The pastures are in bloom. It’s that time of year we all have been anxiously awaiting. Winter is over, and the green is taking over! When you take a walk through your pasture, I’m sure you will find plants that are toxic to your horse. Lots of these plants in general will pose little threat to your horse because they will have no desire to eat them, although one reason horses will eat non-palatable plants is hunger. Let’s take a stroll through the top 10 poisonous...

Arthur "Thom" Brede (Courtesy of Cheryle Francis) Dedicated horseman Arthur “Thom” Brede was a driving force in the horse world right up until his passing on April 20. He and his late wife, Ann “Wissie” Brede, moved their Thoroughbred breeding operation from Pennsylvania to Stamping Ground, Ky., in 2000. The Brede family owned Audley End and Taterland Farms. Brede was a devoted judge for US Equestrian who judged hunters at major horse shows across the United States and...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) has reluctantly accepted the resignation of its U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor David O’Connor. “Over many years, David has been a leader for US Equestrian as a whole and for eventing in particular,” remarked Murray Kessler, President of US Equestrian. “We reluctantly accept David’s resignation and support his desire to focus on chairing the Fédération Equestre...

Photo courtesy of DeeAnna Wright, Healing Strides of VA Lexington, Ky. - The US Equestrian Federation (USEF), in conjunction with United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA), are excited to announce that Healing Strides of VA in Boones Mill, Va. and Wheatland Farm Equestrian Center in Purcellville, Va., have been named USEF/USPEA National Para-Equestrian Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE). The USEF Selection Committee carefully scrutinized each application and upheld the highest...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) and The American Driving Society (ADS) are pleased to announce that the ADS has been reinstated as the US Equestrian affiliate for the driving discipline, including both combined driving and carriage pleasure driving. This reinstatement is the result of meaningful and collaborative discussions between both organizations. “We are very happy that US Equestrian and the ADS have reached an agreement on the roles and...

Lexington, Ky. - Phillip Dutton’s mount, Mr. Medicott, has not competed in a four-star eventing competition since 2014. However, with the six-time Olympian in the driver’s seat, Mr. Medicott made his return a great one, as the combination placed fourth in the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three Day-Event presented by Land Rover (RK3DE). As the top-placing American, Dutton picked up his fifth Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship for the Roger Haller Trophy. Germany’s Michael...

Lexington, Ky. - The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams attended their second training sessions at Cascade Stables in New Orleans, La., and Avalon Riding Academy in Lutz, Fla., in preparation for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event. It afforded riders the opportunity to continue preparing for competition by riding multiple horses unfamiliar to them, just as they will at the Invitational/Test Event, April 3-6, 2017 in Perry, Ga. The Stripes Team training session was held January...

Cross Plains, WI & Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and The American Driving Society, Inc. (ADS) have reached a preliminary agreement that resolves the issues pertinent to enabling the restoration of the ADS as the USEF affiliate for the driving discipline. The leadership of both organizations are delighted that progress could be made and that it will be possible to continue their 40+ year relationship to the benefit of all of our driving competitors,...

Tune in to USEF Network ’s coverage of Live Oak International and you’ll see a lot of great performances in both combined driving and show jumping. Here are two storylines to follow: Jumping: For Chloe Reid, Live Oak Is a Family Affair Photo Credit: PicsOfYou.com The backstory: Chloe Reid , 20, has good reason to love the Live Oak venue. The competition takes place on the 4,500-acre Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Fla., that her grandmother, Thoroughbred breeder Charlotte Weber, owns....

Live Oak International , which takes place from March 9-12 in Ocala, Fla., is unique. It’s the nation’s largest combined driving and show jumping competition, bringing these two disciplines together at a world-class level. This year, Live Oak International will draw about 275 horses from 26 countries, as well as more than 300 volunteers and about 30 competition officials, according to Live Oak International manager Damian Guthrie. Can’t be there in person? Catch all the action...