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The all new Equestrian Weekly newsletter showcases the best of US Equestrian, including new Learning Center videos, the USEF Network schedule, and original articles. Equestrian Weekly keeps members informed about affiliate news, international competitions, information on rule changes, membership updates, special member offers, and more.

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Mental Health Awareness Month: A Veterinarian’s Advice for Mental Wellbeing

by Erika Sherman and Glenye Cain Oakford | May 25, 2021, 1:00 AM EST

Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/arnd.nl Veterinary professionals are at greater risk for mental health problems because of the stressful and demanding nature of their work. One mental health survey that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted in the veterinary profession found that nearly one in 10 veterinarians reported serious psychological distress, a higher proportion than among adults in the general population. A CDC study published in 2019 in the Journal of the American Veterinary...

Jump Innovations: Q & A with Javan Dalman

by Glenye Cain Oakford | May 11, 2021, 2:00 PM EST

Jump design is both an art and a science. Thanks to modern design techniques and materials, today’s jumps can be more eye-catching, lightweight, and safe than ever. We caught up with Javan Dalman, owner and founder of Dalman Jump Co., to learn more about designing jumps for maximum visual effect without compromising safety or convenience. Tell us a bit about the science behind how you create jumps. For example, how does the way horses see and interpret color, height, etc., affect the way...

Veterans, Mustangs, and Western Dressage: A Perfect Match for Healing the Mind

by Ashley Swift | Apr 30, 2021, 11:30 AM EST

When Marine Corps veteran Jimmy Welch (Woodstock, Ill.) and dressage trainer Patti Gruber (Woodstock, Ill.) competed with two mustangs at the 2019 Western Dressage Association of America’s (WDAA) World Championship Show, they were also demonstrating the powerful impact a combination of Western dressage and mustangs can have in the healing process of both mind and body for veterans. The World Show first-timers also paid tribute to the flag and all veterans with a Color Guard every evening...

Riding with Cerebral Palsy: “The Horses Remind Me of My Power and Abilities”

by Bryanna Tanase | Mar 23, 2021, 3:23 PM EST

Bryanna Tanase is a classified Grade I para dressage rider who rides at Quantum Leap Farm in Odessa, Fla., and Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center in Brooksville, Fla. She hopes to someday secure a place on the Adequan ® U.S. Para Dressage Team and ride at the Paralympics, as well as at other recognized events. She currently rides a Welsh -Thoroughbred cross named Cappy and an American Paint Horse named Shane. Join the conversation by posting your story with #IAmUSEquestrian or submitting...

Remote Learning, Equestrian-Style

by Barbara Davis | Mar 16, 2021, 3:00 PM EST

Four years ago, the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team had never won a medal at an FEI World Championships or a Paralympics. But in 2018, the team won four medals at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games ™ in Tryon. In 2020, they reached the top of the FEI’s ranking list for the first time in the program’s history, with U.S. para dressage athlete Roxanne Trunnell holding the top spot among all FEI para dressage athletes across all Grades. What changed? The answer is Michel...

Road Trip: Preparing Your Horse for Travel

by Sarah Coleman | Feb 8, 2021, 9:00 AM EST

Keeping competition horses healthy before, during, and after transport is key to show-ring success. Whether you’re shipping a competition horse across the city or across the nation, it’s important to do everything possible to ensure he arrives on show grounds in the best possible shape. While many preparations are dependent on the individual animal, some are consistent no matter the breed of horse or the discipline in which he is competing. Vaccines One of the best ways to keep a...

Nicole Aaberg Promotes Helmet Safety En Route to Girl Scout Gold Award

by Kathleen Landwehr | Jan 19, 2021, 4:32 PM EST

Nicole Aaberg with Cody (Courtesy of Georgette Aaberg) Nicole Aaberg is a US Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program graduate whose passion for horses led her to helping her community and achieving a major award in 2020. She has been a Girl Scout for most of her life and received her Girl Scout Gold Award after completing a project that involved raising awareness for helmet safety and providing helmets to a local equine-assisted growth and learning therapy program in her hometown of Thousand...

Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy Preserves Urban Black Cowboy’s Legacy, Shares Love of Horses with Community

by Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group | Jan 12, 2021, 2:25 PM EST

Left to right: PURA Executive Director Erin Brown with rider Jessie Schulman on Kidd, rider Stephon Tolbert on Kowboy, and Michael Upshur. Photo: Courtesy of Phelps Media Group Horses and city life—these two things are not often seen as synonymous, but for the founders of the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy , these are an ideal they strive toward every day. PURA was founded to preserve the life, legacy, and culture of Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadelphia. It was established...

Blanketing Basics

by Glenye Cain Oakford | Jan 4, 2021, 10:00 AM EST

When temperatures drop, many horse owners’ thoughts turn to blankets. And with horse clothing choices ranging from summer scrims to heavyweight blankets with attached neck covers for deepest midwinter, it’s no wonder they often find themselves wondering which blanket best suits their horses and the weather conditions. Fortunately, we've got great resources to help, starting with the video "Blanketing 101" with top eventing groom Emma Ford in our online Learning Center . We also...

Equine Herpesvirus: What You Need To Know

by Glenye Cain Oakford | Nov 30, 2020, 2:02 PM EST

Ask horse owners to name their most-feared horse diseases, and chances are equine herpesvirus, or EHV, will be on the list. With the competition season underway, it’s important for equestrians to be vigilant and take preventive measures, from vaccination to biosecurity. A good first stop for information is the Equine Disease Communication Center’s website , which tracks outbreaks and provides biosecurity protocols . EHV spreads from horse to horse through nasal discharge, whether...