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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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“It’s a dream come true because, for a long time, I thought it was all gone.”

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 11, 2026

Most equestrians will experience an injury at some point in their lives. Nearly everyone remembers sitting in a doctor’s office, anxiously awaiting the verdict that determines how long they’ll be sidelined, and perhaps more painfully, how much time they’ll spend away from the horses they love. For some, an injury means pressing pause on a dream. For others, it forces a reevaluation of long-term goals. Sometimes, it's simply time away from a place that feels like home.

A Legacy in Two Fillies: How Kristen Petzold is Honoring Her Past Mare, Diamond Dolly, with Kheckmate CL and Kosmic Kreation CL

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 9, 2026

Kristen Petzold has always loved Arabians. Her first horse was an Arabian, and she credits that experience with introducing her to not only a remarkable breed, but a close-knit community that would shape her life. “I’ve been so lucky to have so many horses of a lifetime, and I think partly due to the fact they’re all Arabians,” she said. “The bond you feel with an Arabian is something I haven’t experienced with any other breed of horse. Once I discovered how

No Greater Honor: How Nyssa Sheridan and Her Homebred Mare Turned Setbacks into New Opportunities

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

Nyssa Sheridan has been a part of Chili’s life since the very beginning. From deciding to breed her beloved mare, Dancing Gdynia, to watching the embryo that would become Chili develop through an ultrasound, Sheridan has been a part of her journey every step of the way. Long before Chili entered the show ring, Sheridan was there imagining what kind of horse she might become. Years later, the foal has grown into No Greater Honor+++/, a versatile Arabian mare preparing to compete on one of

The History and Legacy of Paso Finos: From Puerto Rico to Tryon International

by Debbie Elliot | September 6, 2026

The rich breed history of Los Caballos de Paso Fino, better known as the Paso Fino, dates back over 500 years to 1493 when Christopher Columbus brought a combination of Berber Horses (also known as Barbs), Spanish Jennets, and Andalusians to the Americas. Photo courtesy of Javier Suarez Following orders from King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus landed with his horses and Spanish conquistadors on the island of Borinquen at the Bay of Aguada, which is now known as

From Rescue to Show Ring: Zoe Lewis and Pedro's Multi-Generational Journey to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 30, 2026

Some horses are purchased, but some are priceless. Pedro was rescued for $900 out of a neglect situation, and more than a decade later, he's carried two generations of the same family to national competition, most recently finishing sixth in the Aspen Leaf Farm/USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship with 15-year-old Zoe Lewis of Elgin, Texas, in the irons. Pedro and Zoe Lewis with her mother, Marsha (left) and older sister, Ruby (right). (©US Equestrian) Pedro, a 2003 Appaloosa

From the Sidelines to the Podium, Candoit’s Scala Gives Adam Steffens-Smienk a Sweet Return to the Saddle

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 30, 2026

Adam Steffens-Smienk made the move from his native Minnesota to Wellington, Fla. at the age of 16 to chase his dreams. This week, that leap of faith has led him all the way to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at HITS Lamplight Equestrian Center. When Steffens-Smienk made the move, he had to start from the ground up, putting in lots of early mornings. He had started dressage lessons aboard Arabians in Minnesota and made the leap to Florida to accept a working student position at

Bitsy’s Itsy is All Business: A Cheerleader With Boss Mare Energy

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 28, 2026

Elan Stremmel of Cazanozia, N.Y., is making her first appearance at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions this week, riding her longtime partner Bitsy's Itsy, an 11-year-old Connemara-Oldenburg-Thoroughbred cross (Wasabi x Bitsy), in the Aspen Leaf Farm/USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship. Stremmel and Itsy with George Williams, US Equestrian Dressage Youth Coach and High Performance & Pathway Development Advisor (©US Equestrian) "She loves to work, and she loves to

From Yearling to Prix St. Georges, Halegro Has Been by Cassie Benson’s Side

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 26, 2026

Practically raised in the dressage saddle, Cassie Benson grew up riding alongside her family members at Hilltop Dressage, located in Heber City, Utah. Eventually, Benson took over her grandmother’s role in the business as a trainer alongside her aunt, Margo Gogan. As a child, the farm was a haven for Benson. Whether she was frustrated or sad, horses were her safe space, and you could always find her down at the barn. ©Impulsion Images “Being with them, hearing them eat, their

Partnership Comes First for Tillie Jones and Coco as They Contest U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 25, 2026

An impromptu shopping trip for a student turned into Tillie Jones finding her now up-and-coming Grand Prix partner, Cilla Franchesca. “Coco,” as she’s known in the barn, came into Jones’ life when she least expected it, and the pair has blossomed into serious competitors and partners. Finding her way to the saddle at 7, Jones became enamored with the sport after her family surprised her with a horseback riding lesson. “They blindfolded me, took me out to a barn,

Where is My USEF Drugs and Medications Fee Going?

by Natalie Voss | August 24, 2026

If you’ve ever looked at a show bill and grumbled about the $25 you see charged for each entry in USEF fees, you may have wondered where it's all going. Of that $25 fee, $10 is an administration fee that goes towards processing results and expenses to USEF associated with competition, but the portion we get asked about the most is the $15 drugs and medications fee. Drugs and medications testing is part of USEF’s commitment to protecting our equine partners and creating a level

What is the Breakdown of USEF Membership by Breed/Discipline?

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 24, 2026

US Equestrian recognizes 29 unique breeds and disciplines, and we often get questions about the breakdown of our membership across those. In response, we’ve pulled data from the last three years on our competing members. While many members participate in multiple breeds or disciplines, these numbers are based on what the members selected as their primary breed/discipline on their USEF Dashboard. So, while an individual might compete in both hunters and jumpers, if they selected hunter as

What’s the Role of the USEF Veterinary Committee?

by Kimberly Loushin | August 24, 2026

Each of US Equestrian’s 41 committees have vital roles in shaping the sport, and while some pertain to specific breeds and disciplines, others, like the Veterinary Committee, work to benefit the entire federation. The Veterinary Committee is currently comprised of 16 individuals, primarily veterinarians, though there are six riders and trainers serving. While the USOPC requires most national governing body (NGB) committees to be comprised of a certain percentage of athletes, the