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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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USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program Members Attended 2023 USOPC Training Camp

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | January 2, 2024

Christian Simonson, Erin Nichols, Tiggy Gates, and Ellanor Boehning grab a photo outside of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. (Courtesy of Tiggy Gates) Last year, four USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program members attended a four-day training camp at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. Ellanor Boehning (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), Tiggy Gates (Encinitas, Calif.), Erin Nichols (Yorba Linda, Calif.), and Christian

Breeding a Horse of a Different Color: The Trends and Science Behind Horse Coloration

by Emily Girard | December 19, 2023

Colors and patterns in horses are determined by multiple different genes. Photo: Leslie Potter/US Equestrian From buckskin to palomino to roan to Appaloosa, variations in coat color can be seen across multiple breeds. Though many physical traits in animals are caused by one gene, coat color is more complicated. While some horse breeders might not consider color as a factor when they plan matings, for others, the potential offspring’s color can be important, whether for personal preference

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Manes For Movement

by US Equestrian Communications Department | December 12, 2023

Manes for Movement provides both equine-assisted therapies and recreational equine activities to children and adults with a variety of developmental, genetic, and neuromuscular diagnoses, including but not limited to autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and a variety of genetic syndromes. Manes for Movement also serves individuals from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds in the South Bay of Los Angeles Community. Since its

“Mules Can Dance Too”: The Diversity of Western Dressage

by Emily Girard | November 29, 2023

Lauren Dutton and Ooops See Daisy have won multiple world championships in Western dressage. Photo: Nicole Pols The Western dressage discipline is open to all breeds and types of equines, with its main focus being communication between horse and rider. One of these riders is Lauren Dutton, who competes in Western dressage with her mule Ooops See Daisy. “I bought a Quarter Horse gelding and then needed a buddy because we bought a farm and had a lot of land, and that's how I got the

Behind the Scenes of NBC’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games Commercial

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | November 28, 2023

Ashley Holzer and Valentine dressed for the commercial shoot. (US Equestrian) If you tuned in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Thanksgiving Day NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, NBC’s latest commercial promoting the Paris 2024 Olympic Games may have caught your attention. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion stars in the commercial alongside six U.S. Dressage athletes and their horses performing piaffe, passage, and canter pirouettes in front of a

How Young Riders From the Benestar Ranch Fundraised Their Way to Grand National Dreams

by Leslie Potter | November 21, 2023

At the 2023 International Friesian Horse Show Association (IFSHA) Grand National, there was a group of young riders who stood out. They could be seen competing in-hand and under saddle, supporting each other on the rail and sharing enthusiastic hugs in the warm-up ring after a successful class, even when they were competing against each other. None of these youth equestrians had competed at this level before, and their inspiring journey to the championship was the talk of the show. Friesian

2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals Theme Acknowledged Native American Culture

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | November 14, 2023

In April, the 2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Omaha, Neb., served as an exciting equestrian event on U.S. soil. The event had a theme that incorporated Native American culture and their involvement with horses. For Native American Heritage Month, US Equestrian spoke with Julie Boilesen, Omaha Equestrian Foundation ’s Chief Executive Officer, and Steve Tamayo, Bluebird Cultural Initiative ’s founder, to learn how the event’s theme came about, how it complemented the event,

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Taking the Reins

November 7, 2023

Located within the city limits of Los Angeles, California, Taking the Reins (TTR) is instrumental in providing equine opportunities for their local community. TTR is dedicated to helping historically under-served girls learn how to navigate their future and maximize their potential by creating an environment for exploration and growth. The focus of TTR’s programming can be found in four pillars – confidence, leadership, responsibility, and teamwork. TTR provides a safe and nurturing

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Lucky Orphans

by US Equestrian Communications Department | November 3, 2023

People Helping Horses Heal People is the mission that guides everything Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue does. Based in Dover Plains, N.Y., as a sanctuary, Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue is committed to the life-long wellbeing of their horses and believes in the healing bond between humans and horses. Founded by Deanna Mancuso and inspired by her grandfather, the organization has helped many horses and people find a more promising and meaningful future. As a USEF Community Outreach Organzation, Lucky

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Mustang Troop

by US Equestrian Communications Department | November 3, 2023

The Kentucky Horse Park Mustang Troop has been serving youth in central Kentucky since 1994. Developed by the Kentucky Horse Park’s Equine Education Department, the Mustang Troop serves at-risk youth by providing lessons focused on horsemanship and riding. The Mustang Troop program provides a horse camp-style experience for underserved children who, in many cases, would not have the opportunity to interact with horses. For the youth who attended, the time spent with these horses was

“It’s Important To Be Well-Rounded”: Balancing Eventing and Licensed Official Training

by Emily Girard | October 27, 2023

Helen Alliston competes with Ebay at the 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*-S. Photo: Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Helen Alliston has been riding horses for over 20 years, competing in eventing at the FEI 2*, 3*, and 4* level. She currently runs Alliston Equestrian, a training program in the East San Francisco Bay area, alongside her husband, James. In addition to riding and training, she is also working to become a licensed official. Alliston started to pursue her licenses out of a

Five Things to Know About Your First Vaulting Lesson

by Emily Girard | October 26, 2023

Krista Mack, the head trainer for Woodside Vaulters in Woodside, Calif., described vaulting as gymnastics on horseback combined with theatrical dance and ice skating. “Our routines are also done to music, and there's choreography involved, but we also have a set of compulsories that each vaulter needs to do,” Mack said. “Some vaulters also have some sort of love of dance or gymnastics too, so vaulting becomes very appealing to them in that aspect.” Vaulting also