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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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Meet Our Board Members: Diane Pitts

by Kimberly Loushin | April 26, 2026

For Diane Pitts, her entrance to the horse world and eventually equestrian governance was the result of a request from her youngest son, who came home one day and said he wanted to start riding. She signed him up for a camp, not knowing it would become a lifetime passion for him, or that the horse world would become a mainstay in her life. Prior to that, Pitts, who grew up in a globe-trotting Army family, had limited horse exposure, largely through a few leisurely trail rides, though some of

How Does Someone Join the US Equestrian Board of Directors?

by Natalie Voss | April 26, 2026

We know members are curious about the decisionmakers who lead the US Equestrian Federation. Some of you may be wondering how board members are elected and who each one represents. The USEF bylaws outline the makeup of the Federation’s board. The board is comprised of 21 individuals, with seats divided between various groups to give representation to a range of stakeholders. As the governing body of Olympic and Paralympic sports, USEF also must adhere to the federal law, which mandates

Finding Her Stride: Meg Pellegrini’s Road to Kentucky and Involvement in the USEF Eventing Pathway Programs

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | April 22, 2026

Meg Pellegrini has emerged as one of eventing’s rising talents, building a reputation of consistent results over the past several years. Her momentum was further validated earlier this year when she was named to the 2026 USEF Eventing Development 25 Program. Pellegrini now plans to compete in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, a US Equestrian Open Eventing qualifier. ©US Equestrian Raised in Oklahoma, Pellegrini was the first in her family to develop an interest in horses. “No one

Six Things to Experience at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian™

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | April 21, 2026

The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day presented by MARS Equestrian™ is days away with the first draw of horses set to head down the center line on Thursday, April 23 rd . An elite field of world-class horse and athlete combinations will compete across three phases including dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The best weekend all year is not only comprised of exciting competition but also unlimited shopping, delicious food, and so much more! Defender Defender, the title sponsor of

From “Just for Fun” to Five-Star: BSF Liam’s Path to the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | April 20, 2026

When Braden Speck’s trainer, Erin Strader, received a phone call in 2019 from longtime friend, Annie Goodwin, telling her she had the perfect horse for Speck, no one could have predicted just how far the partnership would go. What began as a horse to heal Speck’s heart, has evolved into a remarkable journey of resilience and partnership, with Speck and BSF Liam now preparing to make their CCI5* debut. Speck and Liam | Photo provided by Speck BSF Liam, simply known as

Behind the Whistle: The Outriders of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | April 15, 2026

Cross country day at the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian is a highlight for spectators that travel to the Bluegrass from across the nation. More than 50 athlete-and-horse combinations will gallop through the Kentucky Horse Park, tackling imposing fences, water complexes, and technical terrain in the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L. With crowds lining the lanes to watch their favorite combination soar over the famed Ditch Brush or splash into the Head of the Lake, safety, for

The Long Game: Isabelle Bosley’s Patient Path to Kentucky with Conner

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

The first time Isabelle Bosley sat on Conner, she knew he was something special. “The moment I sat on him, the feeling he gave, the balance he had as a straggly little five-year-old, was just something I had never felt before,” she recalled. Conner, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Casiro 3 x Monique) owned by Karen Martin, had been imported from Germany by Kara Angulo in the fall of 2022 and Bosley had been waiting. She told Angula at the Maryland 5 Star the previous year that she had

US Equestrian Allocates $100,000 to Safety Vest Study, Adds $100,000 to Chromatic Fund as Part of Ongoing Commitment to Research

by Natalie Voss | April 9, 2026

US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the Federation has committed $100,000 over two years toward an ongoing, international research effort into equestrian safety vests. The decision was made at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors in February. While equestrian riding helmets have a standardized system for testing and rating products from different manufacturers, there is far less standardization of rating safety vests in equestrian sports. Many international ratings systems are

Very Dignified: Building a Partnership from the Ground Up

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | April 6, 2026

At the 2025 US Equestrian Open Eventing Final, a new partnership became the talk of the weekend. Will Coleman and Very Dignified delivered an impressive performance in their CCI4*-L debut, finishing third in a highly competitive field. After a bold and efficient cross-country round vaulting them from 18th place to 6th, the duo sealed their podium finish with a fault-free show jumping round, proving their fresh partnership had already started to find its rhythm. ©US Equestrian To

Meet RWC Collier County: A Talented Saddlebred with an Unconventional Beginning

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian | March 27, 2026

In 2017, Ricky Kamins made the final bid at the Texas ASB Futurity Stallion Auction, right before bids closed. The auction, managed by friend and longtime trainer, Sandra Currier, featured 34 premier American Saddlebred Stallion stud services. Kamins hadn’t planned on bidding, but when County Treasure remained the last stallion without a single offer, he decided to take a chance. “I just bought it so Sandy could be 100% sold out,” Kamins said. With no open mare available, he

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