Over the past few years, there has been an explosive proliferation in the number of FEI jumping shows in the United States, referred to as CSIs, the shortened form of Concours de Saut International. In 2025 alone, the U.S. is scheduled to host 109 CSI shows, with 84 of those holding competition at CSI3* level and […]
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I was delighted to hear that the horse welfare-focused town hall meeting hosted by the US Equestrian Federation in June in Lexington, Kentucky, included “open dialogue on concepts including potential rule and policy changes aimed at improving horse safety and well-being.” This was the first in a series of such meetings, and I applaud USEF for tackling this […]
Read more...Air vests have become a near-standard in eventing, but their use is steadily expanding across other equestrian disciplines — and that trend took center stage at the recent 2025 FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne. The Chronicle of the Horse columnist and legal expert Armand Leone praised the creation of a new working group tasked with […]
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As a member of the Fédération Equestre Internationale community, I try to constantly stay abreast of news and developments across the disciplines. The horse world seemed to be abuzz with important discussions at last month’s 2025 FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland, especially those concerning safety vests and horse welfare. I was heartened to hear […]
Read more...Do we need an equine SafeSport program? One writer for The Chronicle of the Horse thinks so. In a recent editorial on COTH, Armand Leone writes about the potential of a similar type of “SafeSport” program that could, in the end, become an advocacy voice for the horses who cannot speak for themselves when it […]
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We apply the adage that prevention is better than cure when it comes to keeping our human athletes safe by requiring all participants in U.S. Equestrian Federation competitions to complete SafeSport training. Our equine athletes deserve the same approach. Every participant in USEF-recognized competition must complete an online SafeSport training course annually. The courses are […]
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Horse owners are dedicated to their equine partners, often making personal sacrifices to ensure their horses are well cared for by veterinarians, farriers, and trainers. Horses are pampered with warm blankets, massages and carefully thought-out exercise programs. Regardless of the equine discipline, most owners put their horses first, before themselves, devoting enormous sums of money […]
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If you’re a parent considering getting your child a horse or pony for Christmas, I have some advice for you. I’ve been there and done that, and while it can be a hugely rewarding process for everyone involved, you must go into it with your eyes wide open. It’s vital to keep front and center […]
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Traditional padded safety vests for fall protection have been on the equestrian market for about 15 years. Initially designed for the cross-country phase of eventing, their use has expanded to other equestrian disciplines. The move to mandate protective vests—often called back or body protectors—in competition has been much discussed, but I don’t think a blanket […]
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It wasn’t all that long ago that a prospective buyer would try a horse once, maybe pop a few fences, and then decide whether to buy it. Sometimes they’d come back the next day for a second ride to finalize their decision and call their veterinarian. But the landscape of what buyers expect before they […]
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