burson and her horse. Read Britt’s story on page 34.
Photo by Stacy Tierman
15
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
16
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
Stay in touch! Email letters to editor@sidelinesmagazine.com
LettersTo THE EDITOR
CONNECT WITH SIDELINES MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK
AND INSTAGRAM TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION!
Sidelines Spotlight
Don’t miss the story on Nora Pieters, featured with Wikarla
van de Bosrand Z, owned by Tibri LLC, on page 42.
Photo by Sophia Donohue
Photographer Emma Claire Stephens, left, took the beautiful photos of Alicia Berger
for our cover story on page 62.
Photo by Emma Claire Stephens
Haley Smith is a trainer at SPeters Dressage in San Diego, California.
Read her story on page 18.
Photo by Elena Doloti
Courtney Borton won a $100 Corro gift card for
participating in Sidelines’ reader survey in December!
Pictured is her daughter, Addie Borton, with her pony,
Peter, and her trainer’s pony, Mattie—along with their
Corro haul. Thanks to Corro for their partnership! Watch
for future Sidelines survey giveaways.
17
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
18
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE
oung girls often daydream about being
the next Simone Biles or having a horse
of their own. Haley Smith combined
both of those dreams when she discovered
vaulting in middle school.
With a mother who was a show jumper,
Haley and her sister were destined to grow up
in the stable and become barn rats. “The barn
quickly became our second home. It was a place
that gave us roots, where lessons about patience,
kindness and hard work were woven into our
everyday lives,” Haley said.
For as long as she can remember, Haley has
been captivated by all things horse related and
horses have been an integral part of her life. “I can
still picture myself as a little kid running down the
aisles with my sister, proudly helping clean stalls
or simply sitting with the horses and soaking in
DRESSAGE
their presence,” she said. “The stable raised us in so
many ways. It gave us structure, purpose and joy.
Horses were never just an activity for us, they were
the heartbeat of our childhood.”
Haley has now made horses her life’s work. She’s
currently an assistant trainer for SPeters Dressage,
runs her own dressage program and works for
ClipMyHorse.tv as an interviewer and producer.
Early Enthusiasm
Haley spent her childhood exploring a
variety of equestrian disciplines in the English
and Western worlds. “I believe this broad early
background gave me a wider perspective and
fueled my enthusiasm for equestrian sport and
all of its possibilities,” she said.
Following in her mom’s footsteps, Haley’s first
stop was the jumper ring. “I loved the thrill of it,
the speed and the flying over fences, but around
the age of 10 I was introduced to the sport of
vaulting and that quickly became the center
of my world,” Haley said. “Vaulting combined
everything I loved about horses with artistry,
movement and teamwork.”
From the moment Haley tried vaulting, she
was instantly hooked. “I knew I had found
something I wanted to dedicate myself to, as
it was completely unique and demands true
athleticism. You have to be strong and flexible,
but also precise and in tune with the rhythm of
the horse beneath you,” she said.
Looking back, Haley believes vaulting is
one of the best ways to build a foundation as
a young equestrian. “It builds balance, body
awareness, rhythm, and, most importantly,
trust. You learn to rely on the horse completely,
Haley Smith and Great Lady, owned by Carolyn
Bland, at Arroyo Del Mar in San Diego, California.
HALEY
SMITH
VAULTING INTO
A DRESSAGE
CAREER
By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Elena Doloti
19
February 2026 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE