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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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Kate Baldino and Maria Muzzio Are Looking Forward to a Fun Young Rider Finale in Italy

by Molly Sorge|Jump Media | September 17, 2019

Four years ago, Kate Baldino and Maria Muzzio were 17-year-old first-timers on the U.S. team at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders and Juniors. This year, they’re headed to Pisa, Italy, for the 2019 edition of the championships as good friends looking forward to their last competition as Young Riders. In June, Kate, from Marietta, Ga., and Maria, from Clifton, Va., took part in the United States Equestrian Federation Mandatory Training and Evaluation Session for the

A Talent Search Tale

by Alyssa Bansbach & Caitlin Azevedo | September 17, 2019

Since the Show Jumping Talent Search Program began in the 1950s, it has played a key role in the pathway for promising riders to represent the United States in show jumping competition. Familiar names like Beezie Madden, Richard Spooner, Lauren Hough, McLain Ward, and Meredith Michaels (Beerbaum) are just a handful of the previous Talent Search Champions to go on to international show jumping fame. In the case of Lauren Hough, her Talent Search Final win preceded her Olympic debut by only six

The USEA Foundation Supports Eventers on Their Way to the USEA American Eventing Championships

by Jessica Duffy, United States Eventing Association | August 27, 2019

The impact of the USEA Foundation can be felt throughout the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) taking place Frankie Thieriot Stutes, recipient of a $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant last year, and Chatwin at The Event at Rebecca Farm in 2018. Photo: Taylor Pence/US Equestrian this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. From educational seminars available to all attendees to the very horses and riders themselves, the USEA Foundation plays an

Ward Inspires New Generation of Hampton Classic Competitors

by Jesse Wasser | August 27, 2019

My daughter, 12-year-old Evangeline Wasser, is a devoted equestrian who loves every aspect of the world of horses. In fact, everything she does is about horses: riding, competing, grooming, education, and the dream of one day owning her own horse. I have rarely seen someone so young who knows what she wants to do with her life and remains so focused day in and day out. Evangeline Wasser Photo: Jesse Wasser In August 2017, I had the opportunity to be in the press room after the $300,000 Hampton

Riders Welcome American Saddlebred Hunter Country Pleasure Division’s Debut at 2019 World’s Championship Horse Show

by Glenye Cain Oakford | August 20, 2019

The historic World’s Championship Horse Show , which takes place Aug. 17-24 in Louisville, Ky., is already underway. And this year, supporters of the popular American Saddlebred hunter country pleasure division will be celebrating the competition with even more enthusiasm than usual, as the 2019 show marks that division’s debut at the World’s Championship. Phyllis Brannon's champion Harlem’s Sweet Success, ridden by the owner's daughter Caitlin, is among the

Conquering Obstacles, Overcoming Limitations: The Shetland Ponies That Are Changing Lives

by Ashley Swift | August 16, 2019

The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) recently hosted the 73 rd annual National Congress in Lake St. Louis, Mo., where registered Shetland ponies vied for national championship titles in everything from halter to jumpers in-hand to multi-hitch driving. One small but mighty group competing for a variety of championships was the Palas family of Story City, Iowa. Greg Palas, along with his wife and their three children, brought a very special group of Shetland ponies to show in the Conquering

The Science Behind Your Horse’s Feed

by Glenye Cain Oakford | August 13, 2019

“Research into the equine microbiome and specific probiotics already has affected nutrition knowledge a lot,” Dr. Bill Vandergrift says. Photo: Kim Russell Feeding horses today isn’t just a matter of tossing every horse the same kind of grain and adjusting the amount based on each horse’s weight. Today, thanks to research and advances in equine nutrition, feed works in a more efficient and targeted way. That presents opportunities to pinpoint and address specific needs

$600 Rescue Pony Makes a Splash at 2019 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm

by Ashley Swift | August 11, 2019

Eleven-year-old Alpine Griffin (Fort Collins, Colo.) and her mom/trainer Suzanne Cox Griffin attended the 2019 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm with a black and white pinto new to the pony hunter scene and a remarkable background. Always Chipper, Suzanne’s nine-year old pony gelding, is an exhibitor favorite everywhere they go but this is the first year he has competed at Pony Finals. They finished in the top 20 of the Small Green Hunter Pony National Championship and

Personal Bests and Family Support Mean More than Ribbons for Pony Finals First-Timer Ann Frances Truluck

by Ashley Swift | August 11, 2019

The USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm enthusiastically welcomes a new group of riders and ponies every year. This year, Ann Frances Truluck (Columbia, S.C.) came to Pony Finals for the first time to compete one pony in the largest section of the hunter championships, the Medium Regular Hunter Pony National Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans. Truluck rode Jessie Spade’s 13-year-old Warmblood gelding All Yours, and this relatively new partnership has been

Model Phase Tips from 12-Year-Old Best Presented Model Pony Award Winner

by Kathleen Landwehr | August 10, 2019

The 2019 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm may be winding down, but it is never too early to start thinking about next year. The Model phase of the hunter pony divisions is something that can be foreign to young competitors, but 12-year-old Susannah Morrell (Lakeland, Fla.) has a few tips for anyone looking ahead to next year. Susannah Morrell and Southern Rhapsody at the 2019 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm (Kathleen Landwehr/US Equestrian) Susannah is

Half-Arabian Mare Proves Variety is the Spice of Life

by Hope Ellis-Ashburn | August 6, 2019

Hope Ellis-Ashburn and her Arabian mare, Sally. Photo: Courtesy of Hope Ellis-Ashburn When I first became involved with Arabian horses in the mid-1980s, just one of my idols was the iconic Khemosabi +++//. He was wildly successful, and I admired him at least partially for his versatility, a quality that for me would come to personify the Arabian breed to whom, for decades, I have dedicated my life. Khemosabi was a multi-talented, multi-discipline champion who filled me with excitement. However,

Pony Power

by Ashley Swift, US Equestrian Communications | August 5, 2019

Competitors and spectators at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Mars Equestrian are used to seeing a variety of horse breeds among the entries, from Thoroughbreds to Irish Sport Horses. But there were two entries this year who prove that ponies can add some punch to any athlete's pedigree! Sparrow's Nio and Allie Sacksen Photo: Alex Banks/US Equestrian Sparrow’s Nio (Grange Finn Sparrow x JB/Unknown) 2003 Connemara /Thoroughbred gelding Owner/Rider: Allie