Leslie Potter

Editor, writer, and photographer based in the bluegrass state. www.lesliepotterphoto.com

Published Articles

US Equestrian •

Adequan® Elite Trainer Program Helps Improve Equine Joint Health Care and Knowledge

Recognizing the pivotal role that trainers play in the overall well-being of horses, American Regent Animal Health, recently launched an expanded version of its Adequan® Elite Trainer Program, which is designed to educate trainers about equine joint health.

The Adequan® Elite Trainer Program originally launched as a pilot program in 2023 as a unique initiative offering extensive education on equine arthritis, also known as degenerative...
US Equestrian •

Meet Belle: A Girl’s Best Friend in and out of the Equitation Ring

Every equestrian remembers their first horse or pony. For some lucky ones, that first horse becomes their horse of a lifetime. Such is the case for Macy Brangers and her horse, Belle.

Now a formidable pair in the adult amateur saddle seat equitation classes, Brangers and her 2009 American Saddlebred mare, Aunty Bellum (Ocean’s Roar x Kalarama’s Belle of the Ball) got their start when they were both young newcomers to the performance ring under the direction of trainer Betsy Webb.
US Equestrian •

Performance Halter Classes Give Arabian Exhibitors a Place to Shine

In the Arabian horse show world, halter horses hold a unique place of reverence. Presented to show off the breed’s spirit and beauty and judged on type, conformation, and quality, halter horses are more than just living works of art. They must be able to stand still but alert for conformation judging, then move freely and expressively on the line to show off their movement. The top level of the Arabian halter division is a specialized sport of its own within the breed’s show circuit.
US Equestrian •

Meet Ruby Slipperz: A Girls’ Girl Who Shines in the Dressage Court

When Mary Kate Fahy decided to bring home Ruby Slipperz, a then-3-year-old, green broke, Half-Arabian mare, she thought she was taking on a resale project.

“I had a coming 2-year-old and a coming 3-year-old in the pipeline, but nothing to ride over the winter,” said Fahy. “So, I went searching for a project, and I found Ruby and bought her. I drove 10 hours to Ohio in the middle of winter to pick her up...
US Equestrian •

From Pony Swim to Jumper Ring, Chincoteague Ponies Find Fans Wherever They Go

Located off the coast of Virginia and Maryland, Assateague Island is home to herds of feral ponies that have roamed free for generations, evolving to thrive on the protected barrier island.

The characteristics that nature favors in wild horses — soundness, intelligence, and endurance — are similar to those that make a good sport horse. The Chincoteague Pony’s suitability for sport was on display at the 2025 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall + Sterling, where two Chincoteagues competed in the USEF Pony Jumper National Championship.
US Equestrian •

Success in the Pony Jumper Jog with Tips from DiAnn Langer

The newly expanded 2025 USEF Pony Jumper National Championship supported by Youth Show Jumping Foundation opens the door for more pony riders to take on the fun and challenge of the jumper ring. For many  the national championship provides a first experience in presenting a pony for the horse inspection, typically referred to simply as “the jog.”  

DiAnn Langer is the USEF Show Jumping Youth Chef d’Equipe, and she has helped many competitors in the jumper ring at USEF Pony Finals navigate the...
US Equestrian •

New Champions Emerge After Final Day of Competition at the 2025 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship

Del Mar, Calif. – The West Coast’s annual celebration of hunter excellence, the Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – West, came to a close on Sunday, concluding a weekend packed with quality competition and camaraderie for young athletes in the hunter discipline. The 3’6” sections kicked off the day with their final phase, tackling Scott Starnes’s handy course in the scenic Grand Prix Grass Field at HITS Del Mar Horse Park.
US Equestrian •

Meet the Connemara Ponies at the Chewy Demonstration Ring at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian

While eventing competition heats up in the Rolex stadium at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EquestrianTM, there’s even more for horse fans to see just down the hill at the Chewy Demonstration & Exhibitions Ring. Over the years, the demo ring has featured countless breeds, disciplines, and other entertaining equine acts. Among this year’s lineup is a group of charming Connemara Ponies and their people representing the American Connemara Pony Society
US Equestrian •

Harnessing Potential: Building Systems to Support Equestrian Coach Development and Athlete Performance

Lexington, Ky. - The ability to teach does not always go hand in hand with athletic achievement. The athletes with the most impressive competitive record aren’t necessarily the ones who are the most adept at teaching others to achieve success. In many sports, including equestrian, there are well-supported pathways to competitive achievements as an athlete, but the systems for teaching teachers are less well established.
US Equestrian •

It’s All About the Horse: What Does Horse Welfare Mean to Our Industry?

US Equestrian Annual Meeting attendees from across all breeds and disciplines reconvened on the morning of Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, to continue the previous day’s discussion about horse welfare in the equestrian world. Representatives from different segments of the industry shared some of the challenges and solutions they’ve seen from their community in an open session moderated by US Equestrian Chief of Sport David O’Connor.
US Equestrian •

Shock Wave Therapy for Equine Respiratory Health: New Research Shows Promise

Shock wave therapy is a noninvasive treatment used in human and veterinary medicine to relieve pain and improve healing in soft tissue injuries. It works by emitting high-energy sound waves to targeted areas, stimulating the body’s natural healing processes to reduce inflammation and increase bone and tissue formation. Horse owners and equine vets use shock wave therapy (also referred to as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT) to treat horses of all breeds and disciplines for conditions i...
US Equestrian •

Arabian Horses Shine in Working Western Classes

Each October, hundreds of Arabian and Half-Arabian horses make the trip to Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla., for the Arabian Horse Association’s U.S. National Championship Horse Show. While handlers showcase their breathtaking halter entries in the Pavilion and stunning show horses light up the main ring, the scene is slightly different in the venue’s Mustang Arena. There you’ll see Arabians kicking up some dirt in the reining classes, executing ranch patterns or trail courses, and even working cattl...
US Equestrian •

Meet the Top Horses from the 2024 USEF Eventing Developing Horse Series

With the conclusion of the 2024 competition season, the standings of the USEF Eventing Developing Horse Series are now final. The series includes divisions for 6-year-old and 7-year-old horses, and the leaderboard is determined by the average of the horses’ two best finishing scores in CCIs at levels specified by age.

2024 7-Year-Old Developing Horse Series Leader: Cooley Corraghy Diamond

Bill and Roslyn Johnson’s 2017 Irish Sport Horse gelding, Cooley Corraghy Diamond (Di...
US Equestrian •

Maggie Keith Wins 2024 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final

Kansas City, Mo. – With expertly executed rail and pattern work, Maggie Keith (Louisville, Ky.) secured the 2024 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal champion title on Friday at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show. Keith rode her longtime partner, CH CH-EQ Reedann’s Heir to Glory (Supreme Heir x Glori-Phi), a 2004 American Saddlebred gelding owned by Rozes Equine LLC, to the top of the podium.

The victory was an emotional one for Keith, who has been riding “Reed” since 20...
US Equestrian •

U.S. Eventing Athletes Earned Experience and Success at the 2024 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championships for Young Horses

To get a glimpse at the future of eventing, look toward Le Lion d’Angers, France, each October. The FEI World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Eventing World Championship for Young Horses was established in 2000 to spotlight the connection between good breeding and achievement in the sport. Qualified entries at the CCI2* level for 6-year-old horses and CCI3* for 7-year-old horses represent their countries and provide a preview of the next generation of high-performance equine athlete...
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