Happy New Year (of the Horse!)

Can you believe it is 2026? And while it officially doesn’t become the Year of The Horse until February 17, it doesn’t hurt to be celebrating the horse early! After all, every day is the Day of the Horse, right?

I started my News Year socials with a reminder that this is a good time to inspect your first aid kit. Check those expiration dates, chuck the ones expired, order new meds and make sure you have syringes and needles on hand, as well as pain meds, sedatives and eye ointment.

Last year was the year to refresh my first aid skills, with Chance requiring over 50 sutures, both horses having eye infections and a variety of smaller injuries. I had not used my vial of Banamine in over 2 years and it had expired, and before all these accidents occurred, I replaced my vial with a tube of Banamine paste. And guess what? I needed to use it the very next day when Gabe injured his eye. After using the tube, back to the vial I went and I did use some of it up last year. I would rather it sit and expire than have the need to use it. I call it cheap insurance.

Here is the link to my first aid blog in case you need a refresher: Are You Prepared For An Equine Emergency?

The year 2025 didn’t seem like it was a year for the horse, what with the allegations surfacing of abuse and with the governing bodies doing little more than giving the abusers a slap on the wrist (whereas Michael Barisone, despite being found innocent by reason of insanity by the courts, is permanently banned from the USEF, while the woman who tormented him, is allowed to compete. I am not going to defend what he did, but why is the person who harassed him to the point of breaking him mentally still being allowed to compete? Someone please explain that to me.) So it was refreshing to read that the United States Pony Club is starting the year by launching the #HappyHealthyHorse initiative.

As a former District Commissioner of a local pony club, as well as volunteer, horse show management judge and mother of 2 pony clubbers, I am honestly not surprised by this announcement! Pony Club has always been about putting the welfare of the horse (& pony) at the forefront of it’s activities, between mandatory vet jogs, horse management scoring, and ratings.

In 2023, the USPC created the USPC Equine Welfare Task Force, which drafted an official policy statement on equine well-being. Approved by the Board of Governors in October of 2025, the policy statement reads:

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of equine care and management. All members, leaders, volunteers, and affiliates are expected to ensure that riding, training, handling, and management practices prioritize the horse’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. USPC integrates current research and best practices into its educational programs to prepare members to be responsible and ethical stewards of the horse throughout their equestrian pursuits.

The well-being of the horse will be based upon the five domains model, which includes nutrition, health, behavior, environment and mental well-being. (You can read my blog on the Five Freedoms at Brambell's Five Freedoms) The five domains model will be incorporated into all USPC activities, and educational materials will be developed.

To read more about their initiiative and the policy statement, go to New USPC Equine Well-Being Policy, Updates to Helmets & Vests

Now, if only the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) would begin to take equine welfare more seriously.

In other news, I am being interviewed next week on the Ride IQ  Ask An Expert weekly podcast. I will be discussing ways to keep your horse safe from thieves and barn security. I will post a link to the podcast in my next blog.

Until then,

Don’t Forget To Hug Your Horse!

Lori