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USEF Insider 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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Taking A Closer Look At: Methocarbamol

by Natalie Voss | April 27, 2026

Methocarbamol, frequently known by its trade name of Robaxin, is a widely used therapeutic medication in horses. It’s also one of the medications we have recently seen the most overages for. Most people think of methocarbamol as a muscle relaxant that’s used to manage horses who tie up after exercise, or who are struggling with muscle spasms or muscle pain related to an injury. It’s frequently prescribed for back soreness. You may have heard some buzz about methocarbamol

Meet Our Board Members: Diane Pitts

by Kimberly Loushin | April 26, 2026

For Diane Pitts, her entrance to the horse world and eventually equestrian governance was the result of a request from her youngest son, who came home one day and said he wanted to start riding. She signed him up for a camp, not knowing it would become a lifetime passion for him, or that the horse world would become a mainstay in her life. Prior to that, Pitts, who grew up in a globe-trotting Army family, had limited horse exposure, largely through a few leisurely trail rides, though some of

How Does Someone Join the US Equestrian Board of Directors?

by Natalie Voss | April 26, 2026

We know members are curious about the decisionmakers who lead the US Equestrian Federation. Some of you may be wondering how board members are elected and who each one represents. The USEF bylaws outline the makeup of the Federation’s board. The board is comprised of 21 individuals, with seats divided between various groups to give representation to a range of stakeholders. As the governing body of Olympic and Paralympic sports, USEF also must adhere to the federal law, which mandates

US Equestrian Allocates $100,000 to Safety Vest Study, Adds $100,000 to Chromatic Fund as Part of Ongoing Commitment to Research

by Natalie Voss | April 9, 2026

US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the Federation has committed $100,000 over two years toward an ongoing, international research effort into equestrian safety vests. The decision was made at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors in February. While equestrian riding helmets have a standardized system for testing and rating products from different manufacturers, there is far less standardization of rating safety vests in equestrian sports. Many international ratings systems are

USEF Mythbusters: Microchips Are For Biosecurity, Not Pedigree Verification

by Natalie Voss | March 20, 2026

As we near the implementation date of the US Equestrian rule requiring microchips to be on file for all horses participating in endorsed competitions, you may be hearing continued buzz about why the USEF board passed this rule back in 2023. Earlier this year, a presidential modification delayed implementation of this rule from Dec. 1, 2025 to Dec. 1, 2026. (If you are one of many members who got your horse’s microchip implanted and on their record last year, we thank you for your

Clarity, Obedience, Care, Loyalty: A Few of the Ingredients To Successful Governance

by Danielle Henson | March 18, 2026

From the outside, it can be hard to know how governing bodies like US Equestrian should (and shouldn’t) function internally and externally. In a presentation at the 2026 USEF Annual meeting, Dr. David Patterson, Senior Governance Advisor at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) offered a thoughtful and practical framework for effective governance, grounded in shared values, clear roles, and principled leadership. At its core, the discussion emphasized that sport (and

US Equestrian and Safe Sport: Who, What, and Why

by Natalie Voss | March 18, 2026

If you compete in US Equestrian-sanctioned events, you receive a prompt each year to complete a refresher of Safe Sport training – but do you know how this program came about, or what happens if someone violates one of the policies? First of all, it’s important to know that Safe Sport is a global initiative to promote an abuse and harassment free culture in sport, and is not limited to equestrian sports. In the mid-2010s, a number of USA Olympic sports faced crises as

Horse Suspensions Included in New Penalty Guidelines for Drugs & Medications Cases

by Natalie Voss | March 5, 2026

In February, the USEF Board adopted new penalty guidelines for drugs and medications cases, which will guide both informal resolutions and cases before the Hearing Committee. You can find a link to the full guidelines here . The updated guidelines were designed with three goals in mind: Enhance member awareness of the process and promote understanding of what to expect if they are notified of a positive finding. Better reflect how penalties for certain substances are currently treated.

What Can Equestrians Learn From Olympic Runners? It’s All About Technology

by Debbie Elliot | March 4, 2026

What if you could see what a dressage judge sees when they watch your test? Or ask your phone to tell you whether you’re unwittingly leaning in your saddle? It may sound futuristic, but those tools are now a reality. With the advancement of AI diagnostics and analysis, technology is increasingly impacting all areas of our lives, from telehealth and remote learning to global communication. USEF is committed to utilizing the latest technology to improve competition outcomes, and to

Same Horses, Different Setting: FEI Grant Program for Licensed Officials Inspires Similar Program at USEF

by Natalie Voss | February 20, 2026

It’s a dream for any equestrian to experience the CHIO Aachen, the World Equestrian Festival – for athletes, fans, and yes, for licensed officials, too. This year, Aachen will be even more special, hosting the World Championships for six FEI disciplines. “One truly cannot appreciate the scale and scope of CHIO Aachen until you experience it first-hand,” said Jon Kreitz, who traveled to the event as a licensed official in 2024. “The opening ceremony in the main

Coming Soon: A Completely Free Horse Show Entry Management System

by Natalie Voss | February 20, 2026

As we all look forward to spring, we know many members are creating their competition calendars for the upcoming season. For those who have battled cold and snow this winter, the prospect of entering the first shows of the year sounds refreshing. And yet, we’ve had many members tell us they wish the horse show entry process could be easier. Some show offices are still working off paper entries, while others are frustrated with the amount of manual checking they need to do between their

Environmental Sustainability At Horse Shows: Lowering Costs For Riders and For the Planet

by Natalie Voss | February 20, 2026

The increased costs of putting on a horse show have been a hot topic in the equestrian world as of late (which is why we hosted a panel about competition costs at the recent USEF annual meeting – read a summary of that presentation here ). But costs aren’t the only thing that will dictate the future forecast for the sustainability of horse shows – or their social license to operate. Environmental impact has become a growing concern for all industries and sports, and the