Nancy Jaffer
EQUESTRIAN SPORTS
NEWS AND FEATURES
FROM NEW JERSEY AND BEYOND
USEF seeking to punish horse abuse outside of competition
Videos on social media showing dressage trainer Cesar Parra whipping horses and engaging in training practices that have caused an outcry prompted the U.S. Equestrian Federation Board of Directors Monday to introduce an extraordinary rule change, which would expand...
Dressage winners Marek and Howington often cross paths
It’s fun to see fresh faces at the top of U.S. dressage classes. For a long time, the USA’s familiar names have been leading competition in America and elsewhere, but now there’s a changing of the guard, so to speak. A perennial team member, the much-decorated Steffen...
Chef d’equipe speaks out about horse abuse
Christine Traurig, the U.S. dressage chef d’equipe who also is the national young horse and developing horse coach, made a statement of her values in the context of the scandal involving trainer Cesar Parra and allegations of horse abuse. She says she stands...
Hunter teams have a promising WEF debut
Amid all the controversy and lobbying about expanding the main showgrounds in Wellington, Florida, remember that even as equestrians cite the need for big improvements there, what the public sees is pretty darn good when they come to the home of the Winter Equestrian...
At last, the Wellington Council reaches a decision about a controversial project
After eight months, more than 60 hours of public deliberations and much community angst, the Wellington Village Council voted just before midnight Wednesday to take 96-plus acres out of its Equestrian Preserve for a golf community, in order to insure its cramped and...
Horse sports must deal with social license to operate; thoughts from a USHJA town hall and Europe
A discussion on the threat to horse sport from social license to operate (SLO) drew 200 very concerned people to a U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Town Hall Monday night. Dozens of commenters pointed out the need for many changes in how equestrians operate in order to...
Devon is getting an extra day
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair will be stretching out to 12 days this spring as it marks 128 years. It will run from May 22-June 2 and offer nearly $1 million in prize money. Starting on a Wednesday instead of a Thursday during its first week will enable the...
The horse industry puts big numbers into the economy
The horse power of the equine industry added $177 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to a useful new survey from the American Horse Council. That's up from 122 billion in 2017. It affects a variety of sectors, including such obvious segments as agriculture...
Italy gives competition horses new status–will the concept spread?
Italy is the first country to pass a law recognizing horses as athletes. According to the legislation of September 2023, an "athlete horse" has to be registered, cannot be intended for use as food and must be listed with the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation. This...
Videos lead to Parra’s suspension–UPDATE
The U.S. Equestrian Federation Monday came out with a new and stronger statement on the suspension of dressage trainer Cesar Parra, as videos that showed him whipping horses and other problematic actions continued to spark outraged comments on social media and led to...
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