10
SIDELINESMAGAZINE | October 2026
LETTER FROM
BRITNEY GROVER
Editor
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John French
Photo by Isabel Kurek
Cyndi Jackson
Photo by Kirsten Ziegler
Natasha Klingenstein
Photo by Kacy Brown
Riding Under the Influence
I
was born with the horse bug, but I didn’t get the opportunity to really start riding until I
was in my early 20s. I found a hunter-jumper barn near where I lived and started taking
lessons. I can still remember the conversation: In attempting to explain what hunters really
were, my trainer—who became a close friend and has been there for me through many things—
told me to go online and watch any rounds I could find ridden by a man named John French.
John’s example, over a decade ago and hundreds of miles away, inspired me and taught me
what hunters should look like. That’s how good he is. And that’s why it’s such a thrill to have
him on our cover heading into the fall and indoor season. Our photographer, Isabel Kurek,
has known John since he was 10 years old and chased him all around the East Coast taking
pictures for the feature. His story delves into his little-known history in the jumper ring, as well
as how he is directly impacting the next generation.
Just as John influenced me—and countless others—simply by being himself, Cyndi Jackson
gave my 7-year-old daughter a taste for dressage when we watched Cyndi ride Florrison, aka
Jack, down centerline to ultimately win the Grand Prix Freestyle at HITS Del Mar earlier
this year. From the opening notes of “SexyBack” to “Can’t Stop the Feelin,” their freestyle was
fun and unforgettable as my daughter’s first experience watching dressage. Little did I know
that Cyndi’s personal story is equally unforgettable, as well as deeply inspiring: She’s not only a
Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer, she competes in ultramarathons and homeschools her
son, all while surviving the desert heat of Arizona and prizing hard-won sobriety.
Natasha Klingenstein is also striving to influence others—through providing community
for equestrians. While most might interpret “flying with horses” as a soul-filling gallop or
sailing over a jump, Natasha literally flies with horses. She’s an amateur rider who works for
Horseflight and shares many fascinating stories of flying in cargo while caring for horses in
transit. Natasha says that her “real” family, her barn family and her Horseflight family have all
carried her through different things, and it’s that kind of community she’s trying to provide for
others. “People often believe if you put your head down and grind, you can be successful on
your own,” she said. “But I’ve learned that success is actually through the people you choose to
walk alongside you.”
Those around us have the power to influence us—hopefully for good. This issue is full of
stories of those who are impacting the next generation and others—as well as those who are
carrying on the influence of riders with more experience. I hope reading them has a positive
impact, no matter how small, on your own life ride.