Sidelines September 2023

BEATRICE

de LAVALETTE

From Airport Bombing

to Paralympics

ZAYNA RIZVI

Horses, Family and Finals

CASSIE SANGER

Nations Cup

Eventing Victory

September 2023 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

ART

KISA KAVASS

A Storyteller at Heart, Capturing the Unknown

HUNTER-JUMPER

ZAYNA RIZVI

Horses From Family to Finals

HUNTER-JUMPER

SAMANTHA WOLFRAM

Finding Success in America and Overseas

EVENTING

CASSIE SANGER

Adding a Nations Cup Team

to Her Eventing Firsts

DRESSAGE

GEORGE WILLIAMS

Putting Steppingstones in Place

SIDELINES SNAPSHOT

OLIVIA WILLIAMS

From University of Notre Dame

to European Dreamin’

SIDELINES SNAPSHOT

RAYMOND WHITE JR.

Sharing His Sister’s Story

EVENTING

LIZ HALLIDAY

It Truly Takes a Village

HUNTER-JUMPER

JORDAN MELFI

Turning a Secret Horse Life Into a Career

On the cover:

Paralympic rider Beatrice de Lavalette, with her

Oldenburg gelding Sensei, in Wellington, Florida.

September 2023

About this photo:

Beatrice has triumphed despite immense challenges, and in

2021 she won the FEI’s Against All Odds Award, given to someone

who has pursued their equestrian ambitions despite a physical

handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances.

Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com

Volume 36 Issue 9 SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is owned by CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC. and is published twelve times a year for $29.95 per year.

September 2023 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

HUNTER-JUMPER

ROB JACOBS

Adapting to a New Horse

SIDELINES SUCCESS

BARRY & CYNDY OLLIFF

Building a Gathering Place

for Now and the Future

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

MARGIE SUGARMAN

The Monkey in Your Brain

COVER STORY

BEATRICE DE LAVALETTE

Surviving the Brussels Airport Bombing

to Ride in the Tokyo Paralympics

DRESSAGE

CEDAR POTTS-WARNER

At Liberty and Beyond

UNBRIDLED

Joe Norick

In Every Issue

16 Letter From the Editor | 18 Letters to the Editor | 84 Sidelines Business

88 Sidelines Equestrian Gallery | 90 Barns, Farms, Trainers, Clubs

90 Tack and Feed Stores | 91 Real Estate | 91 Equestrian Services Directory

94 Classifieds | 94 Advertisers Index

Olivia Williams Photo by Melissa Fuller

Samantha Wolfram Photo by Kirsten Hannah

September 2023 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

SIDELINES is owned by

CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC.

OWNER AND PUBLISHER

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, Tafra Donberger, Kimberly Gatto, Britney Grover, Cheyenne Lord, Laura Scaletti

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jeni Brunner, Melissa Fuller, Pam Jensen, Isabel J. Kurek, Kristin Lee, Lindsey Long, Shawn McMillen Photography,

Adrienne Morella, Lori Ovanessian, Kristie Scholten, Kristen Scott-Crocker

COLUMNISTS

Liz Halliday, Rob Jacobs, Margie Sugarman, George Williams

SOCIAL MEDIA

Elliette Baker | elliette@sidelinesmagazine.com

ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING

Contact advertising@sidelinesmagazine.com | 828-575-3965

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AD DESIGN

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SIDELINES is owned by

CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC.

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

www.sidelinesmagazine.com

Sidelines Magazine was created in 1987 by Samantha Charles

SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is published monthly for $29.95 per year by Sidelines.

Send packages and correspondence to: Editor, 164 Berkshire Loop | Crossville, TN 38558

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September 2023 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

JAN WESTMARK BAUER,

Editor-In-Chief

Stay in touch by emailing editor@sidelinesmagazine.com

and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @sidelines_magazine

The Equestrian Spirit—

From Tragedy to Triumph

Letterfrom the editor

Photos top to bottom:

Beatrice de Lavalette

Photo by Melissa Fuller

Zayna Rizvi

Photo by Melissa Fuller

Cassie Sanger

Photo by Alex Scribner

t’s hard to believe it’s the September issue already! We’ve had so many wonderful stories

this year, many on equestrians who have accomplished their goals and many who have

overcome hardships. No matter the story, the equestrian spirit was always evident.

Our cover story on Beatrice de Lavalette is one you don’t want to miss, as Beatrice truly

captures the equestrian spirit by her ability to triumph after unthinkable tragedy. Beatrice

was in the Brussels Airport in Zaventem, Belgium, in 2016, getting ready to fly to the United

States when a suicide bomber standing just a few feet from her triggered his bomb. Beatrice

was the most gravely injured survivor of the airport bombing and spent many years on her

path to recovery—and a new life.

Beatrice was a rider prior to the bombing and her new life still includes horses—because

once a horse person, always a horse person. Her triumphs are remarkable, including

competing in the Tokyo Paralympics and earning the FEI’s 2021 Against All Odds Award,

given to someone who has pursued their equestrian ambitions despite a physical handicap or

extremely difficult personal circumstances.

Beatrice’s story touched my heart and I hope it encourages you as well. We never know

what we can accomplish when faced with insurmountable obstacles, but as equestrians

our goal is always to get back in the saddle, figuratively or literally. Thank you, Beatrice, for

showing us the strength of the equestrian spirit!

We have so many great stories in this issue, and if you haven’t met Zayna Rizvi then I’m

glad to introduce you to her. Zayna grew up in a horse family, began riding when she was 3

and was competing by the time she was 5. Fast forward to 2021, and Zayna accomplished a

very sought-after goal when she won the Maclay Finals.

Sidelines photographer Melissa Fuller took the photos of Zayna at Missy Clark’s North

Run farm in Wellington, Florida. Don’t miss the cute photo of Melissa and Zayna in front of

one of the Queen jumps in the Spotlight section of Letters to the Editor.

I’m also happy to introduce you to three-day eventer Cassie Sanger, who recently

accomplished one of her riding goals when she was selected for the U.S. Eventing European

Development Tour as a member of the team for the summer of 2023. Congratulations to the

team on bringing home second place at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Poland CCIO4*-

NC-S in Strzegom.

While Cassie is headed to college this fall, her goal is to balance school and her riding life

and continue to aim for the top of the sport of eventing. We look forward to watching her in

years to come.

I hope you find inspiration in this issue and it motivates you to spend time with your

horses. If you haven’t had horses in your life for a while, then it’s time to get back in the

saddle—volunteer at a horse rescue or therapeutic program, help a friend exercise their

horses, work at a stable or lease or buy a horse. No matter how you do it, I hope it helps your

equestrian spirit to shine.

September 2023 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE

august Issue

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!

LettersTo THE EDITOR

Thank you so much for the very flattering article

and accompanying photo layout that you did

about me (“Jacob Pope: A Journey Filled With

Luck and Opportunity” by Laura Scaletti). I

am truly honored and humbled by your interest

and support. Many thanks also for all that you

do in general on an ongoing basis to support

the equestrian sport. You have my sincere

appreciation and admiration.

—Jacob Pope

Awesome (“Jacob Pope: A Journey Filled With

Luck and Opportunity” by Laura Scaletti).

Jacob is truly a great human!

—William Schaub

I remember this “backyard rider” (“Jacob Pope: A

Journey Filled With Luck and Opportunity” by

Laura Scaletti). Jacob deserves all of it. Hardest

working young rider I knew. And it paid off!

—Daphne Boogaard

So handsome (“Jacob Pope: A Journey Filled

With Luck and Opportunity” by Laura Scaletti)!

Great person inside and out!

—MaiLin Beckman

I met Jacob when he was in IEA (“Jacob Pope:

A Journey Filled With Luck and Opportunity”

by Laura Scaletti). Great rider, but also good

sport, good horseman, wonderful young man!

He has earned and deserves his successes.

—Catherine Schlaeppi

Looking forward to getting the new issue!

Proud of Jacob Pope (“Jacob Pope: A Journey

Filled With Luck and Opportunity” by Laura

Scaletti) and every one of the United States

Hunter Jumper Association – USHJA

Emerging Athletes Program alumni!

—Amy Owen Center

Couldn’t love this more! Jacob is so talented and

kind (“Jacob Pope: A Journey Filled With Luck

and Opportunity” by Laura Scaletti). Well-

deserved article!

—Karin Corrigan Ballinger

Thank you so much for such a beautiful article

on my daughter Autumn; you captured her

perfectly (“Autumn Janesky: Designing a Life

in the Horse and Fashion Worlds” by Laura

Scaletti). You have a great team, Shawna Witty

has a great eye and Laura Scaletti has great

insights. It was such a nice experience.

—Wendy Janesky

Such a beautiful and inspiring article (“Autumn

Janesky: Designing a Life in the Horse

and Fashion Worlds” by Laura Scaletti).

Congratulations, Wendy and Autumn!

—Patty Risser

Thank you so much, Sidelines magazine, for the

feature in this month’s magazine (“Nicolette

Hirt: Creating Show Jumping Magic” by

Cheyenne Lord). So much fun working with the

fantastic team at Sidelines on this piece. Huge

thank you to all involved in making this happen!

—Nicolette Hirt

Thank you, Sidelines magazine, for this feature

discussing the Coady Culha Equestrian Collection

and for the wonderful photos (“Montana Coady &

Coady Culha: Designing Jewelry and a Life With

Horses” by Britney Grover).

—Montana Coady

Congratulations on a beautiful line of jewelry

(“Montana Coady & Coady Culha: Designing

Jewelry and a Life With Horses” by Britney Grover).

—Wendy Lewis

What an honor to have Sidelines magazine share

my story, including how I was inspired to write

“Marguerite, Misty and Me,” which dives into

the back story of beloved horse book author

Marguerite Henry (“Susan Friedland: Trotting

on the Trail of Misty and Marguerite Henry”

by Laurie Berglie). Thank you to both Josa

Comstock Photography and Carolyn Rikje

Photography for the beautiful portraits, and

to Jigsaw Farms for providing the beautiful

backdrop, and Laurie Berglie for the narrative.

—Susan Friedland

I am continually impressed with the diverse and

relevant content that Sidelines offers each month.

While I am most interested in hunter-jumper

content, Sidelines finds a way to make all aspects

of the equine sport very interesting!

—Bill Rube

Beyond thankful to Jan Westmark Bauer for

featuring our beautiful totes in the fashion issue

in Sidelines magazine (“Edie Baggett & The

Faire Equestrian: Custom Totes, Custom Mom

Life” by Britney Grover)!

—Edie Baggett

A rockstar mom of two and an amazing

businesswoman (“Edie Baggett & The Faire

Equestrian: Custom Totes, Custom Mom Life”

by Britney Grover)! Lucky to know you and

look up to you!

—Allison Denehy

Yay, I am so excited to get my copy (“Sandra

Beaulieu: Dancing and Painting With Horses”

by Tafra Donberger)! Thank you for featuring

me and my horse Rovandio! It was wonderful

working with you!

—Sandra Beaulieu

Thanks so much, Sidelines magazine and Sandra

Beaulieu, for featuring my photos as part of Sandra’s

amazing story (“Sandra Beaulieu: Dancing and

Painting With Horses” by Tafra Donberger).

—Susan McClafferty

So honored to have my story included (“Ava

Paige: Saved by Music, Faith and Horses” by

Tafra Donberger)!

—Ava Paige

Thank you, Jan and team Sidelines, for doing

the article on Ava (“Ava Paige: Saved by Music,

Faith and Horses” by Tafra Donberger). It’s

always fun to photograph and style for the

magazine! Everyone needs to hear our girl sing!

—Tracy Kujawa

So proud of my friend Lyndsy Calato (“Lyndsy

Calato & Heureux XIIL: Fashion That Feels

Good in More Ways Than One” by Britney

Grover). Her Heureux XII line is exquisite.

Check out her belt collection, not just for

equestrians—the beautiful designs and color

combinations will make any outfit runway worthy.

—Wendy McLaughlin

sidelines spotlight

Sidelines photographer Melissa Fuller, left, and

hunter-jumper rider Zayna Rizvi have some fun

with musically inspired jumps. Make sure to

read Zayna’s story in this issue!

September 2023 | SIDELINESMAGAZINE