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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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The History of Horses and Independence Day

by Allyson Mattingly | June 30, 2025

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. | June 27, 2025

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 | June 25, 2025

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!

June 11, 2025

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

It's More Than Just a Show: The Heart, Heritage, and Horsemanship of Breed Shows

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | June 7, 2025

With competition season picking up and championship events around the corner, it is a great time to get familiar with what to expect at a breed show, specifically a Morgan breed show. These shows offer an opportunity for horses and athletes to shine, and for spectators and fans to enjoy close up action and experience a tight knit community. To get a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes and in the ring, we talked to Connecticut Morgan Horse Association Vice President Adam

“My Jaw Literally Hit the Floor!”

by Debbie Elliot | June 6, 2025

Lauren Reischer was born with cerebral palsy, but she hasn’t let that stop her from reaching — and surpassing — her dreams. Having begun her equestrian journey doing therapeutic riding in order to teach her brain how to use her legs separately from one another, she went on to become a professional on the hunter/jumper circuit, a coach and an advocate for para equestrian sport. Reischer is also a board member for GallopNYC , the therapeutic riding center in New York where she

Identifying and Preventing Equine Botulism

by Debbie Elliot | May 28, 2025

Botulism in horses is a severe and often fatal neurological disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum . The bacteria can be ingested in contaminated feed (forage poisoning), can occur in an infected wound (wound botulism), or in the case of Shaker Foal Syndrome, spores can germinate and produce toxins in the gut of foals. CAUSES Clostridium botulinum is found ubiquitously in soil and leads to different variants of botulism labeled A through G; however, types

Horse Welfare Success Story: The U.S. Army’s Caisson Detachment

by Debbie Elliot | May 22, 2025

The Caisson Detachment of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) is an iconic part of U.S. military history. Since 1948, the unit has provided horses and soldiers to pull the caisson, the wagon that bears a casket, at military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. This honor is bestowed on all Medal of Honor recipients, those who were prisoners of war or who were killed in action, and senior officers. Unfortunately, the Caisson operations were halted in

Ask the Experts

by Mikhail Proctor | May 20, 2025

Most of us can recall a time when we’ve faced mental health or emotional challenges. While our coping mechanisms and how we navigated them are personal and unique, including horses in the journey increases the likelihood of a positive outcome for equestrians and non-equestrians alike. Photo by HorseSensing The Importance of Asking for Help Most people have had times in their lives that have felt unsettled, full of unknowns, or not 100 percent safe. However, simply asking for help is

Under Pressure: How Young Equestrians Balance Performance and Mental Health

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | May 20, 2025

In today’s equestrian sport landscape, emerging athletes are driven by passion and dedication in the pursuit of developing their skills, as competitors and horsemen and -women. Along the way, they are often met with pressures from coaches, parents, social media, fans, and even themselves. To explore how pressure and mental health challenges are prevalent in the sport, we talked with several promising young athletes, inviting them to discuss their experiences and explain how they balance

Becoming an FEI Eventing Steward and Giving Back to the Sport

by Dana Diemer | May 19, 2025

The word ‘steward’ gets used a lot in connection with equestrian competitions: ring stewards, in-gate stewards, phase stewards. The Oxford Dictionary defines the noun, “steward” as, “one who supervises arrangements or keeps order.” ©Shannon Brinkman In the spring of 2013, I was on my way to a cross-country warmup when a friend mentioned he was headed to Kentucky to take a course to become an FEI Steward. “You should sign up – you’d be

Five Reasons to Watch the 2025 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair

by Allyson Mattingly | May 19, 2025

The Devon Horse Show is the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed show in the U.S. Photo Credit: Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian In 1896, the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair in Devon, Pa., began as a one-day show. Now, 129 years later, it has become the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed show in North America. This historic event, which takes place May 21-June 1, 2025, draws equestrians from across the country and local fans alike to enjoy all that it has to offer, from riveting