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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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Stars, Stripes, and Saturday Night Lights: Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix Returns to Wellington International to Kick-Off 2026 Rolex Series

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | March 26, 2026

Wellington, Florida has long held a singular place in the world of equestrian sport. Since the Winter Equestrian Festival first began in 1974, the West Palm Beach-area venue has grown into the largest and longest-running hunter/jumper horse show in the world. The grounds at Wellington International are open for twelve weeks, sprawl across 111-acres, and become an annual sanctuary for over 7,000 horses and 4,000 equestrian athletes from around the world. Christian Kukuk and Checker 47, winners

A Horse That Lives Up to His Name: Meet Gold Play

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | March 22, 2026

When Jordan LaPlaca traveled to Hagen, Germany, to shop for a Grand Prix prospect at Hof Kasselmann, Gold Play wasn't even on the roster. Younger than LaPlaca had in mind, the bay gelding was pulled out almost as an afterthought at the very end of the visit. The fateful day Jordan met GP in Hagen, Germany at Hof Kasselmann. Pictured with German dressage athlete, Frederic Wandres. (Courtesy of Jordan LaPlaca) It took about thirty seconds in the saddle to change everything. "It was like

USEF Mythbusters: Microchips Are For Biosecurity, Not Pedigree Verification

by Natalie Voss | March 20, 2026

As we near the implementation date of the US Equestrian rule requiring microchips to be on file for all horses participating in endorsed competitions, you may be hearing continued buzz about why the USEF board passed this rule back in 2023. Earlier this year, a presidential modification delayed implementation of this rule from Dec. 1, 2025 to Dec. 1, 2026. (If you are one of many members who got your horse’s microchip implanted and on their record last year, we thank you for your

Clarity, Obedience, Care, Loyalty: A Few of the Ingredients To Successful Governance

by Danielle Henson | March 18, 2026

From the outside, it can be hard to know how governing bodies like US Equestrian should (and shouldn’t) function internally and externally. In a presentation at the 2026 USEF Annual meeting, Dr. David Patterson, Senior Governance Advisor at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) offered a thoughtful and practical framework for effective governance, grounded in shared values, clear roles, and principled leadership. At its core, the discussion emphasized that sport (and

US Equestrian and Safe Sport: Who, What, and Why

by Natalie Voss | March 18, 2026

If you compete in US Equestrian-sanctioned events, you receive a prompt each year to complete a refresher of Safe Sport training – but do you know how this program came about, or what happens if someone violates one of the policies? First of all, it’s important to know that Safe Sport is a global initiative to promote an abuse and harassment free culture in sport, and is not limited to equestrian sports. In the mid-2010s, a number of USA Olympic sports faced crises as

Balancing Books and Horses: How Eventer Mya Poulos Rode Her Way to the 2025 YETI/USEF CCI2* Eventing Amateur National Championship

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | March 15, 2026

(©Shannon Brinkman) Mya Poulos spent the 2025 season doing what she does every year: mapping out her competition schedule, trusting her horses and her plan, and putting in the work. Throughout last year’s season, she logged a remarkable 17 runs with three of her top horses at the CCI2* level which was more than any other competitor in the USEF National Championships League and emerged as the YETI/USEF CCI2* Eventing Amateur National Champion. What makes the accomplishment even more

Why What You Eat Impacts How You Ride

by Debbie Elliot | March 13, 2026

We all know that a balanced diet with essential nutrients will improve your horse’s performance but often overlook the impact of nutrition on our own performance and mindset. We have all heard the famous quote, “You are what you eat,” and what we consume truly impacts how we look, feel, and think, as well as our stress management, energy levels, and immune system. Not only does the right diet make us healthier and happy overall — it also makes us better equestrians.

‘Full Send’: After Years of Carrying Everything, She Found a Horse Who Gave Her Clarity

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | March 12, 2026

"Little Orchid" and Justin showing at Ledges in the late 90s. At 10 a.m. sharp, Orchid Bertelsen was ready. Forms filled out. Credit card saved. Filters pre-selected. Cursor hovering. “It’s literally like trying to get Taylor Swift tickets,” she said, laughing. The mission? Summer camp registration. “In previous years, it was fully booked by 10:03,” she explained. “So, the night before, I needed to make sure everything was filled out. I needed to make

Horse Suspensions Included in New Penalty Guidelines for Drugs & Medications Cases

by Natalie Voss | March 5, 2026

In February, the USEF Board adopted new penalty guidelines for drugs and medications cases, which will guide both informal resolutions and cases before the Hearing Committee. You can find a link to the full guidelines here . The updated guidelines were designed with three goals in mind: Enhance member awareness of the process and promote understanding of what to expect if they are notified of a positive finding. Better reflect how penalties for certain substances are currently treated.

Hollywood’s Oscar-Nominated and Winning Equestrians

by Debbie Elliot | March 5, 2026

On Sunday, March 15, Hollywood’s elite will gather at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 98th Academy Awards. While movie stars and filmmakers wear their finest designer dresses and custom suits on Oscar night, many of them are more comfortable in riding clothes in real-life as they indulge their passion for horses. As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors the best films and performances of the past year, we are celebrating former Oscar nominees and winners who

What Can Equestrians Learn From Olympic Runners? It’s All About Technology

by Debbie Elliot | March 4, 2026

What if you could see what a dressage judge sees when they watch your test? Or ask your phone to tell you whether you’re unwittingly leaning in your saddle? It may sound futuristic, but those tools are now a reality. With the advancement of AI diagnostics and analysis, technology is increasingly impacting all areas of our lives, from telehealth and remote learning to global communication. USEF is committed to utilizing the latest technology to improve competition outcomes, and to

From Forgotten to Forever: Danielle and Ivie’s Story

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | March 4, 2026

In the summer of 2013, freshman Danielle Keating was studying pre-vet at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. What she didn’t realize was that a simple volunteering opportunity would lead to a lifelong partnership with a very special Morgan mare. Keating had fallen in love with Morgans early in her riding career, so when Medina County SPCA reached out about helping with a group of 30 Morgans seized from a hoarding situation, she and a friend jumped at the chance. Keating and Ivie |