JJ TORANO
Carrying On a
Legacy of Excellence
SOPHIA SCHULTS
Sharing Dressage Dreams
ALEX BAUGH
Overcoming Heartbreak
to Continue Eventing
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SIDELINES SPOTLIGHT
MORGAN MEASEY
Anything But Typical for Brooke USA
32
DRESSAGE
GEORGE WILLIAMS
Thoughts on the Counter Canter
36
DRESSAGE
SOPHIA SCHULTS
Pursuing Precision & Sharing Dressage Dreams
43
ART
MAGGIE ROBERTSON
Exploring Lines & Tension
Through Big Blue Horses
48
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
TEA ZEGARAC AND
SHANNON KLEPPER
TESH Palm Beach
50
EVENTER
ALEX BAUGH
Overcoming Heartbreak to Continue the Race
56
EVENTING
VALERIE PRIDE
Dos and Don’ts for Your First School
58
SIDELINES SUCESS
JACKIE DUCCI
On a Mission to Promote
Human-Animal Connection
On the cover:
JJ Torano, the son of hunter-jumper professionals
Jimmy and Danielle Torano, in Wellington, Florida,
with Vitus K, owned by JET Show Stable.
March 2025
68
About this photo:
JJ, with Coachella, owned by JET Show Stable.
Photos by Melissa Fuller,
melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com
Volume 37 Issue 3 SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is owned by CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC. and is published twelve times a year for $29.95 per year.
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62
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
MARGIE SUGARMAN
Navigating and Maintaining
Harmony at the Barn
64
HUNTER-JUMPER
ALEXANDRA BEYRER
Weekday Wiretaps and Weekends in Wellington
68
COVER STORY
JJ TORANO
Carrying On a Legacy of Excellence
78
PARA DRESSAGE
ROWAN O’RILEY
Lifting Others to Reach Their Dreams
86
SHOW TIME
LUGANO DIAMONDS SPLIT ROCK
JUMPING TOUR
88
SHOW TIME
USET FOUNDATION GOLD MEDAL
CLUB RECEPTION
100
UNBRIDLED
TEDDI ISMOND
IN EVERY ISSUE
18 Letter From the Editor | 20 Letters to the Editor | 90 Sidelines Business
94 Barns, Farms, Trainers, Clubs | 94 Tack and Feed Stores | 95 Real Estate
95 Equestrian Services Directory | 98 Advertisers Index
78
64
Rowan O’Riley
Photo by Melissa Fuller
Alexandra Beyrer
Photo by Sophia Donohue
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Our Inspiring Bond
With Horses
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
JJ Torano
Photo by Melissa Fuller
Sophia Schults
Photo by Kacy Brown
Alex Baugh
Photo by Sara Farrell
t’s hard to believe JJ Torano, who appears on our cover this month, is so grown up.
Many of us remember watching JJ in leadline classes and then in the pony ring.
Now JJ is an inspirational young rider making headlines in the hunter, jumper and
equitation rings.
In February, JJ competed in the 2025 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship,
and not only rode away as the winner but with a new car as well. He may not be old
enough to drive the car yet, but JJ doesn’t mind because his bond is with his horses.
JJ believes that building a bond with our horses is what makes them want to
compete and win for us in the ring. With the goal of developing a bond with each of his
horses, JJ plans to continue competing in all three rings until he is old enough to turn
pro. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know JJ.
I’m also excited to have you meet dressage rider Sophia Schults, who was hooked
on horses when she rode her first pony at age 3, developing a bond with and lifelong
love for horses. Today, Sophia is a professional at Hampton Green with the goal of
representing the U.S. on a Nations Cup team in the future.
Sophia is also inspired to give back to the next generation and is actively involved
with the USDF National Youth Programs Committee and Dressage4Kids. “If
anything I’ve learned can help someone else in their journey, I feel it’s my duty to share
what I can to help them out,” Sophia said. “Rising tides lift all ships. The more we’re
able to create a positive learning environment, the more we will be able to promote
good horsemanship and teamwork in our sport.”
You’ll also get to meet three-day eventer Alex Baugh. Alex has an incredible bond
with her horses and it has helped her as she has faced heartbreak in her life. Her story
is touching, and I can’t wait for you to get to know her. I love that she said, “I got into
this sport because I love horses. It’s the little, everyday things that motivate me and
keep me going.”
We have so many wonderful and inspiring stories in this issue, each showing the
bond we all develop with our horses. As you read each one, I hope it will remind you
how you fell in love with our wonderful equine friends.
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