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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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What’s Happening With That Rule? Reclassification of Dexamethasone

by Kimberly Loushin | October 26, 2026

At the end of September, rule change proposals were posted for comment on the US Equestrian website . One of those proposals is Tracking 023-26, which relates to the use of dexamethasone in USEF-licensed competition. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid commonly used to relieve swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions in horses, and can be given intramuscularly, intravenously, or orally. Submitted by the USEF Veterinary Committee, this proposed change to GR410 would move dexamethasone

“His Kindness and Patience Has Allowed Me to Achieve What Once Felt Impossible”

by Sara Norris Kamerer | October 26, 2026

In the summer of 2022, almost a year after the devasting loss of my previous horse, I took a leap of faith. With the encouragement of my husband and the help of a trusted agent, I decided to import a horse I had never personally met. The day the trailer delivered him was the first time I had ever laid eyes on the big, black gelding that would change my life. One of the requirements for any new horse was that it was comfortable to sit on as I had been dealing with lower back and hip pain for

When a Healthy Foal Suddenly Becomes Critically Ill

by Grayson Jockey Club | October 26, 2026

For anyone who breeds or raises horses, few things are more frightening than watching a seemingly healthy foal suddenly struggle to breathe. That was what one breeder experienced, when their 3-month-old colt went from thriving to developing severe respiratory distress. A lung scan revealed Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) pneumonia, and within hours, the foal went from appearing healthy to requiring hospitalization and intensive care. R. equi can be particularly challenging because the infection may

Ann Judge Has Spent Nearly 30 Years Introducing Horses to 76,000 Fans

by Kimberly Loushin | October 15, 2026

As more than 76,000 fans settle into their seats at Mile High Stadium for a Denver Broncos home game, there’s one tradition that’s a must before play can commence. Minutes before kickoff, the in-stadium announcer loudly proclaims, “Here comes ...Thunder,” cuing a gray horse to gallop down a chute and onto the field ahead of the Denver players. And for every Denver touchdown, Thunder and his rider take a tour of the field in celebration. Since his first appearance in

What’s the Role of USEF’s Breed/Discipline Committees?

by Kimberly Loushin | October 15, 2026

If you’ve ever scrolled through the list of US Equestrian committees you may have noticed a large chunk of them are dedicated to each of the 29 breeds and disciplines recognized by USEF. These committees focus on the breed or discipline they represent and work to create the best possible environment for those members and their horses. There are 17 national breed and discipline committees and each of them will be repopulated on March 1, 2027. These committees are made up of seven to 15

University of Miami’s Concussion Research Could Be a Game Changer for Equestrians

by Kimberly Loushin | September 28, 2026

When show jumper Lauren Hayes learned the University of Miami’s Acquired Neurosensory Disorder and Treatment Lab was doing research on equestrians and concussions earlier this year, she was quick to sign up. The lab, which has worked with the Department of Defense and the National Football League, was working to gather data on equestrians with and without a history of concussion to determine a normative value, or baseline, for equestrians. With that value, they could better diagnose and

Therapeutic Use of Stem Cells for Tendon and Ligament Injuries

by Holly White/Grayson Jockey Club | September 28, 2026

For decades, tendon and ligament injuries have been among the most frustrating diagnoses in equine medicine. Whether affecting an elite racehorse or beloved show partner, these injuries often require months of rehabilitation and carry a high risk of re-injury — even after horses appear clinically sound. Today, regenerative medicine is changing that outlook. Thanks in part to research funded by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, veterinarians are gaining a far better

Why Are There Independent Directors on the USEF Board?

by Kimberly Loushin/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | September 22, 2026

Shortly after Jon Kreitz retired from the military seven years ago, US Equestrian announced we were accepting nominations for an independent director seat on the board of directors, and one of Kreitz’s neighbors suggested he should look into it. While Kreitz had previous experience serving on the board of other nonprofits and organizations, he’d never been involved with an equestrian one, so he started doing some research. As he read through the requirements and looked at the

A New Remount Assessment is Coming for the 2027 Show Season

by Kimberly Loushin/US Equestrian Communications | September 15, 2026

There’s a common adage that you should get back on the horse if you fall, but US Equestrian recognizes that immediately remounting might not to be the safest course of action. As part of ongoing efforts to improve human and equine safety, the USEF board approved a change to GR848.1, which will go into effect December 1, 2026. The change stipulates that participants “who have fallen from a horse or horse-drawn vehicle at a competition, must be examined by the competition Qualified

How It Works: US Equestrian Compliance Department

by Kimberly Loushin | September 14, 2026

You may have heard about the US Equestrian Compliance Department but don’t have a firm grasp on what exactly its role is. In short, Compliance is there to help make the member experience better at horse shows and help ensure competitions are held to the appropriate standard. What many people don’t realize is that they aren’t a regulatory group. Compliance helps facilitate communication with competition organizers to resolve issues. The Compliance Department has three main

What’s the Role of the USEF Licensed Official Committee?

by Kimberly Loushin | September 14, 2026

US Equestrian’s 41 committees are broken up into three categories: governance and administrative, breeds/disciplines and FEI sport, and each play a unique role in shaping equestrian sport. As one of the 17 governance and administrative committees, the Licensed Officials Committee (LOC) serves the needs and interests of each of the Federation’s 29 breeds and disciplines. The LOC is currently comprised of 11 members, most of whom hold at least one license with USEF, though that is

What’s the Role of USEF’s Adaptive Sport Committee?

by Natalie Voss/US Equestrian Commmunications | September 14, 2026

This spring, USDF silver medalist Sara Norris-Kamerer was frustrated. She had been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, and functional neurological disorder. All of these conditions added a challenge in the saddle, creating tremors and pain that have real impacts on her stability and balance, but even taken together they did not meet the standard for a para athlete classification. Norris-Kamerer sent an email to Ellie Brimmer, president of the United States Para Equestrian