The Board of US Equestrian approved amendments to two rules at its Aug. 26 board meeting dealing with blood on horses, hunter Channel II points, and mileage. Those changes are viewable here . GR 843: Blood Rule After additional adjustments and discussion following the mid-year board meeting, a change to GR 843 regarding blood on horses in competition has been passed. The rule is intended to protect horse welfare while acknowledging that a variety of situations may result in the presence of...

Samantha and Candy Crush at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian) For youth athlete Samantha MacDonald, there’s no question who the star of the barn is: her pony, Candy Crush. Known affectionately as “Crush” or “Crushy,” this pint-sized powerhouse has captured hearts with his mix of sweetness, spunk, and undeniable charisma. “He is just the best pony ever,” Samantha said with a laugh. “He is really...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce that it has awarded more than $128,000 in USEF Opportunity Fund grants to 13 USEF Community Outreach Organizations in the fund’s second year. The 2023 USEF Opportunity Fund grants will support a range of projects, from expanding programming and purchasing safety equipment to infrastructure improvements and business operations support. Grantees are listed below in alphabetical order: Beachwood Center for Wellbeing (Charlestown, R....