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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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Giving to Honor Human and Equine Veterans

by Glenye Oakford | November 7, 2017

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

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

by Glenye Oakford | November 7, 2017

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.

Know Before You Show: New Rules for a New Competition Year

by United States Hunter Jumper Association | October 31, 2017

Below are important rule changes that will be effective Dec. 1, 2017 , for the 2018 competition year and affect Hunter/Jumper competition. Please take the time to review these important updates that were developed with horse and rider well-being and safety, fairness of play, and enhancing the competitive experience in mind. Click here for a comprehensive list of rule changes that were approved in early 2017 and will take effect for the 2018 competition year. View the entire 2018 USEF Rulebook

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

by Ashley Swift | October 31, 2017

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

When to Worry About Coughs

by Heather Smith Thomas for EQUUS Magazine | October 24, 2017

This article originally appeared in EQUUS magazine , a media partner of US Equestrian. Any horse will cough occasionally, particularly if he catches a noseful of dusty air or gets a bit of debris in his airway while he’s eating or drinking. That’s just a normal sign of a healthy airway keeping itself clean. Sometimes, however, coughing is an early sign of illness or that your horse is developing an inflammatory condition, such as heaves, that will respond better when treated

Know Your Ringworm From Your Rain Rot

by Glenye Oakford | October 10, 2017

Skin problems can affect almost any horse anywhere, whether you live in a tropical climate with year-round heat and humidity or are preparing to start blanketing your pony against autumn rains and winter snow. Luckily, most are straightforward to treat—but it’s helpful to know whether your horse’s particular issue is caused by bacteria, fungus, virus, or an allergic reaction. We got the skinny—plus some treatment and management tips—from Dr. Luke Fallon at Hagyard

USEF Grants Helping Grow Equestrian Sports

by Glenye Oakford | October 10, 2017

US Equestrian’s mission—to bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible—extends into the equestrian community in a number of ways, including grants that help fund a wide range of affiliate programs. And that’s making a difference, say US Equestrian’s affiliate organizations. Cassidy Shepard and Chocolualatte. Photo by Blight Photography “It really helps us to have support from US Equestrian,” said Linda Haines, chair of the American

Honoring the Horse in Art

by Glenye Oakford | October 3, 2017

Horses have been a lifelong inspiration for Julie Ferris , but it wasn’t until she went to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga., that she finally was able to bring her equestrian life and her artistic ambitions together. That fusion is now sustaining Ferris both personally and in her career as a visual artist. Ferris’s art is realistic without being static; it’s infused with an equestrian’s understanding of how horses move and behave. “Especially

Drug Shows Promise in Preventing EHV-1 Neurological Complication

by EQUUS magazine, US Equestrian Media Partner | October 3, 2017

This article originally was published in the May 2017 issue of EQUUS magazine, a media partner of US Equestrian. Low doses of a common anticoagulant drug may help prevent a life-threatening neurological complication of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection. Typically, EHV-1 causes only mild clinical signs, but in outbreak situations, an estimated 33 percent of infected horses may develop equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), which is characterized by damage of the blood

Register and Book Hotel Accommodations for 2018 USEF Annual Meeting, January 17-20

by US Equestrian Communications Department | September 26, 2017

Lexington, Ky . – Registration is officially open for the 2018 US Equestrian Federation (USEF) Annual Meeting taking place Wednesday, January 17- Saturday, January 20, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Lexington in Lexington, Ky. The four-day event offers plenty of opportunities to network and hear about the progress around equestrian sport from USEF leadership and others in the industry. From specific discipline-focused meetings to moderated forums, attendees will come away with increased

Is it Navicular Syndrome? Things You Should Know About Caudal Heel Pain

by Glenye Oakford | September 19, 2017

Navicular syndrome—now often referred to by veterinarians as caudal heel pain—is a diagnosis many horse owners dread. But advances in imaging technology, like magnetic resonance imaging, have made diagnosing and treating navicular-related lameness more precise, and, in many cases, a diagnosis of caudal heel pain isn’t career-ending. Here are some things to keep in mind about caudal heel pain, according to Dr. Liz Barrett of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky.

Rider4Helmets Announces International Helmet Awareness Day 2017!

by Riders4Helmets / Charles Owen | September 12, 2017

After years of far-reaching global success, Riders4Helmets has announced that their much-anticipated International Helmet Awareness Day will take place over two days this year: Saturday, September 16, and Sunday, September 17. International Helmet Awareness Day embodies the message of safety that Charles Owen shares 365 days a year. By uniting retailers and riders in an informative day of discounts and safety education, this weekend is an exciting opportunity to support and celebrate the