©Sidelines, Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved For Horse People • About Horse People www.sidelinesnews.comVolume$4.00 2607 - July 2014 July 2014 Rocky Mountain Riding Equitation Guru Missy Clark Superstars Pony & Junior Riders The Many Talents of Todd Minikus Madeline Backus Colorado Eventer FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES JULY 2014 1 Incorporating 42 HORSES USA PUBLISHER Samantha Charles [email protected] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jan Westmark [email protected] 828-575-3965 Contents ASsistant Editor Dani Moritz Senior Staff Writer What’s Happenin’ 10 Juniorside: The Dynamic Dale Harvey Lauren Giannini CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 32 Ingate 24 Show Jumper Todd Minikus Arianna Delin, Sydney Masters-Durieux, Doris Degner-Foster, Ann Glavan, 60 Off Centerline 52 Missy Clark: Equitation Kathryn Murphy, Kim MacMillan, 72 Asides 62 Junior Rider Maria Gabriela Brugal Katie Navarra, Darlene Ricker, Jennifer Ward 74 North Carolina’s Michael Kocher PHOTOGRAPHERS David Lominska, Jack Mancini , 96 Equitation Boot Camp – Flashpoint, Alan Fabricant, Susan Stickle Features Lauren R. Giannini, Shawn McMillen 14 Judy Garofalo-Torres is Back! The Vermont Summer Festival Kim & Allen MacMillan, Emily Allongo, Anne Hoover, Beth Grant, Mandy Su 16 Brianne Goutal: SIDELINES COLUMNISTS Finding Your Perfect Partner Dressage Sophie St. Clair – Juniorside Lisa Hollister, Esq - Equine Law 20 Sheer Levitin Has Sheer Talent 22 Never Too Old: Words of Wisdom Ann Reilly - Sports Psychology Maria Wynne – European Connection 40 World Equestrian Games: SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR/ Fredrik Thomsson Eventing EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 42 My Story: Vaulter Bree Krebel 18 American Riders Shine at Rolex Christina Alex INTERNS 48 When Life Changes: Roxanne Trunnell Alex Long, Kathryn Murphy 56 Cover Story: Polo ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Melissa Burns Photographer Kathleen Bryan 70 Sebastian Aycinena: [email protected] 58 On the Cover: Like Father, Like Son 561-951-4225 NATIONAL SALES Colorado’s Madeline Backus Joyce Jones [email protected] 64 Amateurisms with Kathy Serio Rocky Mountain Special Section 954-796-1809 67 Second Chances: 80 Artist Kay Witherspoon LOCAL SALES – AK, AZ, CO, ID, LA, 84 Kathy Simard’s Passion for Dressage MT, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT, WY Retired Racehorse Project Kayce Douglass 69 New Vocations and RRP Team Up 88 Colorado Clothes Designer [email protected] 720-277-5554 76 Good Food Hunting Stomps On LOCAL SALES – AL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN 92 Laurie Jueneman: Home at Last Jyoti Parry [email protected] Horse Shows 94 Hannah Holik: Rocking the Ring 561-635-0253 8 Lily Grace McCormick’s Success CLASSIFIEDS - Sis Hotujec [email protected] 561-798-4828 SIDELINES TV 24 88 Robert Jordan, Producer [email protected] 561-667-5207 SUBSCRIPTIONS Also For Change of Address Maritherese Trimeloni-Alex Subscription Manager [email protected] 561-707-3314 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Maritherese Trimeloni-Alex [email protected] ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Departments Directories Stan Johansen 4 Letter from the Editor 100 Stallions AD DESIGN 17 Contest: Trail of Painted Ponies 102 Barns, Farms, Trainers, Clubs Cris David [email protected] 45 Fergus SIDELINES, INC. 104 Equestrian Services Education 12400 A South Shore Blvd. 45 Mutt of the Month 106 Real Estate Wellington, FL 33414 77 Contest: Professional’s Choice FL Office 803-649-6989 108 Tack and Feed Stores WebSite: www.sidelinesnews.com 83 Needy Nags 109 Classifieds SIDELINES (ISSN 1071-3859) is published monthly for 112 The Bottom Line $29.95 per year by Sidelines, Inc. 12400 A South Shore Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414. Periodical postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL 33414 and at additional mailing offices On the Cover: Photographer Kathleen Bryan captured Colorado eventer Madeline POSTMASTER: Address changes should be sent to Sidelines, Inc., PMB 307, 4417 13th St., St. Cloud, Backus enjoying a Rocky Mountain ride. Read stories on Kathleen and Madeline in FL 34769 this issue. Photo by Kathleen Bryan/ www.yourhorses.ifp3.com ©Sidelines, Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved 2 SIDELINES JULY 2014 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES JULY 2014 3 Letter From The Editor venter Madeline Backus graces our cover this month, and cantering across rolling hills with majestic mountains as a backdrop sure looks like a fun ride! Colorado photographer Kathleen Byran shot the cover photo and I think you’ll love our story on how Kathleen turned Ean unfortunate unemployment experience into a career she loves. We also catch up with cover girl Madeline, who’s certainly rocking the Rockies on her way to the top of the eventing world! If our cover photo makes you long for a trip to the Rocky Jan Westmark, Editor-In-Chief Mountains, then you’re in luck. This issue of Sidelines features a special section on the Rockies, so sit back in the comfort of your Speaking of skills, show jumper Todd Minikus is the man home or barn and take a little Rocky Mountain journey. with the skills! With over 100 Grand Prix titles to his name, This issue is also packed with stories on pony and junior Todd remains as formidable as ever. I think you’ll enjoy the riders — the future of our equestrian sport. I have a tender story on Todd in this issue. Thanks to his lengthy career, Todd spot for ponies, so I’m always thrilled to read about ponies understands the ups and downs of the show world and is quick who’ve lived long and wonderful lives. Our story on Lily Grace to point out that despite challenges, there’s “no crying in show McCormick and her 29-year-old pony who took her to Pony jumping.” He also believes anyone who gets to ride and take Finals made me smile — what a priceless pony! care of horses every day should feel extremely fortunate — and I We also catch up with several junior riders who have bright definitely agree. futures ahead of them. If you’re a junior interested in competing I’m also excited to welcome a new columnist to the Sidelines in the equitation classes, then make sure you read the story on family this month. Amateur rider Kathy Serio is the “Lucille Ball” Missy Clark — a real life equitation guru if there ever was one. of the equestrian world and she’s been making her friends laugh Missy shares her beliefs on the value of equitation in equestrian for years — and now it’s time for her to make us all laugh as education. We also have a story on the Vermont Summer well. Kathy’s column “Amateurisms” kicks off with a wacky show Festival, a show known for being an equitation “boot camp” and experience that many of you will be able to relate to — and if you a great place for riders to hone their equitation skills. can’t, then consider yourself fortunate. Kathy married her trainer, Tommy Serio, two years ago and thanks to Tommy, a barn full Lily Grace of horses and a house full of dogs, there’s never a dull moment McCormick in the Serio family — which translates to some funny moments and her pony we’re sure to read about. Rainbow’s­ The summer months are here and I hope you enjoy them — Northern Belle whether you’re training, showing or just enjoying your horses. Many of our readers are now enjoying reading Sidelines in Photo courtesy digital format, which is free if you have a print subscription. So of Michele download the app on your tablet or phone and take Sidelines McCormick along on your summer vacation. Catch the Sidelines Spirit — in print and digital! Madeline Backus Jan Westmark ­—­this­month’s­ Editor-In-Chief cover girl from the [email protected] Rockies! Photo by Kathleen Bryan 4 SIDELINES JULY 2014 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES JULY 2014 5 6 SIDELINES JULY 2014 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES JULY 2014 7 e LilyJunior Grace McCormick Takes Success in Stride Lily Grace and her new pony, Cheval Bleu By Arianna Delin any 12-year-old girls dream of ponies and ask their parents for riding lessons for birthday presents. But some are lucky enough to Mown a pony and to be rising superstars in the show ring. Lily Grace McCormick, of Charlotte, North Carolina, is definitely a superstar in the making and has also proven herself in the ultimate test — Pony Finals. Her love for horses began when Lily Grace was 3 years old and her mother, Michele, placed her on the back of a pony at the Iowa State Fair. Little did Michele know that this short pony ride would be the beginning of a very prosperous riding career. “I’m really proud of Lily Grace; she’s done a great job,” said Michele. “She’s amazing when she goes into the ring with the grace she shows. I don’t know if I could do that as well. She carries herself so well and knows what she has to do to get the job done and done well. She does everything to the best of her ability.” Lily Grace began riding at the Carolina Country Acres Farm in North Carolina. This relationship lasted until a year before Lily Grace went to Pony Finals in 2013, when she went to train with Jason Schlotterback at Terranova Farms in Lily Grace and Jason Waxhaw, North Carolina. While training with Jason, Lily Grace bought her pony, Rainbow’s Northern Belle, on whom she competed at Pony Finals. meant for each other.” Belle and Lily Grace started their partnership at the local show circuit, PHJA, Lily Grace is equally proud of her pony, Belle. winning the Tonya Patterson Memorial Trophy for high-point age group in “Belle is 29 and I’ve had her for almost two equitation, PHJA 11-and-under Equitation Champion, Reserve Champion in years,” said Lily Grace.