Alberta Bits 2019 Winter Edition

Live Outside the Box

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

How To Check

EQUINE GUT SOUNDS

Get to Know

THE ICELANDIC HORSE

WINTER 2019

2019

P U B L I C AT I O N S MA I L AG R E EME N T # 4 0 0 5 0 2 9 7

EQUESTRIAN CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

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WINTER 2019; VOLUME 13, ISSUE 4

Alberta Bits is the Alberta Equestrian Federation’s official member magazine. It serves the equestrian community of horses and riders of all ages, interests and involvement as Alberta’s premier resource for education, information and support.

THE ALBERTA EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION HAS BEEN INCORPORATED SINCE 1978

Alberta Bits magazine is mailed four times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) to all current AEF members and is made available at the office and special events attended by the AEF. Alberta Bits is distributed throughout Alberta with news and events on behalf of recreational, sport, breeds & industry and educational sectors of the Alberta horse industry. Alberta Bits is distributed to approximately 18,000 members; 9,000 households and businesses, an exclusive list of tack and equine establishments and at events and trade shows annually.

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AEF STAFF

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Norma Cnudde membership@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 1 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

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Erin Rabeau coaching@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 3 COMPETITIONS

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OFFICE HOURS: 8:30AM TO 4:30PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, EXCEPT HOLIDAYS ALBERTA BITS IS PUBLISHED BY WESTERN PERFORMANCE PUBLISHING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AEF

FOR EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES CONTACT: ALBERTABITS@ALBERTAEQUESTRIAN.COM MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Webster ART DIRECTOR Kendra Roberts PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

Sonia Dantu • Megan Dudley • Piper Whelan CONTRIBUTORS

Birte Rauch D-Z Photography Higher Trails Brigitte Meyer Scott Phillips Rockin A Photography Danielle Walton Photography Piper Whelan

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FOR A MEDIA KIT AND/OR RATE CARD PLEASE CONTACT ALBERTABITS@ALBERTAEQUESTRIAN.COM or marketing@albertaequestrian.com. All material is copyright 2019. Ideas and opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of the AEF. Alberta Bits reserves the right to accept, and/or edit material submitted for publication. The AEF makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained therein, but assumes no liability in cases of error or changing conditions. Any business relations or other activities undertaken as a result of the information contained in Alberta Bits, or arising therefrom, is the responsibility of the parties involved and not of the AEF. We welcome signed letters to the editor, but reserve the right to publish, edit for grammar, taste and length. For reprint information, please contact execdir@albertaequestrian.com

6 PRESI DENT ’S MESSAGE 6 EX ECUT I VE DI RECTOR’S MESSAGE 7 K I D’ S C O R N E R 8 L I V E O U T SI D E T H E B OX Congratulations to the 2019 Grand Prize Winners!

10 A EF PROFI LE Ross and Dee MacInnes of Higher Trails are helping horses and humans simultaneously.

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HOW TO Check your horse’s gut sounds.

14

HORSEK EEPI NG Keep your equine fit this winter with these five exercises from Brigitte

Meyer from Vitality Equine.

16

BREED PROFI LE The versatility and unique five gaits of the Icelandic horse make it a breed

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horse and human vision.

EVALUATING A HORSE’S VISION Trainer Scott Phillips helps us understand the differences between

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CH RI STMAS GI FT GUI DE Presents for your kids, your critters and yourself!

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30 CLUB & BUSI NESS LI ST I NGS

ASK A B OUT I NSUR A NCE Understanding equestrian coach licensing.

Live Outside the Box

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

How To Check

EQUINE GUT SOUNDS

Get to Know

THE ICELANDIC HORSE

WINTER 2019

ALBERTA EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION

2019

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EQUESTRIAN CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

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Message from President, Lauren Parker It seems like not too long ago I was writing for our fall issue of Alberta Bits and wishing for crisp autumn air. I am sure, like many of you, winter has crept up unexpectedly, and hours are now spent de-icing waterers and plowing out pathways to shelters. It’s been a busy start to the winter season for the AEF and our Board of Directors, as we’ve been engaged with the equestrian community at large in so many different ways.

The months of September, October and November saw us hosting numerous clinics, attending Expos, Club Annual General meetings and conferences, as well as continuing to work towards our Strategic Plan goals for 2020. It is with great pleasure to let you know that the Board is planning sessions in the spring of 2020, to effectively strategize for succession, alignment and growth. We consistently strive to represent you, our members, in the most meaningful and impactful ways.

Nominations will be open shortly for the 2020 AEF Board of Directors, and we are working towards strengthening the

board in areas in which we have a renewed focus. The Board continues to focus on building a competency-based format, to allow for the most comprehensive support network that will evaluate all aspects of the equine community from every angle, and plan accordingly.

We are also well underway in planning for our 2020 AGM and Stride With Us, a celebration and recognition of AEF members. Mark your calendars; this will be hosted March 21st, 2020 in Calgary, AB. We hope you will join us for this special event to raise a toast to a wonderful 2019.

In closing, I would like to wish each and every one of you a safe and happy holiday season. Hug your loved ones, both two and fourlegged and remember to enjoy this season of giving.

Until next time, happy trails. AB

Message from Executive Director, Sonia Dantu What does Community really mean? Many of us will have our own definition.

The efforts and accomplishments of our organization are for the benefit of our members and our community.

Being a part of a community is a powerful experience that allows us to get through the darkest of times. In the best of times, our community is also what invigorates us, inspires us, and encourages us to grow, develop and persevere.

Our community can help us to find direction and meaning in our lives. On a very practical level, our community literally encompasses our corner of the world – it is the people with whom we spend time, the equines we work with, those we love and cherish, and who in return, love and cherish us.

Whether we see them day in and day out or just once a year, the people and equines who comprise our community shape our reality.

As an organization, we strive to align with that reality by working diligently to create effective meaningful relationships and programs for the community that supports our work and efforts.

Last year we committed to increasing participation, endeavoring to provide additional educational opportunities, fostering a strong sense of community and developing initiatives that, in turn, support our membership.

Much has been accomplished, from launching new entry level programs such as Rookie Riders, welcoming new evolving disciplines such as “Working Equitation” and engaging in new relationships with organizations such as “The Great 6

ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

Divide Trail Association.” These actions have empowered and supported our Clubs, Businesses and Individual members to pursue professional development for themselves, offered affordable educational opportunities and membership, and ensured financial accountability to our community.

We hope that many of you will consider joining us for our fifth annual “Stride With Us” and AGM, a celebration of our membership, volunteers and award recipients that have been nominated by other community members. This event will be held on Saturday, March 21 at the Holiday Inn on Blackfoot Trail in Calgary. We look forward to sharing all of the 2019 successes and our goals for 2020. More information will be forthcoming in the months ahead for what we know will be a truly awe-inspiring evening.

On behalf of the AEF, thank you for your membership and participation in the equestrian community. We cannot accomplish goals on our own; it takes a community comprised of many who share a passion and similar goals. We are committed to continuing to provide leadership, collaborating on initiatives that support growth in our industry and planning for success in the future.

Without our membership, the AEF could not exist, and for that, we are truly grateful to give back to you, our community.

All the best, all the time and sincerely enjoy the season. AB

S ’ D I K CORNER

Make Your Horse a Christmas Stocking!

Want to make the season extra special for your equine this year? Make them a stocking! Here are some ideas of things you can fill it with:

New Brush

Horse Treats

Black Licorice

Apples

Halter & Lead

1

Carrots 2 3

4

5

ACROSS 3. What do horses wear sometimes to protect them from the cold?

4. Device often used in the winter to keep water troughs from freezing. Two words.

6. Necessity for horses living outside during the winter.

7. Winter sport that involves a horse pulling a skier DOWN 1. Roughage often used outdoors during the winter to feed horses and placed in a feeder, or large net.

2. In the winter when horses grow a longer coat, this grooming practice is often used to prevent the horse from sweating excessively.

6

7

5. A general term for the equipment that allows a horse to pull a wagon.

6. “Dashing through the snow, In a one horse open _______” ?

answers on page 11

ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

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LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS Everything is more fun when it’s real! Dust off those boots, get outside and have some fun with a horse. You could win some great prizes for doing just that!

This year, we are really excited to announce that our LOTB Alberta Buckaroos logged a total of 5,556 hours of horse time, 6,617 hours of outdoor activity time, and consumed 13,781 healthy servings of fruits and vegetables between April 1st – Sept 30th!

Special congratulations goes out to our monthly draw winners (recipients of their very own Shedrow Deluxe halters with lead ropes and LOTB charms): April – Claudia Schaffer May – Ella Barkman

June – Jaxon Caldwell July – Ashley Gillespie-Knight

August – Mckenzie Saker September – Kylie Allan

Special thanks goes out to our official program partner, CapriCMW Insurance Services Ltd., ensuring the AEF can continue to provide programs and opportunities like this to our members. Thank you!!

Our grand prize winners worked extremely hard this year and we are incredibly proud of them. They are as follows:

ASHLEY GILLESPIE-KNIGHT AGE 15 – 1ST PLACE

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MCKENZIE SAKER

AGE 14 – 2ND PLACE

Highest Horse Time Hours

Highest Horse Time Hours

My name is Ashley and meet my amazing horse, Streaking Little Jet, an APHA registered mare with a HUGE personality! The best way to describe us - pole bending, barrel racing, Rodeo Queens! Being the 2019 Pete Knight Rodeo Princess, Jet and I have participated in numerous rodeos, grand entries and parades. Jet and I test our speed in barrels and poles through Alberta High School Rodeo, Mountain View Jr Rodeo, and the ABRA Cinch it Up Series! If we are not rodeoing, you can find us in the barn hanging out or riding in our field checking cows.

McKenzie is 14-years-old, from Parkland County, and loves to spend long hours riding her OTTB. She also enjoys singing, acting, skiing, volleyball, basketball and track. This summer McKenzie’s focus was on dressage and working with her mare, Nova, to improve their eventing performance. Together, they spent many days away from home at different clinics, camps and competitions including a week in Ottawa at the Canadian Pony Club National Rally.

ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

KYLIE ALLAN

AGE 15 – 3RD PLACE

Highest Horse Time Hours Hello, My name is Kylie Allan, I am 15-yearsold and in grade 10, from Carstairs, Alberta. I started riding lessons when I was eight-yearsold. For my 11th birthday, I got my pony Hershey. Hershey is a nine-year-old Welsh Cross who continues to teach me new skills every ride. Together, we have accomplished schooling shows and have competed at the Ponoka Indoor Series, Spruce Meadows May Classic and performed in the pre-show for the RCMP Musical Ride this past year. My goal before I graduate high school, is to show at Thunderbird in BC with Hershey.

LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX

VICTORIA KOTELLO

JAXON CALDWELL

CLAUDIA SCHAFFER

Highest Outdoor Activity Hours

Highest Outdoor Activity Hours

Highest Outdoor Activity Hours

AGE 10 – 1ST PLACE

Victoria is 10-years-old and lives in DeWinton.

Her pony Melody is 14-years-old. Together they love to go for rides and enjoy jumping in lessons and shows. Victoria and Melody are always learning new things in their lessons at St. George’s Stables with Frank Selinger. This year they were able to move up to jump 2’6”.

They can often be found at RMSJ where they compete all summer long and at nearly all the indoor shows. Victoria loves to dress her pony up for the costume classes! Melody’s favourite things are snuggles by Victoria and treats!

ANNIKA NOVAKOWSKI AGE 15 – 1ST PLACE

AGE 10 – 2ND PLACE

My name is Jaxon, and this is my horse Cash. She used to be my dad’s rope horse, but this year I started riding her. We do lots of things together, and this year I tried some new events as well. We barrel race, do flags, poles, steer daubing, and this year I tried some goat tying too. I also like to help my dad and friends when they do cattle drives, and brandings as well. This year I also rode Cash in our town parade. I am excited to keep practicing and riding Cash this winter.

AYDEN STEPHENS

AGE 12 – 2ND PLACE

Highest Number of Healthy Servings Consumed

Highest Number of Healthy Servings Consumed

Since moving to a 40-acre parcel just outside of Tofield, Annika has been loving the experience of becoming a better rider. In training her Arabian horse, Zack, they have participated in a colt starting clinic and riding lessons. Annika loves trying new things, especially with her horse. When Annika is not riding, she is usually baking, playing piano, or exercising Buck (the family’s farm dog). Annika hopes to expand her knowledge of equine studies and grow in her riding skills.

My name is Ayden Stephens. I am 12-yearsold and have been riding for about six years. One of my favourite horse activities to do is to go on trail rides in the places we travel to. This past summer we rode in L.A. by the Hollywood sign. I enjoy my weekly lessons at Trendsetting Stables where our horse is boarded. I’ve rode many horses in the lesson program. Jumping is my favourite discipline!

AGE 8 – 3RD PLACE

My name is Claudia Schaffer and I am eight-years-old, and live in Chestermere.

My favorite things to do are playing outside, going on bike rides and making fun obstacle courses for me and my friends to jump over. I started riding lessons on a horse called Tango Dancer, and started competing in the Brave circuit, at six-yearsold. I am now riding Dixie, who’s in the photo with me. My hopes are to ride and be around horses for as long as I can and maybe one day become a professional jumper.

JESSICA WOLFS

AGE 12 – 3RD PLACE

Highest Number of Healthy Servings Consumed My name is Jessica Wolfs and I am 12-yearsold. We live on a farm near Rosebud. I started riding when I was three-years-old on my pony, Skittles, and since then have had a few more horses throughout the years. I did showing, jumping and small gymkhanas. I joined 4-H when I was nine with my now 13-year-old AQHA mare, Tia. We show lots in the summer and do mainly western but also like to ride English. I have had a great summer filled with horse showing and I can’t wait for next year!

Live Outside the Box is a fun and FREE program offered by the AEF to youth members ages 7-15-years-old. This

program encourages youth to leave th TV/computer behind and get active as well as eat healthier by spending time outdoors and with their horse and consuming as many fruits and vegetables as possible! Youth simply log their totals every month between April and September each year for their chance to win great prizes like digital cameras, fitness trackers, sport video cameras and much more!

ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

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AEF PROFILE

HIGHER TRAILS EQUINE

In addition to helping people, Higher Trails has many facets that help horses as well.

B Y J E N N W E B ST E R , A L L PH OT O S C O U RT E SY OF H I G H E R T R A I L S

A teen group taking in a ride at Higher Trails

The moniker “Changing Lives Through Horses” was first used to describe the program the MacInnes family developed on their ranch by a father who had a daughter enrolled. The daughter was a teenager with a crystal meth addiction and her future appeared grim.

Over an 18-month period, the young girl worked with an older Appaloosa reining horse at Higher Trails as well as with the staff and as a result, was able to regain her health and sobriety. She returned to her family and has since gone on to a University education.

It was her dad who commented, ‘That horse changed her life,’ tells Ross MacInnes, a retired police officer and an integral part of Higher Trails. “That comment was amended to its present form, 15 years ago,” he says.

Higher Trails is comprised of 100 acres of land made up of pastures, creeks, oldgrowth forest and dozens of trails near Millarville, AB. They have 30 horses and five historical buildings on the ranch (four of them being log structures). Higher Trails also has a swimming hole in the creek.

They utilize large round-pens, corrals, an 10

ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

outdoor arena and a 30 x 60-foot quonset to work in during inclement weather.

Ross and Dee MacInnes have been working with high-risk teens since 1976.

As foster-parents, volunteers with various youth organizations and through Ross’s work in the Calgary Police, they recognized a need within society to connect people with horses. This need was particularly heightened for people who were deemed by society as “higher risk.”

Tapping into Ross’s background with equines, the MacInnes family found that matching a horse with a youth provided an incredible connection. These bonds enable Higher Trails counsellors or lifecoaches to work more effectively.

In the very beginning, the crew at Higher Trails knew that horses could bring about change in people in many areas.

This included helping people battling disease, families struggling with relationships, individuals overcoming addictions, people dealing with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), people facing unfounded anxiety, those with autism or Asperger’s, and others just unable to cope with day-to-day life.

Overall, it prompted Ross and Dee to take

their services to a higher level and expand into the world of Equine Assisted Learning, also known as EAL. Through the national organization, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Canada, both Ross and Dee conduct workshops, training programs and clinics across Canada. In 2018-2019, they facilitated a total of 14 week-long training sessions across Canada.

So how did Higher Trails become involved in EAL initially? During the years 1999-2001, Ross and Dee examined 127 program models – each one focused on the issue of high-risk behaviors in teens, and the breakdown of relationships.

These were eventually winnowed down to less than a dozen programs based on effectiveness, financial accessibility and replication. The organizations were audited, and the best-practices of each were incorporated into a program model that became known as Higher Trails.

In 2002 key staff were trained and supported by clinical staff, wranglers, and, a herd of 16 horses were integrated. That same year, the Higher Trails program began in earnest and over the next 15 years,

AEF PROFILE the MacInnes family delivered services to individuals, families and organizations and began a Certification Program for Equine Assisted Personal Development Coaches and EAL Facilitators. The programs were expanded to include special needs, First Nations groups, educational institutions, justice issues and a host of other needs and opportunities.

In 2015, working with the Business Development Centre and with several Government of Canada agencies, Higher Trails collaborated with like-minded organizations to form one of the leading EAL-focused organizations in the world.

Since then, both Ross and Dee have been awarded the Queen Elizabeth Medal for their work.

However, rehabilitating people is not the only thing they do here. Horses too have found new purposes through their time at Higher Trails.

“With a few exceptions, all our horses are either rescue, rehab, or re-homed,” says Ross. “Over the years we have had the honour of bringing in over 100 horses through those processes.”

The MacInnes’ most famous rescue/ rehab horse is a now 26-year-old gelding named “Caddie.” He is the subject of the book I AM CADILLAC – Life Lessons From A Horse, that was published through Friesen Press.

However, the story of “Murphy” might be the most touching.

Upon his arrival at the ranch, Murphy soon made his presence felt. Not content with the size of the holding corral, he figured out that a couple of good pushes would open the slide gate and give him full access to acres and acres of lush grass in the lower pasture.

“We can now look back at every mischievous horse event and see Murphy’s hoof prints somewhere in the background,” chuckles Ross.

“But he loved to work. As the elder statesman of the herd, he has packed supplies up to Line Camp and did the dozens of little tasks, such as dallying a reluctant newcomer horse across the creek or hauling water up to the north pastures. For a gelding once considered a top race contender, these jobs might

have seemed mundane, but for Murphy, they were labors of love.”

Murphy was an ex-race horse and had incurred a bowed tendon injury on the track. For most horses this was a careerending injury, but his owners at the time thought they might be able to squeeze

tine EAL exercise at Higher Trails, when one of their youth students was making an incredible connection with Murphy.

The student moved to the centre of the round pen and the horse, with his head on her shoulder, followed close behind.

Before they finished, Ross had the young

Ross and Dee MacInnes during a short visit to Niagara Falls after teaching an EAL course near Barrie, Ontario.

one more season out of him, and therefore had a procedure called pin-firing done on the leg.

“The belief is that it speeds healing, although many disagree with the concept and with the supposed benefits,” Ross explains.

What occurred afterwards was that Murphy became very wary and afraid of people, particularly when they tried to examine the affected leg. Despite the procedure, he never had an extension to his racing career.

“He was extremely anti-social and would throw himself over backwards, rather than allow a person on his back.

When tied, he would rip the post from its mounting and race through the field pulling a hitching rail behind. Through patience, love and gentle handling, Murphy became leader of the herd,” Ross says.

“Murphy also loved kids. He was one of the most amazing horses we have ever had the joy of working with. He gave from the heart.”

Ross goes on to tell the story of a rou-

girl kneel in the dirt with her hands on the scarred legs of the horse. It was then that he told the story of Murphy and the pain he had endured in the past.

“The warm breath of the horse and the ache of the tale, broke through the toughness of the teen. She began to cry.

Then, a most wondrous sight occurred – big tears were also rolling down Murphy’s face. The young girl completely broke down, threw her arms around this huge horse and sobbed, sharing the pain from her own past. This was a true awakening of the heart by the youth.

The teen is now back with her family,” he says.

Murphy has since passed away. He was 30 when he left but until the day he passed, he was still healing broken hearts at Higher Trails.

If you or someone you know is looking for a place where humans can work with horses in a therapeutic setting, Higher Trails is pleased to offer individual, family and group sessions. You can check them out online at www.highertrails.ca. AB

ANSWERS FROM PAGE 7:

ACROSS 3. Blanket 4. Water Heater 6. Shelter 7. Skijor DOWN 1. Roundbale 2. Clip 5. Harness 6. Sleigh ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

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HOW TO CHECK YOUR HORSE’S GUT SOUNDS Understanding gut sounds and what they may indicate in your equine.

B Y J E N N W E B ST E R

One way to determine whether or not your equine is healthy, is to properly evaluate the sounds of his gut. Knowing how to check your horse’s gut sounds is a vital aspect of horse husbandry and if you suspect colic, your vet will want to know about this vital sign immediately.

While gut sounds (also referred to as peristalsis or borborygmi) alone cannot be used to identify potential gastrointestinal tract diseases, in combination with a complete physical exam, they are helpful in evaluating poor gut movement, illness or obstruction. Dr. Lisa Millican of Moore Equine Veterinary Clinic explains how you can check your horse’s gut sounds at home.

1 2 3 4

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ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

Invest in a stethoscope to keep in your barn. These instruments can often be purchased at tack stores or from your veterinarian and a good one doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.

When evaluating gut sounds, divide your horse’s flank area into four quadrants. These include the upper and lower quadrant on both the left and right side.

The movement of the gastrointestinal organs is called borborygmi. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the horse’s normal borborygmi.

The amount of gut sounds is very subjective and knowing what’s normal for your horse is helpful.

Horses that are colicking may have decreased gut sounds for what is normal for them, or may be completely silent in their gut sounds.

THE 4 QUADRANTS

Dr. Lisa Millican of Moore Equine Veterinary Clinic helps us understand the anatomy of the horse’s digestive system, specifically in the horse’s abdomen.

“On the lower quadrant of both sides of the horse is the large colon. On the left side would be the left large colon, ventral and dorsal colon,” she explains.

“On the right side, lower quadrant would be the ventral and dorsal portion of the large colon.”

“On the right, upper quadrant is the cecum.”

On the left side, upper quadrant is what Dr. Millican describes as a “mishmash” of things.

“There are no real specific organs here. In the left upper quadrant you have the small intestine and everything

else that fills in the gaps there.”

When listening to one quadrant over another, Dr. Millican relays that it’s important to realize you aren’t listening to the specific organs in that quadrant. It’s possible to be hearing something from the other side, or anywhere in the abdomen.

“In each quadrant, these organs lie in the areas as I described, but really, listening to the gut sounds in each quadrant is just a guideline – it’s not guaranteed that those sounds are coming from the organs found in that quadrant.”

PERISTALSIS the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine or another canal, creating wavelike movements that push the contents of the canal forward.

BORBORYGMI a

rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines.

Small Intestine Small Colon Large Colon

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Horses that have colitis or diarrhea sometimes have overactive or constant gut sounds. Sometimes these sounds are easy to hear without a stethoscope at all – you can just place your ear up next to their abdomen to observe them.

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Remember to check the gut sounds on both the upper and lower quadrants, on both sides of the horse and take notes to properly relay the information to your veterinarian.

HORSE KEEPING

DON’T LET WINTER FREEZE YOUR HORSE’S FITNESS 5 essential exercises to keep your equine athlete fit during an Albertan winter.

B Y B R I G I T T E M EY E R , B S C , PH OT O S B Y M A R I S A K A R L OF R O C K I N A PH OT O G R A PH Y

The winter months in Alberta are a challenging time of year for horse owners to keep their equine athletes fit. The weather is colder, the daylight hours are shorter, and other priorities (like pumpkin spice latte dates and Netflix binging) make it difficult for us to keep a consistent exercise routine with our equine athletes. However, that necessity for a consistent exercise routine becomes even more important for 14

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the holistic health of our equine athletes during the colder temperatures of winter. Exercising your athlete constantly in winter will directly impact their overall behaviour, performance, training, fitness and those riding events that really are just around the corner in a short six months, come spring 2020. As such, here are some tips to keep your horse strong and exercising over the winter months.

HORSE KEEPING

GROUND POLE MAZES TARGETS: Core Stability & Core Engagement

If you do not have any ground poles, get creative and create a challenging obstacle course for your equine athlete using broom handles and buckets!

TRAINING TYPE: Cardio

This is one of the simplest, yet most effective exercises you can do with your equine athlete under saddle or in hand. Set up the ground poles at various distances, in pinwheels or randomly and walk your equine athlete with an intentional rhythm over them. Your athlete’s core muscles will engage every time they pick up their feet over the poles. Core engagement is essential for back support, posture and overall balance. For an additional challenge, raise the ground poles by

If you do not have any ground poles, get creative and create a challenging obstacle course for your equine athlete using broom handles and buckets!

four inches on one side, or on both sides. If your equine athlete wants a break from the poles, use the negative space created by the poles and work on backing up and lateral movements. I would recommend

A simple L-shape or a pin-wheel is a great exercise to complete with your equine athlete while moving in a circle.

doing this exercise at least twice a week with your athletes throughout the winter.

Don’t have ground poles? Get creative! Use broom stick handles, branches… anything goes!

If you have raised Cavalettis, this adds an additional challenge to your equine athlete’s pole work.

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HORSE KEEPING

SCHNEE RESISTANCE

TARGETS: Distal Limb Stabilizers TRAINING TYPE: Resistance

Schnee, the German word for snow, is the centre of the game for this “Let’s Embrace Winter” exercise. Resistance

training is a great way to increase strength, tone, mass and endurance of your equine athlete’s muscles. In this case, you will be using snow as your external resistance to engage contraction of your athlete’s distal limb stabilizers.

This is a great exercise to try after a delightful two-foot dump of snow overnight. Keep this exercise at a walk, with no more than two feet high of schnee, and start off modestly. This is actually a very tiring exercise, and you’ll see that your athlete will lose their breath rapidly if they haven’t done this before.

SIDE TO SIDE TAIL PULLS TARGETS: Pelvic Stabilizers TRAINING TYPE: Activation One of my all-time favourites, no matter the time of the year. This dynamic activation exercise is intended to balance and stabilize your athlete’s pelvic muscles during their collected and lateral movements. This is a rehabilitation exercise that has been studied and optimized by Dr Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVSMR, professor and McPhail Dressage Chair Emerita at Michigan State University and president of Sport Horse Science, in Mason, Michigan.

To apply this activation, have your athlete standing as square as possible.

You will grab their tail, find where their tail bone end, and hold onto the tail just below that point. You will then bring the tail over 90 degrees and gently pull for “one-one-thousand” until you see their quadriceps activate, then release.

Start by applying 10 pulses on either side, working your way up to 20 pulses on each side. I would recommend applying this activation daily.

Ensuring you are holding the tail just below the tail bone, bring the tail gently over to one side and pulse the tail until you see the side quad muscles activate.

The side tail pull activation is a great way to get quad engagement and to help with stifle strengthening during the winter months! Be sure to apply this activation on both sides.

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Try it for yourself to see how tired you can get after walking even five minutes in deep snow. I would recommend doing this exercise once to twice a week with an interval timer. Try alternating between deep snow and no-snow strides at one-minute intervals for six minutes. Listen to your horse, and ensure they do not have any ice balls or packed snow in their hooves before or during the exercise.

As an added bonus, the cold temperature of the snow may decrease inflammation in your athlete’s distal limbs.

HORSE KEEPING

FOREHAND DANCE TARGETS:

Thoracic Sling & Shoulders TRAINING TYPE: Activation Another amazing activation, created by Dr. Hilary Clayton, is intended to help build balance and muscle strength in your athlete’s forehand. During the winter months, our athletes (especially those on outdoor board) tend to stand a bit heavier on their forehand, resulting in more forehand contraction and tension. Not to mention, when they are walking on slippery substrates, such as ice, mud, and snow, their forehand stabilizers are required to be additionally engaged.

As such, this is a perfect activation to help shift the weight from your athlete’s forehand to their hind end in a pulse-like fashion.

Apply some light pressure on the middle of your athlete’s chest, causing a weight transfer backwards, holding for “oneone-thousand”, and then releasing. Repeat. Apply this activation 20 times before you ride, ensuring they are standing as squarely as possible. Your athlete’s chest muscles will thank you, and you will feel more flexibility within this region.

Get your hips into it, and dance with your equine athlete as you apply this activation!

Imagine you are gently applying pressure from your right hand to your left hand and you are rocking your horse’s forehand from front to back and back to front. This shift in weight is essential for thoracic sling mobility in the winter.

According to a yiddish proverb, “The wagon rests in winter, the sleigh rests in summer, and the horse never.” So, make this winter a great one for your equine athlete! Ensure they get daily activity and try out some of these exercises to optimize your performance in the winter, and ultimately for the upcoming 2020 season. What you do with your athlete today, will help them succeed tomorrow.

If you have any questions about these maneuvers or would like to book a performance massage for your equine athlete to increase their muscular strength and performance this winter, contact Brigitte at Vitality Equine by email at vitalityequine@gmail. com or via text at 587.435.1834. AB ***Remember that these tips are not a replacement for a proper training regime and are intended to be applied in conjunction with your current regime. If your horse is in recovery from an injury or you are unsure of any of these exercises and your horse’s limitations, please check in with your attending veterinarian before trying them out on your equine athlete.

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BREED PROFILE

ICELANDIC HORSE Smooth Operators B Y PI PE R W H E L A N

Originating in a country of astounding natural beauty and bred to carry ancient warriors, the Icelandic horse embodies versatility. Built to withstand the cold and traverse rocky conditions, this breed will provide a smooth ride like no other.

Sure-footed, sturdy and agile, the Icelandic horse has great stamina and is extremely adaptable, shining in the show ring, across long distances and in a range of equine disciplines. Standing around 13 to 14 hands high and weighing about 800 to 1,000 lbs, this breed is seen in a 18

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wide variety of colours. Icelandic horses are known for their dense manes, which may be double sided, and an especially thick winter coat. Friendly, willing and easy keepers, Icelandic horses are slower to mature than other breeds and generally aren’t ridden until the age of four or five years.

Adding to the Icelandic horse’s highly versatile nature is its five gaits. As well as the walk, trot and canter, the breed can perform two other gaits, known as the tölt and the flying pace. The Icelandic

horse is particularly famous for the tölt, a four-beat gait similar to the running walk or rack of the American Saddlebred. The horse can reach speeds of 50 kilometres per hour at a tölt, which is known for being an incredibly smooth gait.

The flying pace is a two-beat, lateral racing gait, and horses can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour at this gait. Instead of racing with a driver in a two-wheeled cart, as is done in harness racing in other countries, the Icelandic

BREED PROFILE

Opposite page: Aboard Hrima, Danielle Fulsher rides across the river. D-Z Photography. Above: Danielle Fulsher competing at the World Championships. Photo by Birte Rauch.

horse is ridden by a jockey when pacing.

In Iceland, this form of horse racing is one of the country’s most enduring and well-loved equine sports.

In its home country, the Icelandic horse has been selectively bred for more than a thousand years, with no outside crossbreeding changing the bloodlines due to Iceland’s geographic isolation.

“The history of the Icelandic horse can be traced all the way back to the settlement of the country in the late 9th century,” according to the International Museum of the Horse. Vikings brought different types of horses with them to settle what is now Iceland, and some scholars believe the Icelandic horse is descended from a breed found in northern Europe and Scandinavia at that time, while others believe it is related to the Exmoor pony of the United Kingdom.

Norse mythology held the horse in high regard, and that tradition followed the Vikings to Iceland, where horses are described in the Icelandic Sagas as being of the utmost importance to Viking warriors.

There is evidence that a Viking killed in battle would be buried next to his horse as a sign of high esteem for the animal.

For Icelanders, the horse was vital to everyday life before modern

transportation and machinery made their way to the country, and thus the breed has been treated with great respect for centuries. After the automobile was introduced to Iceland shortly after the turn of the 20th century, the Icelandic horse lost its job but remained in the hearts of the people, who continued to breed horses. The first breed association for the Icelandic horse was established in 1904, and two years later the first breeding stock shows were held.

Today, there are approximately 100,000 Icelandic horses in their home country, which has quite a small human population in relative terms.

Icelanders share their love of the breed with tourists, as riding tours through the Icelandic highlands have become extremely popular.

The breed is growing in North America and Europe, with Germany raising a huge number of Icelandic horses. As such, breeding and exporting the Icelandic horse has become a particularly successful venture. Being an island nation, Iceland has been able to keep its namesake breed virtually disease free, and to ensure this continues to be the case, the country doesn’t allow the import of horses of any breed.

As interest in this breed increased across North America, Canadian breeders and enthusiasts gathered to form their own association. In 1979, the Canadian Icelandic Horse Federation (CIHF) was established in Calgary, and its mandate remains the development and promotion of the Icelandic horse, as well as the registration of purebred horses in a Canadian herd book. As well, the CIHF “promote(s), encourage(s) and assist(s) in livestock exhibitions and fairs, and offer grants and contribute prizes for such purposes which shall be limited to registered Icelandic horses,” as stated on its website.

In 1984, the CIHF became affiliated with the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations (FEIF), an umbrella organization for 21 countries with Icelandic horse associations. In 1895, the Federation began participating at the breeds World Championships, which are held every two years. As of 2018, the CIHF had 136 members and 1,829 registered horses. It helps organize local and regional riding clinics and competitions, sports judging clinics, youth competitions, and seminars on breeding and training.

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BREED PROFILE

Above: One of the stallions from the Wild Rose Icelandic Horse Farm breeding program. Danielle Walton Photography. Right: Danielle Fulsher and her mare in the mountains. Birte Rauch.

An Honest, Versatile Breed

Danielle Fulsher grew up in Gimli, Manitoba, a community with a strong Icelandic heritage that is found throughout the province, as many Icelandic settlers made Manitoba their home in the late 19th century. “The Icelandic horse is always a respected part of the Icelandic community in Manitoba,” said Fulsher, who noted the breed plays a big role in Gimli’s annual Icelandic Festival.

Fulsher, who now calls Sundre, Alberta home, has been professionally training Icelandic horses since 1998, which she got into by accident. A new job training horses introduced her to the breed, and she was pleasantly surprised when she first rode a gelding named Thor and experienced the tölt for herself. “Those legs of his were going under me at what felt like 100 miles an hour but I just sat there with no movement and no bounce.

It was the neatest feeling I have ever had,” Fulsher recalled.

“At the time there were no instructors from Iceland in Canada and only one or two in the U.S.,” she said. “I had to learn how to train the gaits from looking at Icelandic horse magazine articles, seeing how the horses were supposed to move in photos and incorporating my knowledge of classical dressage to train

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the horses to use their backs and hind ends correctly, which then transferred over to training their gaits to their maximum potential.”

Fulsher currently has 13 Icelandic horses on her farm, Wild Rose Icelandic Horse Farm, and competes in a variety of disciplines, including endurance and competitive trail riding (CTR).

She trains horses for breeding shows and competitions, and has recently developed an interest in extreme cowboy challenges. Icelandic horses excel in endurance races and competitive trail due to their low centre of gravity, soundness and calm temperaments.

“They are also extremely sure-footed, so technical trail is never an issue,” said Fulsher. “My main distance mare, Hrima, has over 300 competitive miles in 25-mile endurance and CTR. She has a 100% completion rate thus far placing with ribbons almost every time and winning first place and High Point Champion at the last CTR.” Fulsher competed in the Icelandic Horse World Championships in 2015 in Denmark. A Canadian-bred mare, Blika 08 fra Fitjamyri, was chosen to represent Canada, and owner Maria Badyk asked Fulsher to ride the mare. “I had trained Blika to that high score so Maria decided to go with the idea of a Canadian-bred, Canadian-owned, Canadian-trained and

Canadian-ridden horse at the Worlds,” Fulsher explained.

“It was a great feeling carrying our country’s flag, hearing the announcer call our names,” she continued. “I’ve competed hundreds of times since I was young and this was no different. You go on the track and nothing else exists except the job at hand: to show Blika as best as I could, to enjoy the experience of being at that high of a level.”

Fulsher appreciates the intelligence, strength and stamina of the Icelandic horse, just to name a few traits. “I love their honest temperaments. If they are treated with respect and kindness, they give 110 percent in everything they do,” she said.

“I have been caught in terrible weather conditions: thunderstorms, snow storms, cold fronts that were flinging rocks, hail storms, etc. My Icelandic horse has always just put its head down and trucked through whatever Mother Nature has thrown at us. They are tough as nails.”

That strength and endurance is a testament to the breed, as Fulsher illustrated in a telling anecdote: “I was once at an endurance ride, and the FEI vet said, ‘these horses are my favourite breed.

If I ever had to ride to a burning house to save a child, I would ride an Icelandic because I know the Icelandic would get me there through thick and thin.’” AB

2020 HORSE SAVVY

DAY PLANNER & EQUINE HEALTH CARE RECORDS

Order this beautiful dayplanner with your membership, through the AEF Online Store, or stop by the office. Makes a great gift!

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$

GST +Includes Shipping & Handling

PROCEEDS SUPPORT YOUTH PROGRAMMING

Annual Provincial Awards Nominations accepted October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in the equine community that you think deserves recognition? Nominate them today for an AEF Provincial Award! This is your chance to recognize a hard working individual that has gone above and beyond to make the equestrian world a truly special place.

Award categories are: • Outstanding Instructor/Coach of the Year • Sportsmanship Excellence Award • Outstanding Athlete/Rider of the Year • Outstanding Volunteer of the Year • Outstanding Equine Support Personnel of the Year • Outstanding Stable/Facility of the Year • Outstanding Horse of the Year • Above and Beyond Excellence Award Recipients will be presented their award at the AEF banquet – Stride With Us, on March 21, 2020 in Calgary, AB.

In partnership with

Nomination Form and Criteria available online at:

albertaequestrian.com ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

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THE BETTER TO SEE YOU WITH Evaluating the dif ferences between the hors e and human fac ulty of sight.

ST ORY & PH OT O S B Y S C OT T PH I L L I P S

Horses have evolved to take in information from the entire space around them, where nature has designed humans to have a forward focus.

However, our eyes and ears function in the same way – we both hear and see with the same anatomical components.

In part one of this series, we look at some similarities and differences, the science behind them and why this is important to us as horse people.

Consider for a moment our own eyes.

As a predator, we need to be able to focus on a single point in front of us. A horse, on the other hand, can see almost all the way around itself when facing forward; they don’t have to bend their neck much to cover the blind spot behind them.

Although humans have wide binocular vision, it is limited. Try reading this 22

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when you move your eyes to the left side of this paragraph. You can see the paragraph, but you’re unable to read it. Our ability to recognize symbols doesn’t extend this far! Although we have peripheral vision, it’s really only helpful in detecting motion or being aware of objects.

Let’s look at this more specifically: with one eye, a horse can see 195°. In front of them, this vision overlaps about 60-80°.

This overlap is called binocular vision, which is important for depth perception, image matching and other factors.

A horse has blind spots: between the two eyes right in front of their forehead, anything blocked by their nose, and the width of their head/body behind them.

Humans also have similar blind spots.

We can’t see the space directly in front of our nose, underneath our chin or behind our head.

Horses have incredibly clear distance vision – an obvious bonus for a prey animal – and can spot motion and image differences at a great distance.

Humans are not as good at this. Win for the horse!

Are horses color blind? Do they see in only black and white? Well, no one knows exactly what horses see. There are facts that we do know though - both human and horse eyes have rods and cones. Rods allow us to see hues of grey in low light, and cones allow us to see colour under bright light. This is why colours disappear from our vision gradually as the light level decreases.

Who wins? Well, a horse’s eyes have a lot more rods than ours do, so they are able to see much better at night. Have you ever ridden a horse in the dark?

You’ll have discovered this advantage.

A LITTLE EXERCISE FOR YOU… Like horses, humans have a central overlapping spot in our vision that is seen by both eyes (binocular). To the sides, we see with one eye (monocular) just like a horse does. Try this: open both eyes and look forward. Put your finger in front of your face. Focus on it with both eyes. While keeping your vision forward, move your finger around toward the left side of your head until it almost leaves your vision. At this point, your finger is in your left eye only (monocular).

To prove this, just close your left eye. Your finger disappears. Now, while keeping your left eye closed, move your finger back toward the center of your face. Notice the point where your finger comes back into view – that is the limit of your right eye’s monocular space.

Win for the horse! However, we have a higher cone/rod ratio in our eyes, and in addition, we have three types of cones: red, green and blue. This allows us to see the variety of colours that we do. Horses only have two types of cones: green and blue. This means horses are unable to see red and likely see a washed out version of the rest of the spectrum. Win for us!

Myth Busters

A myth exists that horses are unable to see anything in front of them. Actually, they can – just like you can – with some small caveats. There is a small cone of space extending from their forehead forward that is a blind spot. This is because their eyes are on the side of their head. This cone becomes infinitesimally small only a short distance in front of the horse’s face, that it’s negligible. Inside of about 20 cms, a horse likely can’t focus. That means a horse can see you perfectly well if you stand in front of them.

You’ll appear blurry to your horse if you put your head right in front of their eyes.

Then again, if humans hold things very close to their eyes, we can’t focus on them either.

Now the common sense part. Horses will move their head to see things their body blocks. If someone was walking a circle around you, and you wanted to

HORSE & HUMAN FIELDS OF VISION

The angles shown here are based on the subject looking forward. We can squeak out a bit more by moving our eyes, which gives us nearly 230° of vision – and the horse a whopping 350°. In this image, the green represents what the left eye sees, the red represents what the right eye sees. Where the colours overlap is the binocular vision, and the two combined is the entire field of view.

keep looking at them, you’d have to turn your head, and eventually your body. A horse will do the same, but they have an advantage over us: they only need to bend their neck or rotate their head a few degrees to see the entire space around their body.

Let’s also remember that a horse’s eyes are but one of their senses. You would have to be better than the best predatory cat to be able to sneak up on a horse without them knowing. In addition, their hearing is more acute. Just because they’re not looking directly at your face does not mean they’re unaware of you.

Horses are also much more spatially sensitive – we all know what it feels like when someone is standing behind us.

Well, horses are better at that than us, too!

very deeply connected form of empathic communication. In that, I can convey peace and confidence.

To explain this, consider a person who is very scared; perhaps they’ve been hurt badly. You look them right in the eyes and say, “Just look at me – its going to be okay.” When we have eye-to-eye contact like that, we can affect how another person feels. This is an extremely powerful horsemanship tool when working with frightened horses. We can show them that when their focus is on us, they do not have to worry. What a trust building leadership exercise right there! AB In Part 2 of this series, we’ll investigate the horse’s ears and hearing, then put all this knowledge together with a practical purpose.

What is Eye Contact?

Anatomically, the eye is part of the brain; retinal tissue and brain tissue are considered the same. Due to that, vision can be an overwhelming sense. Whoever said, “The eyes are the window to the brain,” had no idea how accurate they actually were.

You no doubt have heard someone say, “You need to get the horse’s eye!” What they really mean is that you need to get the horse’s focus back on you. It does not necessarily mean that the horse has to look you in the face – that would be really awkward when riding!

That said, there are some circumstances when you do want the horse to be looking right at you. From my own personal experience, for example, in groundwork when a horse is very frightened, I will stand right in front of them and have them look right at me. This is a

BIO - Inspiring connection and creating success, horseman Scott Phillips owns and operates Amazing Horse Country, offering a truly unique and supportive training style for all people and horses. With a love of life, the outdoors, and a passion for horses, Scott has integrated his horsemanship with a knowledge of equine bio-mechanics and psychology to gain a thorough understanding of these great animals. Join Scott at amazinghorsecountry.com or in a clinic near you.

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CHRISTMAS

e d i u Gift G Dash through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh… or give the gifts they’re really looking forward to this season with our comprehensive list!

B Y J E N N W E B ST E R

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u o Y r o F SALTAIRE SHIRT

ANKY JACKET

The stylish stepped Technostretch jacket offers a modern look with its striking diamond shaped stepping and Nylon DTM fabric. The fabric with stepping is applied at the front, the lower part of the sides and the bottom of the sleeve ends. If you want to spice up your riding outfit, this should be your choice! $199.95 saltaireequestrian.com

Bring on Winter! This cozy long-sleeved was made with comfort and training in mind. Designed with a warm, mid-weight fabric and mesh strategically placed in high sweat areas, the rounded collar is finished with a unique side zip. $89.00 saltaireequestrian.com

PIKEUR JACKET

Looking to treat yourself to some new show clothing, but reluctant to pay the high price of new Dressage jackets?

Check out The Tack Collector for the ultimate in like-new garments that can be acquired at a fraction of the original cost! Like this Pikeur Dressage jacket for example. Your Christmas budget will thank you! $120 www.thetackcollector.ca

SUNDANCE LODGE GETAWAY

JOHN DEERE POCKET KNIFE

This is an excellent stocking stuffer for him. The Linerlock pocket knife from John Deere has a stainless steel handle with burl wood inlay. Also includes a stainless steel blade and comes gift-boxed. $39.99 martindeerline-store.com

For those seeking an experience rather than a material gift, a stay at Sundance Lodge in Banff, AB, might be exactly the present you’re looking for. Available through Banff Trail Riders, this lodge has eight guest rooms, a large country kitchen and a cozy living room area where you can curl up by the wood burning fireplace.

Spend your days hiking or skiing in the fresh mountain air or take in a romantic sleigh ride. INQUIRE FOR PRICING. horseback.com

JOHN DEERE DRINKING JAR

John Deere fans will love the glass drinking jar which features artwork inspired by an antique advertising poster. High fired, quality reproduction. Canning jar shape with handle and 16-ounce capacity. $14.99 martindeerline-store.com

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For your Critters MINI BAREBACK PAD Did you know that Bar T5 Tack has a wide range of tack and equipment specifically for your miniature horses?

Like this bareback pad for instance, designed especially for minis. Constructed of Cordura, with a black felt bottom and felt girth. $74.95 www.bart5tack.com

EQU STREAMZ

Magnetic therapy for your horse, with a difference. This unique process prevents an increase in temperature allowing the bands to be worn by the horse immediately after exercise and for long periods of time, including through turnout. Ideal after exercise, when recovering from an injury and for general wellbeing. $120 www.streamz-global.com

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STRIP HAIR

ARC DE TRIOMPHE BRIDLE

The Tack Collector can help you obtain the best equipment in the industry at minimal prices. Check out this Arc de Triomphe raised, padded bridle with braided reins and stoppers, all in very good condition. $375 www.thetackcollector.ca

PRO CHOICE JUMPING BOOTS

These boots from Professional’s Choice feature a ventilated dual hardness outer shell which is designed to dissipate energy when the strike area is hit. The shock absorbing air cushion fits in an anatomically shaped strike area, reducing the force of impact and then returning to its original shape. Perfect for both schooling and the show ring. $89.95 www.bart5tack.com

Strip Hair is a durable grooming tool, made from a proprietary natural rubber blend that includes natural oils for added performance and benefit. This all-in-one groomer offers multi-purpose functionality for your horses or dogs, as it will shed, shampoo, slick, shine and massage all areas of the body – comfortably. $52.95 saltaireequestrian.com

DOG STREAMZ These revolutionary 360º magnetic dog collars are based on a scientific understanding of quantum physics and how cells within the dog naturally interacts with magnetic fields. Ideal for arthritis, dysplasia, digestive issues and much more. Each pack contains one silicone band; Available in multiple colours and fully adjustable to provide a comfortable fit for all breeds. $120 www.streamz-global.com

DRY GUY

Ideal for horse blankets which have lost their waterproofing.

Simply spray it on to provide waterproofing treatment to your garments without utilizing traditional chemicals, which can be harmful to the environment and contribute to personal health and safety issues for you and your animals. $15.97 strathconaventures.com

SAVE THE DATE

s d i K r o F

STRIDE

WITH US

BLACK BEAUTY

We wish they had this 30 years ago!

Bring home Anna Sewell’s classic horse tale, Black Beauty, now brought to life in a set with a beautiful 1:12 scale model of Black Beauty from Breyer! This lovely set makes a wonderful gift and teaches the importance of kindness. A great read for the entire family! Book is soft covered, 186 pages. $29.95 www.bart5tack.com

in conjunction with

AEF’s AGM

MARCH 21, 2020 Holiday Inn Blackfoot Trail, Calgary

CAMO 4 WHEELER

Your little hunter will love this! Complete with a realistic quad, flat deck trailer and truck, this play set will let kids imagine an encounter with a big buck. $39.95 www.bart5tack.com

CUDDLE & COLOUR WASHABLE PONY

Your little cowgirl will love to colour and cuddle with this interactive toy! Includes four washable markers and removable clothing. Can be washed for reuse and is perfect for little ones age three and up. $42.95 www.bart5tack.com

PINK CRIB SET

For the outdoorsy, mom-to-be. This plush, pink, woodsy-themed crib set comes complete with a fitted sheet, bed skirt and quilt. Perfect for a newborn who is expected to love the outdoors just as much as her parents. $84.95 www.bart5tack.com

BREYER IRISH DRAFT

If you have a horse lover at home who adores Breyer horses, then The Tack Collector is the place for you! Featuring many previously loved Breyer figures, you can find treasures like this O’Leary Trotting Irish Draft in good condition to go to its next owner. $38.50 www.thetackcollector.ca ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019

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ASK ABOUT INSURANCE

TIME FOR CHANGE

Equestrian coach licensing is now becoming a reality in Canada.

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insurance coverage (such as abuse coverage) which brings significant value to the license and provides a consistent response mechanism across the industry if something goes wrong (claim).

It will come as no surprise that our insurance partners view the availability of a coach license as a positive initiative.

Risk predictability is a key factor when determining costs of coverage, and credentials that will help to minimize claims have always provided cost benefits.

As we look forward to spring and what changes the season brings, the coach license will be a part of the landscape.

For all coaches new and seasoned who approach their work in a professional way, this license is a good thing – for everyone.

The Coach license is yet another benefit of being a member of AEF and we are very proud of our work together in service to the horse industry in Alberta. AB Twisted Tree Photography

It’s time for the industry to change (and in this case, change is a good thing!) Regular readers to Alberta Bits know that my articles are about insurance and risk management issues surrounding a lifestyle that involves equines.

If you read the Fall 2019 edition of this publication and Sonia Dantu’s (AEF Executive Director) article, you will know that equestrian coach licensing is now becoming a reality in Canada.

The license for equestrian coaching/training is being driven by the Federal Government and will be delivered through a partnership between Equestrian Canada (EC) and the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF), with a phased-in approach starting in 2020.

You may have already heard that EC and AEF are working exclusively with CapriCMW in the delivery of an insurance component that relates to the new coach license; the included coverage has been designed to be as broad as possible.

It is worth clarifying that “licensing” is NOT the same as “certification.” Licensing is a credential that is achievable by most, is not discipline specific and is about the relationship between a coach/trainer and the athlete/parent. It is about recognizing the expertise that a coach will bring to equestrian sport and their credentials that will speak to the specific skills and education they have worked hard to obtain, and ultimately, they bring to the barn.

Safe Sport training, concussion education, background checks are all part of the license process and we fully expect that the industry will eagerly embrace these as minimum credentials required to teach at the barn or at the show ground.

The coach license fee includes automatic commercial

Cheers to partnerships that work!

Michael (Mike) King, CAIB, R.I.B.

Mike King is a partner at CapriCMW Insurance and the program lead for the PTSO programs across Canada. For more information, please call the Agri department at CapriCMW Insurance, 1-800-670-1877 or agri@capricmw.ca

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M E M B E R O R G A N I Z A T I O N S A S O F N O V. 8 , 2 0 1 9 T O F I N D O U R M O R E A B O U T O N E O F T H E S E C L U B S , O R T O J O I N O N E , P L E A S E C O N TA C T T H E M D I R E C T LY 4:13 Therapeutic Riding Association.............................................................. 413therapeuticriding.com Advocates for Special Kids............................................................................conniehjalmar@gmail.com Alberta Carriage Driving Association (ACDA)........................................................albertadriving-acda.ca Alberta Central Region Pony Club........................................................................canadianponyclub.org Alberta Donkey and Mule Club................................................................... albertadonkeyandmule.com Alberta Dressage Association............................................................................... albertadressage.com Alberta Equestrian Vaulting Association.............................. albertaequestrianvaultingassoc@gmail.com Alberta Friesian Horse Association..............................................................................................afha.ca Alberta Horse Trials Association...........................................................................albertahorsetrials.com Alberta Morgan Horse Club......................................................................albertamorganhorseclub.com Alberta Mounted Shooters Association....................................................... albertamountedshooters.ca Alberta South Region Pony Club................................................... canadianponyclub.org/AlbertaSouth Alberta Team Sorting Association....................................................albertateamsortingassociation.com Alberta Trail Riding Association................................................................................................... atra.ca Alberta Walking Horse Association...........................................................................................awha.ca Alix Agricultural Society................................................................................... alixagsociety.weebly.com American Saddlebred Horse Association of Alberta..............................www.saddlebredsofalberta.com Banff Light Horse Association.................................................................................. ruthann7@telus.net Bear Valley Rescue Society...........................................................................................bearvalleyab.org Beaverlodge Pony Club.....................................................................beaverlodgeponyclub@gmail.com Black Diamond Polo Club..................................................................................blackdiamondpolo.com Border Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association ........................bordercowboysmountedshooters.com Bow Valley Riding Association............................................................................... bvra.wordpress.com Calgary and Area Alberta Dressage Association.................................................................. ca-ada.com Calgary Arabian Horse Association.............................................................. winterrose99@hotmail.com Calgary Regional Appaloosa Club (1997).........................................................calgaryappaloosaclub.ca Calgary Regional Trail Riders..................................................................... calgaryregionaltrailriders.com Calgary Western Riders...........................................................................................................facebook Canadian Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association..................................canadianmountedshooters.ca Canadian Horse Breeders Association Rocky Mountain District.................canadianhorsebreeders.com Canadian Registry of the Tennessee Walking Horse..................................................................crtwh.ca Canadian Sport Horse Association Alberta Chapter..............................................................c-s-h-a.org Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association................................................................................cantra.ca Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association - Alberta Chapter...................canadianwarmbloods.com Central Alberta Adult Riding Club................................................................. panddjensen@hotmail.com Central Century Team Ropers Association..............................................centurycentralteamroping.com Central Peace Horse Association........................................................................ericg.astell@gmail.com Chinook Carriage Driving Club...................................................chinookcarriagedrivingclub@gmail.com Chinook Country/Alberta Dressage Association.................................................... albertadressage.com Cleardale Riders Club............................................................................sandyrichardson@abnorth.com Clearwater Horse Club..............................................................................cwhctreasurer@outlook.com Cottonwood Corral Association............................................. cottonwoodcorralassociation@gmail.com Coulle Winds Saddle Club....................................................................................kheapy@outlook.com Davisburg Pony Club..................................... canadianponyclub.org/AlbertaSouth/branches/davisburg Delacour Agricultural Society and Community Club........................................................delacourhall.ca DeWinton Pony Club............................................................................. inhandequinetherapy@me.com Diamond Willow Vaulting Club............................................................... vaultingchick101@hotmail.com Didsbury Agricultural Society............................................................................... didsburyagsociety.org Dunmore Equestrian Society........................................................................... dunmoreequestrian.com Edmonton Area /Alberta Dressage Association........................................................................eaada.ca Endurance Riders of Alberta....................................................................enduranceridersofalberta.com Evergreen Park (Grande Prairie Agricultural & Exhibition Society)................................ evergreenpark.ca Extreme Cowboy Alberta Association ............................................................ extremecowboyracing.ca Fairview Sport Horse Society....................................................... fairviewsporthorsesociety.weebly.com Family Fun Rodeo Series.................................................................... familyfunrodeoseries.weebly.com Fort Calgary Wheel & Runner Association . .......................................................................................

Friends of the Eastern Slopes..................................................................................................foesa.org Fun Country Riding Club of Strathmore................................................................ funcountryriders.com Great Divide Trail Association...................................................................................greatdividetrail.com Happy Valley Ag and Recreation Club................................................... happyvalleyagrec@outlook.com Hastings Lake Pleasure Horse Association............................hastingslakepleasurehorseassociation.org High Country Carriage Driving Club.........................................................................................hccdc.ca High Country Pony Club............................. canadianponyclub.org/AlbertaSouth/branches/highcountry High Kick Vaulters............................................................ highkickvaulters.wixsite.com/highkickvaulters Hoofbeats for Hope Equine Team Society..........................................hoofbeatsequineteam@gmail.com Irricana Riding & Roping Club............................................................................... teasieo@hotmail.com Journeys Therapeutic Riding Society............................................................................................jtrs.ca Jump Alberta Society.................................................................................................. jumpalberta.com Lacombe Light Horse Association.........................................................................................................

Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association .............................................................................littlebits.ca Meadow Creek Vaulting Club....................................................................................................mcvc.ca Millarville Musical Ride.........................................................................................dwbuckland@aol.com Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society........................................................... millarvilleracetrack.com Miniatures in Motion................................................................ collies72.wixsite.com/miniaturesinmotion Mount View Special Riding Association................................................................mountviewriding.com Northern Trails Riding Club......................................................................... northerntrailsridingclub.com Opening Gaits Therapeutic Riding Society of Calgary....................................................openinggaits.ca Over the Hills Trail Riders......................................................................................... fjhorses@syban.net Peace Area Riding For The Disabled Society............................................................................pards.ca Peace Draft Horse Club.........................................................................www.peacedrafthorseclub.com Peace Region Alberta Dressage Association......................................peaceregiondressage@gmail.com Performance Standardbreds Association............................................................... p-standardbreds.org Polocrosse Calgary.............................................................................................. lplant@telusplanet.net Ponoka Riding & Roping Association........................................................................... rmvold@aol.com Prentice Creek Equestrian Centre..........................................................................ridepcec@gmail.com Ranahan Polocrosse Club...................................................................................ranahanpolocrosse.ca Rimbey Sleigh, Wagon & Saddle Club......................................................... rimbeyswsclub@gmail.com Rocky Mountain Gymkhana Club............................................................ rockymountaingymkhana.com Rundle Riders Therapeutic Riding Association............................................................. rundleriders.com Saddle Seat Canada..........................................................................................saddleseatcanada.com Shortgrass Riding Club........................................................................................ lwaynemu@eidnet.org Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry...............................................................................................joust.ca South Country Team Penning Association................................................................................sctpa.ca South Peace Horse Show Association.............................................................southpeacehorseclub.ca Southern Alberta Trail Riders Association...................................................................................satra.ca Southern Century Team Roping Association.............................................southcenturyteamroping.com Springbank Equestrian Society................................................................. springbankpark.com/index.php Springbank Pony Club.................................. canadianponyclub.org/AlbertaSouth/branches/springbank Spruce View Gymkhana Club....................................................................dwedmondson4@gmail.com Stone Bridge Carriage Driving Club...................................................stonebridgecarriagedrivingclub.ca Strathcona All-Breed Horse Association...................................................................... sahaalberta.com

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Tennessee Walking Horse Association Of Western Canada............................................ twhawc.com The Calgary Hunt Club.......................................................................................... calgaryhuntclub.ca The Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association......................................................... braggcreektrails.org Trail Riding Alberta Conference.........................................................................................trailriding.ca Traildusters Horse Club of Smith.........................................................................................................

Tri-County Riding Club......................................................................................... schenk88@telus.net Uplift Therapeutic Riding Association........................................................... sturgeonlynn@gmail.com Valley Riders Saddle Club................................................................... sandyrichardson@abnorth.com Valleyview & Districts Agricultural Society..........................................................valleyviewagsociety.ca Western Canadian Wagon Train.......................................................................gsissons@hotmail.com Western Dressage Association of Southern Alberta............................................................. wdasa.ca Wild Rose Draft Horse Association....................................................................................wrdha.com Wildrose Mounted Shooters................................................. wildrosemountedshooters@hotmail.com Wildrose Ranch Roping Association............................................................... corypscalp@gmail.com Will for Riding Foundation..........................................................................willforridingfoundation.com Xtreme Wild Rose Club............................................................ xtremewildrose.webs.com

BUSINESS MEMBERS Alberta Association of Complementary Equine Therapy.........................................................aacet.ca Balanced Body Therapy.......................................................................... balancedbodytherapy.ca Banff Trail Riders......................................................................................................... horseback.com Bar T5 Trailers and Tack.......................................................................................bart5trailers.com Barnyard Biscuits............................................................................................ barnyardbiscuits.ca Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health......................................................................BICanadaEquine.ca CapriCMW Insurance............................................................................................... capri.ca/horse Carpino Production & Design...................................................................... palmocarpino@gmail.com Cartier Farms ............................................................................................................. cartierfarms.ca Colchester Farms ..............................................................................................colchesterfarms.com Coulee Equine...........................................................................................................couleeequine.ca Creekside Equestrian Centre................................................................................................. mcvc.ca Daventry Equine Appraisal Services ......................................................... equineappraisers.com Davis Equine Services............................................................................................. davisequine.ca Diesel Overhead Doors Inc................................................................................................. dodi.ca EQU StreamZ.......................................................................................................streamz-global.com Equestrian Fashion Outfitters - Red Deer............................................equestrianfashionoutfitters.com Equi-Health Canada Inc............................................................................. equihealthcanada.com Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Canada Ltd.........................................................ealcanada.com Equine Connection Inc........................................................................................ equineconnection.ca Equus Physio.......................................................................................................equusphysio.com Evolution Equi-Sport Therapy..........................................................................evolutiontherapy.ca Flatlander Equine . ............................................................................................. flatlanderequine.com Foothills Horse Transport.......................................................................... foothillshorsetransport.com Glen Valley Farm.......................................................................................................glenvalleyfarm.ca Greenhawk Grande Prairie......................................................................................... greenhawk.com High Country Equestrian Center.................................................................... hcequestriancenter.com Higher Trails Equine Ltd............................................................................................highertrails.ca Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment......................................................................................hi-hog.com Horse In Hand Ranch Ltd.............................................................. horseinhandranch.com/index.html Just Passing Horse Transport & Bereavement Services......................................justpassinghorses.ca Kaspian Equestrian Training Centre (Rock-N-Rail Ranch Inc.)........................... kaspianequestrian.com Katy Whitt Photography............................................................................................katywhitt.com Lawton & Co, LLP................................................................................................... info@lawtonco.ca Mane Equestrian Athletics....................................................................................................facebook Martin Deerline................................................................................................. martindeerline.com Moose Hill Ranch................................................................................................ moosehillranch.com Mountain View Photographic Services.................................. mountainviewphotographicservices.com New View Stables............................................................................................... newviewstables.com Olds College................................................................................................................. oldscollege.ca Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals Inc. ........................................................................omegaalpha.com Parkland Equestrian Centre.............................................................................. parklandequestrian.ca Persons Equine Dust Control...................................................................................... personscs.com Prairie Sky........................................................................................................pepsi_tr@hotmail.com Precision Saddle Fitting..............................................................................precisionsaddlefitting.com Raema Racher Horsemanship.................................................................raema_racher@hotmail.com Release Equine..................................................................................................releaseequine.com RENEW Equine Therapy............................................................ renewequinetherapy@gmail.com Rivers Edge Camping Association.................................................................riversedgecamp.org Rocking Heart Ranch Ltd...................................................................... rockingheartranchltd.com Rocking R Guest Ranch................................................................................rockingrguestranch.com Rocking Star Ranch Equine............................................................................ rockingstarranch.ca Rock’N Horse Ranch Arena & Stables................................................................. rocknhorseranch.ca Royal T Equestrian Inc........................................................................ royaltequestrian.webs.com Saltaire Equestrian Haus............................................................................ saltaireequestrian.com Sandridge Stables............................................................................................... sandridgestables.ca Silverado Horse Centre (LMJ Ltd.).............................................................. silveradohorsecentre.com Spirit Winds Ranch............................................................................................... spiritwindsranch.ca Spring Lake Equestrian Campground Association...................................maryannwestad@gmail.com Strathcona Ventures ................................................................................strathconaventures.com Synergy Solutions Inc........................................................................................synergyapparel.ca Takoda Equine Therapy.............................................................................. gwmartin@telusplanet.net TD Equine Veterinary Group...................................................................................... tdequinevet.com The Dressage Boutique & Equestrian Wear......................................................dressageboutique.com The Horse Park...................................................................................................... thehorsepark.ca The Horse Store...................................................................................................... horsestore.com The Mane Event Equine Education & Trade Show...............................................maneeventexpo.com The Masterson Method - Lori Hoppe MMCP, Instructor.................................. mastersonmethod.com The School of Equine Massage and Rehabilitation Therapies...................................... equinerehab.ca The Tack Collector Ltd........................................................................................... thetackcollector.ca Total Recharge Pulse Therapy.............................................................................. totalrecharge.ca Tyrrell Riding Academy Inc.................................................................... tyrrellridingacademy.com Vitality Equine .................................................................................................... vitalityequine.com W5M Equine Therapy................................................................................ w5mequinemassage.ca Walk n Style................................................................................................................ walknstyle.com Western Horse Review.................................................................................westernhorsereview.com Westwood Warmbloods.......................................................................... westwoodwarmbloods.com Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association......................................................................welca.ca Wildflower Riding Club............................................................................................wildflowerriding.ca Willow Grove Stables Inc......................................................................... willowgrovestables.com

ALBERTA BITS I WINTER 2019 BE SURE TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS MEMBERS! THOSE LISTED IN BLUE PROVIDE DISCOUNTS TO AEF MEMBERS. VISIT OUR LIST OF EQUINE FACILITIES ON OUR WEBSITE!

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