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Here you can 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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How It Works: Warning Cards and Yellow Cards

by Natalie Voss | July 13, 2026

If you’ve ever flagged down an official at a horse show to draw their attention to something that seemed off – a conversation between a horse and human that wasn’t going well, a loose dog, an equipment issue, or unsportsmanlike conduct – you may have wondered what that person could do with the information you provided. In April 2025, the US Equestrian board approved changes to the Warning Card System to give Judges, Stewards, and Technical Delegates more tools and

Taking a Closer Look at: SGLT2 Inhibitors

by Kimberly Loushin | July 2, 2026

Over the past three years, veterinarians have increased prescriptions of the SGLT2 inhibitors as they have been proven to be effective drugs for treating acute laminitis, a life-threatening condition in horses. These medications are used in horses who are actively experiencing or are at risk for developing laminitis due to insulin dysregulation or equine metabolic syndrome. As these medications are used more frequently, we are seeing positives show up more often during drug tests. In humans,

Operant Conditioning: Get to Know The Science Behind What You’re Doing in the Field

by Natalie Voss | July 2, 2026

You know by now that when you gently squeeze your horse’s side with your leg, they will move away, or that you may be able to entice a horse to walk towards a suspicious trailer ramp with the aid of a treat – but did you know that when you use these tools to change your horse’s behavior, you are using operant conditioning? You’ve likely heard of classical conditioning, which is a learning process made famous by Ivan Pavlov and his dog. Classical conditioning pairs a

Through Military Moves, Taylor Kamataris Leaned on Horses to Ground Her

by Kimberly Loushin | June 29, 2026

Growing up with both parents in the Air Force, Taylor Kamataris had to learn to adapt to change at an early age. But through all the moves, each time she started over at a new school, and long deployments, Taylor found it was horses, and the friends she made at the barn who remained constant and provided comfort. “It was really nice to be able to have something to ground me, look forward to, and to have something constant,” she said. Taylor Kamataris and her mom meet her dad

It All Starts With Kids And Horses: Hilary Wilcox Finds New Ways To Bring Grassroots Riders To Her Farm

by Kimberly Loushin | June 8, 2026

As a third-generation horsewoman, Hilary Wilcox was privileged to grow up with easy access to horses, but she knows that getting involved can be daunting for anyone new. As one of the trainers at her family’s Redwing Farm in Waterloo, Ill., one of her missions is to reduce the barrier to entry for those looking to start riding. “Right now, we teach 150 lessons a week — out of that number, some number of kids are going to buy horses and go into the industry more fully, but a

'The Organizations Have To Be Proactive': David O'Connor Brings Perspective On USEF Initiatives In Worldwide Panel On Horse Welfare

by Kimberly Loushin | June 8, 2026

On June 3, USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor participated in a panel titled Public Acceptance of the Involvement of Horses in Sport: What Does Good Training Look Like , hosted by the World Horse Welfare in London. The panel discussed the current public perception of horses in sport and steps the horse world can take to improve horse welfare and, in turn, public perception. As part of the discussion, O’Connor shared some of the welfare-based initiatives that US Equestrian has put

Alert: Screwworm Confirmed in the United States

by US Equestrian Communications Department | June 4, 2026

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed New World Screwworm in the umbilical area of a calf in Zavala County, Texas. This expansion into the United States is alarming and US Equestrian wants to make sure you know about the potential risks of this parasitic fly to horses. What is the risk of screwworm to horses? Screwworm myiasis (infestation) is caused by fly larvae (maggots) that feed on living tissue of any warmblooded animal. Horses, cattle, wildlife, pets, and

Why Equine Pregnancies Fail—and How Research Is Changing the Answer

by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation | May 18, 2026

Pregnancy loss in mares is not one condition—it is most often the result of either early embryonic loss or placental disease. Each requires a different understanding, and increasingly, research is providing those answers. Early pregnancy loss is often a problem of the embryo. Placentitis is a disease of the placenta—and timing determines whether we can save the pregnancy. Early pregnancy loss and placentitis represent two of the most significant—and very

Meet Our Board Members: Lisa Gorretta Is Ready to Pitch in for the Sport She Loves

by Natalie Voss | May 18, 2026

Lisa Gorretta often quips that she’s always had a difficult time with the word ‘no.’ Instead, when she’s been asked to step into new roles in equestrian sport through the years, she tends to utter a different two-letter word: ‘Ok.’ “I was raised with the concept that if you were unhappy with something that’s important to you, then you should work to improve it from the inside instead of complain about it from the outside,” she said. That

What’s Happening With That Rule? Updated Return To Sport Requirements

by Kimberly Loushin | May 18, 2026

One of the General Rule change proposals that’s been in our system for quite a while is Tracking 065-24, which pertains to Concussions, Injuries, and Return to Sport. This rule change proposal was first introduced in 2024 and has generated a lot of robust discussion. It is in its fourth draft as proponents amended the proposal in response to comments from USEF Committees and Recognized Affiliates. The current draft would require participants who have fallen at a competition to be

USEF's Human and Equine Safety and Welfare Committee Focuses on Feedback-Driven Initiatives

by Kimberly Loushin | May 11, 2026

As the US Equestrian Human and Equine Safety and Welfare Committee sat down in person this spring to evaluate their priorities for the next two years, they knew they wanted to focus their efforts on having a meaningful impact. They’ve created a priority list based on group discussions and member inquiries, and as it continues its work, the Committee wants to involve membership and other stakeholders to gather feedback to guide their priorities. “The committee wants to involve

Taking a Closer Look at: Altrenogest

by Kimberly Loushin | May 11, 2026

Altrenogest, which is commercially sold as Regu-Mate, is an FDA-approved synthetic progesterone used to suppress estrus and seasonal behaviors in competing horses and aid in breeding practices with broodmares. Altrenogest, or any other progestogen, is also prohibited for use in stallions and geldings while competing in USEF-licensed competitions because it has no legitimate therapeutic use in male horses and has been historically used as a calming agent. The prohibition of altenogest, or any