by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 31, 2025
With several high-profile issues in the last year or so, dressage has been targeted in discussions about horse welfare.
Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin’s suspension after a video of a whipping incident is the most publicized scandal, but concern over blue tongues and suspensions involving prominent trainer Andreas Helgstrand are others that hurt the discipline’s image.
A strategic action plan for dressage will be developed by a new FEI Working Group chaired by former U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams. The panel is “aimed at establishing a clear vision, realigning objectives, and creating actionable plans to enhance Dressage at all levels.”
One of the group’s first tasks will be a comprehensive review of the current state of dressage. The working group will also evaluate feedback from stakeholders and categorize suggestions into well-defined focus areas for targeted action. A focus will be prioritizing equine ethics and wellbeing, with the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Action Plan serving as a guiding framework for key initiatives.
The group will work on creating a repository of relevant scientific research, consulting with veterinary experts to create an accessible information resource for stakeholders. Rule revisions will be proposed with immediate attention on partial updates for 2025 and the 2026 full rules revision for dressage.
The working group will report regularly to the Dressage Technical Committee, the FEI Board, and relevant stakeholder groups to ensure transparency and collaboration throughout the process. The first presentation will be made to the FEI Sports Forum on March 31.
“Dressage should be built on balanced, ethical training resulting in freedom of movement, ease in transitions, and harmony between horse and rider, with no place for tension or resistance,” FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy said.
“Our focus now is to embed these principles in the FEI Rule Book and ensure they are applied consistently in training and competition, always putting horse welfare first.
“The Working Group’s task is to turn these ideals into everyday practices, prioritizing the well-being of horses as we move forward with future proposals and format changes.
“The Working Group was carefully selected not only for their expertise, but also for their profound understanding of dressage. This diverse group represents a cross-section of the community, ensuring a broad range of perspectives. Their collective knowledge and vision will be instrumental in shaping a strategic plan that not only addresses the current challenges in the sport but also ensures the well-being of our horses, incorporates stakeholder feedback, and positions dressage for long-term success.”
In addition to Williams, who is the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Youth Coach and High Performance and Pathway Development Advisor, the working group will include Monica Theodorescu, Germany’s first female dressage coach and a medalist at the Olympics and world and European championships, as well as a two-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion.
Other members are Raphael Saleh of France, president of the dressage ground jury for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; Britain’s Gareth Hughes, with more than 60 national and international titles; six-time Olympian and former FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion Kyra Kyrklund of Finland, vice-president of the International Dressage Riders Club.
Also named to the panel are Klaus Roeser, chairman of the German National Federation Dressage Committee, and veterinarian Lise Berg, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 31, 2025
Fleet of Angels, an organization that is supporting equestrians in the wake of the California wildfires, has received $60,000 from the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund and $25,000 from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation for its efforts. Although the fires have been contained, many horses have not been able to return home because their stables have burned to the ground or suffered tremendous damage.
“Our goal is to keep horses safe and in good care so they can stay with their loving families and equine friends, giving their owners more time to regroup, repair and start to recover from devastating situations. By providing a combination of grants and services, Fleet of Angels provides qualified applicants’ horses with what they need to stay safe and healthy during temporary challenges,” said a statement from the group.
The USEF grant will assist providing feed, critical supplies and vet care funding assistance for between 800 and 1,000 displaced horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and other locations that have been impacted. USEF funding also is still helping horses in areas affected by last year’s hurricanes in the East.
For its part, the team at the USET Foundation “believes in the importance of community support during times of crisis, and these wildfires have posed significant challenges for Southern California horses and their owners,” said foundation executive director Bonnie Jenkins.
USEF also awarded a $40,000 grant to the Foundation for Pierce College Wildfire Response. The funds will be used for feeding and watering horses currently stabled at their facility in Woodland Hills, Calif. At the peak of the wildfires, 245 horses were living on their grounds. As an evacuation site that is maintained and ready year-round to provide shelter for horses in times of need, the Pierce College Equestrian Center has been of service to the surrounding equestrian community for several decades.
“It is with generous donations, like the ones the members and community at U.S. Equestrian are providing, that we will be able to continue to provide top quality housing and care to horses in need,” said Marcie Sakadijan, the college’s farm manager.
With the grant, several large tanks will be purchased to provide water to animals housed in areas with limited water access, while water and feed tubs, mucking tools and equipment, and water hoses can be replaced.
Developed in 2005 during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund helps ensure horses’ safety and well-being. Since its inception, the fund has now distributed more than $800,000 to help with disaster recovery and preparedness for horses including but not limited to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and fires.
“The devastation left behind by the wildfires in Los Angeles is unfathomable. But whenever there are tragedies like these, there are also countless people who are doing great work to help their communities. Fleet of Angels and the Pierce College Equine Center are doing incredible work in helping horses displaced by these fires,” stated USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
With the wildfires still ablaze in certain parts of Los Angeles, USEF will continue to evaluate opportunities to invest in organizations that are working directly to help horses and horse owners affected by the disaster.
Those who wish to donate may visit https://www.usef.org/donate and choose the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund in the drop-down menu. For more information about wildfire relief for the Southern California equestrian community, please visit: www.FleetOfAngels.org. For more information about the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org .
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” while adding more in the way of regulation involving showing by a variety of breeds and disciplines.
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,” stated 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. The exempt 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 the amended regulation “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 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 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.
