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Here you can find our archive of stories from Equestrian Weekly, our once-a-week look at affiliate news, international competition, amateur profiles, horse care tips, and more. You’ll also find stories from the USEF Insider, a twice-monthly email newsletter packed with features about USEF people and programs, including our drugs and medications program, regulations, and competitions departments.

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Meet Candy Crush: He’s a Pony with Pizazz and Beyoncé Energy

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 22, 2025

Samantha and Candy Crush at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian) For youth athlete Samantha MacDonald, there’s no question who the star of the barn is: her pony, Candy Crush. Known affectionately as “Crush” or “Crushy,” this pint-sized powerhouse has captured hearts with his mix of sweetness, spunk, and undeniable charisma. “He is just the best pony ever,” Samantha said with a laugh. “He is really

Meet Leviathan: Allison Nemeth’s Dependable Partner Who is Anything but Monstrous

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 19, 2025

Leviathan and Allison Nemeth at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian) For U25 athlete Allison Nemeth, the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions is the culmination of hard work and how it has paid off for her and her longtime partner, Leviathan, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she’s raised and trained herself. Known as Levi in the barn, the gelding has been with Nemeth since he was just two years old. “We’ve grown up

Building a Strong Seat & Harmonious Partnership: Junior Athlete Claire Tucker on the Value of the Dressage Seat Medal Finals

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 19, 2025

Claire and Finnur at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian) For many young dressage athletes, the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions represents the pinnacle of their season. The competition is a place where top combinations from across the United States come together to compete at the picturesque HITS Lamplight Equestrian Center. Among the classes offered, the Dressage Seat Medal Finals stand out as a unique opportunity designed to develop and showcase

Hair Testing: How It Works, How It’s Used, and What It Means For You

by Natalie Voss | August 11, 2025

Earlier this summer, US Equestrian added a rule allowing the Federation to begin collecting hair samples as part of its drug testing program. While blood and urine sampling have been part of USEF sanctioned horse shows for many years, hair testing is new and competitors have a lot of questions about it. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian First, it’s important to understand how testing for drugs in hair differs from testing blood or urine. When a horse is given a substance (orally or via

Gold-Medal Grace: The Making of a Champion at the 2025 FEI North American Youth Championships

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 11, 2025

Christianson and her partner, FHF Roulee (©US Equestrian) At just 13 years old, Grace Christianson made history at the 2025 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), sweeping all three gold medals in the inaugural Children’s Dressage division and earning the highest score of the entire dressage competition. Christianson and her mount, FHF Roulee, delivered a record-breaking score of 81.116% in the Individual Final to cap off a standout week in Traverse City. The pair also

Five Questions with Eventing Horse Owner Caroline Moran

by Caroline Moran | August 7, 2025

Caroline Moran is a longtime supporter of eventing in the U.S. and is a co-owner of Possante, a top mount of U.S. Eventing Team member Phillip Dutton. She shared her insights into the rewards of horse ownership and what makes CHIO Aachen the ultimate experience. Photo courtesy Caroline Moran 1. How did you become involved with Event horse ownership? My dear friend, Bruce Duchossois, who was an owner for Phillip Dutton for many years, introduced me to the sport of Eventing about 18 years ago. He

SunSafe Equestrian Brings Skin Health to the Horse Show Circuit

by Leslie Potter/US Equestrian | August 6, 2025

Long summer days at the barn, in the show ring, or on the rail are what equestrian dreams are made of. Spending time outdoors with horses is one of the best things about participating in equestrian sports, but too much sun exposure on unprotected skin can lead to serious health problems. That elevated risk for equestrians inspired one horse show family to step up and help out, and they’re bringing their new nonprofit organization to the 2025 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall +

Success in the Pony Jumper Jog with Tips from DiAnn Langer

by Leslie Potter/US Equestrian | August 5, 2025

The newly expanded 2025 USEF Pony Jumper National Championship supported by Youth Show Jumping Foundation opens the door for more pony riders to take on the fun and challenge of the jumper ring. For many the national championship provides a first experience in presenting a pony for the horse inspection, typically referred to simply as “the jog.” DiAnn Langer instructs a jumper at the jog at Pony Finals in 2024. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian DiAnn Langer is the USEF Show

A Pony Who Does It All: Major Blitz RSR and Valentine Russo Set Their Sights on Pony Finals

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 5, 2025

Valentine and Major competing at Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials (©Liz Cawley Photography) Some ponies have a special spark that’s hard to put into words and for 13-year-old Valentine Russo of Ocala, Florida, that spark is embodied in her multi-talented partner and friend, Major Blitz RSR . The pair is preparing to compete in the Pony Jumpers at the 2025 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall + Sterling , and as they get ready to step into the Pony Finals ring for the first time,

Rule Change Submission Deadline Approaches on Sept. 1

by US Equestrian Communications | August 4, 2025

USEF members interested in submitting rule change proposals to the Rulebook must submit their proposals by Sept. 1. This deadline also applies to proposed changes to the General Rules submitted by USEF committees or Recognized Affiliates. USEF Committees and Recognized Affiliates have until Feb.15 to submit proposed changes to division rules. Rule changes submitted by Sept. 1 will go through a series of vetting processes, after which they would be presented to the board for discussion and

Horse Welfare Town Halls: July Events Stimulate Discussion On Ethical Treatment of Horses

by Natalie Voss | July 29, 2025

US Equestrian hosted two horse welfare town hall events in the month of July as part of an ongoing schedule of conversations about prioritizing horse welfare. The most recent events took place July 18 at HITS-Hudson Valley in Saugerties, N.Y., and July 25 at The Oaks in San Juan Capistrano. Since both discussions took place at hunter/jumper events, the topics of discussion focused on welfare concerns specific to those disciplines. The goal for these events is productive, positive,

US Equestrian Mourns the Loss of Cecile Hetzel Dunn

by Natalie Voss | July 29, 2025

US Equestrian sends our condolences to all those who knew and loved Cecile Hetzel Dunn, who passed away July 26 at the age of 89. A well-respected and much-admired equestrian across multiple breeds and disciplines, Dunn was well known for her devotion to the horse and the sport, and for her unwavering dedication to providing guidance to the younger generation. A life-long equestrian, Dunn learned to ride her pony before she could walk. She began her professional career as an instructor at