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Here you can find our archive of stories from Equestrian Weekly, our once-a-week look at affiliate news, international competition, amateur profiles, horse care tips, and more. You’ll also find stories from the USEF Insider, a twice-monthly email newsletter packed with features about USEF people and programs, including our drugs and medications program, regulations, and competitions departments.

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From the Sidelines to the Podium, Candoit’s Scala Gives Adam Steffens-Smienk a Sweet Return to the Saddle

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 30, 2026

Adam Steffens-Smienk made the move from his native Minnesota to Wellington, Fla. at the age of 16 to chase his dreams. This week, that leap of faith has led him all the way to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at HITS Lamplight Equestrian Center. When Steffens-Smienk made the move, he had to start from the ground up, putting in lots of early mornings. He had started dressage lessons aboard Arabians in Minnesota and made the leap to Florida to accept a working student position at

Bitsy’s Itsy is All Business: A Cheerleader With Boss Mare Energy

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 28, 2026

Elan Stremmel of Cazanozia, N.Y., is making her first appearance at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions this week, riding her longtime partner Bitsy's Itsy, an 11-year-old Connemara-Oldenburg-Thoroughbred cross (Wasabi x Bitsy), in the Aspen Leaf Farm/USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship. Stremmel and Itsy with George Williams, US Equestrian Dressage Youth Coach and High Performance & Pathway Development Advisor (©US Equestrian) "She loves to work, and she loves to

From Yearling to Prix St. Georges, Halegro Has Been by Cassie Benson’s Side

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 26, 2026

Practically raised in the dressage saddle, Cassie Benson grew up riding alongside her family members at Hilltop Dressage, located in Heber City, Utah. Eventually, Benson took over her grandmother’s role in the business as a trainer alongside her aunt, Margo Gogan. As a child, the farm was a haven for Benson. Whether she was frustrated or sad, horses were her safe space, and you could always find her down at the barn. ©Impulsion Images “Being with them, hearing them eat, their

Partnership Comes First for Tillie Jones and Coco as They Contest U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

by Raelyn Baker/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 25, 2026

An impromptu shopping trip for a student turned into Tillie Jones finding her now up-and-coming Grand Prix partner, Cilla Franchesca. “Coco,” as she’s known in the barn, came into Jones’ life when she least expected it, and the pair has blossomed into serious competitors and partners. Finding her way to the saddle at 7, Jones became enamored with the sport after her family surprised her with a horseback riding lesson. “They blindfolded me, took me out to a barn,

Where is My USEF Drugs and Medications Fee Going?

by Natalie Voss | August 24, 2026

If you’ve ever grumbled about the $15 USEF drugs and medications fee you pay at the time you enter a horse show, you may have wondered how much that fee adds up to for US Equestrian and how that money gets spent. Drugs and medications testing is part of USEF’s commitment to protecting our equine partners and creating a level playing field for all participants. Last year, we conducted testing on 623 competition days from our 2,100 licensed competitions and collected 11,546 samples.

What is the Breakdown of USEF Membership by Breed/Discipline?

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 24, 2026

US Equestrian recognizes 29 unique breeds and disciplines, and we often get questions about the breakdown of our membership across those. In response, we’ve pulled data from the last three years on our competing members. While many members participate in multiple breeds or disciplines, these numbers are based on what the members selected as their primary breed/discipline on their USEF Dashboard. So, while an individual might compete in both hunters and jumpers, if they selected hunter as

What’s the Role of the USEF Veterinary Committee?

by Kimberly Loushin | August 24, 2026

Each of US Equestrian’s 41 committees have vital roles in shaping the sport, and while some pertain to specific breeds and disciplines, others, like the Veterinary Committee, work to benefit the entire federation. The Veterinary Committee is currently comprised of 16 individuals, primarily veterinarians, though there are six riders and trainers serving. While the USOPC requires most national governing body (NGB) committees to be comprised of a certain percentage of athletes, the

The Thought Process Behind the Double Bridle Rule Change

by Kimberly Loushin | August 24, 2026

In June, the US Equestrian Board approved changes to DR121 Saddlery and Equipment, tracking 144.25, which removes the option to use double bridles at Third Level, beginning Dec. 1, 2026. (You can find all rule changes approved in June, including this one here .) It’s a change that’s garnered a lot of conversation, and you may be wondering how it came about. “This discussion has been in the committees for at least 15 years, so it’s not a knee-jerk reaction,” said

A Partnership Built on Trust: Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes

by Maddie Ozbun/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 22, 2026

Finding the perfect partnership in para dressage can be a daunting task, as both horse and athlete need to communicate and understand each other in ways that differ from able body riding. The best para dressage horses are intelligent, compassionate, and of course competitive in nature, but also genuine. For U.S. Paralympian Fiona Howard, she knew Diamond Dunes was special from the moment she sat on him for the first time. “Dunes,” as he’s affectionately known around the barn,

The History of Driving at CHIO Aachen

by Maddie Ozbun/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 20, 2026

The story of combined driving at CHIO Aachen is closely tied to the history of the event itself, which has grown into one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Today, four-in-hand driving stands alongside jumping, dressage, para dressage, eventing, and vaulting as one of the disciplines that makes up the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany. ©CHIO Aachen The roots of driving at Aachen can be traced back to the early twentieth century. The organization behind the

A Partnership Forged in Their Biggest Milestones: Out Of The Blue SCF and Katie Dinan

by Kimberly Loushin | August 19, 2026

When Out of the Blue SCF walks into the arena, she always takes a moment to assess her surroundings before getting to work. It’s a very deliberate move, according to her rider, Katie Dinan . “It’s like, ‘OK, what are we doing today?’” said Dinan. “I really feel like she’s mentally engaged in what we’re doing and is excited about competing, and she really gets it. I think that’s what makes her so good — she really puts herself

Meet Fan Tastico H and Karin Flint: A Big Horse with a Golden, Puppy-Like Personality and his Dedicated Owner

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | August 18, 2026

Para dressage demands precision, focus, and an almost unnerving calm. Fan Tastico H, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Fürstanball OLD x Weltmeyer), delivers all of it. He once spent his afternoons chasing a ball with a 10-year-old in a barn aisle, now he’s a medal-winning para dressage horse. He doesn't see the contradiction, and neither does anyone who's ridden him. Marie Vonderheyden aboard Fan Tastico H (©Sue Stickle Photography) Known around the barn as "Fanta," he came