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Equestrian Weekly

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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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...

Four Tips to Help Prevent Gastric Ulcers

by Glenye Oakford | Nov 23, 2020, 10:15 AM EST

Hand-walking, grazing, and turnout can help reduce the stress that can contribute to gastric ulcers. (Rita Kochmarjova Photo) Has your horse’s behavior changed? Are his eating habits different? Does he seem mildly colicky after meals? Gastric ulcers could be the culprit. As many as 80% of active sport horses might have gastric ulcers at one time or another, says Dr. Nathan Slovis, a board-certified internal medicine veterinarian and the director of the McGee Medical Center at Hagyard...

Need Health Coverage? Try US Equestrian’s Affordable Member Benefits.

by US Equestrian Communications | Nov 16, 2020, 11:01 AM EST

Are you considering your health coverage options, weighing monthly costs and benefits? Take a look at US Equestrian’s affordable new benefits program for members, with super price points and coverage plans for individuals and small businesses. This program offers access to expansive health coverage, including medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage, for all competing USEF members and USEF subscribing fan members. Prices are highly competitive: healthcare coverage can run as low...

Meet the Team for the 2020 Saddle Seat World Cup

by Kathleen Landwehr | Nov 3, 2020, 1:23 PM EST

The 2020 Saddle Seat World Cup was one of many competitions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled to take place July 19-25 in Parys, South Africa, the U.S. Saddle Seat Team withdrew from the competition in April in an effort to prioritize the safety and well-being of the athletes. Despite the unfortunate outcome, the team members remained proud to have been selected to represent their country at the international level. US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the athletes and...

Ringbone 101

by Ashley Swift | Oct 26, 2020, 3:00 PM EST

Ringbone is a disease that does not discriminate; horses of all breeds, ages, and functions can be at risk. An arthritic, degenerative disease of the pastern and coffin joints, ringbone comes in two types. High ringbone affects the pastern, and low ringbone affects the coffin. Similar to arthritis in people, ringbone develops in our equine counterparts from causes such as injury, infection, and normal wear and tear. There are also developmental factors to be aware of, including bone cysts and...

NIGHTWATCH® Smart Halter™: Because You Can't Always Be There

by US Equestrian | Oct 20, 2020, 12:37 PM EST

The NIGHTWATCH® smart halter™ noninvasively monitors a horse’s heart rate, respiration, and activity and is capable of alerting caretakers to early signs of distress. Photo: Courtesy of Protequus® Jeffrey Schab has lived every horse owner’s nightmare twice, once when he lost his first horse to an immune disorder and more recently in 2013, when his husband’s American Saddlebred succumbed to colic. “It was like, ‘Oh, my God, we love our animals and we...

A Passion for Horses Leads to Painting Works of Art

by Kathleen Landwehr | Oct 6, 2020, 9:00 AM EST

Burgess works on one of her paintings in her studio (Courtesy of Suzie Burgess) Suzie Burgess has loved horses for as long as she can remember and always appreciated their beauty. As an artist, she was able to unite her passion for horses and art in the form of large oil-on-canvas paintings. Burgess admires the diverse people who love horses and how these amazing animals touch people’s lives. As a child, Burgess did whatever she could to be around horses. “It was always in my blood....

Paso Finos Keep This 80-Year-Old Amateur Rider in the Competition Ring

by Ashley Swift | Sep 22, 2020, 6:31 PM EST

Dick Miller, the Paso Fino Horse Association’s newest Hall of Fame inductee, was first introduced to the Paso Fino breed in the 1980s when he saw a sign on Interstate 80 in Nebraska advertising the “SMOOTHEST RIDING HORSE IN THE WORLD.” Nearly 40 years later, Miller (Fort Myers, Fla.) is not only still riding, but is also competing at top horse shows around the country, thanks to these unique horses and the tight-knit community of people who love them. Though he grew up riding...

Hoof Help: Thrush

by Glenye Cain Oakford | Sep 21, 2020, 1:00 PM EST

It’s a scenario every horse owner dreads: a runny, black, foul-smelling discharge around the frog area of a horse or pony’s hoof sole. That’s the classic sign of thrush, a bacterial infection that involves the frog, including the grooves on either side of it and the cleft between the heel bulbs. “It can affect any part of the frog, but that’s where we see it the most, right where the owner would be using the hoof pick along the sides of the frog and along that...