US Equestrian

Become a Member

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.

Both newsletters are free to USEF members (including fans). Make sure you’re receiving both by checking your email preferences in your My USEF Dashboard.

Subscribe to Newsletters and receive a FREE US Equestrian Fan Membership!

USEF Amateur Task Force Completes Work on Amateur Status Rule Updates

by Leslie Potter | June 21, 2022

Since its creation in early 2021, the USEF Amateur Task Force has worked to clarify and update the rules surrounding amateur and professional status for adult competitors at licensed events. US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the Task Force has completed its assignment. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian The Amateur Task Force consists of representatives from across US Equestrian-affiliated breeds and disciplines, and through focus groups, member surveys, and comments received through the

Bryanna Tanase Uses Her Platform as Ms. Wheelchair Florida to Promote Para Dressage

by Kathleen Landwehr | May 31, 2022

Bryanna Tanase of Trinity, Fla., made the transition from therapeutic riding to para dressage in 2019. Now she’s a Grade I para dressage rider has high aspirations for her riding career. She won the Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2022 title and is using her platform to spread the word about equine-assisted therapy and para dressage. Tanase shared insights on her journey as an equestrian, what people should know about therapeutic riding and para dressage, and what it takes to be a para equestrian

A Mother’s Day Story: Mom and Daughter Bond Over Paso Finos

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | May 3, 2022

Equestrians can develop impactful relationships with the people they encounter in the horse industry. The shared passion of horses is something special, and that is especially true among family members. Barbara and Billieanna Miranda are a mother-daughter duo from Summerfield, Fla., who both love horses, in particular Paso Fino horses. Billieanna and Barbara Miranda at a horse show (Courtesy of Barbara Miranda) Mom Barbara first got her taste for horses when her parents took her for pony rides

LRK3DE Offers Something for Everyone

by US Equestrian Communications Department | April 26, 2022

The LRK3DE is one of only seven CCI5*-L events in the world (Leslie Potter/US Equestrian) The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ is set to begin this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The event touts itself as being the #BestWeekendAllYear and for good reason. It hosts one of only seven CCI5*-L events in the world and gives all attendees, from competitor to spectator, a world-class experience. In addition to the overall CCI5*-L competition,

How It Works: Competition Evaluation and Compliance

by Leslie Potter | April 19, 2022

The USEF Compliance Department works to ensure that competition facilities, such as stabling and arena footing, are safe and up to standard. ©Taylor Pence/US Equestrian US Equestrian licensed competitions are required to maintain a level of quality and service for participants in order to maintain their affiliation. When an aspect of a competition’s facilities or related services isn’t up to standard, the path to resolution goes through the dedicated staff within US

Riding in Qatar with the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team

by Leslie Potter | March 15, 2022

Doha, Qatar – The Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team has earned unprecedented levels of success over the past few years, including reaching the top of the FEI Para Dressage World Team Ranking and bringing home the country’s first-ever Paralympic team medal in equestrian at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The para dressage program looks to continue its successful streak heading toward the FEI World Championships in August, and a few U.S. athletes had the opportunity to kick off the 2022

Achieving a Work/Riding Balance

February 22, 2022

"Transitioning into my current role and getting to work remotely honestly made me enjoy work again," said Helen Voss, shown with Cantina. Photo: Audrey Jezek Photography If you struggle to balance your work life with time at the barn, Helen Voss understands. As the sales and marketing manager and national accounts coordinator for Horseshoe Greetings , she keeps a busy daily schedule. But she’s serious about her riding, too, and like many working amateur equestrians she has had to do some

How it Works: USEF Competition Licensing

by Leslie Potter | February 15, 2022

When Derek Braun decided to launch the first edition of what would becoming the Split Rock Jumping Tour, he was looking to fill a particular niche. A lifelong show jumping competitor and a professional in the industry, Braun had been to horse shows around the country and the world and knew the need he wanted his shows to meet. But building a new event from scratch is no small feat, and today Braun says that working with USEF on the licensing process for that first show in 2015 was instrumental

10 Things We Learned from the 2022 Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week

by Leslie Potter | January 25, 2022

Sabine Schut-Kery instructing Bianca Schmidt. ©Taylor Pence Photography Each winter, some of the country’s top up-and-coming dressage riders are invited to learn from the pros at the Robert Dover USEF Horsemastership Clinic Week. The 2022 clinic began with an introductory lecture on dressage theory from Dover himself and continued with instruction from clinicians George Williams, Sabine Schut-Kery, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Ali Brock, and Adrienne Lyle. Watch Robert Dover's dressage

Dr. Rick Mitchell Q&A: What’s Next in Veterinary Medicine?

by Glenye Cain Oakford | January 18, 2022

Dr. Rick Mitchell Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Rick Mitchell Dr. Rick Mitchell understands horses inside and out, as both an equine veterinarian and a longtime equestrian. He grew up among horses at his family’s North Carolina farm and competed as a child in both the saddle seat and hunter jumper disciplines before becoming focusing on hunter jumper sport exclusively as an adult. He has served as a licensed judge, coach, and trainer during his varied and successful equestrian career. A graduate

USEF Congratulates 2021 Emerson Burr Horsemanship Grant Winners

by Samantha Robinson | January 3, 2022

After a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Emerson Burr Horsemanship Grant program welcomed over 100 participants in both Zone competitions and the national competition at the USEF Pony Finals presented by Honor Hill Farms. The Emerson Burr Horsemanship Grant program promotes proper horsemanship among equestrian youth by encouraging juniors, and specifically the many pony riders competing in hunter/jumper sections, to learn about and practice their horsemanship skills. The program

10 Questions for Electronic Vet’s Dr. Barbara Blasko

by Glenye Cain Oakford | December 28, 2021

Electronic Vet's Dr. Barbara Blasko competers her horse Dior in the low amateur jumpers (Captured Moment Photography) Dr. Barbara Blasko, a jumping athlete and horse owner, knows about the pitfalls of paper veterinary records from an unfortunate personal experience in 2013. “The horse I had was being shipped to a horse show, and when he got there he didn’t have his vaccine record. The paper wasn’t there, so he wasn’t allowed to enter the showgrounds,” recalled