May 6-12 is US Equestrian's Community Outreach Awareness Week. Learn more at usef.org/opportunity.

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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“Just Go with the Flow”: Balancing Jumping, Driving, and School

by Emily Girard | May 7, 2024, 9:13 AM EST

Isabelle Welch competes in both hunter/jumper and driving competitions, with family connections in dressage and jumping. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography Competing in both driving and hunter / jumper classes, Isabelle Welch has learned to refine her mentality and develop skills that benefit both disciplines. Isabelle grew up with horses all her life. Her mother, Karen Welch, competes in dressage and jumping, and introduced Isabelle to horses at a very young age. Isabelle started in the hunters...

Miniature Horse Alongside Miniature Cars

by Emily Girard | Apr 27, 2024, 5:59 PM EST

Pixie visiting the Defender Kids Drive on Friday, April 26th. (Emily Girard/US Equestrian) Lexington, Ky. - There were a lot of activities occurring outside the competition ring during the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. One area that saw a lot of traffic was the Defender Kids Drive, which featured not only miniature Defenders for kids to drive, but for a few hours on Friday and Saturday, a miniature horse! Pixie, a 13-year-old American Miniature Horse...

Opening The Door to the Future: Volunteers Help 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event to Succeed

by Emily Girard | Apr 25, 2024, 3:04 PM EST

Lexington, Ky. - Much like the children who retrieve tennis balls at Wimbledon, the youth volunteers at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE) are essential to the dressage competition running smoothly. Youth volunteers at the Kentucky Three-Day Event often learn skills that benefit their own riding careers. Photo: Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian Assistant Dressage Arena Steward Emily Watson oversees the youth volunteers at the event. “The hardest...

Focusing on Kentucky and Looking Ahead to Paris 2024 Olympic Games

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 24, 2024, 3:00 PM EST

In addition to being a world-class event and host of a USEF National Championship, the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE) CCI5*-L serves as one of the final selection trials for the U.S. Eventing Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Many notable combinations vying for a spot on the team are competing in either the CCI5*-L or CCI4*-S as they set their sights on the summer ahead. US Equestrian chatted with U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef...

Things to See at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ Trade Fair

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 23, 2024, 9:48 AM EST

The 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ is almost here! In addition to the world-class competition of the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S divisions and the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, there are numerous shopping, food, and unique experiences to make it #TheBestWeekendAllYear. Here are some of the Sponsor Village & Courtyard , The Hill , and Trade Fair highlights to add to your K3DE itinerary. Defender...

Lusitanos Perform in Prancing with the Stars to Benefit the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s

by Leslie Potter/US Equestrian | Apr 11, 2024, 5:00 PM EST

On April 13, 2024, Daniela Siberio will welcome the public to her farm, Lusitano Masters , in Loxahatchee, Fla., for an afternoon of dressage for a good cause. Prancing with the Stars of Dressage will raise funds for the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Palm Beach. The centerpiece of the event will be freestyle dressage performed by Siberio and her Lusitanos, but there will be plenty of additional fun for everyone. Daniela Siberio riding Horquidea. ©Erin Gilmore...

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: City to Saddle

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 9, 2024, 9:30 AM EST

"To Give a Child A Leg Up!" That is the motto of the Massachusetts-based City to Saddle , which opened its doors more than a decade ago. The motto underscores their mission of providing equestrian opportunities for under-served children to experience the joys and challenges of equestrian activities. City to Saddle’s programs enrich the lives of boys and girls in so many ways by fostering confidence, self-fulfillment, and joy. From the very beginning, City to Saddle has engaged with a...

In The Mind of a Course Designer: Catching Up with $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix Course Designer Guilherme Jorge

by Carly Weilminster | Apr 2, 2024, 3:56 PM EST

Course designer Guilerme Jorge said he wanted to design a properly difficult course for the Winter Equestrian Festival's new contestants. Photo: Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian The $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* concluded the 12-week long season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, highlighting some of the top international combinations in the show jumping world. We caught up with Course Designer Guilherme Jorge, who is one of the most renowned 5* designers in the world,...

“Recognize How Important Biosecurity Is”: Mare Ehlers and the S’mores Code

by Emily Girard | Apr 1, 2024, 1:01 PM EST

Marian "Mare" Ehlers is working to spread her S'mores Code nationwide to promote biosecurity. Photo: Sam Tillery With recent outbreaks of vesicular stomatitis , equine herpesvirus , and other equine infectious diseases, biosecurity has been top of mind for equestrians, barn owners, and competition managers. Sixteen-year-old hunter, jumper, and equitation athlete Marian “Mare” Ehlers of Bend, Oregon, developed the S’mores Code in a grassroots effort to promote biosecurity...

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Horse SenseAbility

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Mar 26, 2024, 9:33 AM EST

Horse SenseAbility is an organization dedicated to helping underserved and at-risk children and young adults develop life skills by learning about, caring for, and being with horses in a peaceful, rural setting. The organization has a passion for working with at-risk youth and working with animals. The healing power of horses for those who have experienced trauma helped launch Horse SenseAbility in a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed and built for therapeutic riding and...