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Equestrian Weekly Articles

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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A Heritage Written in Hoofprints: Wildcard, the Jumper Pony Carrying a Vanishing Legacy

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | January 30, 2026

When Stacey Sather and her 12-year-old daughter, Caroline, purchased Wildcard, affectionately known as “Hawk,” in 2024, they didn’t just bring home a promising jumper, they brought home a living piece of equine history. Wildcard, a 2014 gelding (Ahneen x Willow) is an Ojibwe/Thoroughbred cross and one of just over 200 known Ojibwe horses in existence today, a rare representative of a breed whose survival once hung by a thread. A Spirit Horse Nearly Lost Wildcard as a foal |

Ride, Watch, Learn, Improve

by Debbie Elliot | January 22, 2026

It has been proven that athletes improve fastest when they can see what happened, analyze the truth of their performance, reflect on it, and measure their progress over time. While professional athletes can watch replays of their game or competition, amateurs—especially equestrians—haven’t had the benefit of being able to watch themselves perform … until now. Pivo Equestrian features 360-degree rotation that tracks your horse’s movement as you go around the arena

Adequan® Elite Trainer Program Helps Improve Equine Joint Health Care and Knowledge

by US Equestrian Communications | January 20, 2026

Recognizing the pivotal role that trainers play in the overall well-being of horses, American Regent Animal Health, makers of Adequan i.m. ® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), recently launched an expanded version of its Adequan ® Elite Trainer Program, which is designed to educate trainers about equine joint health. The Adequan ® Elite Trainer Program originally launched as a pilot program in 2023 as a unique initiative offering extensive education on equine arthritis, also known as

“Most of Us Like the Idea of Helping Each Other”

by Debbie Elliot | January 12, 2026

Georganna Parker, Judy Nielson and Bobby Shazam celebrating a 5th place finish; photo courtesy of Callie Dodson Most of us relish the idea of a guardian angel looking out for us in our time of need, but rarely does that dream become a reality. For 14-year-old Georganna Parker, from Greer, S.C., her guardian angel came in the form of Las Vegas-based trainer Judy Nielson. Georganna was over the moon when she received an invitation to apply for the USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.

"All of Them Cried as They Told Their Horse What They’d Been Through”

by Debbie Elliot | November 20, 2025

The Los Angeles-area fires dominated news headlines around the world from Jan. 7 to 31, 2025. The series of 14 fires — the largest of which were the Palisades and Eaton Fires — led to 200,000 evacuations, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures, and burned over 57,529 acres. Long after the last fire was contained, the impact of the disaster is still felt across Los Angeles by those who lost their homes and are struggling to get back on their feet, and the thousands who

Making Magic Happen: Chris & Rob Desino's Full Circle Moment with Miks Master C

by Chris & Rob Desino | November 19, 2025

There are some horses you notice instantly—the kind that make you stop mid-conversation and just watch. For us, that horse was Miks Master C. Liz Halliday aboard Miks Master C at the 2024 CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S (©Shannon Brinkman) The first time Rob laid eyes on “Mikki,” he was stabled across from our horse, Monster, at Rebecca Farm in Montana. He looked strikingly similar to Deniro Z—same elegance, same power—and Rob couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

Consistency and Dreaming Big: Cosby Green Finds Success on the World Stage

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | November 17, 2025

Cosby Green still says it feels a little surreal. After a season defined not by one big win, but by unwavering consistency across her string of horses, Green has broken into the top 10 in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings for the first time in her career. Green and MBF Party Time competing at the 2025 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championship for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers (©Libby Law) “It came as a bit of a positive shock,” Green said. “I’ve not

Meet Belle: A Girl’s Best Friend in and out of the Equitation Ring

by Leslie Potter | November 14, 2025

Every equestrian remembers their first horse or pony. For some lucky ones, that first horse becomes their horse of a lifetime. Such is the case for Macy Brangers and her horse, Belle. Macy Brangers and Aunty Bellum. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Now a formidable pair in the adult amateur saddle seat equitation classes, Brangers and her 2009 American Saddlebred mare, Aunty Bellum (Ocean’s Roar x Kalarama’s Belle of the Ball) got their start when they were both young newcomers to

Meet Lady Bird: A Super Model Who Gets the Job Done

by Leslie Potter | November 9, 2025

Some horses are specialists, preferring to focus their talents on one job only. And then there are horses like Lady Bird. Imported from Germany with the original goal of competing as an amateur jumper, “Birdie” has become a true three-ring horse for trainer Paige Kirwin, moving from the 1.10m jumpers to the performance hunters and back. Most recently, the 2016 Hanoverian (Like Angel x Piña Colada) owned by Yellow Grass Farms, LLC, contested the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF

What to Know About US Equestrian’s New Stirrup Recommendations

by Debbie Elliot | November 6, 2025

US Equestrian has updated its stirrup and saddle attachment rules to ensure the highest level of safety possible for USEF members at sanctioned competitions. While there is always the risk of accidents in equestrian sport, the amendments aim to reduce injury for horses and riders. Effective Dec. 1, 2025, rule GR801 regarding saddle attachments states that no piece of equipment shall be attached to a saddle that has a rigid upward pointing projection, hook, or similar object capable of catching

Performance Halter Classes Give Arabian Exhibitors a Place to Shine

by Leslie Potter | November 4, 2025

In the Arabian horse show world, halter horses hold a unique place of reverence. Presented to show off the breed’s spirit and beauty and judged on type, conformation, and quality, halter horses are more than just living works of art. They must be able to stand still but alert for conformation judging, then move freely and expressively on the line to show off their movement. The top level of the Arabian halter division is a specialized sport of its own within the breed’s show circuit.

October Horse Welfare Town Halls Generate Debate on Rule Changes, Equipment, and MERs

by Natalie Voss | November 3, 2025

October marked the first in a series of virtual horse welfare town halls on Oct. 20, as well as a well-attended in-person event held at US Dressage Finals in Wilmington, Ohio on Oct. 30. Members gathered digitally and in person to provide their feedback and questions on US Equestrian horse welfare programs and proposed rule changes. (c)Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian A replay of the virtual town hall is available here . Both events were wide-ranging, but a few of the topics generating