Many Fortune 500 companies, sports leagues, professional athletes, and celebrities have faced media crises. Some arise from the incident with little harm, while others experience negative impact to their image, brand, and bottom lines. In the age of social media and a 24-hour news cycle, it is important that every organization have a media plan with guidance to effectively handle a media crisis. Sarah Hamilton (Photo: Taylor Pence) During US Equestrian’s (USEF) Annual Meeting on...

Mark Bellissimo, the guiding force behind the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG), gave a presentation to US Equestrian Annual Meeting attendees on Wednesday. He provided his background, the vision for his properties, and details about the WEG and accompanying World Equine Expo. Bellissimo and his team operate five equestrian venues, including the Tryon International Equestrian Center, the home of the 2018 WEG, and several major competitions, such as the 12-week Winter Equestrian...

As part of the Annual Meeting’s new moderated forums, US Equestrian’s Director of Sport Programs, Will Connell, made a proposal that the organization should develop a registration process for coaches. And, Connell posited, such a registry—with requirements as well as benefits for participating coaches—would not only improve equestrianism and make it safer for equestrians, but also enhance the nation’s international competitiveness. “If we want to get more...

As reports of abuse roil other sports, US Equestrian invited the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s chief operating officer, Malia Arrington to discuss the SafeSport initiative and how its policies and training are fighting emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct—including bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, harassment, and abuse—in equestrian sports and in the other Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. The SafeSport intiative provides information, resources, and a protocol that helps...

US Equestrian’s "Competition & Member Summit: Facing Challenges Together" got the organization’s Jan. 17-20 Annual Meeting started a day early on Tuesday in Lexington, Ky. The summit grew out of feedback from US Equestrian’s members, competition organizers, licensed officials, experts, and staff. It brought the equestrian community together to address some of the issues expressed by individual members, licensed officials, competition organizers, experts, and staff...

Union City, Calif. — Ariat International , the leader in innovative equestrian footwear and apparel, announces an expanded partnership with the US Equestrian Federation (USEF). Starting in 2018, Ariat will be the official footwear and apparel partner of the USEF and will outfit the nation’s top equestrian athletes in team competition. An additional component of this partnership is an exclusive offering of U.S. team apparel available for purchase through USEF and Ariat retail...

Lexington, Ky. – The Deloitte U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team has been named for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* taking place January 4-7 at Equestrian Village in Wellington, Fla. The U.S. team will begin their competition on Friday, January 5, with the FEI Team Test for all grades. The FEI Individual Test for all grades will take place Saturday, January 6, followed by the FEI Freestyle Test for all grades on Sunday, January 7. Michele Bandinu and Soulman 13 (Tamara Torti)...

During the holiday season, you may be looking for ideas on how to give your horse a special treat to show your appreciation. One idea is treating your horse to a bran mash. We spoke with Dr. Luke Fallon from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute to find out more about bran mashes: why veterinarians recommend them and what ingredients are typically included in them. Bran mashes act as a sort of “comfort food” that horses seem to enjoy when they are feeling under the weather or if it is...

Lexington, Ky. The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions has been named as the home for all 14 USEF Dressage National Championships in 2018. Hosted at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill., from August 21 through 26, the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships as well as the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today will be hosted in conjunction with the other dressage divisions. The U.S. Dressage...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the 2017 Equestrians of Honor. Voting is now open online .The 2017 Equestrian of the Year will be awarded Thursday evening, January 18 at the Pegasus Awards dinner during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky. Learn more about the eight 2017 Equestrians of Honor: Nancy Leigh Fisher Oconomowoc, Wisc. American Saddlebred The C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy is presented to those excelling in under saddle show breeds. In her final...