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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.

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Rule Change Submission Deadline Approaches on Sept. 1

by US Equestrian Communications | Aug 4, 2025, 10:46 AM EST

USEF members interested in submitting rule change proposals to the Rulebook must submit their proposals by Sept. 1. This deadline also applies to proposed changes to the General Rules submitted by USEF committees or Recognized Affiliates. USEF Committees and Recognized Affiliates have until Feb.15 to submit proposed changes to division rules. Rule changes submitted by Sept. 1 will go through a series of vetting processes, after which they would be presented to the board for discussion and...

Horse Welfare Town Halls: July Events Stimulate Discussion On Ethical Treatment of Horses

by Natalie Voss | Jul 29, 2025, 1:04 PM EST

US Equestrian hosted two horse welfare town hall events in the month of July as part of an ongoing schedule of conversations about prioritizing horse welfare. The most recent events took place July 18 at HITS-Hudson Valley in Saugerties, N.Y., and July 25 at The Oaks in San Juan Capistrano. Since both discussions took place at hunter/jumper events, the topics of discussion focused on welfare concerns specific to those disciplines. The goal for these events is productive, positive,...

US Equestrian Mourns the Loss of Cecile Hetzel Dunn

by Natalie Voss | Jul 29, 2025, 11:38 AM EST

US Equestrian sends our condolences to all those who knew and loved Cecile Hetzel Dunn, who passed away July 26 at the age of 89. A well-respected and much-admired equestrian across multiple breeds and disciplines, Dunn was well known for her devotion to the horse and the sport, and for her unwavering dedication to providing guidance to the younger generation. A life-long equestrian, Dunn learned to ride her pony before she could walk. She began her professional career as an instructor at her...

Reflections From an Olympic Equestrian

by Allyson Mattingly | Jul 14, 2025, 12:52 PM EST

Competing in the Olympic Games is often described as the pinnacle of an athlete’s career, but for equestrian legend David O’Connor, the experience went beyond winning medals. His Olympic appearances on the U.S. Eventing Team at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Summer Games weren’t just defining moments in his career - they were personal, transformative journeys that would stay with him forever. 1996 Atlanta Olympics O'Connor and Custom Made, who he rode in the 2000 Olympic...

GallopNYC Brings the “Transformative Power” of Horses to Manhattan’s Central Park

by Mikhail Proctor | Jul 7, 2025, 10:55 AM EST

New York City’s Central Park, one of the most iconic urban parks in the world, offers a relaxed reprieve from the busy city atmosphere of Manhattan. Popular activities in Central Park range from walking, rollerblading, and cycling, to concerts, events, picnics — and even interactions with horses. This is exactly what GallopNYC provided on May 18, 2025, by hosting the Central Park Promenade, a family-friendly event sharing the magic of horses with New Yorkers. Central Park Promenade...

2025 BreyerFest Celebrates 5* Eventer Tight Lines

by Debbie Elliot | Jul 3, 2025, 1:33 PM EST

Throughout his illustrious career, Tight Lines (a.k.a. “Phish”) achieved impressive feats such as representing the U.S. in the 2018 World Equestrian Games with Olympic eventer Will Coleman, and competing at the Kentucky 3-Day Event, the Maryland 5*, and the Defender Burghley 5*. Now the 18-year-old French Thoroughbred (Turgeon x Tel Quel) has been immortalized as the 2025 Celebration Horse at BreyerFest, which takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., from July 11-13....

The History of Horses and Independence Day

by Allyson Mattingly | Jun 30, 2025, 3:52 PM EST

On the Fourth of July, Americans celebrate freedom, fireworks, and patriotism. For centuries, brave men and women have valiantly fought for the stars and stripes, but shouldn’t we honor the brave horses who have done the same? Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman Horses have served our nation since long before the Constitution was signed, providing vital services such as transportation, communication, farm help, and, of course, companionship. In an age of instant communication, it may be hard...

The Role USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships Plays in Talent Development for the Future

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | Jun 27, 2025, 7:54 AM EST

The 2025 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships (EYRC) are right around the corner, and with them comes the excitement of watching the next generation of young eventing talent in action in the U.S. These championships are just one of the many development opportunities offered through the USEF Eventing Pathway Programs . The pathway programs are designed to identify and develop promising athletes and horses to build towards future success at the highest levels of the sport. From their first...

Don’t Let Fireworks Spark Fear: Keeping Horses Safe During Fourth of July Celebrations

by Debbie Elliot | Jun 25, 2025, 5:25 PM EST

The Fourth of July is a day of celebration when we commemorate the Declaration of Independence. While it is a fun day of barbeques, parades, and fireworks for people, it can spark stress and fear in our dogs and horses. Horses are flight animals, so they will attempt to remove themselves from a situation if they think they are in danger, which can cause injury if they jump a fence or attempt to break out of their stall. On July 2, 2024, three horses were discovered running down the freeway on...

Celebrating Horse Dads Everywhere!

by | Jun 11, 2025, 7:00 PM EST

June 15, 2025, was Father’s Day, when we celebrate our dads and everything that they do for us. Here at US Equestrian, we want to do a special tribute to all the horse dads out there — from those who ride and inspire their children from the saddle to those who support from them from the ground. McLain and Lilly Ward; photo by Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Below, we will celebrate a selection of successful equestrians who are also amazing, loving fathers, but first we want to thank the...