United states equestrian federation

The United States Equestrian Federation or USEF formerly bore the name of American Horse Shows Association. USEF is the national foremost institution which handles the equestrian sports that there are in the United States. Among those equestrian sports which the Untied States Equestrian Federation administers include the eventing, dressage driving, hunt seat equitation, endurance riding, hunting, jumping, roadster, paralympic, reigning, vaulting, saddle seat equitation, trail, western equitation, and several other related equestrian events.

The job scope of the USEF is so vast that it is a recognized governing body in equestrian related activities. The following are the job functions and scope of USEF.

The breed shows such as the Lusitano, Andalusian, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, half-Arabian, Friesian, Connemara, Hackney, American Saddlebred, Morgan, Paso Fino, National Show Horse, Shetland, and the Welsh breeds that are practically conducted in the whole of the Untied States are all governed by none other that the United States Equestrian Federation.

It is also the task of the United States Equestrian Federation to closely monitor the yearly points earned by the competitors in the horse shows and other related events. The points are actually accrued by the individual horse shows all throughout the year. USEF then renders special awards to the winners and their merits are based on the accumulated points. The points are summed up at the end of every year. The horse shows which are under the wings of the United States Equestrian Federation are rated with AA, A, B, or C ratings. The shows that earn the AA ratings are those which are considered to be the most prominent ones in the country and big prizes come at stake too. However, those shows which are rated with a C are those called local horse shows and of course, a lesser amount of money is specified for a prize.

The other governing organizations that work hand in hand with USEF are the United States Hunter/Jumper Association or USHJA, the United States Dressage Federation or USDF, and the United States Eventing Association or USEA. All of the competitions which are spearheaded by the abovementioned governing organizations are ruled by the bylaws set by USEF itself.

A Brief History of the United States Equestrian Federation

Everything started to boil up in January 20 of the year 1917 when the delegates from various horse shows set up a meeting in New York City. The council was then governed by Reginald C. Vanderbilt. The council’s main goal was to unify all horse shows and to conduct clean competitions inside the horse show ring. They then solidified the organization under the banner of the Association of American Horse Shows and upon its initial meeting in the year 1918; exemplary organizers of the twenty six prestigious horse shows were all present. By the year 1924, the then twenty six horse show members increased to sixty seven.

By February 1933, its original name of Association of American Horse Shows, Inc. was altered to a new one, the American Horse Shows Association, Inc. It was in 2003 that the United States Equestrian Team merged with the United States of America Equestrian to form a new national governing body and the name United States Equestrian Federation or USEF came into being.

It is the USEF that provides an all out support to all equestrian sportspersons, establishes a clear future for all equestrians, and endorses international excellence in the horse sports field.

Equestrian Jobs

The term equestrian has been around for several decades or so. With this comes the concept known as equestrianism which points out to one’s skill of driving and riding horses. Such a broad description, isn’t it? However, for a simpler understanding of it, equestrianism includes the use of the horse for practical, recreational, and working purposes and activities. Likewise, it is worth mentioning that equestrianism also means employing the said animal in a competitive sport.

With the great number of people who express their fondness for horses, the number of equestrians especially in the entire United States has tremendously increased. With this fact, equestrian employment has also widened in scope. Equestrian colleges started to open here and there and the horse industry drafted more and more equestrian employment to cater to all these individuals who have decided to turn their passion into a career.

A Review of the Equestrian Activities

Before the horses are ridden and enlisted for competitions, they are first trained. Some horses are trained to do practical work in ranches whereas a great deal of them are used for various competitive sports. Among which are eventing, racing, reigning, dressage, endurance racing, tent pegging, show jumping, polo, vaulting, driving, horse racing, and rodeo. For these competitions, these animals execute movements of various disciplines.

However, there are also those horses which are employed in non-competitive activities. Donkeys and mules, for example, are mostly engaged in recreational purposes like trail riding, fox hunting, and hacking. Horse trails are often available for public use. There are ranches, parks, and public stables that provide places both for independent and guided riding.

Besides all these, horses are also involved in therapeutic causes such as the paraequestrian competitions and some other non-competitive riding sprees, to name a few. Both activities are directed towards the improvement of human health and the enhancement of one’s emotional maturity.

The animals are then employed to do farming, pulling carriages, in exhibitions, and other historical reenactment ceremonies. All countries have their own special usages meant for the horses.

Types of Equestrian Activities

To exactly know where you may excel in line with equestrian employment, you have to know the following activities.

• Horse rearing: Horses are among the common animals which are reared and bred. Ranches all over the world attend to this kind of stuff. Now if you would like to rear and breed horses, you have to get the proper training for it.


• Horse racing: It has been so much of an addiction for humans to test the speed of their horses. Horse racing is one way of determining which horse can outrun the rest of its competitors. Gambling is often a part of horse racings. The spectators bet on which animal is more capable of attaining the highest speed that can be recorded on the dot.


• Horse rider: For the sake of the prestigious Olympic discipline, you may be employed as a rider to compete with delegates from all over the world. The horse has to bear a certain field of specialization and must execute movements without difficulty.


• Horse trainer: As a trainer, you must let the animal recognize your superiority as its master. You are the one who is in command in practicing its skills and in basically taming it.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to equestrian employment. You just have to know where you can find the fulfillment and where you may be good at. After all, being an equestrian is a career path that you have to harness.

Equestrian Blankets & Rugs

 Equestrians engage into highly competitive sports. Although horse back riding is mostly reserved for the rich, people of all ages can try it. It takes a lot of work and discipline to be able to train a horse. It also takes a lot of patience to ride them. Equestrian sports have been included in the Olympics. Although the rider is as equally important as its horse, the chances of winning in the competition do not lie on them. Like racing cars it’s important that horses are in their maximum health.

There are many products out there that could help the horse. They are available online. One of the most important products is the horse blanket. They can also be called rugs or sheets.

Does my horse need a blanket?

Horse blankets are important to protect horses from nature’s elements. Like us they also need to be protected from the rain, cold, wind and heat from the sun. Horses that are left without blankets during the season have more chances of getting ill.

There are different types of horse blankets, rugs or sheets. Their use will depend on what your horse needs.

Coolers and anti-sweat rugs

As the name suggests they prevent the horse from getting chills when they cool down after exercise. These rugs are breathable with mesh. The size of the mesh can very depending on the horse. Fine mesh helps to keep off flies.

Fly sheet or rug

This protects the horse from insects and flies during summer when they are grazing. The sheet is also available with additional attachments such as neck covers, bonnets and fly masks. These additional products provide complete protection from the horse.

Summer sheet It’s a variation of the horse which is much lighter. They are used to protect horses from dusts and flies during summer. They can also be used as travel rugs.

Under blankets or liners

They are placed on the horse as a protection from friction from stable rugs. They are placed underneath stable rugs. They come in different materials. The traditional under blanket is made of wool. Modern under blankets are made of lightweight materials and are considered as under rugs.

Stable rugs

They are used to protect the horse from the cold during winter while being stabled. They come in varying, colors, thickness and weights. Different thickness and weights offer varying degrees of warmth. They are also breathable which enables the horse’s sweat to evaporate. Under blanket can also be placed underneath the stable rug to add warmth. This is usually needed when the horse is stabled day and night. Turnout rug

They are used to keep the horses clean when they are out in the field. They ca also provide warmth during the winter. Turnout rugs should be long enough to cover the horse’s belly. The front should also have a good overlap. These rugs usually have pleats on the shoulders to enable movement. These rugs also come in different thickness and weights. Turnout rugs vary from light weight with no filling for the summer, and heavy weight with filling for the winter.

No matter which rug you use it’s important to keep your horse well protected. Like a well oiled machine they perform best when taken cared off. Horses are not like cars that can be repaired again and again. A horse’s health is as vital as the rider’s.