Search
Become a Member
  1. Home
  2. Equestrian Weekly

Equestrian Weekly

The all new Equestrian Weekly newsletter showcases the best of US Equestrian, including new Learning Center videos, the USEF Network schedule, and original articles. Equestrian Weekly keeps members informed about affiliate news, international competitions, information on rule changes, membership updates, special member offers, and more.

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

Sign Up

Nine Lives and a Big Personality

by Kathleen Landwehr | Jan 23, 2018, 4:00 PM EST

Sarah Medler and Ares competing at the 2017 IFSHA World & Grand National Championships (Avalon Photography) Sarah Medler and Ares, her 17-year-old Friesian gelding, were featured in the Snapshot department of the 2017 winter issue of US Equestrian magazine . The photo showed two individuals, human and equine, who appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves while competing at the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFHSA) World & Grand National Championship. US Equestrian...

Seven Ways Vaulting Can Improve Your Ride

by Glenye Cain Oakford | Jan 16, 2018, 3:00 PM EST

Vaulting —gymnastics on horseback—is one of the world’s oldest equestrian sports. And while it might look exotic to those of us more used to riding or driving, the sport of vaulting offers a wealth of great training for any equestrian, regardless of discipline. Not surprisingly, many vaulters have fast-tracked into other disciplines, like dressage, jumping, and eventing, after building a strong foundation in vaulting. So what can you get from vaulting? We asked two vaulting...

Know Your Treats: Some Natural Ingredients Can Cause Accidental Drug Positives

by Glenye Oakford | Dec 26, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

Photo Credit: Kim Russell Photo If you like to reward your horse with edible treats, remember to be mindful of exactly what you’re feeding: some natural ingredients, like honey and licorice, can cause an accidental drug positive. “You may think something sounds familiar and benign, but you don’t necessarily know what’s in it,” said Dr. Stephen Schumacher, DVM, chief administrator of US Equestrian’s Equine Drugs and Medications Program. “You know the...

Hoof Help: White Line Disease

by Glenye Oakford | Dec 19, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

Like thrush, white line disease is a fairly simple hoof ailment that is not terribly difficult to treat, provided it’s caught early. “White line disease is often a mixed fungal and bacterial infection, and, like thrush, it’s opportunistic,” said Dr. Bryan Fraley of Fraley Equine Podiatry at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute . “It likes to capitalize on any little defect in the hoof wall that will give these organisms a chance to get up under the hoof wall. It grows...

Dressage Trainer Jim Koford on Friesians, Freestyles, and Coloring Outside the Lines

by Glenye Oakford | Nov 28, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

Adiah HP just loves to dance. That’s how her trainer and rider Jim Koford puts it. “It’s physical, and it’s exciting, and you have to stay on your game!” Koford said of partnering Adiah in the dressage ring. Adiah HP and Jim Koford during their Grand Prix Open freestyle championship ride at US Dressage Finals earlier this month. Photo by SusanJStickle.com. Their joy in performing is obvious—you can watch their winning performance in the Grand Prix Open...

Filing a Repeat MPA Disclosure Form Online Just Got Easier!

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Nov 14, 2017, 4:13 PM EST

Effective Sept. 1, 2017, the United States Equestrian Federation requires the reporting of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) administration within 90 days before a USEF-licensed competition, and a new form must be filed with each subsequent MPA administration. The electronic MPA Disclosure Form is the fastest, easiest way to file. And if you have repeat administrations to report, that process just got even easier, thanks to a new autofill feature that automatically adds your horse’s...

Horses are Helping Veterans Find New Joy—and a Path to Equestrian Sport

by Glenye Oakford | Nov 7, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

When U.S. Army veteran Seyward McKinney took fifth place recently in a dressage competition at the Virginia Horse Center with a Quarter Horse mare named Trinity, it wasn’t just any result. It was an important early milestone in what McKinney hopes will become a competitive para-dressage career, thanks to programs that are introducing military veterans to horses—often for the first time—both for therapy and for sport. Seyward McKinney and Trinity. Photo by Sonya Weaver....

Preparing the Older Horse for Winter

by Glenye Cain Oakford | Nov 7, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

Aged horses need a little extra support when winter settles in with cold temperatures and snow. We asked Dr. Luke Fallon of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., for an autumn to-do list that can help you prepare an older or geriatric horse for the coming season. First, discuss a plan with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can help with all aspects of aged-horse care, from a proper diet to hoof condition to management of arthritis. Ask your vet to assess your horse and provide...

Giving to Honor Human and Equine Veterans

by Glenye Oakford | Nov 7, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

Horses have been veterans, too. During World War I, the U.S. shipped about 1 million horses and mules to Europe to assist the allied war effort. Photo by William Ivor Castle/Wikimedia Commons The military and horses have a long shared history, starting with their partnership on the battlefield. Today, there’s still a deep connection through a number of charities. In advance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we highlight two that bring horses and veterans together and one that honors...

For Para-Dressage Athlete Mary Jordan, Riding is “Spiritual Medicine”

by Ashley Swift | Oct 31, 2017, 3:00 PM EST

Mary Jordan, a lifelong equestrian and a developing Grade V para-dressage athlete, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 15 years ago. But despite the ups and downs that accompany the neurological disease and treatment, Jordan has always found a way back to the saddle. Mary Jordan and Rubicon 75 Photo: RMBPhotography.com Jordan competes in both para- and able-bodied dressage. Last month, she won the Grade V Freestyle class at the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship, and now...