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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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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...

What Goes Into Designing a Cross-Country Course?

by Emily Girard | Mar 25, 2024, 10:09 AM EST

According to the FEI Cross-Country Course Design Guidelines , a cross-country course “focuses on the ability of athletes and horses to adapt to different and variable conditions … showing jumping skills, harmony, mutual confidence, and in general ‘good pictures.’” In order to achieve this, the FEI turns to course designers, who are responsible for planning and arranging cross-country courses with obstacles aimed at appropriately testing horses and riders. Designed...

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Metropolitan Equestrian Team

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Mar 12, 2024, 9:52 AM EST

Located in New York, N.Y., the Metropolitan Equestrian Team (MET) provides a supportive, encouraging environment that instills in students a sense of belonging, equity, and inclusion for all. MET believes all young riders should have access to the life lessons that come with being part of the equestrian community. The MET programming focuses on both equestrian mounted activities and academic achievement programs. As a part of the organization’s structure, MET student athletes are provided...

"Be A Mentor:" The Longevity of an Equestrian Career

by Emily Girard | Mar 12, 2024, 9:24 AM EST

Alison Wichman competes in show jumping with former racehorse Venturesome. Photo: Glen Burgess/ESI Photography Dr. Alison Wichman, 71, competes in show jumping with her 22-year-old thoroughbred Venturesome. With a combined age of 93, they have a very specialized relationship. “He's a really nice horse to be around. He's just good company, and I like spending time with him,” Wichman said. “He taught me a lot.” The daughter of equine artist Adalin Wichman and...

Q&A with U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Feb 25, 2024, 3:30 PM EST

Christine Traurig stepped into her role as the U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe at the start of the year, and the 2024 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ USA CDIO3* in Wellington, Fla., was her first chance to work with combinations representing The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team. Traurig, who helped the U.S. earn the team bronze medal aboard Etienne at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, shared how her Olympic experience as an athlete and coach have prepared her for her new role. She also discussed...

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Ride On

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Jan 30, 2024, 10:10 AM EST

Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship teaches adaptive horseback riding to youth and adults with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. They also provide physical therapy services, specializing in using the movement of the horse to improve specific medical conditions. Founded in 1994, Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship has provided over 130,000 safe, effective, and individualized lessons and therapy treatments. Currently, Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship serves 225 individuals each week across 3...

Taryn Young Q&A: "Horses Just Make You a Better Person"

by Glenye Cain Oakford | Jan 29, 2024, 6:22 PM EST

Dressage athlete Taryn Young and her warmblood, Rayne. Photo: Fire & Earth Photography Taryn Young fell in love with dressage early in her equestrian career, and the discipline has contributed much to her life. Young, 36, is a serious competitor: in 2023, she and her warmblood Rayne earned their United States Dressage Federation gold medal. But her love of dressage also has taken her to some less expected but delightful and rewarding places outside of the dressage ring, too. Through her...

2023 Eventing Horse Owners Award Recipients

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | Jan 26, 2024, 12:00 PM EST

The 2023 eventing season has come and gone, but before we look forward to 2024 we would like to recognize eventing owners for all of their contributions to the sport. In 2023 US Equestrian collaborated with eventing owners on how team horse owners could be recognized across all three Olympic disciplines. As a result, a unique Team Horse Owner Pin was created to designate an owner’s commitment to their sport, team spirit, the rider athletes, and above all acknowledges their love of the...