by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 27, 2025
An aggressive agenda to increase visibility of horse sports, along with stepping up horse welfare, is part of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s new strategic plan.
At its annual meeting last week, where the theme was “It’s All About the Horse,” USEF reported its competing membership grew 8 percent from 2023 to 83,000 in 2024, and the number of horses competing was up 2.7 percent, to 85,970. Altogether, the number of fans and members amounted to more than 500,000. There were 1.65 million followers on social media. USEF had more than 73 million video views across all platforms, up over 189 percent.
All that offers an opportunity to let people know more about horses; how they are used, what their lives are like, the way they are cared for. It’s a powerful tool in combating the negativity of those who don’t believe horses should be involved in competition, or in some cases, ridden or driven at all.
Because here are some scary statistics: An FEI Ethics and Well-Being survey showed 52 percent of the non-equestrian public believes the welfare of sport horses should be improved, and 78 percent of equestrian stakeholders believe horse welfare standards need improving.
“There is no question that horses, horse welfare and safety need to be our top priorities,” said USEF Bill Moroney.
An interesting hands-on example involved helping the U.S. Army, which had serious horse well-being issues with its caisson horses used in funerals. With the help of USEF board member and retired Navy Rear Admiral Jon Krietz, Chief of Sport David O’Connor and USEF board member and world driving championships medalist Chester Weber, the unit made a comeback. Its horses were seen this month in the services for the late President Jimmy Carter.
For the sport to be sustainable, Moroney said, USEF and its members have to do three things: “Celebrate the horse, educate our members and the public and regulate the treatment of horses and protect them.”
That last item should have priority with everyone involved with horses.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 24, 2025
Amendments to the federal Horse Protection Act have been postponed from Feb. 1 to April 2, as the American Horse Council and other groups had requested due to the equine community’s concern about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s definition of soring, “which seems to significantly expand the scope beyond the original intent.”
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Information Service “needs to refocus its efforts to scale the final rule to what Congress intended, and not adopt interpretations that exceed the agency’s authority,” according to the Council. The decision provides additional time for the agency to answer and clarify “several troubling provisions in the regulation as it applies to certain disciplines, inspector training, and reporting requirements,” according to the AHC.
The delay announced Friday was linked to a memorandum, Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, under which President Trump ordered all executive departments and agencies not to propose any rule or directive until a department head reviews and approves it. AHC had contacted the new administration’s transition team about its concerns in regard to the amendment and requested the postponement.
While rules that don’t raise major objections can proceed after a 60-day hold, the HPA amendments don’t seem to be in that category. The Committee on Oversight called for abolition of the revised rule, stating, “The rule’s arbitrary enforcement, lack of a clear appeal process, potential conflicts of interest among inspectors, and the absence of transparent funding mechanisms threaten the integrity of horse industry regulation enforcement and erode public trust.”
The HPA prohibits sored horses from participating in shows, exhibitions, sales, or auctions. The Act, which also bans the transportation of sored horses to or from any of these events, was aimed primarily at Tennessee Walking horses and other racking breeds where soring is abuse and unfortunately part of the culture. But the amendments would have affected many other breeds and disciplines, with a few exceptions. They include horse racing, eventing cross-country and rodeo, because they involve speed and soring gives no advantage there.
The amendments would provide, among other things, that the federal agency will screen, train, and authorize qualified persons for appointment by the management of any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction to detect and diagnose soring at such events for the purposes of enforcing the HPA. With the exception of a section that took effect on June 7, 2024, authorizing the training of horse protection inspectors, the remainder of the rule was scheduled to go into effect next month. APHIS will issue guidance to stakeholders for the upcoming horse show season in light of the postponement of the new rule.
“The AHC looks forward to working with the administration to support all reasonable regulations for the full and fair enforcement of the Horse Protection Act’s prohibition against the soring of horses,” the Horse Council stated.
In the age of Social License to Operate, some equestrians are nervous about how expansion of the HPA would affect competitions and horse sales. Others haven’t even heard about revised regulations, because there has been little publicity. But any time the government gets involved with sport, it raises questions.
As U.S. Equestrian Federation CEO Bill Moroney pointed out, even the original act covered soring in all types of horses, though equestrians involved with other breeds may not have realized it.
The amended act was so broad-ranging that it has “really raised everyone’s attention” about regulation of all “covered breeds” at “covered events.”
The USEF issued a press release in October that included information about the regulations, but Moroney thinks many people may not have read it. Like the American Horse Council, the federation has been proactive in dealing with the amendments.
A national association representing the horse industry in Washington, D.C., AHC has a variety of member organizations including USEF. the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Paint Horse Association and many others.
Prior to announcement of the delay, AHC President Julie Broadway said her organization was reconsidering its support of the revised regulations, noting USDA was “not cooperating,” as the council tried to get things clarified “and make certain we are comfortable with what they are trying to do.”
There’s not as much overreach in the old regulations as the new regulations, Broadway observed. Earlier this month, she called it “just an absolute mess.”
She said some show organizers were “really frustrated, really anxious. They’re calling us and asking us, `What do we do?’” She suggested the shows just go ahead and notify USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Information Service as required that organizers will be holding their events. Broadway noted APHIS hasn’t gotten more money or personnel to enforce the act, and that the concentration remains on Tennessee Walking Horses.
“So the chances of them coming to a quarter horse show near you are really, really slim.”
USEF is handling notification of APHIS for all of its licensed competitions, which means their managers don’t have to deal with it. Concerns have been raised about other facets of the regulations, including the requirement that Horse Protection Inspectors have free access to show records, sale records, event information, barns, tack rooms, horse trailers, stables, stalls, arenas, and other areas on the showgrounds.
That sounds ominous, but Moroney’s conclusions are similar to those reached by Broadway. He maintained, “The immediate reaction has to be measured against the reality of the resources of the USDA/APHIS with regard to enforcement of the act. They have a limited budget and historically have gone to about 50 events a year.”
USEF has 2,100 licensed competitions (none of which are walking horse shows), and there are thousands more shows connected with other equestrian organizations across the country.
“There is no way for them to get everywhere,” said Moroney of the inspectors.
“They have historically gone to places where they feel this action is happening; the propensity to sore horses is the highest,” he said.
“We’re feeling as good as we can feel about it from a USEF perspective, because we have rules and regulations. We have a regulatory system that will penalize people for doing things outside the rules. We have a system of stewards, technical delegates, judges etc. where horses have a level of oversight over them.
“Do the right thing and you won’t have to call on regulation at the end of the day. The best way for something to not affect you is to do the right thing.”
Derek Braun, who runs the Split Rock Show Jumping Tour, wasn’t worried about the expanded regulations.
He said he needs to look into them further for the details, but noted the provision that horses should be examined before they go in the ring and after they leave sounds to him like FEI (international equestrian federation) requirements.
If they have their own people coming in and inspecting, he continued, “that would be a little more concerning,” but he thinks inspection similar to what is done for FEI horses would be okay, “as long as it’s used for a good reason.”
Braun added, “I think the intention is probably correct for extreme circumstances. I think it’s no problem holding these trainers and exhibitors accountable if there is an extreme circumstance. While that’s what the show stewards, “are there for,” as far as having an inspector also take a look, “I can’t see that as a bad thing if it’s warranted.”
Joe Norick, the HITS’ show series chief customer officer, said that self-policing means “if we see something that looks inappropriate, we’ll bring it up.”
He added, “I think you have to employ good staff at the show, people that are educated, from the horse show vet on down. Depending on who these individual (inspectors) are and how they are coming to look at this, education is a big factor. That’s why a strong steward, horse show vet or manager is going to have take the lead, to be proactive on this. I also do think we have to think of the care, the quality of the barns, that’s why we have enough emphasis that horse care is a good place to start. I think we’re going to be fine.”
Meanwhile, the Western Justice Legislative Fund took an aggressive stance against the revised HPA with a petition drive. It cites many concerns, contending animal rights extremists are “seeking to expand the definition of `soring’ to encompass as much of the horse industry as possible. The recent revisions to the law are the result. The lead USDA veterinarian, Dr. Aaron Rhyner, even went so far as to say that he could see how just riding a horse could be considered to be a type of soring.”
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller is another voice against the revised HPA. He maintains, “This rule isn’t about protecting horses; it’s about federal bureaucrats grabbing more control over an industry they clearly don’t understand. The United States Department of Agriculture’s new rule is so absurd that it makes using fly spray on a horse a potential violation. That’s not a joke—they can’t be serious!”
The Federal Rule for the Act specifically states “soring” is defined as:
- An irritating or blistering agent applied, internally or externally, by a person to any limb of a horse;
- Any burn, cut, or laceration inflicted by a person on any limb of a horse;
- Any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent injected by a person into or used by a person on any limb of a horse; or
- Any other substance or device used by a person on any limb of a horse, or a person has engaged in a practice involving a horse and as a result of such application, infliction, injection, use, or practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving, except that such term does not include such an application, infliction, injection, use, or practice in connection with the therapeutic treatment of a horse by or under the supervision of a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State in which such treatment is given.
click here to read about the revised HPA from the Federal Register prior to the postponement.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 24, 2025
Eventer Liz Halliday was honored with the International Equestrian of the Year title by the U.S. Equestrian Federation in Kentucky on Thursday night, while hunter ring star Nick Haness earned national honors.The winners were selected by a vote of the membership.
Liz Halliday.
Liz is in a rehabilitation center for the traumatic brain injury she suffered in August when her horse fell with her on cross-country at the American Eventing Championships. She had been the reserve rider for the U.S. eventing team at the Paris Olympics, but stepped up to compete on the squad when Will Coleman had to drop out. She finished nineteenth overall.
Nick Haness may be based in California, but he is a nationwide phenomenon who was saluted with USEF’s Naitonal Equestrian of the Year trophy.
Nick Haness
The leading hunter rider at Devon two years in a row, Nick kept his winning form throughout 2024 to be a standout in major competitions. They included winning winning the $100,000 USHJA WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, and the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular, as well as earning the leading hunter rider title at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
Haness was one of the riders of McQueen, who was named National Horse of the Year.
Owned by Walkenbach Equestrian, he also was shown successfully in the amateur ranks by Lanie Walkenbach.
The International Horse of the Year title went to Signe Ostby’s Caracole de la Roque, ridden by Ostby’s son, Karl Cook, to the Olympic team silver medal. That duo also won the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Rome.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Lendon Gray, an Olympic team member in dressage who these days is better known for her contributions to sport beyond her riding.
An A-rated Pony Clubber while she was growing up in Maine, she was recognized for taking non-traditional mounts to the top of the sport. One of her most famous partners was Seldom Seen, a Connemara/Thoroughbred cross who stood just 14.2 hands but bested his larger competition up through Grand Prix level.
Seeking to foster the development of good all-around horsemanship in the younger generations of equestrians, Gray created the Youth Dressage Festival in 1999. In addition to a traditional dressage test, competitors at the Festival are also tasked with completing a written test on riding theory and stable management and a group equitation test. In line with Gray’s mission, all three sections carry equal weight for the overall results.
The Festival marked the beginning of Dressage4Kids (D4K) which provides dressage athletes, coaches, and officials with opportunities and support as they advance in the sport. D4K has grown over the years to encompass educational programs and professional development for instructors and other adults in the industry in addition to the youth-focused training and mentoring opportunities. Through its scholarship program, D4K provides financial assistance for youth and amateur riders, as well as new professionals to access training, competition, and educational resources.
D4K’s Horse Donation Program matches competitive dressage horse and ponies with dedicated young athletes who have committed to the lifelong care of their horse. Horses and riders are carefully matched, ensuring positive outcomes for both. Horses leased through the program compete across the country at all levels, including at championship events.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 13, 2025
Do you know how to handle an emergency involving your horse?
You can get some helpful tips at “Emergencies, Pasture and Pain…Oh My!” the Horse Management Seminar hosted by the Rutgers Equine Science Center and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. The seminar is scheduled from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb, 1. It also will be available on line. A virtual series is set for Feb. 11, 18 and 25.
“This year, I have looked back at a few years of previous seminar evaluations and selected a few of the common requested themes,” said Dr. Carey Williams, extension equine specialist and associate director of extension for the Rutgers Equine Science Center.
“We have so many experts in these fields surrounding us, I am very excited to be able to have them share their expertise with you. Our goal for this face-to-face seminar is to bring in the leading experts in each of these topic areas. This includes emergency preparedness, small farm pasture management, evaluating pain, saddle fit and caring for the senior horse,” she explained.
Presenters who are recognized as the leading experts in their field will offer perspectives and personal insight. The morning will start with “Emergency Preparedness: Many Teams…One Mission” by Eric Martin, Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management’s operations and training office. Also in the morning, Laura Kenny, a Penn State cooperative extension educator, will present “Small Farm Pasture Management”.
The last talk before lunch will be on “Evaluating Pain in Horses” from Dr. Kris Hiney, the equine extension specialist from Oklahoma State University.
“Dr. Hiney has some great information from some research she has done on behavior in horses,” stated Carey.
The afternoon will start off with Dr. Hiney’s second talk, “Evaluating Pain in Horses while Riding”, followed by certified saddle fitter Beth Rera, who owns Journeyman Saddle Solutions. Her talk is titled “Basic Saddle Fitting to Reduce Pain in Horses”.
Closing out the day will be a presentation on “Health & Management of U.S. Senior Horses” from Dr. Alisa Herbst of Rutgers University, with her latest research information on the older horse population.
In addition to these presentations, the seminar will feature informational displays, networking opportunities with industry companies and area organizations, ample time for one-on-one discussions with the day’s presenters and door prizes.
The complete program, registration information, and seminar brochure are posted on the Rutgers Equine Science Center website at esc.rutgers.edu, as well as the registration site at: https://go.rutgers.edu/2025HMSLiveReg
For any questions, contact Carey Williams at 848-932-5529, or carey.williams@rutgers.edu.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 22, 2025
Rebecca Hart and Kat Fuqua were recognized for their sporting achievements by the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation at its Gold Medal Club reception in Florida this month. Kat received the Lionel Gerrand-Hermes Trophy, while Becca was awarded the Whitney Stone Trophy.
Becca rode Floratina, a 17-year-old Hanoverian mare to a clean sweep of gold medals in Paris, marking the rider’s fifth consecutive Paralympic Games. She rode to a personal best score of 83.53 percent in the freestyle test to end the Games with three gold medals.
“I am incredibly honored to be selected for this trophy,” said Becca.
“It is an incredible testament to just how far para dressage has come as a discipline. I have loved helping to bring adaptive sport forward and hope to be able to continue to do so. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent the USET Foundation, USEF (the U.S. Equestrian Federation), and my owners and sponsors on the field of play.
“I’d like to acknowledge my personal support team and the amazing horse owner and sponsor, Rowan O’Riley,” stated Becca.
“We wouldn’t have enjoyed these results without her dedication not only to me, but the entire discipline of para dressage. Team success comes when we plan and work together, and Rowan was an integral part of that.”
Becca Hart with USET Foundation President Kristi Mitchem and Chairman Jim McNerney. (Photo Jump Media)
“When I first started in para, we didn’t have access to the support and programs that we do now,” she explained.
“I love that we have been able to develop this program so much with the help of the USET Foundation. I have watched this discipline grow from a struggling fledgling sport into having the number one-ranked team in the world. The financial and structural support from the USET Foundation and USEF — on top of the huge amount of effort from sponsors, owners, and my fellow teammates — are what made these results possible.
“I want to see more para riders coming into high performance sport,” she said. “Disability is often considered a weakness, but it’s actually a strength. When we embrace our differences and change our perspectives, the entire community becomes stronger.
“My advice to any aspiring Paralympian is to figure out how to make your body work for you and find a solid support team; one that can think outside of the box. You can teach your horse a language that is unique to you and your abilities. Be organized and persistent in working towards your goals.”
The Whitney Stone Cup is given in memory of the late Whitney Stone, who served as president and chairman of the board of the USET, and was instrumental in creation of a civilian team when the Army no longer fielded teams in competitive horse sports after 1948.
Other winners of the award have included show jumper Michael Matz in 1980, dressage rider Debbie McDonald in 2004 and eventer Boyd Martin in 2020.
Previous winners of the Hermes Trophy include Olympic medalists Greg Best and McLain Ward, which prompted Kat to say, “I’m really excited because the riders that have received the award previously have gone on to achieve unbelievable accomplishments as professionals. The fact that I’m on that list alongside those athletes is really special.”
Kat claimed triple Young Rider dressage gold at the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) riding Dreamgirl. She is eighth on the FEI Dressage World Youth rankings with Dreamgirl and was named the 2024 U.S. Dressage Federation Young Rider of the Year.
The 17-year-old athlete rode on the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s European Young Rider Dressage Tour. Also a jumper rider, she competed internationally in both her disciplines at the same show, Hagen in Germany.
Kat Fuqua and Dreamgirl at Aachen. (Roya Brinkman Photo)
She trains primarily with her mother, Shereen Fuqua, and U.S. Equestrian Dressage Youth Coach George Williams.
“I started in hunters and came up through the ponies and junior hunters, and the championships in the hunter ring taught me a lot about how to deal with larger competitions. The European Young Rider Dressage Tour, which I went on in 2023 and 2024, was one of the most transformational programs for my career. Competing on a team at NAYC taught me about working well with other riders, even if I didn’t know them,” she said.
“It highlighted the importance of teamwork and prepared me for the pressure of competing on a team. NAYC couldn’t have been a better experience because my goal is to be selected to Nations Cup senior teams. This is the perfect stepping stone.
“I’d like to thank the USET Foundation and USEF for supporting me and my career along the pathway,” added Fuqua. “Also, thank you to my parents and my groom Pepe, who has been with us since I was nine and is Dreamgirl’s best friend.”
“If you’re ever invited to anything, like a pathway program, even if it feels like a lot of work, just do it,” she advised. “It might be an open window to something you don’t see now. You could meet someone who could completely change your career, or you could learn something that will help you transform your riding.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 16, 2025
Just before the Wellington, Fla., Planning, Zoning and Adjustment board was going to vote on the Isla Carroll housing project late Wednesday night, the developer asked for a 30-day postponement to address issues raised at the hearing—and by the Equestrian Preserve Committee as well last week.
The EPC unanimously voted down the project, and it looked like the PZAB was headed in that direction when the request for a delay was made.
“I don’t believe in the concept,” said Michael Drahos, a board member and former councilman, who mentioned “the only comparison I have is Equestrian Club Estates, which failed.”
The 79.171-acre Isla Carroll property, adjacent to the National Polo Center included polo fields. After being purchased by Frank McCourt, a plan to build 40 homes there with Discovery Land Co. needed an equestrian element, a requirement because developers were seeking a Planned Unit Development in the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District. It called for 35 houses on one-third of an acre, rather than two acres, and five properties of 1.5 acres where horses could be kept, with room for a paddock, stalls and a sand ring.
The master plan for Isla Carroll.
The equestrian portion of the club community involves 14 acres for paddocks, an indoor arena, an outdoor ring and a 24-stall stable that would be renovated inside, while keeping the character of the exterior. The presentation to the board stated stalls would be occupied by rescue horses in transition to permanent homes, and retired horses. The activities envisioned at the site included a mish-mash of everything from vaulting to hunter/jumper, dressage, trail riding and Pony Club.
School trips would be hosted at the stable so children could learn about horse care, and for club members, lessons would be available with the idea that beginners could get some instruction before heading for a private stable if they wished to continue in the sport.
Skepticism about whether that concept is realistic was expressed at both hearings. (Click here to read about the first hearing).
Homeowners’ horses could only get a stall on site if there were vacancies among what amounts to school horses. There would be a club for 300 families, with approximately 260 coming from outside the community, raising concern about traffic. Other amenities planned include two swimming pools, a pickleball court, a fitness center and several restaurants.
Several members of the advisory panels and residents who spoke during both meetings were skeptical about the plan, and it was suggested more than once that the equestrian aspect existed only to justify the zoning change in the Equestrian Preserve. When the Village Council last year approved building a golf community in the Equestrian Preserve at the site now being used for dressage shows, a number of people warned that this would pave the way for more development in the preserve. There were those on the council who contended the circumstances of the first project were so unusual that no one would try for more development in the preserve. And then came the Isla Carroll proposal.
“The precedent that this Village is attempting to establish is that these are compelling decisions. We have to be convinced this is an equestrian amenity and that this isn’t just a housing community with an equestrian label on it,” said Drahos.
“It sounds good today, but how are we going to guarantee that this is forever? And I think forever is the standard we should be living by, because you’re asking us to remove EOZD protections forever, and once that’s done, you can’t return it. If it’s left to the homeowners or another company, there are no guarantees. There should be remarkable evidence to insure that what we’re doing is worth the sacrifice.”
Commenting on social media about building in the EOZD, area resident Jill Renick Townsend stated, “It just keeps getting easier with each property removed. If this goes through, all land between Pierson and Lake Worth Road east of Southshore will eventually become developments.”
Over and over, Wellington residents have expressed concern that continuing development will erode the equestrian character of the village, billed as the Winter Equestrian Capital of the world and home of the Winter Equestrian Festival at the Wellington International showgrounds.
When PZAB member Jeffrey Robbert said, “I don’t think the equestrian club plan can succeed,” that was the final straw for the developers, who said they needed more time to work on the concept.
“It’s something we ought to take under advisement and perhaps come back to you with a clear understanding of how this is going to be operated in perpetuity, put those guaranties in place.”
The PZAB is scheduled to hear the matter again on Feb. 19. The Equestrian Preserve Committee and PZAB play only an advisory role in land use decisions. The Village Council is the body that decides whether to approve such projects.
