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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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Jim Gornall's Reminiscence on Eventing in America

by James “Jim” C. Gornall | April 24, 2023

Caveat: The writing that follows may not be exactly historically accurate. These are recollections from a long time ago when I was a young man just beginning my lifelong involvement with the sport of eventing. Since I am neither a scholarly researcher nor a trained journalist, everything I write is limited by my personal experience which, as we all know, is only a small slice of what might have been going on elsewhere and by all the usual frailties of human memory. I rode in my first event at

Source of Inspiration Turned Coach-Student Partnership

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | April 11, 2023

Fiona Howard and Jagger exit the ring with coach Kate Shoemaker at the CHI Al Shaqab CPEDI3*. (© CHI Al Shaqab) Fiona Howard has made quite an impression with her recent performances at para dressage CPEDI competitions. Howard is a dedicated equestrian , and her success also is due in part to Kate Shoemaker, a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic team bronze medalist and 2022 FEI Para Dressage World Championship individual silver and team bronze medalist. Shoemaker and her Tokyo mount, Solitaer 40,

First-Timers’ Thoughts on FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | April 9, 2023

The U.S. contingent had six rookies competing in the FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023. One dressage combination and five jumping combinations delivered solid performances in front of a home crowd in their first FEI World Cup Finals. They gained valuable experience at the international championship that will serve them for upcoming competitions and years to come. Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF were the rookie combination in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final presented by Havensafe Farm.

#HorseProtectors Pledge: Ensuring Social License to Operate

by Christina Keim for the EQUUS Foundation | April 5, 2023

The concept of “social license to operate” has quickly become a hot topic in barn aisles across the country. When an activity has social license, it has the support of the general public. In our highly interconnected world, the beliefs of the public at large, and particularly animal lovers, increasingly will have an impact on how equestrian sport is viewed and how our competition and pleasure horses live. It is the equine community’s collective responsibility to live up to our

2023 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final: U.S. Vaulting Preview

by Matt Turer/US Equestrian Communications Department | April 5, 2023

The captivating sport of vaulting claims its spot on the FEI World Cup™ Finals stage in Omaha with a pair of U.S. Vaulting representatives in Daniel Janes and Kimmy Palmer. Janes and Palmer will each vault on Romeo, with Christoph Lensing lunging. Vaulters at the World Cup will perform a Technical Test and a Freestyle Test. With Palmer ranked second in the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ – Female rankings and Janes ninth in the male rankings, each enters the Burlington Capital FEI

2023 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final: U.S. Jumping Preview

by Leslie Potter | April 5, 2023

Nine athlete-and-horse combinations will be representing the U.S. on one of the biggest stages in equestrian sports when the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final takes place in Omaha, Neb., April 5-8. Simonne Berg and Cooper. ©Andrew Ryback Photography Simonne Berg and Cooper Simonne Berg is the owner and manager of Berg Equestrian Enterprises, a sales and training facility in Santa Rosa, Calif. She and her 2007 KWPN gelding, Cooper, will be making their World Cup Finals debut this

2023 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final: U.S. Dressage Preview

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | April 4, 2023

Three U.S. combinations head to Omaha, Neb., for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final presented by Havensafe Farm held during the FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023. The U.S. dressage duos of Anna Buffini and FRH Davinia la Douce, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, and Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF get the added benefit of performing in front of a home crowd at this year’s Final. They will head down centerline in the Grand Prix on Wednesday, April 5, and the winner will be determined

Reflecting on the FEI World Cup™ Finals with Debbie McDonald

by Leslie Potter | April 4, 2023

The 2023 FEI World Cup Finals are set to take place in Omaha, Neb., returning to the United States 20 years after the first-ever win by an American dressage athlete. In 2003, Debbie McDonald and Brentina, the 1991 Hanoverian mare owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas, earned the World Cup Final victory in Göteborg, Sweden. Two years later, they had another podium finish when they won third place at the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Nev., thanks in part to their electric musical

How Do the FEI World Cup™ Finals Work?

by US Equestrian Communications Department | April 3, 2023

The FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023 will be a thrilling international championship held on U.S. soil. The world’s top athletes in dressage, jumping, and vaulting will compete in Omaha as the culmination of their respective FEI World Cup 2022/2023 seasons to determine the ultimate winners. Since the qualification process and event format can seem complicated, here is an explainer to better understand the prestigious event. Dressage For the 2023 World Cup Final, athletes had from the

Keeping Your Stable Safe & Secure During Competitions

by US Equestrian Communications Department | March 7, 2023

With show season moving into full swing in many parts of the country, it’s important as a barn owner, stable manager, or exhibitor that you remain vigilant and prioritize safety and security in your stabling area, particularly at a competition. Unintended contamination, trespassing, and stealing are all behaviors or outcomes that can occur if your stables aren’t protected and secure. We’re providing a few tips and recommendations on how to ensure your stable and the horses in

A Well-Earned Retirement for Sanceo

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

On February 19, 2023, U.S. dressage athlete Sabine Schut-Kery announced the retirement of her longtime partner, Sanceo. The pair had an illustrious career together, achieving many top results on the world stage. As a six-year-old, Sanceo competed in the 2012 FEI Dressage World Championships for Young Horses. The pair won the 2014 Markel/USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage National Champion title and helped the U.S. Dressage Team claim gold at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

Rewinding the U.S. Eventing Emerging and Development Training Sessions

by Matt Turer/US Equestrian Communications Department | February 8, 2023

Over the last month, U.S. Eventing hosted its annual series of training sessions in Ocala, Fla., beginning with the Emerging Training Session from January 16-19 and ending with the Development Training Session and Elite and Pre-Elite Training Sessions from January 30 through February 2. The programs are part of the U.S. Eventing Pathway, which is focused on developing combinations to deliver sustainable success in team competition at the championship level. In total, 24 athletes were named to