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Here you can 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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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

For the Horse: How USEF Handles Welfare Complaints Outside Our Jurisdiction

by Natalie Voss | August 10, 2026

Since the expansion of US Equestrian’s General Rule 838 on unethical treatment of horses, we’ve seen an influx of reports submitted to our Regulations Department about welfare concerns. In December 2024, this rule was expanded to give USEF jurisdiction over Participants and Covered Horses, even off licensed competition grounds. (You can read more about that change here .) Last year, the Regulations Department processed 127 horse welfare complaints, 40% of which were about

Kelley Holly Wants Everyone to Find a Place in the Equestrian Community

by Kimberly Loushin | August 10, 2026

There are few people who have an equestrian resume quite as varied as Kelley Holly. From English, western, and saddle seat to eventing, dressage, vaulting, and driving, she’s said yes to every opportunity to come her way. “I've never given up on something, I just keep adding on things that interest me, or I see as a benefit,” said Holly. Photo courtesy of Kelley Holly As someone with a deep love of learning, her desire to educate herself has influenced everything in her

Where Does the Money Go at US Equestrian?

by Natalie Voss | July 29, 2026

When we announced increases in USEF membership, horse recording, and other fees (the first in more than eight years) last fall, members had a lot of questions — and a lot of frustrations. One of the most common questions we got was where money goes at US Equestrian. In a series kicking off today, we’ll try to make the answer to this question easier to understand. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Per USEF bylaws and US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) requirements, the

USEF Mythbusters: Where Does Money Come From for Top Level Equestrian Sports Teams?

by Natalie Voss | July 29, 2026

As the national governing body for all levels of equestrian sport – not just the Olympic levels of equestrian sports – we get a lot of questions from members who wonder whether their hard-earned membership fees are paying for an upper-level rider to send their horse to a faraway European destination to contest a high performance event like a championship. ©Andrea Evans/US Equestrian The term “high performance” encompasses US Equestrian’s programs dedicated to

A Coaches’ Registry, Lite Competitions for Eventers, and Overuse Data: Topics from US Equestrian’s July Listening Session

by Kimberly Loushin | July 29, 2026

As part of US Equestrian’s July Listening Session , we presented three topics for feedback: a trainer/coach registry, an expansion to the USEF Lite Program for eventers, and data on overuse in hunter/jumper competition. US Equestrian Chief of Sport David O’Connor and CEO Bill Moroney were joined by Bec Braitling, a five-star eventer and USEA ECP level V certified eventing coach, and USEA CEO Rob Burk. If you missed the session live, you can catch a replay here . Coaches’

A Place to Start: US Equestrian Releases Data on Hunter/Jumper Competition Frequency and Overuse

by Natalie Voss | July 13, 2026

If you’ve ever been at a horse show and recognized a horse in the ring as a frequent flyer in class after class, show after show, you may have wondered about whether that horse is OK. Are they competing too often, placing their physical or mental well-being at risk? For some time now, US Equestrian has heard concerns from members about whether horses and ponies are competing too frequently, particularly from hunter and jumper members. ©Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian Although licensed

Interested in Becoming a Licensed Official? Here’s How to Get Started

by Kimberly Loushin | July 13, 2026

If you’ve ever attended a horse show thought, “Maybe I could do that,” after watching a judge, steward, technical delegate, or course designer perform their duties, but didn’t know where to start, this is for you. During a July webinar titled “ Becoming an Official: Steps to Success ,” Alina Brazzil, US Equestrian Director of Licensed Officials, outlined the steps involved in becoming licensed. The application process can be broken into five basic steps.

How It Works: Warning Cards and Yellow Cards

by Natalie Voss | July 13, 2026

If you’ve ever flagged down an official at a horse show to draw their attention to something that seemed off – a conversation between a horse and human that wasn’t going well, a loose dog, an equipment issue, or unsportsmanlike conduct – you may have wondered what that person could do with the information you provided. In April 2025, the US Equestrian board approved changes to the Warning Card System to give Judges, Stewards, and Technical Delegates more tools and