by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 21, 2024
Screwworm has expanded from South America into Mexico. The U.S. Equestrian Federation warns that if not controlled, the screwworm flies will continue to move into the U.S. Should that happen, it could have an impact on shows, and movement of horses may be halted.
Screwworm is a type of fly larva (also known as maggots) foreign to the U.S. They can infect any warm-blooded animal, including humans, as they enter wounds as well as mucus membranes to feed on living tissue. Infested animals may have enlarging, draining, foul-smelling wounds and weight loss. They can die from secondary infection or toxicity in seven to 14 days if not treated.
An adult screwworm fly can travel up to 125 miles before laying hundreds of eggs in a wound or on a mucus membrane. The larvae that emerge from the eggs feed on living tissue and then fall to the ground to pupate.Ultimately, adult flies that reproduce will emerge. The adult female screwworm only mates once and lays those eggs to continue the spread of the parasite. Screwworms can also be transported by animals and people with infected wounds traveling from infested areas.
As it is a foreign animal disease, a state and/or federal animal health official must be notified of suspected cases. If screwworm is diagnosed, animal health officials will quarantine the animal until daily wound care and treatments with larvicides and insecticides have eliminated the screwworm larvae. Animal health officials will further investigate cases to determine if additional control measures, such as insecticidal treatment of the environment or sterile fly release, are warranted.
In endemic countries such as those in South America, control is based on a sterile male fly release program. As the female only mates once in a lifetime, the mating with a sterile male fly will reduce the fly population over time. Additionally, movement restrictions and treatment requirements are implemented to further prevent the spread.
Daily inspection of all wounds for any signs of larvae is critical. If larvae (maggots) are detected in a wound, the horse owner should contact their veterinarian immediately so they can perform an assessment of the type of larvae. If screwworm is suspected, samples will be collected for confirmation.
Any livestock or horses entering the United States from a screwworm-affected country are required to be pre-treated with an ivermectin product, remain in an import quarantine facility for a seven-day observation period, and complete a screwworm examination.Sedation is required for the examination of the sheath of stallions and geldings. If examination reveals no screwworms, the horse will be released.
For more information and images of screwworm, click on this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 19, 2024
The woman who led the U.S. Olympic dressage team for the Paris Games last summer will continue in that role through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Christine Traurig will be chef d’equipe while overseeing the Elite/Pre-Elite and Development programs for the U.S. Equestrian Federation. As a rider in 2000, she was the heroine of the team, securing a bronze for the squad at the Sydney Olympics with a great test under pressure.
Former U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams will work with Traurig as the federation’s Dressage Program Pathway Development Advisor. Both will continue to support the Emerging Young Horse and Emerging Athlete programs respectively. At the beginning of next year, USEF will name additional coaches to support the programs.
Christine Traurig with Olympic veteran Steffen Peters and George Williams.
“I am excited about the next several years leading up to LA. The updated requirements for the Pathway Programs are in line with and support our goals on the road to the Olympics. There is no lack of talent in riders and horses in our country. It’s about bringing out the best in them. We have a plan, and our eyes are very much on the ball,” said Christine.
Next year will mark the start of USEF’s Dressage Training Series, which previously included Program Pathway clinics, and will consist of USEF funded clinics open to all FEI levels, except for two clinics restricted to youth participants only. These clinics will be taught under the guidance of USEF coaching staff and the coaches support network members. A preliminary calendar of these opportunities, as well as additional training options and evaluations for program members, is available on the USEF website, www.usef.org.
George will lead quarterly meetings throughout 2025 to increase collaboration among USEF coaching staff and personal coaches within the U.S. to provide more comprehensive support for program combinations.
Changes were made as of Dec. 1 to the USEF Dressage Program Pathway criteria across all programs. The idea is to strengthen transparency and accountability across the pathway through stronger focus on current competition results, USEF anticipates new program membership lists will be published no later than May 12, 2025, following the U.S. winter CDI season.
“This updated criterion improves upon the existing foundation of the USEF Dressage Program Pathway. I look forward to working with our coaching staff and support network to foster talent through our pathway programs and continue to grow and strengthen USA Dressage,” said Laura Roberts, the federation’s managing director of dressage.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 18, 2024
Anyone involved with horses knows how valuable that connection is in many aspects of their lives. But those who aren’t lucky enough to have experienced such a relationship have no idea of its benefits, or how important they can be to so many people.
Quantifying the value of that link isn’t so easy. But British Equestrian has undertaken the challenge, researching the social value of equestrian activities, going on to highlight those benefits in a variety of areas, among them health, mental well-being, personal development, community engagement and social cohesion.
Why is this so important? Social license to operate. Public opinion can affect the way equestrians interact with horses and in a worst-case scenario, result in limits on equestrian activity. It’s the reason the equestrian portion of modern pentathlon was dropped from the Olympics after a coach punched a horse and the video made headlines around the world. Since many people today have never even touched a horse, they can’t decide for themselves if horses are being treated properly.
A case in point about social license involves the Danish Council on Animal Ethics, which states there are signs that the “welfare of horses is still under pressure,” despite equestrian groups’ efforts to improve the situation.
The council cites examples of sport horses showing “signs of discomfort, pain and conflict behavior.” Its recommendations on new legislative initiatives for sport horses will be considered by Denmark’s government. So the council has to be taken seriously. Its recommendations could include a ban on use of the double bridle, and dealing with issues such as riding behind the vertical, as well as other tack and training matters. And if the Danish government acts, you can expect governments elsewhere to consider following suit.
So it’s important that the public knows the positives of equestrian activities and involvement. The British study, being done In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the Sport and Recreation Alliance, involved a systematic search of academic databases, supplemented by a call for evidence that yielded 856 pieces of published literature and case studies. Now 290 of these have undergone the final analysis. Much of that focused on equine-assisted therapy and its transformative effects on participants.
it’s one of only a few types of physical activity to have the therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted therapy.
Mandana Mehran-Pour, head of Participation and Development at British Equestrian, commented, “These findings highlight the transformative impact equestrian activities have on individuals and communities across the UK, contributing to physical health, mental well-being and social development. The wealth of research we’ve gathered demonstrates the vital role equestrianism plays in enhancing quality of life.”
Professor Simon Shibli, director of the Sport Industry Research Center at Sheffield Hallam University said, “The volume and quality of literature we found were staggering and now provide a sound basis for deriving the social value of equestrianism.”
The work continues, with more progress expected in 2025.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2024
The video that showed dressage golden girl Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain getting after a horse with a longe whip in a private leson made headlines across the world, with the revelation artfully timed for maximum impact before the Paris Olympics. The resulting furor underlined once again the need for horse sports everywhere to get ahead on the issue of social license to operate.
British Dressage, which came out with a Charter for the Horse a year ago, is “determined to use the events of this year as a positive catalyst for change,” BD Chief Executive Jason Brautigam announced. An Equine Welfare Action Plan is the core of BD’s strategy for the next four-years up to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Could it serve as a template for other countries to use in elevating and insuring how horse welfare is handled in all disciplines? Take a look at this summation and decide for yourself:
The plan’s focus is on governance, training and education, and also sport development, “fundamental to creating an environment where equine welfare remains paramount above all other considerations. Our primary aim is to promote the highest standards of health and well-being for our equine partners, while demonstrating the harmonious relationship that can be achieved between horse and rider through dressage.”
The goal is to insure “a long-term and sustainable future” for the sport, with a transparent approach to equine welfare at BD competition and training events. Members are encouraged to report any breaches they may have witnessed, so BD can investigate. A pillar of that approach is effective reporting for all welfare-related incidents, including eliminations and warnings issued by officials, with a framework in place to support the training and education for repeat offenders.
Disciplinary procedures will include the issuing of formal warnings for minor offenses, to encourage best practice at all times, while more serious breaches now have a clearly defined framework for the range of sanctions that apply.
A Welfare and Officials Officer will act as the initial point of contact for escalating any welfare-related issues, supported by the Sport Operations Manager and Training and Education Manager, to ensure that there is an integrated approach across the organization.
The education aspect is designed to ensure that all BD members have access to the training required to improve knowledge and understanding of equine welfare. This will include a range of modules covering the fundamentals of horse care, stable management, correct fitting of tack and equipment, and equine behavioral psychology. Equine welfare will be embedded in all training and development for BD officials and coaches, as well as fully integrated into our ongoing CPD activity.
A Steward Development Program will be part of BD’s commitment to promote and professionalize the role. Longer term, BD also is aiming to establish welfare marshals, who would work in a voluntary capacity to expand the presence of officials at shows.
A new BD Learning Hub incorporates a horse care program for all ages and levels that offers information on stable management, tack, equipment and husbandry. It eventually will include a program of online webinars and workshops focused on equine welfare and equine behavioral psychology.
Meanwhile, BD will work with the FEI and other equestrian governing bodies on a comprehensive review of the sport’s rules. This will include judging systems, content of tests and ways to ensure the recognition and reward for a harmonious partnership that accentuates the horse’s natural way of going. This process will also involve critically assessing the movements required in higher level dressage tests, and the impact of coefficient marks, to consider the demands that these place on horses.
The primary aim of all dressage competition must be to encourage correct riding and training, placing an emphasis on harmony and synchronicity over tension and submission. There will be clearer guidelines for officials on the correct use of aids, tack and equipment. This will help officials assess the input as well as the output, with the goal of rewarding combinations where there is evidence of good training practices and improving the level of consistency in judging.
The BD Sport Development Committee will also be exploring how to adapt rider skills tests to promote correct use of aids, seat, balance and way of going, with the potential for these tests to be used in future to qualify for progression through the levels.
BD emphasizes that members must understand their obligations and exemplify these values in their own actions. Chief Executive, Jason Brautigam commented: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of equine health, care and well-being. To achieve this, we must all consider our own values, attitudes and behaviors, whether that involves looking after horses at home, training them in preparation for competition, or riding in the arena.
“We all have a role to play when it comes to equine welfare, from officiating at a show to watching as a spectator –- we can no longer be passive bystanders.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 14, 2024
With a determined president and a repopulating of some key governance positions, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is ready to move ahead with renewed energy, focusing on the state of the industry and working to make the sport more accessible.
“Even though our sport is rooted in tradition, I think we have to start realizing that if we’re going to grow, and if we’re going to get new people to come in the door, we have to be open to new ideas,” said Britt McCormick, who took over the presidency in April after a leadership shakeup that promoted him from the role of president-elect.
Speaking at the organization’s convention in Arizona last week, he emphasized, “We need to start with new people, new ways of thinking — all of the things that a younger generation is going to bring to the table.”
This year’s achievements that he highlighted included adoption of a balanced budget, done without raising membership or horse reporting fees. Instead, a “pay-to-play” approach ensures fairness by aligning costs with program usage, while enabling reinvestment in vital programs and services.
“These are the things that allow us to reinvest into the association and reinvest into the programs, both educational and sport,” he explained. In his view, that points toward the path tor further growth.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of evaluating existing programs and fostering innovation. Britt challenged task force chairs and members to assess their initiatives by asking if they effectively serve the membership, are economically sustainable and remain relevant. The answers to these questions will shape the USHJA’s path as it begins work on the 2025–30 strategic plan.
Among the initiatives unveiled was the development of a comprehensive, tiered event calendar designed to streamline scheduling for competitors and managers while reducing conflicts, something Britt mentioned during a Town Hall session earlier this year. The goal is to provide a better member experience by enabling more people to compete in more places, more cost-effectively, while saving time and reducing wear and tear on horses and people.
Britt emphasized the importance of listening to members and fostering trust and collaboration across the sport’s many stakeholders —including members, staff, parents, show managers and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
“We’re super interested in what the members have to say. We really want you guys to drive us forward. Call us out when we’re doing it wrong, applaud us when we’re doing it right, but most of all, working together,” he said.
“I think if we do that, we can show that we have something to offer. That this is a great sport, it’s a great lifestyle, it’s a great community, and, for me, there’s no better place to be than at a horse show.”
Rule changes must be passed by the USEF to take effect at licensed horse shows, but they were the subject of discussion and voted on during the convention. Key rule change proposals discussed and approved include:
• HJ106.2 Tracking #027-24 – requiring a show number be worn and visible at all times when the horse is outside of the stall
• HU106.1 Tracking #016-24 – permitting nose nets in the Hunter ring
• HU116.4 Tracking #017-24 and EQ107.9 – defining parameters in which an exhibitor can meet with the judge
• HU App. A Tracking #057-24 – detailing safe attachment of draw reins
• JP117 Tracking #008-24 – changing the Young Jumper sections to be defined by fence height instead of age.
Rule change proposals discussed and disapproved include:
• GR312 Tracking #046-24 – adjusting the Channel 2 competition formats, including classification requirements and points
• GR801.1 Tracking #051-24 – updating safety language regarding removing a helmet for prize giving and equipment with an upward pointing hook, such as stirrups
• HU124.3 Tracking #020-24 – changing the number of refusals before elimination to two.
Another set of proposed rule changes was disapproved; however, the board expressed support for the intent of these rules, indicating they would approve with further refinement of language. These include:
• GR839.1 Tracking #050-24 – updating the list of prohibited practices and equipment, including obscuring the visibility of horses stabled on competition grounds, excessive use of draw reins, and augmented nosebands
• GR843 Tracking #041-24 – requiring veterinarians providing services on competition grounds to be USEF members
• EQ104.1 Tracking #034-24 and HU100.1 Tracking #033-24 – defining excessive use of the whip
• EQ104.1 Tracking #058-24 – adjusting language regarding unethical treatment of the horse
• EQ106.3 Tracking #035-24, HU106.6 Tracking #036-24, JP111.3 Tracking #002-24 – defining spurs that are permitted for use.
The board voted to take no action on a proposed rule regarding the presence of blood on a horse during competition and the resulting consequences, but voiced support for the rule’s intent.
To view all the rule change proposals discussed, click here. Find a complete list of voting decisions here. Per the USEF rule change process, the USHJA Board of Directors will have until February 1, 2025, to finalize any tabled rule change proposals and submit recommendations to USEF for voting at that board’s mid-year meeting this coming summer.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 11, 2024
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented Tuesday to two people who have contributed mightily to the horse industry through their dedication and energy that helped advance the hunter and jumper disciplines on a national scale.
Otis Brown of Ocala, Fla., has been with USHJA since the beginning. An active committee member, he is well known as both a trainer and a horse show judge.
“I’ve been devoted to the horse industry for all my life, basically. That’s why we do it, because we love the animals, and I’ve been so fortunate to have the great ones that I’ve had. I really think I owe my career to Patty (Stovel, who died earlier this year), the horses I’ve been lucky enough to have, and the people who helped me along the way,” said Otis, known fondly as “Brownie.”
DiAnnLanger, a North Carolina resident, was a top competitor who transitioned to a concentration on breeding horses and developing top riders for the future. Her contributions to the USHJA’s programs showcase her commitment to youth education and competition, as does her work with young riders for the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
“I want to dedicate this award to the past generation of horsemen who taught me. Who also worked so hard to establish horse shows,” said DiAnn.
“I also want to push it forward to the current generation of horsemen who now took that show and made it into horse sport. And pass it forward to the youth, who will redefine it and become the guardians. But most of all, I want to give a shout out to all of us that have come through our life, touched our hearts, and especially that first one who grabbed ahold of us and said, ‘Come on, you’re now a horse family.'”
There would not have been a USHJA without the decisive action of David O’Connor as the president of the new USEF two decades ago. Fittingly, he received the William J. Moroney Visionary Award, named after the first president of the USHJA who is now the USEF’s CEO.
Speaking about David, Bill said, “He is one of those people that is constantly looking for opportunity out there. This organization and all the people who have ever been involved in it and all the people that have been members of it, he is the one that made this happen.. If anything, he is the father of USHJA.”
David, an Olympic eventing individual gold medalist who is the USEF’s chief of sport, said, “It’s been a great experience all the way through. I think every time you do one of these things, you end up learning more than you expect because of the people you get to work with. You always end up getting more out of all of the experiences and all of the people and all of the situations that you end up in.”
David O’Connor
The Plains, Va., resident added, “And this is such an unusual thing because it’s the horse, so we all get to wrap our lives around the horse, and we have to make sure that we never put the economics over the ethics over the care of the horse. And the elation and the disappointments of competition can’t overrun our basic love for what we do. And we all have to remember why we did it in the first place.”
Other awards at the USHJA convention in Tucson included Volunteer of the Year, which went to Robin Greenwood and the President’s Distinguished Service Award, received by Leea Bridgeman, Joe Dotoli, Steve Hankin, Rachel Kennedy, Cheryl Rubenstein and Andrea Wells.
Leea, a Kentuckian who is on the USHJA board, has shown dedication and a collaborative approach in helping the president advance the organization’s mission and priorities. Joe, who lives in Rhode Island, is a judge, trainer and has served as chair of the USHJA Safety Committee. Steve, the president and CEO of the Desert International Horse Park, was cited for his dedication to the sport and commitment to enhancing the exhibitor experience, transforming the landscape of West Coast competition.
Rachel, a Marylander, is a rider, trainer, and judge who serves on the Judge’s Task Force and the International Hunter Derby and Incentive Task Force, where she recently stepped into a key leadership role. She was recognized for her dedication as well as her expertise. Cheryl, a Memphis resident who serves on several USHJA committees as well as the board of directors, is the national vice president on the hunter side of the organization. Andrea serves on the Officials Education Committee, Judges Task Force, and Joint Equitation Task Force. In addition to her committee work, the Ocala resident has led numerous webinars for licensed officials and members.
