US Equestrian Magazine by United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.

OUTREACH WEEK

Community Outreach Heroes

COLLABORATION

BREEDS SUCCESS

IALHA and IFSHA Join Forces

A PODIUM IN PARIS

Memories from the Olympic Games

Zen Elite Equestrian Center, located in Southwest Ranches, Florida is everything the name suggests and much more.

The state-of-the-art facility hosts a spacious covered arena, two huge outdoor arenas and a full rehab/spa.

From the cascading waterfalls in the rider’s lounge, to its peaceful statues and inviting gardens, Zen Elite Equestrian Center envelops visitors in a spa-like relaxed atmosphere.

But Zen Elite is more than just soothing to the soul. The facility is unique in its scope, hosting grassroots dressage and jumping lesson programs in the same arenas where international trainers are preparing for national and world competitions.

Owner, Heidi Humphries’ vision is legendary, in that it supports the future of horse sport in the spa-like serene atmosphere that is Zen Elite Equestrian Center.

Let’s build a champion.

Your young equestrians deserve more than the standard horse barn. Build them a B&D equestrian facility, crafted for the champions of tomorrow.

The U.S. Jumping team celebrates winning silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games

Photo: Devyn Trethewey/ US Equestrian

Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation

US EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE

Volume LXXXVIII, Fall 2024

PUBLISHED BY

The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.

CHIEF MARKETING & CONTENT OFFICER

Vicki Lowell | vlowell@usef.org

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Debbie Elliot | delliot@usef.org

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Candice McCown | cmccown@usef.org

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Kim Russell | 859 225 6938 | krussell@usef.org

DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP & SALES

Layson Griffin | lgriffin@usef.org

ASSISTANT DESIGNERS

Kendall Neubeiser, Kate Strom

EDITORIAL STAFF

Zach Girard, Kim Russell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Leslie Potter, Zack Ryle

Equestrian Magazine (ISSN 1548-873X) is published five times a year: Horse of the Year Special Edition, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, by the United States Equestrian Federation®, 4001 Wing Commander Way, Lexington, KY 40511; Phone: (859) 258-2472; Fax: (859) 231-6662. (ISSN:1548-873X). NOTE: Effective Spring issue of 2018, Equestrian magazine will be published and provided electronically and only four editions will have printed copies and be provided by U.S. Mail. The Winter issue will only be provided electronically. The Horse of the Year issue will be mailed only to competing members as of the date of publication and the year immediately prior to the date of publication. USEF is not responsible for the opinions and statements expressed in signed articles and paid advertisements. These opinions are not necessarily the opinions of USEF and its staff. While the Federation makes every effort to avoid errors, we assume no liability to anyone for mistakes or omissions. It is the policy of the Federation to report factually and accurately in Equestrian and to encourage and to publish corrections whenever warranted. Kindly direct any comments or inquiries regarding corrections to Glenye Cain Oakford goakford@usef.org or by direct dial 859-225-6941. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to US Equestrian, 4001 Wing Commander Way, Lexington, KY 40511. Canadian Publications Agreement No. 40845627. For Canadian returns, mail to Canada Express, 7686 #21 Kimble Street Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5S1E9. (905) 6728100. Reproduction of any article, in whole or part, by written permission only of the Editor. Equestrian: Publisher, United States Equestrian Federation®, Chief Executive Officer, William J. Moroney (859) 225-6912. Director of Advertising, Kim Russell (859) 225-6938. Copyright © 2024 Equestrian is the official publication of the United States Equestrian Federation, the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport in the USA, and is an official publication of USEF.

Published at 4001 Wing Commander Way, Lexington, Ky 40511 USequestrian.org

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Preparation, Passion, & Collaboration

Dear USEF Members,

What a summer 2024 has proven to be! With record high numbers of USEF competing members, fans and followers, our sport continues to grow in popularity. As equestrians, we already know about the joy of horse sport, and collectively, we are bringing that to so many more in so many new ways. A perfect example was evident at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where we worked with NBC to bring their star commentators, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg to the equestrian venue in Versailles to meet with the US Equestrian Team, both riders and horses. They were not only back doing interviews in the warm-up arenas but went and sat down and watched Olympic Dressage and reported on it to the world. This coverage, as you can imagine, has gone viral on global social media and is bringing a whole new level of visibility to our sport.

In this issue, you will see and read about some of the amazing moments around our Olympic horses, riders, and their incredible support teams. We are very proud of our eventing and dressage teams who not only had spectacular Olympic moments and stories, but additionally had to persevere through a variety of challenges, proving horsemanship and team support always come first. We all can see the future is looking strong for these disciplines. Now I’d like to take a moment to celebrate our U.S. Olympic Jumping Team of McLain Ward and Ilex, Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, and Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque for their outstanding performances earning a team silver medal during the Paris 2024 Games. This is an incredible accomplishment with Karl stepping in just hours before the competition to replace Kent Farrington and Greya when the team called upon him. This is the third consecutive Olympic team silver for the U.S. Jumping Team, once again reinforcing the strength of our U.S. jumping program globally. Our U.S. Paralympic team will be next up in Versailles, and we wish the team the best of luck!

Now, we can turn our eyes to 2028, when the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted on American soil. Plans are already underway to make sure that the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will not just live up to the hype but will surpass all expectations. Get excited… I know I am!

As we look to the fall, I am thrilled to see so many great events on the calendar including our affiliate national championships, the fall indoor

shows, and USEF equitation championships. Additionally, I’d like to applaud the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) and the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) for coming together to host a combined event last fall and will do so again this year. These types of collaborations are crucial as we look at the future of our industry, and I hope the story in this magazine will spark ideas of future partnerships in the equestrian world.

I also want to make sure that everyone marks our upcoming Opportunity Week on their calendars for Nov. 3-9, 2024. Opportunity Week lets us not only celebrate our Community Outreach Programs who help connect people with horses and transform lives, but it allows us to support these great organizations through the USEF Opportunity Fund. Our goal this year is to raise $110,000, which would bring our total funds raised to $500,000 for these great organizations. I encourage you to read more about our Community Outreach Programs in the pages ahead. Finally, I strongly encourage you to take a moment to read How It Works: Clean Sport. We must constantly be making steps to have not only a fair and level playing field during competitions, but to also ensure horse well-being with every action we take. This is critical. We must continue to be the greatest advocates for our equine partners. We need to work together to be vigilant in protecting our partners, our horses, who rely on us to be their advocates and speak on their behalf.

I really believe that success comes when we are fortunate enough to have a passion for something, like equestrian sport, and then we listen and learn while we diligently prepare and execute via collaboration. I have seen this over and over in our sport, and it’s a consistent gameplan that works for those who want to succeed. It’s a blessing to see this pan out across so many breeds and disciplines, at all levels of play, across the U.S. Perhaps this is why our sport’s popularity is growing and our collective passion for our sport is so contagious.

Tom O’Mara President

Tom O’Mara watching Team USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Versailles, France.

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US Equestrian Announces Rescheduled Dates & New Location for 2024 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West

The competition will now be held during the National Sunshine Series 2, from November 6-10, 2024, at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California. Kristen Coe, the 1996 Talent Search winner, will judge the 2024 edition of the competition alongside Michael Tokaruk.

competes at the 2023

Performance/USEF Show

Talent Search Finals – West.

The Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Program plays an important role in developing top jumping athletes by encouraging junior and young riders to develop skills laying the groundwork and foundation for future international success.

Athletes will test their skills over three days, and four phases including Phase I, the flat phase, where athletes will demonstrate flatwork movements while being judged on their position and seat as well as correctness and effectiveness of the aids. Phase II, the gymnastic phase tests competitors over a series of gymnastic lines and has a score multiplier of a point and a half.

Competition concludes Sunday with athletes returning for Phase III, the jumping phase with a jumper-style course that has a score multiplier of two points. The top total combined scores from the first three phases are used to determine the top four athletes, who will return for Phase IV, the ride-off, in which they swap horses and ride the same course on each of the final four horses to determine final placings.

Former winners of the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals have gone on to achieve great success in international jumping, as well as represented the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team on multiple occasions, making this championship a crucial steppingstone for aspiring jumping athletes in the U.S.

Camilla Jerng

Platinum

Jumping

US Equestrian Announces Gotham North as the Returning Title Sponsor of the 2024 FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship

The Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship presented by USHJA is an opportunity for youth equestrians ages 12-21 to compete against their peers in a championship format similar to that of international senior championships like the Olympic Games. The competition includes both team and individual competitions with categories for Children, Pre-Junior, Junior, and Young Riders. This year’s event took place from July 30-Aug. 4 during the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival at the Flintfields Equestrian Center in Traverse City, Mich.

“Gotham North is a longtime supporter of the FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship, and we are thrilled to have them return as title sponsor this year,” said Bill Moroney,

CEO of US Equestrian. “Many of today’s top athletes gained invaluable team experience early in their careers by competing in the NAYC. This championship remains a cornerstone event in shaping the next generation of athletes, and support from partners like Gotham North allow these championships to grow year over year.”

“Gotham North’s ongoing partnership with NAYC is a testament to our mutual dedication to young talent and equestrian excellence,” said Matt Morrissey, Event Director at Traverse City Horse Shows. “Hosting the Youth Jumping Championships is a privilege that allows us to showcase these emerging athletes on a grand stage. We’re excited to move forward together over the next two years of continued excellence and growth.”

42 Licensed Official Applicants

Receive

USEF Grants

US Equestrian has awarded grants totaling $20,000 to 42 applicants as part of a grant program that supports the development of both new licensed officials and higher-level officials. The grant recipients are active USEF competing members and are either a currently licensed official or have started a licensed official application.

“2024 is the third year in a row where USEF has received an increase in grant applications for the licensed official grant,” said Alina Brazzil, US Equestrian’s Director of Licensed Officials. “We are thrilled to provide this opportunity again to support applicants on their pathway for a new license or a license promotion. We are looking forward to hearing how each applicant used their grant funding and what they have learned along the way.”

The grant program, which was launched in 2022, aims to reduce financial barriers for USEF or U.S. Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) officials across all USEFrecognized breeds and disciplines. The grants offset the travel and clinic/apprenticeship costs that are requirements for a new license application or license promotion.

Individuals applied for grants in one of two categories: general and U35 (under 35 years of age). The general grants were evaluated and awarded based on the competition environment need for more or higher-level officials. The U35 grants are offered to encourage the development of a new generation of licensed officials.

“Seventeen of our grant recipients applied for the U35 grant category, so we are thrilled to continue our focus on the future of officiating,” Brazzil added. “Talent identification and support are key in order to continue the strength of our officiating pool in the U.S. for both national and international officials.”

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Alexa Gartenberg rides Cooley Kildaire during Dressage for the CCIO4*-S at the 2024 Millstreet International Horse Trials for the 2024 FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ of Ireland.

US Equestrian Introduces New National Championship League as an Accessible Championship Format for U.S. Eventing Athletes

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the introduction of a new national championship format for FEI CCI1* through CCI4* level competitions, aiming to broaden accessibility and opportunity for participants targeting national championship recognition regardless of geographic location. The US Equestrian Eventing National Championships League will launch in 2024, with the inaugural champions to be crowned in 2025.

The championship will combine an athlete’s three lowest cumulative scores throughout the participation period, with one long format competition required for the CCI2* levels and

above. The League will include divisions for U25 athletes, amateurs, and professionals at each competition level. A live USEF leaderboard for each level and division will show current standings and scores, creating a more engaging way of following results and performance.

A final event will be held at the conclusion of the participation period at Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials in 2025, but attendance at the final is not mandatory towards eligibility for national championship awards. All national champion honorees will be recognized officially at Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials, concluding the first year of the newly revised format.

“On the heels of celebrating our 50th anniversary of eventing at Morven Park International Equestrian Center, we are thrilled to have been selected for this honor,” said Stacey Metcalfe, Executive Director & CEO of Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation Inc./Morven Park. “We are excited to continue our legacy of eventing excellence, and we look forward to welcoming athletes from across the nation to Leesburg, VA, and our beautiful facility.”

The idea of the league concept has been supported by the Eventing committees as it removes geographic barriers, which have made location-based national championships challenging for participants, while also providing equal opportunity for all U.S. FEI Eventing organizers to participate as host venues where participating scores can be earned throughout the year. The goal of the new format is to broaden national championship opportunities, increase participation, and encourage a more modern approach with multiple competitions and scoring based on cumulative results versus results from a singular event.

During the transition to the new format, USEF Eventing National Championships will not be named for the CCI2*-CCI4* and Advanced levels in 2024 as preparation begins for the exciting League launch. Both divisions of the USEA/USEF Developing Horse National Championship will still be named for 2024.

Microscopic scale

US Equestrian Awards Opportunity Fund Grants to Eight USEF Community Outreach Organizations

US Equestrian is pleased to announce that it has awarded $80,000 in USEF Opportunity Fund grants to eight USEF Community Outreach Organizations (COO) in the fund’s third year. The grants will support a range of projects, from expanding programming and purchasing safety equipment to infrastructure improvements and business operations support.

Grantees are as follows: City to Saddle – Mesa Farm, Cloverleaf Equine Center, Detroit Horse Power, Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs, HorseSensing, Promise Landing Farm, Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship, and Special Equestrians.

“These eight organizations exemplify what we look for when we award a Community Outreach Organization designation,” said Bill Moroney, US Equestrian Chief Executive Officer. “Each organization embodies our vision of connecting horses and people in their communities. We could not be prouder to partner with them to further the great work they do each day.”

The USEF Opportunity Fund aims to extend the reach and impact of these outstanding organizations to improve access to horses and bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. One hundred percent of funds raised for the Opportunity Fund are dedicated to supporting the USEF Community Outreach Program and its recognized USEF Community Outreach Organizations. These grants above are awarded through a competitive grants request process. Recipients of the grant can be found across the country and are committed to bringing horses to traditionally under-represented and/or under-served communities, including active military and veterans; low-income individuals; people with disabilities; Black, Indigenous, and people of color; and more. These grants were made possible by the generous contributions of the USEF Board of Directors, members, partners, and competition organizers.

“I encourage everyone to consider making a donation today,” stated Moroney. “The impact these organizations have on the lives of the people they touch is immeasurable. I ask you to take action alongside our Board and help further our mission and vision so that future organizations can benefit from grants like we offered today.”

Recognized USEF Community Outreach Organizations are united by their standards in their mission to provide equine-based learning opportunities and to support the positive impact horses can have within their local communities. These organizations must meet certain standards of horse and human welfare, including USEF Safe Sport requirements and abiding by the USEF Non-Discrimination Policy, as well as offering their services for free or on a sliding scale of fees based on financial need, and more, before being recognized through this program.

USEF Endurance Logbook Now Available Online

The USEF Endurance Logbook is a free tool for riders to use to track all their horse’s training and competition history in one place. Included within the logbook, you will find pages to record horse details, identification information, vaccination logs, medication logs, owner information, training notes, and event information.

The logbook can be downloaded as a pdf from USEF. org and filled in electronically, or it can be printed by the user and utilized as a hard-copy document. Please contact Nicole Zerbee, USEF Director of Endurance, at nzerbee@usef.org, with any questions and to register your logbook and receive a USEF Logbook ID.

In & Around the Ring

“C ross country designing is quite a challenge. You can’t just make it pretty.

-

“You have to look at it from the horse’s perspective. You have to keep in mind that the riders can walk the course as many times as they want, but the horses never see it.”

Licensed official, course designer, and eventing athlete Trish Gilbert, in an interview with the Baltimore Sun. Gilbert passed away in May 2024.

“C onsistency is always key to a championship buildup, and we’ve had it four international competitions in a row.”

- Michel Assouline, Chef d’Equipe of the Perrigo U.S. Para Dressage Team, regarding performance at the CPEDI Hagen

Roxanne Trunell and Fan Tastico H prepare to compete at the 2024 Tryon CPEDI3*.

“T hey really rose to the challenge in conditions that they aren’t used to. They’ve done a fantastic job.”

- Leslie Law, Chef d’Equipe of the Defender U.S. Eventing Team, regarding the team’s performance at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Ireland CCIO4*-NC-S.

Daniel Janes competes in technical vaulting at the 2023 CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival. Janes was named to the short list for the 2024 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Seniors.

Opposite: Emily Hamel rides Corvett during the cross country phase of the CCI5*-L 2024 Longines Luhmuehlen Horse Trials.

US Equestrian Expands Safe Sport Resources to Junior Competitors & Parents

by Zack Ryle

Updates include a new junior competitor page, a Safe Sport 101 flyer series, and revised parent resources.

US Equestrian’s mission is to provide access to and increase participation in equestrian sports at all levels by ensuring fairness, safety, and enjoyment. As a Federation, we are consistently looking out for how we can better serve our members in all aspects of equestrian sport.

Safety is a broad topic that impacts both rider and horse, ranging from the footing of an arena to overall welfare. When we look at rider welfare, a key component to our mission to keep participants safe is our Safe Sport program.

A focus point for the Federation this year is how we can better connect with parents and junior equestrians, especially around the topic of rider welfare. To that end, US Equestrian made significant revisions and additions to the Safe Sport website earlier this summer, including new resources added to our parent page and the creation of a junior competitor page.

“US Equestrian desires to keep all competitors safe, especially our junior competitors,” stated US Equestrian Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Sonja Keating. “Our hope is that the resources found on these webpages will help raise awareness and inform appropriately. Teaching minor athletes about healthy relationships can help prevent abuse.”

Junior Competitor Safe Sport Page

This webpage is designed for junior equestrians. US Equestrian’s goal is for each junior competitor to compete safely and grow in their love for horses and equestrian sports. One way to stay safe is to be prepared.

Safe Sport 101

With the launch of the junior competitors’ page, US Equestrian launched a new information flyer series titled Safe Sport 101. Put simply, these resources are meant to educate and inform our youngest competitors on a few key topics, including abuse, bullying, and grooming. US Equestrian plans to produce more flyers in the future to expand this series to other important areas. This series was created to be a reliable first stop for teenagers and younger to learn about Safe Sportrelated topics.

US Equestrian Resources

U.S. Center for SafeSport Resources

FOR JUNIOR COMPETITORS

The core piece of education for the U.S. Center for SafeSport is the annual training that is required for competing members aged 18 and older. What many USEF members do not know is that the Center also provides training options for juniors, with a course designed for 5- to 12-year-olds and another course designed for 13- to 17-year-olds. It is important to note that all trainings require parental consent. Additionally, the Center also provides content that is geared toward junior competitors, including their YouTube series on Digital Citizenship.

USEF does not rely solely on the resources that are provided by the U.S. Center for SafeSport to educate our membership. As a part of our commitment to safety, US Equestrian created the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP). These documents are linked on the junior page and can be found at usef.org/safe-sport/maapp. We also encourage junior equestrians to look into the mental health resources provided to them by the Federation.

US Equestrian members have access to professional counseling services for up to three sessions through a third-party licensed provider.

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Parent Page

The parent portal of US Equestrian’s Safe Sport webpages has been around since the start of the Safe Sport movement and was recently updated to reflect changes that have been made in recent years, both in the U.S. Center for SafeSport code and the resources that are available.

Like the junior competitor page, this parents’ page was reformatted to provide a clear distinction of what resources US Equestrian and the U.S. Center for SafeSport offer to help parents and guardians support the young athletes in their lives.

US Equestrian Resources

Similarly to the junior competitor page, you will find links to our Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) and the mental health resources. One newly updated document that we encourage parents to view is “What USEF Parents Need to Know.” This document gives any parent or guardian a “Top 5” list of resources and knowledge points when traversing what can be a confusing field of legalese and specific terminology.

“US Equestrian desires to keep all competitors safe, especially our junior competitors. Our hope is that the resources found on these webpages will help raise awareness and inform appropriately.”

– Sonja Keating, USEF Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

USEF’SMINORATHLETEABUSEPREVENTIONPOLICIES(MAAPP)

One-on-oneinteractionswithminorsmustbeobservableandinterruptible.

• Adultsmustincludeanotheradultonallelectroniccommunicationswithaminorunlessaspecified exceptionapplies.

• Anadultmaytravelwithaminorinthepresenceofanotheradultortwootherminors,orwithwrittenconsent fromtheminor’slegalguardian.*

• Workingstudentsunder18yearsofagewhotravelorlivewithatrainermustalsohavewrittenconsentfrom theworkingstudent’slegalguardiantodoso.*

• Ifyouobserveoraremadeawareofanyviolationofthesepolicies,youshouldresolveitifpossibleandreportthe violationtoUSEF.

*SampleconsentlanguageisavailableontheUSEFSafeSportPageforParents

SAFESPORTTRAININGFORPARENTS

ParentscantakeSafeSporttrainingandmakesuretrainersandcoachesareSafeSporttrained. TheSafeSportTrainedCorecourseisavailabletomembersatnocost,andparentscantakeParent’sGuideto MisconductinSport,afree30-minutecoursethroughtheUSEFwebsite.Parentscanalsoviewthebackground checkandtrainingstatusofcoaches,trainers,andotherpersonnelthroughUSEF’sSafeSportDirectory.Itis importantforparentstoknowtheirchild’scoach,trainer,andotherpersonnel,andalsotofamiliarizethemselves withSafeSportrequirements.

SAFESPORTTRAININGFORJUNIORCOMPETITORS

Makesureyourkidsareeducated,too! Whiletrainingisnotrequiredforjuniorcompetitors,theycanfindvaluableinformationintheSafeSportforKids (Ages5-12)andSafeSportforYouthAthletes(Ages13-17)courses.TheUSEFwebsitecontainsalinkforthese coursesaswellasadditionalimportantinformationforjuniorcompetitors.Oneofthebestwaystoavoidabuse istobeprepared,informed,andknowwhattodoifabuseoccurs.

*ImportantNote:TheSafeSporttrainingforjuniorcompetitorsrequiresparentalconsent,whichisgiventhroughtheCenterforSafeSportportalwhenyouenroll.

U.S.

Center for SafeSport Resources

The U.S. Center for SafeSport also provides a training course that we encourage parents and guardians to take, which is linked under the resources portion of the parent page. We encourage parents and guardians to view the “Talking with Kids About Abuse” series and the Parent and Guardian’s Handbook, both of which were produced by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

“These new resources should be viewed as a great starting point. I believe they should be bookmarked on every equestrian parent’s browser to use as needed,” stated Keating. “Awareness of the signs of abuse, particularly peerto-peer abuse, helped me as a parent navigate raising daughters who participated in youth and high school sports. Knowing how to identify signs of abuse, how to respond to it, and how to report it are critical. At USEF, we urge the parents of young equestrians to access the resources created to mitigate the risk of abuse in our sport.”

Photo featuring US Event Rider Cornelia Dorr

Equine Anti-Doping

by Debbie Elliot

The Clean Sport program is designed to ensure fairness and safety for horse and rider.

It can feel daunting to have your horse selected for drug testing. However, this process is an essential part of protecting the safety and welfare of your horse, and ensuring that everyone has the chance to compete on a fair and level playing field.

“USEF is the guardian of the sport and we have a responsibility to protect the horse’s wellbeing. The [anti-doping] regulations that are in place are intended to not only preserve the integrity of sport, but also to protect the health and well-being of the horse,” said Sonja Keating, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for USEF.

If you are planning to compete at any level in a USEF-licensed competition, then it is vital to understand the drug regulations and how they are used to promote Clean Sport. Any horse on the grounds at a USEF-licensed competition may be subject to testing.

Equine Anti-Doping

The anti-doping program protects horses from receiving medications that they shouldn’t, explained Dr. Stephen Schumacher, DVM, PhD, chief administrator of the US Equestrian Equine Drugs and Medications Program. These medications can be dangerous to the horse, mask a performance-limiting condition, or give the horse an unfair advantage. “It’s important that everyone is competing on even footing,” said Dr. Schumacher.

Equine medications are delineated as Permitted, Prohibited and Quantitatively Restricted. If you have any concerns or confusion about what you can give your horse and in what dosage, Dr. Schumacher urges people to read the USEF Drugs and Medications Guidelines pamphlet and to call 800-633-2472, where you can either talk to a live advisor, or if it is after hours, leave a message and receive a callback in a timely manner. “We try to be very accessible … when in doubt, reach out,” he said.

While every situation is different when it comes to testing, below is a general outline of the process:

• USEF appoints veterinarians to attend specific shows and events.

• Under the direction of the appointed Testing Veterinarian, horses are randomly selected coming out of the ring. Often at higher-level competitions, the top-placed horses are also selected for testing.

• An attempt at urine collection is made (technicians may have to wait 15 minutes to an hour for urine), and a blood sample (three vials) is drawn. Both blood and urine samples are separated into two containers, labeled A and B. The samples are often taken in the horse’s stall, and the rider/trainer can be present throughout.

• Technicians use a tablet or phone to input the information, but as soon as it is submitted, then the information is wiped to ensure privacy.

• The samples are sealed and shipped to the USEF-designated laboratory for analysis. Each horse’s samples are given a unique number to track the results. Samples A are tested and samples B are securely stored.

• When your horse is tested, you will receive an email with a barcode to look up the results, which takes approximately 30 days. The sample will be listed as “Cleared” or “Pending” (in review). If something is detected, you have the option to have the B sample tested.

Dr. Schumacher said that non-steroidal medications (i.e. phenylbutazone, flunixin, etc.), as well as Methocarbamol and Dexamethasone, account for most violations as they are used for therapeutic reasons but are quantitatively restricted. Often it is the concentration in the blood at the time of competition that is the issue, not that the actual medication itself that is prohibited. For medications which are Prohibited, “there is a differentiation between ‘should not be used on/in a horse at any time’ and ‘should not be in a horse at time of competition,’” he explained.

Dr. Schumacher also cautions members on administering supplements, as they are not regulated by the FDA, and the Federation does not approve, endorse, or recommend any supplement or natural/

Top Ways to Avoid a Positive Drugs & Medications Test

Dr. Schumacher has provided the following list of tips to avoid a positive finding from contamination, miscommunication or overdosing:

Have one person dedicated to medicating and recording doses for all horses

Keep all medication in a lockable container or tack trunk.

If grinding, ensure that the grinder is thoroughly cleaned between medications or a separate coffee grinder is used for each medication

Dedicate oral syringes for one specific medication and one horse

Clean feed tubs after each feeding and before the next feeding; assign a tub for each horse and remove the feed tubs after feeding if top-dressing the feed is the method for administration

Do not have communal water

Store medications according to manufacturers’ instructions

Clean stalls when arriving at a competition

For paste or oral medications, do not administer in the horse’s stall in case of spillage

Do not store human medication at the barn

Do not pee in horse stalls!

organic products. More often than not, supplements have not been proven to be effective by peer reviewed research, let alone, proven safe for horses. Additionally, “unfortunately, over the years, we’ve had findings associated with supplement administration where the medication that was detected was never listed on the label as one of the ingredients,” he said.

What happens if you receive an adverse equine drug test?

Keating said that the USEF legal department becomes involved if the laboratory returns an adverse analytical finding to the regulating agency. The Federation manages the adjudication of violations for equine testing, and she explained the process as follows. “Upon receipt of an adverse analytical finding from the lab, and following an internal review, we provide written notification to the trainer and owner and afford them an opportunity to have the B sample analyzed at a different laboratory. If the B sample analysis does not confirm the presence of the prohibited substance found in the A sample, then we dismiss the matter and no further proceedings occur. If the B sample analysis confirms the presence of the prohibited substance in the A sample, then we either make an effort to resolve the violation informally, or we will proceed with formal disciplinary action. More often than not, violations involve a medication administration mistake, and we are able to reach a mutually agreeable resolution with the trainer, consistent with the Penalty Guidelines,” Keating said. “Cooperating and providing as much information as possible is always going to be in their [the trainer’s] best interest. If we pursue formal disciplinary action and go before a hearing panel, any suspension imposed by the hearing panel can be appealed to an arbitrator. “At the end of the day, these are our members, and it is very important to us that when they are going through the disciplinary process, they feel that they are treated professionally, respectfully, and fairly,” she added.

Keating recommends every member find the rules and regulations on the USEF.org website and utilize the resources provided by the Veterinary Department. “For the equines, it is in the USEF Handbook in Chapter 4.”

“We’re All Brothers and Sisters Here”

by Rowan Smark

Rowan Smark, 18, already had an accomplished equestrian career before she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now, with the help of her team, she communicates across the country to manage both her horses’ well-being and her own military training.

In the equestrian world, I showed for six years as a working student. I have two horses, and they’re currently with my trainer back home in California. I’ve been to national championships, Gold Star clinics, and I’ve been a part of the Emerging Athletes program. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel to Italy and experience a lot of different new cultures there.

I’ve been able to ride with lots of amazing trainers. Currently, I train in Los Angeles, California, where I earned my first national championship in the 1.10m and 1.15m division with my horse Thomas, or Cava’s Boy. We went to another national championship in 2023, and I showed in the low juniors with my new horse, Ludovica. We won the low junior speed, and then an open 1.10m class with around 60 competitors.

While I was at Michigan State University, I did the ROTC program. I absolutely loved the program. I think I loved it so much that it kind of got in the way of my focuses for college! There was always something that drew me into the Marine Corps, and so I dropped out of college early January 2024 and enlisted in the Marine Corps on Jan. 31. Right now, I have a five-year contract in the Marine Corps, so I’ll be traveling for the next five years. Then, I have a three-year reserve contract after that. I’m planning on staying in the

With the help of her team, Rowan Smark continues her accomplished equestrian career while enlisted in the U.S. Marines.

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Marine Corps for 20 years, but we’ll see how it goes.

What really drew me in to the Marine Corps was the sense of service. There was something inside of me that compelled me to want to go and do this for myself, for my country, for my family, for my friends. There’s something that I need to prove to myself and something I want to show the world that I can do, especially going into a field where there’s little to no women.

Currently, I’m at the School of Infantry in North Carolina, in an infantry training battalion, and I plan to graduate on Aug. 22. Right now, I’ll come out as an O311, which is an infantry rifleman.

Being here showed me how important the camaraderie is between all of us. We’re all brothers and sisters here. Considering I’m currently the only girl in my company, it’s kind of hard to find that sisterhood, but through boot camp I did have 44 girls in my platoon, and I was able to be their guide. I was an honor graduate in boot camp; there were six honor graduates out of about 300 recruits, and I was the only girl that got a spot.

My dreams for the future are big. Once my training is completed, I plan on completing my degree online, potentially in criminal justice. Right now, my biggest focus though is completing the schools and the training. I have dreams to go to Air Assault school, Combat Dive school, Jungle Warfare, and Ranger school. That will probably take up the next two to three years.

Right now, my horses are in California, and I’m in North Carolina. Due to my training schedules, I do not have any shows coming up or anything like that. I have a lot of different goals: eventually, I want to become an officer in the Marine Corps. I’m hoping if I get the chance to go to California for a reconnaissance training course, I’ll be able to visit my horses and my team.

I consider my team my family; they’ve done everything for me. There are girls that show my horses in the little county shows, and I’m thankful for that. I really don’t know what I would do without my team back home to take care of my horses. They’re the backbone support.

Right: Rowan Smark and Cava’s Boy, pictured here, won the 1.15m Children’s Jumper Grand Prix at the 2021 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships.

Below: During her equestrian career, Rowan Smark served as a groom and working student.

5 Things to Know about US Equestrian’s Kids ClubStable Stars

by Zach Girard

From coloring pages and word games to quizzes on knowledge of horses, tack and anatomy, Stable Stars has content designed specifically for our youngest equestrian fans!

US Equestrian recently launched an initiative aimed at the youngest equestrian fans.

US Equestrian’s Kids Club - Stable Stars is available for children of US Equestrian fans, subscribers, and competing members alike, and it offers activities that are designed specifically for kids under the age of 13 that are both fun and educational. The goal of this program is to provide children with an interest in equine educational resources, and fun activities related to horses and horse sports.

1. Stable Stars was created to allow all children access to educational and fun resources related to the equestrian world. It is the vision of US Equestrian to bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. US Equestrian knows there are horse lovers of all age ranges, including young children. In 2023, during a meeting with US Equestrian’s Membership Promotion team, the idea of a kids’ club was brainstormed.

“We knew we needed to offer something that catered to kids, and especially those that don’t

have access to horses but still want to learn,” explained USEF Digital Marketing Manager Maddie Ozbun, who serves on the Membership Promotion team. “That meeting led to the idea of Stable Stars.”

2. Stable Stars is free to join.

Another main goal leaving that initial brainstorming meeting was that Stable Stars would need to be free for members.

“Since it would be free, we knew it would be available to any kid, regardless of if they owned a horse or not.”

The process to sign your child up is simple.

“The child’s parent just has to sign up for a Free Fan account or USEF membership,” stated Jera Jordan, USEF Marketing Specialist and member of the Membership Promotion team. “Once their account is created, they can then go to their dashboard and sign their child up by clicking on the Stable Stars tile.”

To learn more about the sign-up process, please visit usef.org/join-usef/kids-club

Children from Cloud Nine Farm in Midway, Kentucky, play with pool noodle hobby horses inspired by Stable Stars.

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3. The Stable Stars program offers educational activities in quarterly newsletters.

From coloring pages and word games, to quizzes on horse knowledge, tack and anatomy, the quarterly newsletters are full of age-specific horse-related activities that a child could complete at home.

“We knew how much kids in general like craft time, so we almost always have a craft to go alongside the newsletter,” stated Jordan. “One time, we made pool noodle horses, and that seemed to go over well with the children.”

Jordan also explained that the crafts and activities are low-cost and easy.

“The supplies are things that you can find around the house, or something that you can grab at the dollar store. That way, it doesn’t require a ton of money or attention to detail to make them. Anybody can do it,” she said.

4. On the topic of pool noodles, children from Cloud Nine Farm in Midway, Kentucky, will be seen crafting with them in the most recent USEF Network promotion for Stable Stars.

“We wanted to film a video for Kids Club for some of our network streams, so we met with Stevie McCarron Wigley, the head trainer and owner of Cloud Nine,” Ozbun said. “It was the first time we actually met with kids and had them do our coloring book pages and the hobby horse pool noodle activity, and they all really enjoyed it. There were a lot of giggles, and a lot of laughter and running around.”

US Equestrian’s Kids Club - Stable Stars aims to bring the joy of horses to all children, regardless of whether they own a horse or not.

5. Stable Stars is the start of US Equestrian’s Youth Out reach Programs.

US Equestrian hosts several programs to keep those under 18 engaged. Stable Stars is designed for children 13 years old and younger, and that age wasn’t a random number.

“Once children reach fifth grade, we hope that they have found a passion through the Stable Stars program for horses,” Jordan said. “The hope is that passion leads to them competing in USEF licensed events down the road.”

Following Stable Stars, junior competitors may join USEF’s Interscholastic Athlete Program, which is for students in grades 5 through 12.

For more information about Stable Stars, visit usef.org/join-usef/ kids-club or call USEF Member Services at (859) 810-8733.

Fights Equine Asthma

Researched and Proven as an aid in controlling Equine Asthma [IAD and RAO][1]. Recommended in the American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine Consensus Statement on Respiratory Disease[2].

Not all Omega 3’s are the same; use the only Researched and Recommended 1500mg Purified DHA formulation. Talk to your veterinarian today to see how Aleira can help your horse effectively cope with respiratory and immune challanges. Experience the improved performance and recovery that Aleira brings to your horse.

References:

Med 2016; 30:503-515 p.

[1] Nogradi N, Couetil LL, Messick J, Stochelski MA, Burgess JA. Evalutation of an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Containing Feed Supplement in the Management of Horses with Chronic Lower Airway In ammatory Diseases. J Vet Intern Med 2015; 29:299-306

[2} Couetil LL, Cardwell J.M, Gerber V, Lavoie J.P, Leguilette R, Richard E.A. In ammatory Airway Disease of Horses. ACVIM Consensus Statement of J of Vet Intern

508-510.

Olympic Magic in Paris

BY DEBBIE ELLIOT, CARLY WEILMINSTER, DEVYN TRETHEWEY

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games saw the U.S. Jumping Team win their third consecutive silver medal, as athletes from around the world made history at the magnificent venue at the Palace of Versailles.

PHOTO: SHANNON BRINKMAN

The 2024 Paris Olympics might not have always gone exactly as scripted for the U.S. Equestrian Teams, but there were still plenty of outstanding achievements and magical moments taking place at the spectacular facilities at the Palace of Versailles. The grounds of the palace, which date back to 1623 when it was built as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, served as a stunning backdrop for the excitement of the equestrian events taking place from July 27 to Aug. 6.

All athletes, support teams, and US Equestrian staff who attended the Games experienced the honor and glory of representing their country and the sport they love on the biggest stage in the world.

JUMPING

The greatest success of the Paris Olympics was the U.S. Olympic Jumping Team clinching a silver medal. McLain Ward and Ilex, Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, and Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque finished the team competition on four faults, which marked the U.S. team’s ninth Olympic medal and third consecutive silver medal since 2016. Kent Farrington and Greya were initially part of the U.S. team lineup, but were replaced by Cook and Caracole when Greya experienced an allergy-related issue prior to the start of competition.

U.S. Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland praised Cook for his two clear rounds when called up to replace Farrington. “Hats off to Karl – truly,” he said. “And of course, we’re very proud of our other combinations too. It just really came together for us today and these guys delivered when it mattered most.”

Ward, who jumped the final clear round in the role as anchor rider, described the Olympic format as “a real pressure cooker.” Ward said that Ilex felt “brilliant ... I believed in him and my team put me in a great position to try and deliver in a moment, and everybody behind me made my job a little bit easier.”

Elsewhere on the podium, Great Britain took gold in the team Jumping and host nation France won bronze.

The individual Jumping closed out the equestrian competitions in Versailles, with Kraut and Baloutinue finishing in eighth place overall on a total of four faults. Meanwhile, Cook and Caracole de la Roque took 16th place with eight faults. Christian Kukuk of Germany won the gold, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland took silver, and Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands earned bronze.

EVENTING

The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team suffered an unfortunate blow before the Games even began when Will Coleman and Diablo were withdrawn due to a potential abscess in the right front foot after arriving at the venue. This opened the door for traveling reserve Liz Halliday on Nutcracker to enter the team lineup. The team started the competition with three consistent dressage tests and drew sixth in the order of 16 international teams, sitting on a combined-three score total of 88.9 heading into the cross-country phase.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake were the lead out combination for the team in their Olympic debut, producing a lovely, relaxed test to receive a 30.40 from the ground jury. Halliday and Nutcracker scored 28 in a calm and correct test. Meanwhile, Boyd Martin and Fedarman B finished with a score of 30.5 after a few challenging flying changes.

The next day, Pamukcu and HSH Blake started out strong for the U.S. on designer Pierre Le Goupil’s thrilling cross-country

course, however, they were assessed 20 penalties for a runout at fence 16C. Halliday and Nutcracker produced a clear and competitive round for the team but garnered six time penalties. Martin ended the day on a high note with the fastest time for Team USA, adding just 1.6 to his score. “He’s an absolute legend,” Martin said of the KWPN gelding owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate after the cross country. “He just was brilliant every step of the way.”

Following the jumping phase, the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team finished seventh overall with a final total score of 133.70. Two clear rounds by Martin and Fedarman B secured them 10th place in the individual rankings. “Bruno bounced back from cross-country really well,” Martin said. Halliday and Nutcracker also qualified for the second round, delivering a beautiful performance aside from having a rail down at the first vertical on course. In their first round, Pamukcu and HSH Blake just nudged the front rail of the oxer at fence nine late in the course.

“I really truly believe there were more positives than negatives this weekend and still signs we are here competing with the rest of the world,” U.S. Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello said. While he admitted that not coming home with a medal was disappointing for everyone, Costello said: “I’m heartened when I look at the quality of the riders we have here and the quality of horses. Each of these riders has a deep bench of horses coming along, but we still have much work to do if we have the expectation of ourselves to be on the podium in Los Angeles in four years.”

The final team medal standings saw Great Britain winning gold, France taking silver, and Japan at bronze. Michael Jung of Germany took the gold individual medal, Christopher Burton from Australia won silver, and Laura Collett of Great Britain added a bronze medal to her 2024 collection.

DRESSAGE

The U.S. Olympic Dressage Team also hit bad luck from the onset when Marcus Orlob and Jane were eliminated due to FEI Blood Rules for Dressage after judges noticed a trace amount of blood on the 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare’s leg. The pair looked fantastic at the start of the test, but it was later realized that Jane nicked her hind right fetlock by stepping on herself as she entered the arena after being spooked by the crowd.

Sadly, that meant that the U.S. team was out of contention. Adrienne Lyle and Helix, and Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper went on to compete as individuals.

Lyle and Helix were drawn to compete on day one of the FEI Grand Prix and produced a lovely test, which earned them a 72.593%. “Adrienne did a fantastic job riding Helix,” said Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig said. “They had a very good score considering this combination was only together for a very short time and did not start the CDIs until earlier this year.”

Peters, age 59 in his sixth Olympic Games, rode in the final group of combinations. He finished with a 66.491% after a difficult final line and some bobbles during the test.

Unfortunately, neither U.S. rider qualified for the Grand Prix Freestyle, where German riders Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Isabell Werth took gold and silver, and Charlotte “Lottie” Fry of Great Britain won bronze.

We now look ahead with hope and excitement to 2028, when the Summer Olympic Games will return to U.S. soil in Los Angeles!

Top: Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline Pamukcu, and Deniz Pamukcu and cared for by Chloe Teahan, produced a relaxed test to receive a 30.4 score.

Middle: Caroline Pamukcu and an enthusiastic HSH Blake jump into the water combination.

Bottom: Liz Halliday on Nutcracker, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse owned by Chris Desino, Rob Desino, Deborah Halliday, Liz Halliday, and Renee Lane and cared for by Abby Steger, qualified for the second round of the jumping phase of the eventing competition.

PHOTOS: SHANNON BRINKMAN

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, aka Bruno, fly through the iconic antlers at Fence 18 of the cross-country course.

“It was really an amazing atmosphere when you walked down the tunnel, and Bruno really didn’t disappoint. I have supreme confidence in his jumping ability.” - Boyd Martin after the jumping phase

Left: Liz Halliday and Nutcracker navigate the water combination.

Right: Boyd Martin and Fedarman B show off their Team USA pride during the trot up.

DRESSAGE

Top: Adrienne Lyle and Helix, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Marina Lemay, earned a score of 72.593% in a lovely test.

Bottom: Steffen Peters rides Suppenkasper, a 2008 KWPN gelding owned by Akiko Yamazaki & Four Winds Farm and cared for by Eddie Garcia.

PHOTOS: SHANNON BRINKMAN, DEVYN TRETHEWEY/US EQUESTRIAN, LUKASZ KOWALSKI

“He [Helix] was really excited at first and the fact that he settled down and trusted me means everything.” - Adrienne Lyle

Ots and Bohemian.

Suppenkasper

the background.

Martha Stewart, left, and Snoop Dogg, right, meet U.S. Dressage Team traveling reserve Endel

Steffen Peters and

perform their test with the iconic Palace of Versailles in

JUMPING

“It just really came together for us ... and these guys delivered when it mattered most.”

- U.S. Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland

Top Left: McLain Ward and 2013 KWPN gelding, Ilex, clear the jump honoring French writer Jean de La Fontaine’s fables.

Top Right: Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm and cared for by Margo Thomas, at the Eiffel Tower jump in the team competition.

Below: Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque, a 2012 Selle Français owned by Signe Ostby and cared for by Tessa Falanga, soar over the water jump.

McLain Ward pats Ilex, a 2013 KWPN gelding owned by Bonne Chance Farm and McLain Ward and cared for by Virginie Casterman, after a successful round.

The U.S. Jumping Team members, left to right Karl Cook, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward, receive their silver medals on the podium in Versailles.

The U.S. Jumping Team, left to right Karl Cook, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward, celebrate winning the silver medal.

Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque clear the Olympic flame jump.

TRUSTED BY THE BEST

CHARLES ANCONA

NEW YORK

CUSTOM FIT & DESIGN

OPPORTUNITY WEEK: A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK

BY US EQUESTRIAN STAFF

US Equestrian is proud to support organizations around the country that bring the healing and empowering presence of horses to all members of the community.

Opportunity Week provides an opportunity for our membership to help these noble causes.

Last year, USEF launched the inaugural Opportunity Week to celebrate organizations that are changing people’s lives through the joy of horses. The response and support for all the groups and facilities in the USEF Community Outreach Program has been inspiring and heartwarming, leading to Opportunity Week becoming even bigger, better, and more impactful in 2024.

Spanning from Nov. 3-9, 2024, USEF’s Opportunity Week is a chance for all of us to celebrate the important work done by our Community Outreach Organizations every single day. It is also a chance for members to join in the Federation’s pledge to support these life-changing services. Each Community Outreach Organization can apply for grants from the USEF Opportunity Fund, which is a resource dedicated to supporting grassroots organizations with a mission to increase access to horses, horse sports, and equine-based learning opportunities among under-represented and/or underserved communities. Because 100% of donations go directly to the Opportunity Fund to support the Community Outreach Organizations, any donation, no matter how big or small, helps to connect more people with horses.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HEARTLAND

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND

To date, there are 28 worthy grassroots organizations across 13 states and Puerto Rico in the Community Outreach Program. These organizations provide a range of opportunities, from equine-assisted activities for children and adults with special needs, to healing interactions with horses for veterans and people recovering from addiction or PTSD. Several of the Community Outreach Organizations are found in urban areas, which allow under-represented communities access to horses that they may not otherwise have. We have heard countless stories from organization leaders about how the fund has helped people with physical, psychological, social, behavioral and cognitive challenges, and allowed them to improve their emotional wellbeing. As the Community Outreach Program video says, “When we ride united and ride together, that’s when we all win.”

At US Equestrian’s Annual Meeting in January, US Equestrian President Tom O’Mara said that the inaugural Opportunity Week reinforced the transformative power of horses for diverse communities. “There are organizers who have invited the participants from these groups to their shows,” he said. “It is a really great opportunity for collaboration with USEF organizers and members along with our Community Outreach Organizations.”

WHERE THE FUNDING GOES

The USEF Opportunity Fund has raised over $390,000 so far, and money is already having real-life impacts at the organizations.

Who They Help:

We appreciate the efforts of USEF in embracing that equestrians can make an impact in helping those who are in less fortunate life conditions. The 2022 grant allowed us to continue to serve at risk youth in the way of the physical resources needed for operations. The 2024 grant will pay a significant portion of the enrollment fee for the organizations that have had long-standing collaborations with City to Saddle. – Dale Perkins

“To Give a Child A Leg Up!” is the motto for City to Saddle, which underscores their mission of providing equestrian opportunities for under-served children to experience the joys and challenges of equestrian activities. Opening two decades ago, City to Saddle has enrolled hundreds of boys and girls from Boston’s inner city, Worcester, and other urban/metro areas into a variety of equestrian programs at barns located throughout Massachusetts. City to Saddle’s programs enrich the lives of boys and girls by fostering confidence, self-fulfillment, and joy. From the very beginning, City to Saddle engaged a diverse youth population, recognizing the incredible value that equine relationships can hold for children of all backgrounds when barriers to access are removed.

Grants Awarded: September 2022 and May 2024

How They Spent Their Grant:

In 2022, City to Saddle used the grant to replace and upgrade the equipment used by participants. This included helmets, safety stirrup irons, stirrup leathers, and a vaulting surcingle.

In 2024, City to Saddle is using their second grant from US Equestrian to fund a new program that will benefit participants from the following five organizations:

• YMCA of Central MA

• Wellington Public Housing Site

• Autumn Woods Public Housing Site

• North Village Public Housing Site

• Nazareth Home for Boys

CITY TO SADDLE – MESA FARM

Rutland, Mass.

Because of the USEF grant, we were able to expand our programming quickly to include Hippo-therapy clients and ground classes during our regular class hours. We were able to expand from 77 participants in the fall of 2022 to 97 in the spring of 2023. – Amy Wheeler

HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING

Overland Park, Kans.

Who They Help:

Each week, 97 children and adults from around the Kansas City area attend Heartland Therapeutic Riding Inc (HTR) to experience the benefits of interacting with horses and achieve goals they once only dreamed of attaining. The horses introduce participants to a new world, a world that’s full of possibilities and hope! Heartland works with participants who live with physical, emotional and/or intellectual challenges. Some disabilities are clear and evident, but some are not. Participants make physical and emotional strides during their lessons, which are taught by instructors who are focused on what they can accomplish, not on their limitations. Group lessons are held weekly with a supportive group of volunteers to ensure safety and encourage team building.

Grant Awarded: September 2022

How They Spent Their Grant:

This grant was used to support Heartland Therapeutic Riding’s efforts to improve their arena and made it usable year-round. Midwest equine organizations can struggle with wide swings of very hot and very cold weather. In order for their programming to run undisturbed, the following specific improvements were made:

• Two heaters and a gas line

• Propane tanks

• Electrical system for a fan in the indoor arena

• Fixed a leaking foundation

Kindle Hill Foundation Blue Bell, Pa.

Who They Help:

Kindle Hill’s mission is to support members of their community who could benefit from equine assisted learning and therapy to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Kindle Hill’s proactive EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) and EAT (Equine Assisted Therapy) programs are designed to provide effective avenues of mental health support, with the goals of reclaiming lives and relationships and, in many cases, for first responders to return safely and effectively to work.

Grant Awarded: June 2023

How They Spent Their Grant:

As a therapy-based equine organization, HIPAA compliance is important for participant management. Kindle Hill used their grant in 2023 to purchase Therapy Notes, which has helped with both internal operations as well as remaining HIPAA compliant.

The grant from the USEF Opportunity Fund has been a game changer for KHFC! The Therapy Notes software that we implemented with these funds offers HIPAA compliant technology that helps us to effectively manage cases, and save time. As a result, we can accommodate a growing number of clients, and provide the treatment they need and deserve.

Thank you, USEF! – Saly Glassman

PHOTOS: COURTESY KINDLE HILL, KIMBERLY LIND

We are delighted to have added another suitable Fjord to our herd and are very grateful to USEF for enabling us to strengthen the herd with such a super equine partner. Our ongoing increase and optimization of our herd allows us to serve diverse participants while prioritizing our horses’ health and well-being. Our horses are essential partners in our Adaptive Riding, Therapy, mental health, and horsemanship programs, and we continue to seek appropriate herd members to help us deliver quality services for our participants. – Jenny Slack, Equine Services Director

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center Redmond, Wash.

Who They Help:

Little Bit was founded in June 1976 by a woman named Margaret Dunlap, who, while suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, found that being on the back of a horse slowed the advance of her disease. From humble beginnings of one horse and five riders, Little Bit has grown to be one of the largest nationally accredited, industry-leading PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International centers and one of the largest full-time therapeutic horsemanship programs in the United States. Little Bit offers Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy and serves more than 500 clients annually with 29 horses and the help of more than 850 volunteers.

Grant Awarded: June 2023

How They Spent Their Grant:

Little Bit used their grant to purchase a new horse to help further their programming. Bear, a 15-year-old Norwegian Fjord, has a background in trail riding and basic dressage. He is described as competent, kind, and a willing partner. In addition to Bear, the grant allowed Little Bit to add six lease-care horses to their herd. They are:

• Cappuccino, an 18-year-old Fjord/Tennessee Walker

• Charly, a 23-year-old German Riding pony

• Flash, a 17-year-old Quarter Horse

• Lena, a 27-year-old North American Spotted Draft horse

• Marshmellow, a miniature horse

• Pixie, a 21-year-old Arabian

IFSHA Show Manager Sandy Jacob and IALHA President Kaeli Dressler meet for the collaborative 2023 IFSHA Grand National and IALHA Region 7 Championship at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C.

LESLIE POTTER/US EQUESTRIAN

Two USEF Affiliates Team Up to Grow Shows

The International Friesian Show Horse Association and the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association have successfully hosted collaborative horse shows with the goal of growing their exhibitor bases and fostering equestrian community.

BY ZACH GIRARD

PHOTO:

“WE CAN DEFINITELY

ACCOMPLISH

A WHOLE LOT MORE TOGETHER THAN IN ISOLATION OR IN COMPETITION, SO COOPERATION IS THE KEY.”

- IALHA President Kaeli Dressler

Last fall, the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) and the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) enjoyed success when they took their collaborative horse-show efforts to the national stage. The IFSHA Grand National Show hosted an IALHA Region 7 Championship at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C., and the IALHA reciprocated by hosting an IFSHA regional championship during its IALHA National Championship Show later in the autumn in Fort Worth, Texas.

IFSHA Show Manager Sandy Jacob and IALHA President Kaeli Dressler agreed that this collaboration has been successful so far. “The Friesian and the Andalusian/ Lusitano classes are similar. When you’re scheduling a show with both breeds, it’s relatively easy to schedule both breeds in the same divisions,” Jacob said. “The classes are very similar, and when you find a willing partner to work with, it makes putting on the show easier.”

Left: Cobus Fan De Hill and Christine Johnston compete in the Friesian English Pleasure Show Hack Open category at the 2023 IFSHA Grand National Championship.

Opposite: Cregga Rose Eyes, ridden and owned by Andrea McNeal, competes at the 2023 IALHA National Championship.

“We’re focused on what went well, and then we just make adjustments to the things that can use improvement, because there’s always that,” Dressler said.

Dressler said the goal of these collaborative events is to gradually expand the reach of limited resources and foster connections between breed communities, possibly paving the way for more collaborative horse shows in the future.

“There’s a lot of crossover between the breeds among horse owners. It takes those early adopters, those people who are willing to travel, to be the first to bring along family members or friends they know in their area or barns,” Dressler said. “It’s just encouraging people who have gotten out of the habit of looking for or attending breed shows because there haven’t been opportunities in the area for some time. We knew from the beginning that it would take several years to build (this concept) up.”

Jacob projected that these collaborations will bring a better financial base for the organizations and a stronger collaboration between breeders and owners. Jacob said that she is open to going bigger, such as hosting two national tournaments at the same event; however, the two organizations will have to find a location that works for both associations and their member bases.

“Right now, the IALHA is so heavily located in Texas, and IFSHA’s members

are located more towards the Midwest and the East Coast,” Jacob said. “For IFSHA, it was definitely a help having IALHA participate. I’ve already received a lot of inquiries from Andalusian and Lusitano owners that didn’t make it to the show in 2023 that are planning to come to Tryon in the fall. Every year, we’ll probably see an increase as the word gets out. People are enjoying the shows and enjoying the camaraderie of both breeds, and we find a lot of people have both breeds in their barns.”

Jacob and Dressler’s ultimate goal is to promote breed shows, which they said have been declining in attendance, and to provide opportunities for breeds with smaller numbers.

“Some people don’t really have a place to show, so they start joining in and finding out there are lovely venues at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas, and the Tryon venue,” Jacob added. “We’re seeing some good feedback from exhibitors. Having two different shows running at the same time actually gives a little bit of space for the exhibitors. They aren’t pushed to get to their next class, having the break of that extra breed classes in there. It gives exhibitors a little more time to enjoy what they’re doing.”

“We haven’t yet accomplished our ultimate goal, but we have achieved an interim goal of just getting it done in the first place,” Dressler said. “Now, we’ll

look to see if we can take additional steps towards that that ultimate goal.”

Dressler said that the biggest lesson she has learned through these collaborative shows is to be persistent and open to new ideas.

“We can definitely accomplish a whole lot more together than in isolation or in competition, so cooperation is the key,” Dressler said. “It just takes some creativity and persistence to accomplish something like this and find a way to partner—to not give up before things are given a fair opportunity to develop.”

“Take a step out of your comfort zone and come to these shows and enjoy the camaraderie of a full national event. Kaeli and I very much have the same goals and see things the same way. It’s being open to trying new things,” Jacob added. “It’s saying, ‘Okay, this is our second year; let’s see what happens this year.’ It was a foot in the door last time; let’s see how well we progress this year and how many more exhibitors we could bring in.”

The IFSHA National Championship show was cancelled in 2024. However, the IALHA National Championship show is hosting Friesian Regional classes and offering a full complement of Friesian classes.

Learn more about the Friesian, Andalusian, and Lusitano breeds by visiting usef. org’s Breeds and Disciplines page

Penalties for Rule Violations

OFFICIAL NOTICES

Contributed by the Regulation Department unless otherwise indicated. The following official notices are only intended to give penalty information for a given case and not to disclose the factual basis for each violation or penalty. For matters heard by the Hearing Committee, a Hearing Panel decides each case based on the evidence presented at the hearing and takes into account many factors that may raise or lower a given penalty. For example, the Hearing Committee takes into account such things as whether the violation was intentional or unintentional, the nature of the violation, the credibility of witnesses, Penalty Guidelines, penalties in similar cases, past violations of Federation rules by a respondent, and many other mitigating factors.

US Equestrian members can access and search the United States Equestrian Federation Suspension List online at USequestrian.org. Hover over the Compete tab on the homepage. In the menu that appears, click Ineligibility List under Rules, Regulations, and Grievances.

CATHERINE GRADY, of Marstons Mills, MA, had a technical violation of the USEF MAAP Policy, in that between 2018 and 2023, she admitted to engaging in one-on-one communications with a minor, without copying or including the minor’s parent/ guardian, another adult family member, or another adult participant on the communications.

The Federation resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Ms. Grady following an investigation and review, in which she was represented by Counsel and fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case, including that Ms. Grady accepted responsibility for the technical violation. Accordingly, it was determined that the following penalties were appropriate.

For this violation it was determined that CATHERINE GRADY be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a and fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1k.

KAREN PATTON, of Colorado Springs, CO violated a No Contact Directive imposed by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, in that on or about December 13, 2023, she contacted via telephone one of the individuals identified in the No Contact Directive.

The Federation resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Karen Patton following an investigation and review, in which she was represented by Counsel and fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case. Accordingly, it was determined that the following penalties were appropriate.

For this violation it was determined that KAREN PATTON be

censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a and fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1k.

MEREDITH BROSS, of Jacksonville, FL violated Chapter 7, GR702.1.a, GR702.1.d, Chapter 8, GR838.4.e, GR843, and the USEF Code of Conduct in that on or about November 17, 2023, in connection with the WEC Ocala November #2 Horse Show held in Ocala, FL, Meredith Bross was witnessed manually poling a horse during schooling.

The Federation resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Meredith Bross following an investigation and review, in which she was represented by Counsel and fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case. Accordingly, it was determined that the following penalties were appropriate.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR7031.b and GR703.1.f, MEREDITH BROSS shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for one (1) month and is excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator;

(2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The one-month suspension shall commence on November 1, 2024, and terminate at midnight on November 30, 2024. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of hers, or shown in her name or for her reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

MEREDITH BROSS was also fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1k.

MEGAN YOUNG, of Jacksonville Beach, FL violated Chapter 7, GR702.1.a, GR702.1.d, Chapter 8, GR838.4.e, GR843, and the USEF Code of Conduct in that on or about November 17, 2023, in connection with the WEC Ocala November #2 Horse Show held in Ocala, FL, Megan Young was witnessed manually poling a horse during schooling.

The Federation resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Megan Young following an investigation and review, in which she was represented by Counsel and fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case. Accordingly, it was determined that the following

penalties were appropriate.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR7031.b and GR703.1.f, MEGAN YOUNG shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for one (1) month and is excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

MEGAN YOUNG was also fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1k.

RODNEY BROSS , of Ocala, FL violated Chapter 7, GR702.1.a, GR702.1.d, Chapter 8, GR838.4.e, GR843, and the USEF Code of Conduct in that on or about November 17, 2023, in connection with the WEC Ocala November #2 Horse Show held in Ocala, FL, Rodney Bross was witnessed coaching and directing/permitting others to manually poling a horse during schooling.

The Federation resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Rodney Bross following an investigation and review, in which he was represented by Counsel and fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case. Accordingly, it was determined that the following penalties were appropriate.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter

7, GR7031.b and GR703.1.f, RODNEY BROSS shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for two (2) months and is excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the

Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The two-month suspension shall commence on October 1, 2024, and terminate at midnight on November 30, 2024. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of his, or shown in his name or for his reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

RODNEY BROSS was also fined $2,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1k.

ROBERT THORNTON, of Salisbury, NC, violated Chapter 4, GR410 – 411 of this Federation, in connection with the Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday Horse Trials held on February 28, 2024, in that he, as trainer, exhibited the horse, CARLINGFORDS CHAMPAGNE, after it had been administered and/or contained in its body acepromazine and 2(1-hydroxyethyl) promazine sulfoxide.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1b and GR703.1f, ROBERT THORNTON shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for two (2) months and excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee

of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The two-month suspension shall commence on February 1, 2025, and terminate at midnight on March 31, 2025. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of his, or shown in his name or for his reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

ROBERT THORNTON was also fined $3,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. In connection with this penalty all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by CARLINGORDS CHAMPAGNE at said competition were redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

ELIZABETH GERVASIO , of Wellington, FL, violated Chapter 4, GR410 – 411 of this Federation, in connection with the Global Dressage Festival 12 Horse Show held on March 27-31, 2024, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse, DON DELUXE, after it had been administered and/or contained in its body 5-hydroxydantrolene.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1b and GR703.1f, ELIZABETH GERVASIO shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for two (2) months and excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic,

task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The two-month suspension shall commence on February 1, 2025, and terminate at midnight on March 31, 2025. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of hers, or shown in her name or for her reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

ELIZABETH GERVASIO was also fined $2,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. In connection with this penalty all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by DON DELUXE at said competition were redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

REMY CHAMPION of Talking Rock, GA, violated Chapter 4, GR410 of this Federation, in connection with the Atlanta in the Spring Horse Show held on March 14-17, 2024, in that she, exhibited the horse, ATTILA D’ELLE, after it had been administered and/ or contained in its body 7-Carboxycannabidiol. The facts and mitigating factors in this case supported the following penalty even though it is below the suggested range for Category III Violations outlined in the Drugs and Medications Penalty Guidelines.

For this violation it was determined that REMY CHAMPION be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a and fined $3,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by ATTILA D’ELLE at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

WILHELM GENN, of Lebanon, OH, violated Chapter 4, GR410 –411 of this Federation, in connection with the World Equestrian Center Winter Classic #8 Horse Show held on January 31- February 4, 2024, in that he, as trainer, exhibited the horse, ZHAPPY Z, after it had been administered and/or contained in its body guanabenz.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1b and GR703.1f, WILHELM GENN shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed

Competition for three (3) months and excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The three-month suspension shall commence on January 4, 2025, and terminate at midnight on April 4, 2025. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of his, or shown in his name or for his reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

WILHELM GENN was also fined $3,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. In connection with this penalty all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by ZHAPPY Z at said competition were redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

JENNIFER DIXON of Vacaville, CA, violated Chapter 4, GR410 of this Federation, in connection with the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show held on November 6-11, 2023, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse, CH MAGIC CITY after it had been administered and/or contained in its body methocarbamol and guaifenesin. An independent analysis of the B sample was performed and confirmed the presence of methocarbamol and guaifenesin.

The Federation, with approval from the Hearing Committee

Panel, resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Ms. Dixon following an investigation and review of competition records, to which Ms. Dixon was represented by Counsel and fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case, the Drugs and Medication Penalty Guidelines, and determined that the following penalties were appropriate even though it is below the suggested penalty range for a second offense of a Category I violation as outlined in the Drugs and Medications Penalty Guidelines.

For these violations it was determined that JENNIFER DIXON be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a and fined $2,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for these violations of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by CH MAGIC CITY at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

This is official notice of actions taken by the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. Hearing Committee Panel on May 31, 2024.

KELSEY COLE of Saint Charles, MO, violated Chapter 4, GR410-411 of this Federation, in connection with the Autumn at the Arch Horse Show held on October 21 – 22, 2023, in that, as Trainer and Owner, she exhibited the horse Z. LONDETTA after it had been administered and/or contained in its body methocarbamol, guaifenesin, and cetirizine.

During a Zoom video hearing, the Hearing Panel gave consideration to the evidence submitted by the parties. Ms. Cole was given proper notice of the Complaint and hearing. The Hearing Panel noted that Ms. Cole did not attend the hearing, so the Federation rested on its written submissions. The Hearing Panel noted that Ms. Cole did not contest her roles as “Trainer, Owner, agent, or other Person Responsible” for the horse in question. Nor did she challenge the Federation’s evidence with regard to sample collection, chain of custody, testing procedure, and analytical results. Instead, Ms. Cole acknowledged that she arranged for the administration of methocarbamol and cetirizine in conjunction with her veterinarian’s advice for treatment of pre-existing conditions. Ms. Cole did not challenge that the horse tested positive for methocarbamol or cetirizine. At the same time, the Federation did not challenge that the horse had the claimed

pre-existing conditions, or that the medications were appropriate for treatment purposes.

In determining the proper penalty for the violations, the Hearing Panel noted that an overage of methocarbamol is treated as a Category I violation in the Drug and Medications Penalty Guidelines and cetirizine is treated as a Category II violation. The Hearing Committee Panel reviewed the Guidelines and selected a penalty that was appropriate in light of the mitigating factors in this case.

For these violations of the rules, the Hearing Panel members present directed that KELSEY COLE shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for one (1) month and is excluded from all competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses, or trailering horses on or off competition grounds during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant, or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities; (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing, or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The one-month suspension shall commence on October 1, 2024, and terminate at midnight on October 31, 2024. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of hers, or shown in her name or for her reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

KELSEY COLE was also fined $1,500 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed

that for these violations of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by Z LONDETTA at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

EMI HANSEN, of Las Vegas, NV, violated Federation Rules including, Chapter 7, GR702.1.a, GR702.1.d, and GR702.1.f; Chapter 8, GR838.4.a and GR838.4.m, and the USEF Code of Conduct, in that on or about April 13, 2024, immediately following her third refusal (and elimination) from Stadium Jumping at the Twin Rivers Spring International Horse Trials, she vigorously struck the horse, LIL’ BUNNY FOO FOO, with the crop three times on the right hind end. As she was exiting the competition arena and going to the stall, she took her aggressions out on the horse by repeatedly whipping the horse, punitively pulling on the reins and forcefully spurring the horse. While in the stall, she continued to strike the horse with the whip and backed up the horse into a corner by pulling on its head using the halter and lead until the horse was showing visible signs of fear and distress. Finally, while leading the horse out of its stall prior to her departure from the competition grounds, she slammed the stall door on the horse’s hips.

The Federation resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Emi Hansen following an investigation and review, in which she fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case, the seriousness of the violation, and the USEF Horse Welfare and Safety Penalty Guidelines. Accordingly, it was determined that the following penalties were appropriate.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to General Rule 703.1.b and General Rule 703.1.f, EMI HANSEN shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for six (6) months and is excluded from all competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses, or trailering horses on or off competition

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grounds during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant, or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities; (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing, or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The six-month suspension shall commence on November 1, 2024, and terminate at midnight on April 30, 2025. Any horse or horses, completely or in part owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of hers, or shown in her name or for her reputation (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended pursuant to General Rule 703.1.c for the same time period.

EMI HANSEN was also fined $5,000, pursuant to General Rule 703.1.k.

RENATA SOLOMOU of Locust Valley, NY, violated Chapter 9, GR912.3, of this Federation, in that she was reported four times for making non-negotiable payments for entry fees to the following Federation Licensed or endorsed competitions: HITS On The Hudson III Horse Show held June 6-10, 2018; HITS On The Hudson V Horse Show held July 27-31, 2022; HITS On The Hudson VII Horse Show held August 30 – September 3, 2023; and HITS On The Hudson Horse Show held September 6-10, 2023.

The Federation, with approval from the Hearing Committee Panel, resolved this matter through an informal resolution with Ms. Solomou following an investigation and review of competition records, to which Ms. Solomou fully cooperated with the Federation. In determining the proper penalty, the Federation took into account the facts and mitigating factors in this case and determined that the following penalties were appropriate.

For this violation of the rule, it was determined that RENATA SOLOMOU shall be censured, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1.a, and fined in the amount of $750, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1.k.

ALICIA SAXTON, of Encinitas, CA, violated Chapter 4, GR410 of this Federation, in connection with the Temecula Valley National Premier I Horse Show held on April 17-21, 2024, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse, BAROLO, after it had been administered and/or contained in its body o-desmethyl-cis-tramadol.

For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1b and GR703.1f, ALICIA SAXTON shall be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for two (2) months and excluded from all Competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time

participants are admitted on the Competition grounds until the last time for departure). For example, suspended individuals may not be on Competition grounds during schooling or other such days prior to the start of the Competition for any purpose, including such things as: coaching riders, training or schooling horses or trailering horses on or off Competition grounds) during Licensed Competitions for that period. Furthermore, suspended individuals are excluded from: (1) competition grounds as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities. Regulations as to suspended persons are set forth in detail in General Rule 704.

The two-month suspension shall commence on April 1, 2025, and terminate at midnight on May 31, 2025. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of hers, or shown in her name or for her reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

ALICIA SAXTON was also fined $2,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. In connection with this penalty all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by BAROLO at said competition were redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

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Lauren Sammis (Dressage)

Traci Brooks (Hunter/Jumper)

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Beth Baumert (Dressage)

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Daniel Stewart (Jumping, Sports Psychology)

Ben Longwell (Vaquero and Ranch)

Kevin Raber (Reining)

Ivy Starnes (Easy Gaited Horses)

Mary Miller Jordan (Mustangs, Liberty)

Solange (Stable Riding)

Celisse Barrett (Mounted Archery)

Sam & Kellie Rettinger (Draft Horses)

Mini Doves Equestrian Drill Team (Mini Horses)

Renegades & Outlaws Drill Teams (Drill Teams)

Rebecca Platz (Mini Obstacle Courses)

Copper Hill Vaulting Team (Vaulting)

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US Equestrian Magazine

A PODIUM IN PARIS

Memories from the Olympic Games

Let’s build a champion.

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US Equestrian Announces Rescheduled Dates & New Location for 2024 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West

US Equestrian Announces Gotham North as the Returning Title Sponsor of the 2024 FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship

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US Equestrian Introduces New National Championship League as an Accessible Championship Format for U.S. Eventing Athletes

Microscopic scale

US Equestrian Awards Opportunity Fund Grants to Eight USEF Community Outreach Organizations

USEF Endurance Logbook Now Available Online

In & Around the Ring

US Equestrian Expands Safe Sport Resources to Junior Competitors & Parents

Junior Competitor Safe Sport Page

Safe Sport 101

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U.S. Center for SafeSport Resources

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Equine Anti-Doping

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Top Ways to Avoid a Positive Drugs & Medications Test

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5 Things to Know about US Equestrian’s Kids ClubStable Stars

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Olympic Magic in Paris

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OPPORTUNITY WEEK: A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK

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Who They Help:

How They Spent Their Grant:

Two USEF Affiliates Team Up to Grow Shows

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OFFICIAL NOTICES

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NOV. 7–10, 2024

W. SPRINGFIELD, MA Eastern States Exposition

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