Equestrian Weekly Articles

Trying a different discipline, even temporarily, can open your eyes to new possibilities. That’s what 17-year-old eventer Heather Kottwitz is finding since she started taking combined driving lessons in addition to her dressage, stadium, and cross-country riding. Kottwitz, from Ashland, Mo., isn’t planning to hang up her saddle; she competes her Morgan gelding Sidney at Training level and loves it. But her recent foray into combined driving has helped her learn a different language

Choking—an obstruction in the esophagus, often involving food—can affect horses of any age or type. And it can be serious: a bad choke can cause potentially life-threatening secondary lung infection and can injure the esophagus. Grass has more moisture content than hay or dry feed. In the winter, horses whose diets switch from less pasture to more dry matter--and who possibly are also drinking less--can be at higher risk of choking. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help

Dressage is the ultimate expression of communication and elegance between a horse and athlete and has rapidly grown in popularity each year around the world. This Olympic equestrian discipline is often compared to ballet, with a scoring system similar to that of figure skating. The harmonious connection between the human and equine athletes allows each pair to perform an intricate pattern of movements for which they receive scores from a seven-member judging panel. The rider’s cues are

The American Horse Council will host a webinar on Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. ET to discuss the recent Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate, which the AHC notes has caused much confusion in the equine industry. In addition to hosting the webinar—which requires registration but is open both to AHC members and to non-members—the AHC also has published two informational brochures. One is about the ELD Mandate , and the other is about the Commercial Driver’s License , or CDL. Both

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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