News.
It's always fun to share horsey news with fellow horse folks. Please send us your news, wrap up of events and clinics, comings and goings at your barn and don't forget to add a photo or two. We'll share it on our facebook page. If you'd like us to give you press coverage of an event please email us the details as far in advance as possible.
USEF Mythbusters: Microchips Are For Biosecurity, Not Pedigree Verification
As we near the implementation date of the US Equestrian rule requiring microchips to be on file for all horses participating in endorsed competitions, you may be hearing continued buzz about why the USEF board passed this rule back in 2023.
Earlier this year, a presidential modification delayed implementation of this rule from Dec. 1, 2025 to Dec. 1, 2026. (If you are one of many members who got your horse's microchip implanted and on their record last year, we thank you for your diligence.) We wanted to make sure all our members were thoroughly aware of the rule and our reasoning behind it before beginning to enforce the requirement. Starting on Dec. 1, horses must have a 15 digit, ISO-compliant microchip number on file with their USEF record in order to enter a licensed competition. Competition organizers will be required to check to see that a horse has a microchip number on file with US Equestrian at the time of entry. They are not required to scan horses upon entry to the grounds. Read the full article...
AAEP Research Study Demonstrates Wearable Biometric Sensors Show Exciting Potential for Injury Detection in Racehorses
LEXINGTON, KY — The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has released findings from the AAEP Wearable Biometric Sensor Research Project, a first-of-its-kind prospective study evaluating the effectiveness of sensor technology in detecting impending musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses.
The study demonstrated that these high-tech tools show promise as a detection system for musculoskeletal injury in racehorses and can serve as an effective complement to the existing oversight provided by veterinarians and trainers.
The project followed two-year-old Thoroughbreds over the course of one year, capturing data in real time as the horses entered training. By analyzing high-speed exercise sessions (breezes), sensors worn by the racehorses in the study provided one of three status levels: Green, Yellow, or Red. Read the full article...
A Welcome Effort To Address The Shortage of Equine Veterinarians From Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Over the last 10-15 years, the number of students pursuing a career in equine veterinary medicine has dropped significantly. As it celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2026, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute could think of no better way to give back to the industry that has been so very good to it than by helping to reverse the trends of student veterinarians.
"We've always had a passion for fostering the next generation of vets and ensuring the future of equine medicine,” said Dr. Luke Hagyard Fallon, DVM, Medical Director and the 5th generation of the Hagyard founder's family. "Mentorship is one of our core values at Hagyard. And since our inception in 1876, hundreds of interns, externs, fellows and residents have come through our doors to train. Establishing this scholarship foundation to honor that legacy seems like a natural extension of that.” Read the full article...
Useful Help Is Here - American Horse Council Releases 2026 AHC Horse Industry Tax Handbook
The American Horse Council (AHC) has released the 2026 AHC Tax Handbook, the organization's most comprehensive and up-to-date resource on federal tax policy affecting the U.S. equine industry. The handbook is now available to purchase as a PDF download for $50.
The 2026 edition reflects major federal tax law changes enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and provides clear, practical guidance for horse owners, breeders, trainers, farm managers, nonprofit organizations, and equine-related businesses navigating today's evolving tax landscape.
Read the full article...
New Classes, Concert & $1.5M In Cash/Prizes On Tap For 2026 APHA World Show
Over $1.5M in cash & prizes will headline the 2026 American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Show, coming to Fort Worth, Texas, June 19-July 4. Youth, Amateur and Open competitors will vie for championship titles in more than 340 classes. Special events abound as well, including no-horse-required Youth contests and a special concert by The Scooter Brown Band at the inaugural Honoring Freedom Night celebration.
2026 APHA World Championship Show
June 19-July 4, 2026
Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, Texas
Pre-entry, stall & RV deadline: May 15, 2026
Full details & schedule: apha.com/worldshow
A plethora of prizes and cash-earning opportunities abound at the World Show. All Youth world championship classes feature scholarships awarded to the top three exhibitors and one randomly selected finalist. But that's not all. New classes, expanded no-horse-required activities and a free concert are also on tap for 2026. Read the full article...
US Equestrian Debuts Lifetime Care Feature for Recorded Horses
In an ongoing effort to support equine welfare, US Equestrian is unveiling a new, free feature for recorded horses called Lifetime Care Contacts. The feature is designed to allow a USEF member to add themselves to a horse's USEF record, signifying that if the horse should someday be in need of financial assistance or a home, they would like to be contacted.
"We understand that many breeders, owners, athletes, and grooms care deeply for the horses who have touched their lives and want to be there for them if they should ever fall on hard times down the road,” said US Equestrian chief executive officer Bill Moroney. "We had media and member inquiries about such a system last year and realized this is a way we can help.”
The Lifetime Care Contact feature is free to use. You must be a US Equestrian member or have a free fan account to add yourself to a horse's record because horse data is part of the membership section of the US Equestrian website, but this feature will be accessible at no cost to users. Read the full article...
Rate of Penicillin Administration Affects Arterial Blood Pressure
Veterinarians often give penicillin to horses during surgery to prevent infection, but the speed of injection may influence how the horse's cardiovascular system reacts. In a study of 29 horses under general anesthesia, researchers compared two methods of giving penicillin: a fast injection over one minute and a slower one over ten minutes. Read the full article...
Understanding Reportable Diseases
For a horse owner, receiving a positive test result from your veterinarian for an equine infectious disease can be scary and overwhelming. What is the disease? How did my horse contract it? What happens now? What is the role for state and federal animal health officials in disease control management?
Because some infectious diseases can cause significant number of sick horses and deaths and are easily spread, individual states and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) act on reportable diseases to prevent disease spread. Read the full article...
A New Approach for Treating Kissing Spine
Overriding Spinous Process, otherwise known as Kissing Spine can cause back pain and poor performance, especially when two or more vertebrae touch or overlap. Assistant Professor Dr. Nathalie Cote in the department of Large Animal Surgery at Ontario Veterinary College recently presented a new less invasive surgical approach to treat this issue that is showing great preliminary results. Read the full article...
MMP Enzymes and Laminitis
Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
MMPs are matrix metalloproteinases – enzymes that break down connective tissue protein/collagen in the body. If you follow news releases and articles about equine laminitis, you have surely seen mention of MMP enzymes since the late 1990s. Turns out they are not the major players as was originally thought.
The basement membrane (BM) in the hoof is a thin layer of connective tissue lining the junction between the dead laminae of the hoof wall, and the live laminae of the inner hoof. This system locks the hoof wall to the tissues inside like Velcro.
In laminitis caused by things like colic/gut infections, black walnut shavings, grain, or experimental fructan overload, it was noted the basement membrane is damaged or destroyed and that the level of MMP enzymes is increased. This led to the theory that the activation of MMP is what causes laminitis. Read the full article...