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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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In Response to Affiliate, Licensed Official and Member Feedback, USEF Board Agrees to Adjust Schedule for General Rule Updates

by Natalie Voss | Jan 21, 2026, 4:12 PM EST

The US Equestrian Board of Directors met on Jan. 18, 2026 at the conclusion of the Federation’s annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. In addition to getting update reports on various long-term initiatives, the board made key decisions on several rule changes and other resolutions. Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Proposed Rule Changes The board disapproved an extraordinary rule change to GR803 which had been discussed at the mid-year board meeting in June 2025 and was tabled. This rule change...

Trainers vs. Coaches: Clearing Up Entry Blank Confusion

by Natalie Voss | Jan 21, 2026, 4:02 PM EST

As the new competition year begins, US Equestrian would like to clear up some confusion about the roles listed on entry agreements and waivers. We’ve had a number of questions from people about how to determine who needs to be listed as a “trainer” or a “coach” on entry forms, and we can understand that this can be confusing. The terms are sometimes used differently across breeds and disciplines, and even between barns. For the purposes of an entry agreement, a...

What’s Happening With That Rule? Provisional Suspensions for Key Substances

by Natalie Voss | Jan 21, 2026, 3:00 PM EST

This week, we’re debuting a new series about proposed rule changes. Rule changes go through a long process wherein members, committees, and councils review and revise them before they are passed or rejected. (You can learn more about that process i n this article from Equestrian Magazine .) Right now, rule change proposals that will be considered at the 2026 mid-year meeting of the US Equestrian Board of Directors are available for member comment. The rule change proposals will enter...

The Elephant in the Room: Competition Costs, Fees, and What’s Ahead

by Natalie Voss | Jan 20, 2026, 10:25 PM EST

It’s no secret that costs have risen for everyone – from the grocery store to your vet bills and yes, even your US Equestrian fees. One of the biggest things we heard from members when we announced a rise in fees (which goes into effect April 1) was that their frustration wasn’t only about the cost of their membership. Rather, they’re feeling the squeeze from that across-the-board creep on all costs, which has been going on for a few years. A University of Guelph study...

Adequan® Elite Trainer Program Helps Improve Equine Joint Health Care and Knowledge

by US Equestrian Communications | Jan 20, 2026, 11:00 AM EST

Recognizing the pivotal role that trainers play in the overall well-being of horses, American Regent Animal Health, makers of Adequan i.m. ® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), recently launched an expanded version of its Adequan ® Elite Trainer Program, which is designed to educate trainers about equine joint health. The Adequan ® Elite Trainer Program originally launched as a pilot program in 2023 as a unique initiative offering extensive education on equine arthritis, also known as...

“Most of Us Like the Idea of Helping Each Other”

by Debbie Elliot | Jan 12, 2026, 8:00 AM EST

Georganna Parker, Judy Nielson and Bobby Shazam celebrating a 5th place finish; photo courtesy of Callie Dodson Most of us relish the idea of a guardian angel looking out for us in our time of need, but rarely does that dream become a reality. For 14-year-old Georganna Parker, from Greer, S.C., her guardian angel came in the form of Las Vegas-based trainer Judy Nielson. Georganna was over the moon when she received an invitation to apply for the USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev....

Engraving History, One Stroke at a Time

by Natalie Voss | Jan 9, 2026, 10:43 AM EST

Next week, a new set of horses and humans will go down in our history books as award winners, on two sparkling nights during the US Equestrian annual meeting. It's a real honor to have a name added to the perpetual trophies that will be on display that evening – and it also requires some steady hands behind the scenes. Engraver Lindsey Wells makes a trip from her base in Ohio each fall to add the previous year’s names to USEF’s fleet of silver trophies, so they’ll be...

Meet Our Board Members: Judy Sloan

by Mollie Bailey | Jan 9, 2026, 10:40 AM EST

Like so many equestrians, Judy Sloan’s earliest memory involves horses. “My father used to hack on Sundays after church with my grandfather up the hill to our house in Millbrook, N.Y., and then he’d pull me onto his big Irish hunter and walk me around,” said Sloan. Those toddler moments marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with horses that would take Sloan to the FEI level in dressage as an amateur. She’s passionate about helping horses and horsemen...

Struggling with Competition Costs? USEF Lite May Be Able to Help

by Kimberly Loushin | Jan 9, 2026, 10:36 AM EST

The cost of everything is going up these days – for competitors, trainers, horse owners, event organizers, venue operators, and others. We understand that not all competitors want to point to championships or accumulate points, and that’s ok! Many equestrians do want to compete in a regulated environment with rules and policies that support safety and welfare for equestrians and their horses, but don’t want to spend a lot of money to do it. That’s where USEF Lite comes...

USEF Mythbusters: What’s OK During a Suspension?

by Natalie Voss | Jan 9, 2026, 10:31 AM EST

We’ve seen a lot of myths and confusion floating around social media in recent months when it comes suspended persons. You may be wondering what someone can and can’t do when on suspension, or you may have even seen posts suggesting that we instruct suspended people on how to continue operating their businesses while on suspension. Most of the time, people who are serving suspensions abide by the restrictions in our rulebook, and many who take a misstep do so because they've...