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The US Equestrian offices are closed on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen on Nov. 12.

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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With Horses, Lucienne Belissimo Feels the Most Like Herself

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | October 11, 2026

Lucienne Bellissimo's earliest riding memory is of a Shetland pony with a strap around its middle, which was there because the children aboard were too small for saddles. She was one or two years old. Born in England's New Forest, where a breed of pony named for the region roams the land, she grew up backing and breaking young ponies, a childhood she describes as "a little bit like the Wild West, but in England." Her mother rode and was involved in racing, so horses were simply the air

Move Over Peanuts: There’s a New Charlie Brown in Town and He’s Taking the Horse World by Storm

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | October 2, 2026

Charlie Brown is a loveable and deeply determined main character who first appeared in the newspaper during the 1950s in a comic strip titled, “Peanuts.” The 8-year-old boy became known for his endless adventures with friends Woodstock and Snoopy, and eventually inspired a television series, “The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show” and many tv specials. The name Charlie Brown is familiar to millions of Americans, but in the equestrian world, it belongs to a different kind of

The Norwegian Horses You Have Never Heard Of

by Debbie Elliot | September 29, 2026

We have all heard of Norwegian Fjords, with their distinctive dun coloring and two-tone mane, but few of us are as familiar with the Norwegian Dole Horse. Dole stallion Snippen; photo courtesy of The Norwegian Stables Also known as the Dole Gudbrandsdal or Dølahest, the Dole originated in the Gudbrandsdal region of Norway and are thought to be descendants of Friesians. They were used as workhorses doing agricultural work or hauling timber for hundreds of years, but as the need for such

University of Miami’s Concussion Research Could Be a Game Changer for Equestrians

by Kimberly Loushin | September 28, 2026

When show jumper Lauren Hayes learned the University of Miami’s Acquired Neurosensory Disorder and Treatment Lab was doing research on equestrians and concussions earlier this year, she was quick to sign up. The lab, which has worked with the Department of Defense and the National Football League, was working to gather data on equestrians with and without a history of concussion to determine a normative value, or baseline, for equestrians. With that value, they could better diagnose and

Therapeutic Use of Stem Cells for Tendon and Ligament Injuries

by Holly White/Grayson Jockey Club | September 28, 2026

For decades, tendon and ligament injuries have been among the most frustrating diagnoses in equine medicine. Whether affecting an elite racehorse or beloved show partner, these injuries often require months of rehabilitation and carry a high risk of re-injury — even after horses appear clinically sound. Today, regenerative medicine is changing that outlook. Thanks in part to research funded by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, veterinarians are gaining a far better

Eventing 101: Everything You Need to Know Before the US Equestrian Open Final

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 24, 2026

Perhaps you’ve seen the ads on social media, or maybe your barn is planning a field trip, or you are local to Morven Park and are looking for an adventure. However you’ve heard about it, the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final has generated excitement among horse enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The US Equestrian Open Eventing Final will bring top athlete-and-horse combinations from not only across the country but around the world, to Morven Park in Leesburg, Va., for the ultimate

Keen: The Racetrack Reject Who Became an American Dressage Legend

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 23, 2026

In 1984, Keen carried Hilda Gurney to her second Olympic Games, and by then he was already a legend. Foaled in 1966, the 17.2-hand chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (Money Broker x Mabel Victory) started life on the racetrack in Southern California, where his sheer size made him too large for a starting gate. It cost him any chance at a successful racing career. Rather than see him traded for cattle, Gurney, a West Coast dressage pioneer, purchased him in 1969 for $1,000 when he was 3 years old and

With Mischief Managed, Dr. Brandy Snedden Found a Passion for Combined Driving

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 23, 2026

Dr. Brandy Snedden didn't set out to become a combined driving competitor. An ambulatory equine veterinarian running her own practice in Thornville, Ohio; a single mother; and a lifelong horse enthusiast, Snedden's path to the sport reads like a string of fortunate coincidences, each one leading naturally to the next. That path – as many good ones do – started with a pony. Brandy Snedden and Mischief Managed (©Photo courtesy of Brandy Snedden) A client of

Why Are There Independent Directors on the USEF Board?

by Kimberly Loushin/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 22, 2026

Shortly after Jon Kreitz retired from the military seven years ago, US Equestrian announced we were accepting nominations for an independent director seat on the board of directors, and one of Kreitz’s neighbors suggested he should look into it. While Kreitz had previous experience serving on the board of other nonprofits and organizations, he’d never been involved with an equestrian one, so he started doing some research. As he read through the requirements and looked at the

From USDF Bronze Medalist to USEF Western Dressage Seat Medal Final, This Partnership Endures

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 22, 2026

Tango and his mohawk Michelle Frank was raised in the saddle, literally and figuratively. Frank’s mother would sit her on the front of her saddle, and she soon found her way to her own stirrups. Frank used to jump when she was younger but found herself gravitating towards dressage. It didn’t take long for the technicality and elegance of the discipline to win her over. With a USDF bronze medal in hand, Frank had turned to western dressage after she started riding Aka Tango, a 2009

5 Reasons to Spend a Fall Weekend in Leesburg, Virginia

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 17, 2026

With the summer officially behind us, it's time to embrace everything that makes fall special: crisp temperatures, vibrant foliage, pumpkin spice lattes, fall festivals, and of course, the highly anticipated US Equestrian Open Eventing Final . Taking place October 8-11, 2026, at Morven Park in Leesburg, Va., the championship brings together top-level sport and endless opportunities to enjoy one of the East Coast’s most charming fall destinations. 1. Celebrate Virginia Wine Month

A New Remount Assessment is Coming for the 2027 Show Season

by Kimberly Loushin/US Equestrian Communications | September 15, 2026

There’s a common adage that you should get back on the horse if you fall, but US Equestrian recognizes that immediately remounting might not to be the safest course of action. As part of ongoing efforts to improve human and equine safety, the USEF board approved a change to GR848.1, which will go into effect December 1, 2026. The change stipulates that participants “who have fallen from a horse or horse-drawn vehicle at a competition, must be examined by the competition Qualified