Diana Kocunik

President

From a very early age Diana was fascinated with horses. She spent hours drawing and painting horses and unicorns. Diana got her unicorn in a tall black and white draft cross with lots of personality. Gallant Quest or Quest for short is a very willing partner. Diana and Quest have accomplished much in their 14+ years of partnership. They have earned ribbons in Dressage, ridden many miles of trails, fox hunted, walked through fire in mounted police training, jumped, competed in working equitation, and ridden sidesaddle. The sidesaddle adventure started innocently with an internet search. Diana googled sidesaddle and her life has never been the same! Since then, the pair has attended sidesaddle clinics, ridden in demos and more than 12 parades, the most memorable being the 2009 Inaugural Parade for President Obama in Washington DC. Diana is a founding member of ASA and earned her JIC with ASA in 2015. She has since taught clinics and continued adding to her sidesaddle collection. Recently Diana and Quest have enjoyed working equitation sidesaddle.
Location: Illinois – NILS
Contact: asapresident@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse: Gallant Quest

Laurie Post

Vice President

Bio:  I’m one of those horsey girls that never outgrew her love of horses.  To me it is a God given passion. I have ridden since I was in the 6th grade. My parents couldn’t afford a horse, so I worked my tail off and was able to purchase my first horse at 15.  I got an after school job to pay for his care. I bought an old JC Higgins saddle and had many fun years with Dude. Even then, I would throw my leg over the horn, so I could ride aside. It seems I have always been enamored with sidesaddle riding.  As a young adult, I purchased every book I could find on riding aside, as well as my first sidesaddle.  Thankfully it was well made and a good name.  Try as I might, I couldn’t fit the saddle to my horse much less ride in it correctly. It sat in my house for many years.  In 2014 I rode in my first ASA clinic.  Maggie helped me fit the saddle to fit my horse and taught me how to ride in it.  My horse at that time was my late beloved OTTB Gabriel.  I joined ASA and my local chapter SOLA that same day and have been a member ever since. have been a member of ASA since 2014.

Location: Knox County, Ohio- SOLA
Contact: vicepresident@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse: My mare Selah is my current sidesaddle horse and partner in adventure. She has come a long way.   She will do anything aside that I ask her (well almost).  We have ridden in many parades, shows and performed in jousting shows. We compete in the jousting skill at arms aside.  Her nickname in the lyst is, Rocket Pony.  Even at 19, she and I have many adventures to look forward to. they will all be mostly aside.

Andee Vassar

Secretary

I grew up in Southern Ohio where I bed stole or borrowed a horseback ride from anyone I could. Horses were and still are my passion in life. I got my first horse at 7 and showed in 4-H throughout my growing up years. I taught at a Girl Scout Horse stable where I eventually managed their program. Through this experience, I became a certified riding instructor. I was coaxed into a sidesaddle for the first time my senior year of high school by a friend in 4-H. In college, sidesaddle became my gateway to remaining in the horse world while working and going to school full time. My childhood dream of Montana led me to a summer job and relocation after college. I now ride aside in local parades and teach lessons and clinics as time permits. I’ve spent several years riding aside in the Bob Marshall Wilderness while working for outfitters and taking personal trips. I can’t wait to get my young daughter in her first sidesaddle.
Location: Polson, Montana
Contact: secretary@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse: Loom’s Fudge Fantasy “Baby”

Monica Chapman

Treasurer

Bio:
Location: Montana
Contact: amsidesaddletreasurer@gmail.com
My Sidesaddle Horse: I actually don’t ride sidesaddle. I was a sidesaddle mom. I have been a Safety walker, driver, banner holder, popper Scooper, etc. Our Secretary Andee Vassar is my daughter.

Maggie McAllister

Membership Chair

Bio: I have been riding aside since I was about 16 years old, so more than 40 years. I’ve experienced many different equestrian activities in a sidesaddle including endurance and competitive trail riding, fox hunting and hunter paces, all seats except dressage (I’m working on that!), parades, and I’ve jumped 4 feet (not on purpose!). I don’t claim to be an expert in all things sidesaddle, but I have amassed a lot of information over the years and feel that I learn more than I teach. I currently enjoy working on antique sidesaddle restoration with my family business and learn something from every saddle we work on.

President of Southern Ohio Ladies Aside
Location: Chillicothe, Ohio – SOLA
Contact: membership@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse: My horse for the past decade or so has been Fern, the one-eyed wonder horse. She is a hackney/standardbred cross. She isn’t particularly good at any one discipline, but she keeps this old lady safe and is usually up for whatever shenanigans are scheduled. I have high hopes that my new guy will follow in her hoofsteps. Rags to Ridges is a 14yo rescued standardbred and shows great promise at walking slowly and standing still.

Samantha Reeves

Points Secretary

On one lonely, third shift night more than ten years ago, Sam Reeves was watching The Princess Bride. During the early scene of Buttercup’s abduction, she noticed the princess was riding sidesaddle. After a quick search, she found the American Sidesaddle Association, and after an evening of chatting with Maggie McAllister, a clinic was scheduled in Kentucky. From there, Sam took on the three day eventing world, competing aside in multiple shows, baffling and frightening judges as she and her pony, Pixie, stormed around the Kentucky Horse Park cross country course. The pair are also familiar sights during the Kentucky Three Day Event, working as mounted stewards aside during the cross country phase. Now the pair are more focused on Western Dressage Association of America, as Pixie enters her golden years. Sam can also be found schooling rescued standardbreds and preparing them to be excellent sidesaddle horses for show, expo, and parades. As Points Secretary, her job is to make certain everyone’s events are logged for the correct category and to tally up points, as well as randomly audit the list. Watch for periodic updates to see where you stand!
Location: KY
Contact: points@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse:

Teresa Runions

Social Media Chair

Bio:
Location: OH – SOLA
Contact: socialmedia@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse:

Hannah Barker

Webmaster &
The Phoenix Editor

I’ve been riding most of my life and have always been fascinated by the style and elegance of sidesaddle riding. It became a dream to chase a few years ago. A big milestone towards that dream was purchasing a Mayhew saddle – which came with another, Riding Aside! Going to my first banquet and meeting so many of the amazing ASA members was a great experience. I also earned my JIC certification. I’m pursing my next dream by doing outreach and education about sidesaddle riding.
Location: Phoenix, AZ – AZA
Contact: webmaster@amsidesaddle.com
My Sidesaddle Horse: I don’t have my own, but lucky to share my friends’ horses.