Gaitpost Magazine - Mar. 2016

mARCh 2016

ouTeR limiTS DiGiTAl PhoToGRAPhy

iSLANd dERBY CRoSS 路 ChASE CREEK EvENTiNG 路 dRY GuY BLANKET REvivAL

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mARCh 2016

contents departmentS 8 tidBits Spirit of the horse Bits

featureS

20 industry news Triple Winner Belinda

14 derby-cross and field Hunter events coming to vancouver island for 2016 by Sue Ferguson

31 fei news Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and

17 eventing, revamped mustang powder Style by Nick Holmes-Smith

Trussell recognized with rider award

Desperados FRH New World Dressage Number One

22 Saddle Sense

33 discipline reports Egypt’s Nayel

Nassar and Lordan Win Qualifier at hITS Thermal

36 gaitpost approved product review Dry Guy Blanket revival

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ON THE COVER: Brenda Cook and Joey navigating the water at Avalon Equestrian Center on Vancouver Island. Photo by Outer Limits Digital Photography.

12 39 42 44 45 45 46 47 47

Headline news Sales catalogue equestrian properties BciHJa news ontario equestrian federation news Horse trials Bc news noticeboard advertisers’ index competition calendar

“I was in utter shock to come out winning such a huge class with top competitors…Anton is a miracle,” said Belinda Trussell of her seasoned partner, who only returned to top level competition shortly before the 2015 Pan Am Games.

35. 2016 Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag March 4See page

SuSAN j. STickle

in tHiS iSSue

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Heads Up!

Volume 16 Issue 3

CANADA’S GREATEST LITTLE HORSE MAG

Publisher Gaitpost Publications Inc. 258 – 224th Street Langley, BC V2Z 2V6 Editor Eleanor Klawer · eleanor@gaitpost.com Sales Andrea Beaulieu · andrea@gaitpost.com Photo Ad Sales PhotoAds@gaitpost.com

Coming soon in future editions of Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

Design & Production Post Publishers Ltd. · production@gaitpost.com Circulation Liam Klawer · circulation@gaitpost.com Accounting Eleanor Klawer · eleanor@gaitpost.com Lori Boughton

april 2016 Breeding Special!

The Stallion Feature continues, with more information about breeding and foaling.

Contributing Writers Eleanor Klawer · editorial@gaitpost.com Sue Ferguson · Nick Holmes-Smith · Jochen Schleese Lesley McGill · Isauro Flores · Lindsay Adams · Danny Kroetch

Editorial Submissions editorial@gaitpost.com

may 2016

Phone: 604-534-9665 Toll-Free: 1-855-534-9665 www.gaitpost.com

The Real Estate Feature!

Ask Andrea@gaitpost.com for more information.

The Mane Event Issue Thousands of copies distributed!

Printed in Canada · Please Recycle!

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Note early deadline! April 1st.

june 2016 The Farm & Field Feature 6

March 2016

Disclaimer: Reproduction, printed or electronic, in whole or part of any material contained in this publication, without prior written permission of The Publisher is strictly prohibited. The information and services listed are intended to facilitate accessibility to the professionals, products and services of the horse industry. The GaitPost has been compiled with the greatest of care, however, the Publisher does not assume responsibility for errors, omissions or subsequent changes. Further, the Publisher does not imply endorsement of opinions, images or services, whether solicited or unsolicited. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by the Publisher, editor or contributors. Submissions: All photographs and submissions will be handled carefully. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. We reserve the right to edit or refuse any material not deemed appropriate. Submission does not guarantee publication.

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TIDBITS

by Eleanor Klawer

lauren baker/phelps media group

Naima winning Freestyle Gold at the NAJYR Championships 2015.

A

s show season approaches, (or begins if you are fortunate enough to be in the south!), we have been getting wonderful news submitted to the Gaitpost, of new matches and new achievements, and we love hearing everyone’s news.

Hearing the tales of dreams achieved and goals reached is inspiring for everyone, and we hope everyone, at all levels of competition, will keep us all informed through the Gaitpost.

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March 2016

Sancerre Spirit One such story received is that one of the most successful Junior/Young Riders in Canada in dressage, Naima Moreira-Laliberté, has just imported an exciting new mount with whom she hopes to rise to the highest levels of the sport. Moreira-Laliberté has won medals at the last four North American Junior/Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC) on a variety of horses, most recently earning the Gold Medal in the

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nina woywitka

s. jacobs Yanina Woywitka and Bakari receiving their Turnout award.

Ebony, a seven year-old Friesian mare owned by Kelowna’s Shawneen Jacobs.

2015 YR Freestyle as well as the 2015 YR Individual Bronze. The 19 year-old trains with Albrecht Heidemann and Janine Little, dividing her time between Quebec and Florida. After an extensive search for just the right mount to accompany Moreira-Laliberté to the next level, Janine Little — a successful FEI rider and coach who was short listed to the Canadian team in 2011 — scouted the 9 year-old black stallion Sancerre on a video from Europe. Ironically, Sancerre (Sir Donnerhall x Rubinstein) was the Grand Prix prospect of fellow Canadian rider Dana Hewett — a World Cup rider who operates a training and sales facility in Ede, the Netherlands. “I immediately liked the elegance and fluidity Sancerre possesses, and thought he would be an excellent match for Naima, as she is a sensitive rider with good feel,” Little explains. After contacting Hewett, the two flew to Holland to try the horse. Moreira-Laliberté is very excited for the upcoming season and is looking forward to making her debut with Sancerre at the events at Global Dressage Festival once he is released from stallion quarantine.

Highscore Spirit Janine Little also had some great news herself — she started the Florida season well for Canadians at the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festiwww.gaitpost.com

val, winning the first week’s The Horse of Course High Score Award. Little and Ebony, a seven yearold Friesian mare owned by Kelowna’s Shawneen Jacobs, earned the highest score of the entire week of competition, 75.370%. Despite the torrential rains and a tornado warning during the pair’s First Level performance, they achieved the competition’s highest national score.

“I genuinely appreciate having clients who are dedicated to developing their horses to their potential. It truly takes a village to build a Dressage horse,” Janine acknowledges. Beyond supportive owners, the horses’ well-being and successes are made possible thanks to professional groom and working student, Larisa Anderson.

Young Rider Spirit Doug Woywitka of Rideauwood farms in Ontario wrote to let us know of his daughter’s achievements in Florida — congratulations to Yanina for winning the FEI Test of Choice class in the National Competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington! Yanina was riding Bakari, an 11 year old Hannoverian gelding, and scored a very impressive 68.29% in the Prix St Georges class. The pair will continue to train and show in Wellington for the season.

In addition to winning their Class, Yanina and Bakari were selected as “Best Turned Out Combination” of all horses ridden, no small feat in itself! Congratulations, Yanina!

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

Tidbits continued on page 10 March 2016

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Tidbits continued from page 9 Community Spirit We also received mail from the Southern Alberta Equine Centre Society, which is organizing a fundraiser for their facility improvements. Recently, they had an outbreak of Influenza and Strep Equi (Strangles), both of which are not uncommon in large scale equestrian facilities, and noticed that there are areas in which they can improve their general biosecurity and quarantine procedures in order to better protect animals on-site and also the public traffic coming in to use the facility.

These changes should help to limit exposure of horses on-site to horses hauling in to use the facility, and vice versa. They would like to raise $2,500 to make these improvements, which would serve to pay for the materials needed. It would be in the best interest of all horsemen in the area that use the facility to chip in to help with this project — everyone needs to be aware of biosecurity these days!

Therapeutic Spirit Hope Haven Therapeutic Riding and Family Camp Inc. in Markdale, ON is also raising money on FundRazr for their 142-acre CanTRAaccredited Therapeutic Riding Centre. Below is a link to their campaign video which shows the incredible value of the work done by Hope Haven, and features Fred, their beautiful Norwegian Fjord Horse therapist. https://fundrazr.com/ campaigns/0yqc8/ Please consider helping this accredited riding centre to achieve its goals.

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Spirit of The George The Gaitpost also had several inquiries regarding a previous mention of a new book by George Morris, and finally we found the relevant information to go with it! In George Morris’s own words—in UNRELENTING The Real Story: Horses, Bright Lights, and My Pursuit of Excellence, feel the love, (and possibly the misogyny), put up your feet, and order your copy from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Spirit of the Horse Garden If Young Riders’ aspirations, Therapeutic centres’ achievements, and the ever-entertaining George Morris don’t embody the Spirit of the Horse, I don’t know what else could, except perhaps the drive and passion that Joy Richardson has brought to the horse world for decades. Joy was the original force behind the lovely Spirit of the Horse Garden in Campbell Valley Park, a quiet space in the park for people to commemorate their horses that have passed. The Garden is in need of a little love and attention, and Joe Hargitt, Executive Director of the Pacific Parklands Foundation, along with Joy, have asked for some help spreading the word. They wish to upgrade the greenspace around the memorial to include lower-maintenance, more shade-providing shrubbery and trees. They would also dearly love for a sponsor to step up to take care of the facility every month, either with the costs, or the labour, of keeping the memorial trimmed and tidy, which shouldn’t be an onerous task for anyone. This seems to us here at the Gaitpost as the perfect opportunity for a group or company to help out a worthy cause. Another way to support the Garden is to buy plaques in the Garden, giving you a timeless reminder of the pleasure your horse gave you.

Please call Joe Hargitt at 604-451-6168 for more information regarding the Spirit of the Horse Garden. The Pacific Parklands Foundation is a small group with a big task, and any help would be greatly appreciated. This is something our community can do, I am sure! Watch for advertisements and notices in upcoming Gaitpost issues regarding the Spirit of the Horse Gardens.

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headlinenews Bit by Bit Canada’s Eric Lamaze Welcomes Chacco Kid Eric Lamaze has acquired Chacco Kid, a ten-yearold chestnut Oldenburg gelding (Chacco Blue x Come On).

The 2008 Canadian Olympic Champion has formed a group of owners, known as the Chacco Kid Group, to secure the horse for Canada. Along with Lamaze, the owners include Rick and Sara Mershad, Ludi and Carol Sollak, and Andy and Carlene Ziegler.

“It is a horse that Simon Delestre told me about at the Geneva horse show in December,” said Lamaze.

“His father, Marcel, has been training the Colombian team, and they felt it was an interesting horse and decided to purchase it. The horse flew from Colombia to quarantine in Miami, and then came to me with the idea to get it legged up, either for Simon to ride or to be sold. The horse really impressed me, and I put together a group to buy him.”

The Chacco Kid Group is comprised of Lamaze’s long-time supporters, Andy and Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms, where Lamaze is based year-round. Ludi

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and Carol Sollak have had horses with Lamaze over the years, and were looking for a new opportunity after recently selling Brooklyn Blues to young Canadian rider Mackenzie Edwards. Rick and Sara Mershad are new owners for Lamaze. Their daughter, Gabriela, began training with Lamaze last fall, sparking an interest in joining the Chacco Kid Group.

“I think Chacco Kid is a very special horse and incredibly talented,” said Lamaze, who won individual gold and team silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. “He’s had experience up to the 1.50m level in Colombia and had some good wins.

He does not have 1.60m experience yet, but I think he has everything in him to be an incredible horse. I think he’s going to go all the way and do big things.”

Chacco Kid joins a strong line-up of horses in Lamaze’s stable. In addition to his 2015 Pan American Games team gold medal mount, Coco Bongo, Lamaze is also competing at the top level with Check Picobello Z, Fine Lady 5, Houston, Powerplay, and Rosana du Park, all owned by Artisan Farms in partnership with Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.

Lamaze is currently competing at the 12-week

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Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, running through to April 3. In the first four weeks of competition, Lamaze has already scored three consecutive victories in the weekly $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup and won the $216,000 CSI4* Ariat Grand Prix.

David Marcus Claims the First ShowChic Turnout Award of 2016 Before David Marcus officially entered the show ring for the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, he began his show season by winning an award — the ShowChic Best Turnout Award.

Throughout the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, ShowChic is partnering with companies such as Omega Alpha, Kastel, and Cavallo at the CDI Jogs to provide various prizes for the handlers and horses who embody ShowChic’s passion for equestrian style and function.

According to ShowChic founder Michele Hundt, ShowChic searches for riders who dress for success by incorporating fashion, flair, coordination, and uniqueness into their look. During the CDI Jog on January 13, David Marcus and his own long time partner, Chevri’s Capital, were worthy recipients of the prize. They entered the jog in smart style, and earned the beloved award as they passed inspection in flying colours.

The Canadian Dressage professional Marcus was happy to win the ShowChic Turnout Award and its prize, which included a bag of products from this week’s Jog prize Presenter, Omega Alpha. Omega Alpha, also Canadian-based, produces natural formulas to enhance equine health and performance.

Like ShowChic, Marcus believes that starting out the Wellington winter show season on the right foot is crucial — right down to excellent presentation in the first CDI Jog. “There are two reasons why I think presentation is important,” Marcus said. “Firstly, we want to show that we are professionals. Secondly, we want to show respect to the judges and everyone who shows up to support our efforts.” These sentiments showed loud and clear as far as ShowChic was concerned, and the fashionable equestrian boutique awarded Marcus for the efforts he put into his jog appearance. www.gaitpost.com

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VANCOUVERiSlandREPORT by Sue Ferguson,Contributing Photojournalist

Derby-Cross and F

Coming to Vancouv

T

along the way. Who didn’t love doing that?!!

As the conversation gained momentum, Peter suggested we should create a “new” style of sport event. “Something more gentle… a softer style of cross country jumping” — something that would appeal to the hunters as well as the jumpers and be a completely different than the events held here on the island.

“It will be similar to a derby, but with stadium style jumps. It would be the first of its’ kind on the island.”

The concept is for riders to enjoy the beauty

All PhoToS: Sue FeRGuSoN/ouTeR limiTS DiGiTAl PhoToGRAPhy

wo exciting new sport events are evolving here on the Island which should spark the interest of Hunters, Jumpers and Eventers alike.

Island Derby-Cross and Field Hunters is the brainchild of internationally known Course Designer, Peter Holmes, of Cowichan Bay, BC. The idea came to life when Peter and a group of friends were standing around ringside at one of the Fall SSITS shows. While watching the jumpers in the grass ring, a few of us started to reminisce about cantering long distances through fields and trails and jumping easy fences

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Field Hunter Events

ver Island for 2016 of (safely) cantering through open property while going over many types of obstacles. The obstacles would be “soft” (ie. show jumps) and event style jumps would not be part of the course (although they may be used in the course for other reasons).

The courses will be designed so that they are not so demanding they will wear out a horse and rider. Riders will have the opportunity to ride at least twice a day. Overall, speeds will be slower, jumping will be gentler, and it is intended to be more about the enjoyment of open riding over

a distance in a safe environment. There will be something for everyone.

The courses will be set up in the south field at Avalon and there will be two tracks. The short track will be 600 – 1500 meters for the beginners with fences up to .7m. The long track would be up to 2 kilometers. Some features on the eventing field may be used, (ie/going through the water obstacle feature, but there would not be any water in it). A portion of the course may wind through the forest trails.

Derby-Cross continued on page 16

The beautiful fields of Avalon will be the site of the new derby-Cross and Field hunter Trials on vancouver island. www.gaitpost.com

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Everyone and every horse should experience the open field!

The beautiful rolling hills of Avalon Equestrian Centre.

Derby-Cross continued from page 15 Jeff Winship, owner of Avalon Equestrian Center (Duncan, BC) has offered to host the event. The first show is projected to be held at the end of June or early July. Dates will be announced.

Avalon will be available for coaches to bring groups of students and for clinics prior to the event. Anyone who is interested in booking can email Avalon at jwinship@telus.net. The fields should be open and useable (weather permitting)

by March of 2016.

Most riders on the island are familiar with Avalon’s facilities. There is ample room for trailers, and some camping on-site. Overflow stabling is generally arranged at other nearby barns or the fairgrounds. There is a 200 x 300 sand ring which will be available to use for a warm-up ring.

So far, there is nothing like this on the island.

It will be somewhat reminiscent of the hunt field with softer and more natural fences. Hunter Derbies have given new life to the show world over the past 10 years in other areas of Canada and the US. This will just add one more component to fun events that are held on the island for anyone who is involved in any of the jumping disciplines.

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It will be especially appealing to riders who have always longed to ride cross country, but found Eventing a bit daunting. Also, it will be great for riders who want to do something new and fresh with their horses outside of the Hunter/Jumper ring.

More information about the Derby-Cross and Field Hunter events will be announced in 2016. If you have general questions you can email peterdmholmes@hotmail.com In the meanwhile, we can look forward to more exciting news over the upcoming months.

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Eventing, Revamped Mustang Powder Style Submitted by Nick Holmes-Smith

M

ustang Powder (Chase Creek) is running Back to Back horse trials over the long weekend in May 20th – 23rd. It is basically two complete horse trials run over 4 days. We did this format back in the ’90s and have revived it again as it is a great concept. Let’s face it — horse trials, while wonderful, are also terribly un-userfriendly. You drive big distances and pay big entry fees and basically get one kick-at-the-cat. One mistake in cross country or show jumping and you are out of the ribbons. Unlike Show Jumping shows, you don’t have another class later in the day or tomorrow, in which to redeem yourself.

It is a soul-destroying sport, and if it wasn’t so much fun, nobody would do it!

The trip over the Coquihalla or Rogers Pass is a bit of a journey. At Mustang Powder Horse trials, you get a lot more action and fun as a reward for doing this trip. Show Jumping shows

have gone this way many years ago — the 2 or 3 day jumper show is a thing of the past. Competitors ‘settle in’ at Thunderbird or Spruce Meadows and spend a week or two. The strenuousness of Eventing precludes us from doing week-long competitions, but we can certainly do two horse trials in succession. Attaining two ‘qualifying’ events is another benefit of attending the Back to Back event as we are continually trying to get a successful event record to upgrade to higher levels. A back to back event allows us to get two qualifying score in one long weekend.

Day one is Dressage and Show Jumping.

Day two is Cross-Country — first event completed, awards are presented. On the evening of day two the Cross-Country courses will be totally changed and re-flagged (actually not totally changed – there may be a couple fences that remain the same). Day three is Dressage with a new test, and Show Jumping with a different course from the first event. The final day is Cross-Country, early in the day so that competitors can leave and make it home that night. One might argue that two events in succession is too much pounding on the horses. This is wrong.

High speeds and long distances are what break horses down. The Preliminary horses will have a reduced cross country speed in the first event — 475 meters per minute. In the second event their cross-country will be at 520 mpm. The distances for both events will be on the short side.

For a properly prepared horse the ‘four days at Mustang’ will not be overly strenuous. We advise people NOT to upgrade at this competition, since Chase Creek courses are on the challenging side. Also, it is not our intention to have horses enter one level at the first event and upgrade at the second.

Mustang Powder continued on page 19

www.gaitpost.com

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Mustang Powder continued from page 17

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Frequently asked questions: 1. Can I just enter one event? No. 2. If I get a qualifying score on both events, will this count as two qualifying scores? Yes. 3. Is the Coquihalla really a ‘Highway thru Hell’?

No, that TV show is stupid. Except for the last half hour, the drive to this event is on 4-lane freeway from Vancouver and Seattle.

4. Are the Cross-Country courses as tough as we hear? The courses are designed to look really tough when walked, but not cause significant problem.

We hope you come to Mustang Powder Horse trials — we are offering Preliminary down to Entry divisions.

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INDUSTRYnews Business Matters

Triple Winner Belinda Trussell Recognized with Rider Award

B

elinda Trussell was on fire when she claimed top scores in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle aboard Anton, and again in the Intermediaire II division on Tattoo at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI-W 3*. The Canadian Dressage athlete is attempting to earn scores to propel her toward representing her country at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this summer. With results like the ones she and her family-owned horses just chalked up, she is one step closer to making her dreams come true.

Three wins — most notably two major wins in the Grand Prix — in just one weekend stood out to Custom Saddlery, the Official Saddle of the U.S. Dressage Team. The company awarded Trussell with the Custom Saddlery MVR (Most Valuable Rider) Award, which is given through-

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out the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to riders who demonstrate winning performances or contribute to the overall quality of the show series in some other way.

Trussell and Anton (Antaeus x Shirley, Malit), a 16-year-old Sachsen gelding owned by Trussell’s mother Robyn Eames and her husband Mark Trussell, jump-started the wins by earning the blue ribbon nod from the judges in the FEI Grand Prix with a 72.860 percent in the most recent CDI at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. She and Anton’s Friday night Grand Prix Freestyle set to new choreography and music confirmed that Trussell was a woman with a mission when she notched another blue ribbon win with a 75.025 percent. She and her own Tattoo (Traureg x Renaissance, Ramiero’s Son), a 13-year-

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old Westphalian gelding, also took the top score in the Intermediare II division. It was Tattoo’s first Intermediaire II test as well as the first time he had transitioned from piaffe to passage in the ring.

As a winner of Custom Saddlery’s Most Valuable Rider Award, Trussell received a ribbon, a beautiful Custom Saddlery saddle pad, a cloth bag, and an embroidered towel from the Aiken, South-Carolina, based company— the maker of the Official Saddle of the U.S. Dressage Team through the 2016 Olympics and a sponsor the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 12-week series.

ture and Humidity Monitor. Horseware also won the TSM Excellence in Social Media award at the BETA Ball.

hoRSEWARE TRiumphS AT BETA WiTh FouR AWARdS Horseware, the global leader in innovative equestrian, rider and pet products, is delighted to announce their success at BETA International in Birmingham this month, winning three innovation awards and the TSM Excellence in Social Media Award.

Horseware was the winner of the Equestrian Clothing Category with their AA Platinum Motion Lite Jacket, and highly commended in the General Category with their Horse Pal Tempera-

HORSE COUNCIL BC NEWS Congratulations to the 2015 hCBC Award Recipients! horse council bc’s annual awards serve to honour outstanding achievement within bc’s equestrian community.

These awards acknowledge those who have stood out from the crowd over the past year and who have made a positive impact on the community as a whole. each award recipient was nominated by two or more other horse council bc members for an award. hcbc is reaching out to the various equestrian communities throughout bc so that we are able to present each award at a recipient’s club, event, competition, or barn party of their choice, surrounded by their friends and the people that support them.

Congratulations to the worthy recipients of the horse Council BC’s 2015 Awards!

2015 lifetime Achievement Award – borge olsen 2015 coach of the year – jessie blackmon 2015 horse industry Professional of the year – Noel Asmar of Asmar equestrian 2015 junior Athlete of the year – Natalie Alves 2015 horse of the year – competitive – Wallabee owned by jolene benham 2015 horse of the year – Non-competitive – Norseman owned by esmee ingham Thank you also to all the nominators for letting us know about the amazing people in our horse industry! www.gaitpost.com

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Saddle Sense Gaitpost’s Annual Saddle Feature

Saddle fitting to the horse and rider is an immensely personal and unique experience — no two pairs are the same! We asked some of the experts for some input regarding the process, or to discuss items of importance to them as they fit their saddles — their methods can be as unique and different as their clients are, and giving our readers/ riders broader knowledge can only help in determining what the right selection for them and their horses is.

the 9 Points of Saddle Fit

by Jochen Schleese

As we head into spring, it’s time to put our thoughts into ensuring that all of our tack and equipment will work for the upcoming training months, and for the shows we intend to compete in. Especially if your horse has been ‘laid off ’ for the winter months, you will need to ensure that the saddle is fitted properly to allow him comfort and freedom to muscle up again when you begin training in earnest. While it can take four weeks for a muscle to build up with consistent training, it takes only one week for the muscle to lose its original shape (which is negative development).

Thus, even if you have given your horse just a week off from training, you will find that your saddle may not fit the way it did and the way it should, so you should have a diagnostic evaluation done and the saddle adjusted by a certified fitter before you begin training again.

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A quick diagnostic can be done using our 9 points of saddle fit evaluation.

1. SAddLE BALANCE A saddle too high in the pommel and too low in the cantle causes pressure on the horse’s back.

It will be very difficult for your horse to engage his back because too much of your weight is on his last 2 floating ribs.

If too low in the front, it will pinch into the horse’s shoulder — very restrictive for your horse.

Your saddle is too high in the back so your leg goes forward and you fall into a chair seat to balance. The pommel and cantle should be level.

2. WiThER CLEARANCE The saddle should have 2-3 fingers clearance on the top and around the side of the withers to accommodate the shoulder rotation upwards and backwards during movement.

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A horse whose saddle pinches his withers may be reluctant to go forward. More extreme signs of insufficient wither clearance are patches of white hairs or sores on the top or on the sides of the withers.

3. ChANNEL/GuLLET WidTh A channel or gullet that is too narrow or too wide can cause permanent damage to your horse’s back. The width of the spine determines how wide his saddle’s gullet must be, which should be the same throughout the entire length.

4. FuLL pANEL CoNTACT The panels should make even contact with your horse’s back all the way down to distribute the rider’s weight evenly. Ensure that it doesn’t bridge or rock.

5. BiLLET ALiGNmENT Billets should hang perpendicular to the ground in the girth area. Too far back and gravity will pull the billets (and the saddle) forward into the girth area. The girth always finds its position at the narrowest point of the rib cage.

Billets hanging too far forward into your horse’s elbow area may make him sore in the elbows. Gravity will drag them (with the girth and saddle) back into the girth area, resulting in too much pressure on the panels at the rear.

6. SAddLE STRAiGhTNESS The center of the saddle should be in alignment with your horse’s spine. Most horses have a left shoulder that is larger and more developed than the right. The larger shoulder kicks the saddle over to the other side during motion.

A rider who sits unevenly can compress the stuffing more on one side of the saddle, dragging it over to that side.

7. SAddLE LENGTh The length of the saddle support area determines the panel length. The saddle must sit behind the shoulder. If too long, it can get driven forward into the shoulder. The saddle should not extend past the 18th thoracic vertebra.

8. TREE ANGLE The angle of the tree (at the tree points for the gullet plate) must match the angle of the horse’s shoulder. During movement the shoulder rotates upward and backwards. The angle of www.gaitpost.com

This thermographic image shows a saddle with panels that bridge front to back, resulting in greater pressure at the pommel and cantle areas.

the piping on the saddle should match the angle of your horse’s shoulder.

9. TREE WidTh The tree width must be wide enough for the horse’s shoulders to move freely.

If too wide, the entire saddle may rock or slip from side to side when ridden, or the back of the saddle may twist to one side.

Tree width and tree angle need to be adjusted

together.

The angle of this saddle is the same as the shoulder angle of the horse.

Changing the flocking from the vertical panels won’t solve the problem — the gullet plate needs adjustment. Some self-adjustable gullet plates will accommodate angle adjustment, but won’t allow width adjustment (over the wither area).

Hopefully these basic tips will help you get ready for a successful show season while ensuring your horse has the freedom to perform at its potential! Happy Riding! by jochen Schleese, cmS, cSFT, cSe. ©2016 Saddlefit 4 life.

All Rights Reserved

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Saddle Fitting in the Spr ing Unidentified Back Bumps and Rubs! by Lesley McGill

There are a few things that are happening with your horses this time of the year that can affect your saddle fit or ride. Many mares are having their first heat of the season and this can cause them a lot of pain and discomfort while under saddle. All the horses are preparing to blow their winter coats - this is a three stage process where first the coat dies, then it starts to shed, then a new coat starts to grow in. I believe that this process or the change in season in general is quite taxing on your horse and his health and physical well-being. It is quite common for them to look a little poorly, loose some top line, loose some condition, and you may even see some changes in temperament during this time.

There are many questions from people describing rubs on their horses’ backs at the rear of the saddle - these are usually caused by the edging on a saddle pad. Since the horses’ coats have died, they are very brittle and will rub off quite easily. If the horse goes bald there or is sore, then I suggest you get your saddle checked. Often adding a half pad will solve the problem till the horse is done changing coats.

It is also very common this time of year for horses to develop some odd bumps under the saddle area. There are many explanations for what actually causes them. Here are some of 24

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these theories: Ingrown hairs, the remnants of worm larvae in the horse’s body being expelled through the skin after worming, dirt in pores, hardened bug bites, pressure sores caused by the saddle, friction bumps caused by the saddle, irritated skin from clipping under the saddle, blocked sweat glands, protein/collagen bumps, nodular collagen granulomas, nodular necrobiosis eosinphilic granuloma, and, in most cases, they are a form of allergic reaction, meaning the immune system gets stimulated on a foreign body, and builds up tissue or fluid around it.

Why, you ask, are they consistently under the saddle area? This is because this area of the horse has large open pores and sweat glands. We then place a saddle pad and saddle on top of dirt, sweat, oils, and hair and we create friction and pressure, grinding this into these pores. Also a lot of heat is created in this area and when there is heat, there is an increase in blood flow. The result is the unappealing list above.

The next question is what do we do about them? I feel if you have a cluster of these bumps directly under the saddle area, then you have a saddle fitting issue. I see these happen the most when there is extra friction when the saddle has dropped a bit in the pommel and the rear panels of the saddle have less contact on the horse’s back. When the horse’s shoulders move back and forth it causes the rear of the saddle to “fishtail” on the horse’s back. This action causes a lot of friction and can grind the hair follicles or dirt into the skin’s pores. Rarely are they sore to the touch; they start off soft and get more firm over time. I have actually seen these clusters go away in days after we fixed the fit of the saddle. One single bump is probably not a saddle fitting issue; however when they are big enough to get the

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hair rubbed off them, it is worth getting them checked. Single bumps usually run their course and the body will clean it up and it will go away.

Your vet may offer to inject them which can work in some cases.

I think they come up more at this time of year because our horses are dirtier, bathed less often, have hair growing/changing/brittle and dying, have more oil in their coats, have less topline, and are on a higher protein diet. I cannot recommend strongly enough that when you clip your horse you leave the coat on under your saddle’s weight bearing area. Often just adding a sheepskin half pad under your saddle, ideally having

the sheepskin directly on their backs, will solve the problem quickly, and you can take it out when the horse is done changing its coat. Brush well under the saddle and girth area, and monitor the bumps when they appear. If you are concerned at all, please contact your saddle fitter.!

The Saddle Doctor, lesley mcGill, is the only qualified international independent Saddle Fitter by the Society of master Saddlers in the uk, whereas most fitters are trained by individual saddle brands. She also attends The horses inside out annual conference held in the uk on horses’ backs, therapies, movements and conformation, as well as The Saddle Research Trust 2nd annual conference on horses, Saddles and Riders. She makes it a priority to stay well ahead on all aspects in regards to Saddle Fitting.

The Saddle Fitting Process

by Lindsay Adams

An ill-fitting saddle can have devastating effects for the horse. Many horses will give you subtle signs that they are uncomfortable or in pain, others will bite, kick, buck and be downright dangerous. We have to pay attention to what they are trying to tell us and not accuse them of just being badly behaved. Saddles are like shoes, you wouldn’t run a marathon in shoes that don’t fit so why would you expect your horse to perform in a poorly fitting saddle?

The saddle fitting process is a lengthy one with many steps! The horse’s conformation is a big factor in saddle fitting and should be examined in detail. The back, shoulders, chest, spine and girth should be checked for heat, swelling and pain. The horse should also be checked for any lameness by watching them move in straight lines and circles.

Several templates are then made to make a model of the back. These show discrepancies in the muscular structure of the back and shoulders. The templates are then fitted to the unwww.gaitpost.com

derside of the saddle showing exactly where the saddle is or is not fitting.

The saddle is then placed on the horse, and wither clearance, shoulder pressure, angle of the points of the tree, bridging, gullet width, levelness all should be examined. The saddle’s centre of gravity should closely match the horse’s. If the centres of gravity don’t match, the rider often feels in front or behind the horse.

Continuing with rider up, the saddle is checked for wither clearance, bouncing, rocking and/or slipping. After the horse is warmed up, the saddle is then removed and Thermal Images of the horse’s back and panels of the saddle are taken. This image allows the contact between the panels and the horses back to be evaluated.

If the saddle is a good fit then adjustments can be done to make it better. If it’s not a decent fit then a different saddle needs to be found. This can be a difficult undertaking but the saddle fitter will help you find a saddle that will keep your horse happy and pain free.

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For the Horse’s Sake

Correct saddle fit is not a trivial undertaking. It requires a trained eye with experience to get the perfect fit for both horse and rider. However, there are a few components of the process that we should all apply for the horse’s sake.

Here are 3 points that will help your horse. by Isauro A. Flores CoRRECT poSiTioNiNG oF ThE SAddLE The vast majority of us are used to placing the saddle too far forward with the misconception that this puts us over the centre of gravity of the horse. The saddle needs to be positioned so that the tips of the tree head are BEHIND the shoulder blades. Regardless of what saddle you have and whether the saddle fits or not, just this one thing will make your horse more comfortable.

ThE ANGLES oF ThE TREE NEEd To SiT pARALLEL To ThE ANGLES oF ThE BACK WhERE ThE SAddLE SiTS Regardless of the type of tree (wood, carbon fibre, plastic) if the angles are not in line with the horse’s back, the horse will experience discomfort.

The most common situation is the angles of the tree being too steep since this gives wither clearance and most people think that if you have ample wither clearance your saddle fits. A too narrow tree will always give huge wither clearance.

CoNSiSTENT CoNTACT oF pANELS WiTh ThE BACK oF ThE hoRSE Run your hand face up along the entire length of the panels while the saddle is on your horse with no saddle pad. You should feel steady even contact all the way from the front to the back of the saddle.

Any tight spots or gaps will cause pressure on your horse’s back. If your saddle has foam panels you can try to make this better with corrective saddle pads. If your saddle is wool flocked, you will need to get a good saddle fitter to make the adjustment for the optimum fit.

I trust these three points (out of 12 main ones) assist you in making your horse’s back more comfortable. Let us have properly fitted saddles for the horse’s sake .

Article submitted by isauro A. Flores, b.Sc., master Saddler’s Association certified Saddle Fitter, 604.841.7407, www.saddles. com isauro.county@gmail.com.

All about Shoulder Fr eedom

by Danny Kroetch

It amazes me in this day and age of advanced technology that 99% of the saddles being manufactured cannot be fitted to horses! When a saddle doesn’t fit properly, it interferes with 26

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muscles and bones causing pain and resistance!

The horse is just expected to tolerate this. This is unacceptable!

So how do we create true shoulder and back

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freedom? Get out of their way!!!

We hear a lot today about “shoulder relief ” or “shoulder freedom” but to accomplish this we need to be able to stay out of its way. When a horse is moving, the scapula/shoulder needs to be able to easily rotate under the saddle panel/ tree point. The bigger or longer stride a horse has, the farther back the rotation; it moves back 5”-6” or more every stride. In motion, the scapula fills the wither pocket so there needs to be no pressure in this area. The only way to create this relief is by having the contact of the tree point 9” below the top of the wither. The reason this is important is that the top part of the trapezius muscle has a horizontal grain and therefore is not a weight bearing muscle. When saddles with these shorter types of tree points are used, the tree and panels are pulled into the wither muscle on both sides when girthed. This pulls this muscle apart and restricts its ability to move and causes pain and discomfort to the horse.

The saddle should bear weight with the tree points 9" down, bringing it below the shoulder’s rotation and making contact with the vertical muscle of the thoracic serratus which is a working weight bearing muscle. Even if a saddle has a cut away panel, it still is bearing wrong pressure if the tree points are short, and that being said,

the cut away panel must sit on the upper part of the tree point not below the shoulder blade as this has no effect or relief to the shoulder.

It’s of the utmost importance for the horse’s comfort, and therefore performance, to have sufficient weight bearing surface in the panels of your saddle. Most saddles with a cut back panel sacrifice this by shrinking their panels so where contact is needed most, these panels are lacking.

We are seeing a similar problem with girths, claiming to create shoulder freedom. The girthing system is very important for the forward motion of our horse’s shoulder. The thoracic serratus muscle which grows in motion is connected to the bottom of the scapula and runs down and connects to the lower rib cavity. If the billeting system of your saddle is on top of this muscle we once again have restriction, causing a loss in movement and resistance.

To conclude, the only way to truly create a free shoulder is in the tree points, not in the panel or girthing system!

Danny kroetch, owner of Dk Saddlery, is a world-renowned master saddle fitter and designer based in calgary, Ab. in the past 20 years, Danny has fit over 60,000 adjustable saddles in all disciplines around the world. his deep understanding of equine biomechanics enables him to fit even the most difficult horse, thus he is one of the only saddle fitters published in The Veterinarian journal.

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NSC BEEBA dRESSAGE SAddLE. After 5 years in the designing process, we got it right! The beeba concept was really trying to find a tree that would function on the majority of horses and be comfortable and supportive to the active dressage rider. considered an off the shelf saddle, there is no waiting to get in your new saddle! The wood and steel spring tree is fully adjustable, made in top english buffalo leather, and pure wool flocking. Two options of thigh blocks, 4 seat sizes and three panel options to fit a wide range of horses. Price $4,495 can. Try one today and see what you are missing! www.thesaddledoctor.ca

ouTSTANdiNG FEATuRES oF ThE dK SAddLES Dk Saddles are 100% adjustable with a flexible tree that moves well with your horse. They have air-flocked panels that move/massage your horse’s muscles and have the ability to fit horses’ asymmetries. Dk Saddles provide total shoulder freedom, created from long tree points and correct girthing system. The extra wide gullet avoids interference with dorsal ligament, especially in lateral work, and the totally balanced seat helps correct rider position with extreme comfort. We have an amazing selection of styles, colours and ideas! The sky’s the limit! www.dksaddlery.com

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Pan American Silver medalist Crystal Kroetch on Lymrix riding in the Bond 11

The tree and panel system of all our saddles have been designed through research that DK did at veterinarian universities, studying the biomechanics of the shoulder and back and how it interacts with the saddle. The saddles allow maximum shoulder freedom which creates a more active hind leg and supple back, thus maintaining a very happy equine athlete and willing partner.

DK offers dressage riders the choice of an external or internal thigh block in a mono flap design. These saddles are 100% adjustable. They improve horse movement and performance and give comfort and support to the rider. Brittany Fraser has been riding in the DK saddles for the past 14 years and they have helped her to win many gold medals along the way!

Brittany Fraser on All In, silver medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games riding in The Freedom

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FEINEWS

liz gregg/fei

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe (GER), team silver medalist at the London 2012 Olympic Games, is the new world Dressage number one with Desperados FRH, pictured here with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

KRISTINA BRÖRING-SPREHE AND DESPERADOS FRH NEW WORLD DRESSAGE NUMBER ONE

G

ermany’s Kristina Bröring-Sprehe (GER) and Desperados FRH, team silver medalists at the London 2012 Olympic Games, have taken over the world Dressage number one slot, relegating British duo Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.

Bröring-Sprehe, who also secured team gold and individual bronze at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 with Desperados FRH, represented Dressage athletes around the world last November when International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach visited the FEI’s Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI), the Olympic capital.

“Equestrian is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete against each other for medals in all the disciplines,” she said at the time. “It’s only when you get a bit older that you realise just how special this is, and it’s one of the many reasons why equestrian sport is so popular www.gaitpost.com

with women of all ages.”

Bröring-Sprehe started riding aged three, after being surrounded by horses from an early age. Her family owns and operates Gestut Sprehe Stud near Löningen in Germany’s Lower Saxony region. Her husband Christian Bröring had to cycle to London to watch her compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games, after promising he would travel there by bike if she qualified. The trip took him six days.

In Memoriam: Spruce Meadows founder, Ron Southern (CAN), 1930-2016 Ron Southern, founder and Co-Chairman of Spruce Meadows, and iconic Alberta entrepreneur and businessman passed away at his home.

He was 85.

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FEI News continued from page 31 Ron Southern and his wife Margaret (Marg) purchased Copithorne Ranch south of Calgary with the vision of establishing a world-class equestrian facility. Spruce Meadows was built for their two daughters, Nancy and Linda, who had long been involved in the sport. The Southerns opened the doors to Spruce Meadows in 1975 and hosted the first tournament the following year. Over the last 40 years, as a result of the leadership and vision of the Southern family, Spruce Meadows has become an iconic sports venue that is today recognised as one of the world’s leading venue for international and national Jumping competitions, hosting 300 events annually.

An astute businessman, Ron Southern started the Alberta Trailer Company in 1947 with his father with only 15 trailers. It eventually became the ATCO Group, a Calgary-based conglomerate with interests ranging from construction trailers to pipelines to natural gas distribution. ATCO now has operations in more than 100 countries, 8,000 employees and $19 billion in assets. Ron

Southern served as the company’s president for 48 years.

“It is with great sadness that we learnt of Ron Southern’s passing”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “He was truly a remarkable man with a tremendous capacity for life and an incredible love of equestrian sport. His business acumen, passion, drive and vision, were evident in all facets of his life and were the characteristics that made Spruce Meadows such a hugely successful venue.”

“He was an incredibly generous man and community leader who gave so much and made a lasting impression on everyone he met. His legacy will live on in the generations of athletes who compete at Spruce Meadows for many years to come. He will be sorely missed.”

Ron Southern is survived by his wife Marg and two daughters, Nancy Southern and Linda Southern-Heathcott.

The FEI extends its sincere condolences to Ron Southern’s family and many friends, to Equine Canada and the global equestrian community.

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DISCIPLINEREPORTS What’s Happening in all the Disciplines

fei/bret st clair

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Lordan claim victory of the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping in Thermal.

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Lordan win qualifier at HITS Thermal

U

nder the desert sun, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar showcased his close partnership with longtime mount Lordan to win in the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Thermal CSI3*-W. In the seventh and final event on the West Coast, the 25-year-old rider guided the 12-year-old, Hanoverian gelding (Lordanos x Landor) to a double clear that bested a field of 20.

France’s Eric Navet and Catypso (Catoki x Calypso II) and the United States’ Jamie Barge and Luebbo (Lord Pezi x Stakkato) joined Nassar and Lordan in the final round. First to go, Navet had an uncharacteristic misjudgment of strides in the course’s first line, and the 9-year-old, Hanoverian gelding forced a rail down.

“All three of us were fighters, and I was lucky enough to go last, and Eric had to go first and he had to take a big risk,” said Nassar.

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“I’ve ridden Catypso since he was 6,” said Navet. “He’s come a long way. It took a good time to get him to understand (jumping clear). He has unbelievable, with easy scope, and I feel like I can jump anything; he just needed to figure it out and improve his technique.

“I’m very proud of him and very satisfied to have such a great finish in a challenging course.

I really feel like he did that easily (today) which makes me optimistic for the rest of the year and the rest of his career.”

Next in the jump-off order, Barge continued to build her consistency in delivering clear rounds, leaving all the rails standing aboard her 11-year-old, Oldenburg gelding. A long gallop to the final Longines oxer also helped her take seconds off the clock to finish in 49.64 seconds,

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susan j. stickle

jumps clean.”

So as the palm trees dotted the skyline and the California temperatures soared, he returned to the winter circuit showgrounds of his formative, junior years by making a big mark, after a year spent developing young horses and bringing Lordan back from an injury. show jumping results

Canadian Olympian Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON kicked off her 2016 season with two winning performances aboard her veteran partner Anton during week three of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, held Jan. 28-31 in Wellington, FL.

Discipline Reports continued from page 33 but a more conservative track left the door open.

“I worked with him a lot on his flatwork and his rideability in the summer,” said Barge about her partner for the last two years. “If I can get the rideability, he’s got the scope and the heart to do it. I’m excited that it’s come together.”

But it was Nassar with his deceptively fast gelding that managed to stop the timers at 48.19 seconds, despite adding an extra stride in the second line. An inside turn and a faster gallop proved strategy enough to steal the lead and seal the victory.

“I only kind of saw Jamie go, but people said that she didn’t go inside the Longines oxer, going away from the gate, so I knew if I slipped inside there, I didn’t have to go crazy to catch her,” Nassar said. “I did six strides in the first line, eight in the second line; my horse has small stride. But then it was just a matter of jumping the last two

$100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Thermal CSI3*-W Results 1. Lordan (Nayel Nassar), EGY, 0 faults/48.19 seconds (JO); 2. Luebbo (Jamie Barge), USA, 0/49.64 (JO); 3. Catypso (Eric Navet), FRA, 4/81.59 (JO); 4. Flexible (Rich Fellers), USA, 4/76.31; 5. Tembla (Karl Cook), USA, 4/77.27; 6. Chacna (Enrique Gonzalez), MEX, 4/80.80; 7. NKH Quanto (Christian Heineking), GER, 8/76.86; 8. Cat Balou (Tamie Phillips), CAN, 8/78.67. $200,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping in Wellington Results 1. Uceko (Kent Farrington), USA, 0 faults/40.30 seconds (JO); 2. Fibonacci (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum), GER, 0/42.83 (JO); 3. Big Red (Richard Spoonder), USA, 0/42.89 (JO); 4. Adare (Paris Sellon), USA, 0/43.50 (JO); 5. Dixson (Ian Millar), CAN, 0/43.54 (JO); 6. VDL Wizard (Callan Solem), USA, 0/3.80 (JO); 7. Nougat du Vallet (Katherine Dinan), USA, 0/48.64 (JO); 8. HH Carlos Z (McLain Ward), USA, 4/41.75 (JO).

Dressage report Belinda Trussell Dominates Week Three of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival In her first competition of the 2016 season, veteran Canadian Equestrian Team member Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, dominated competition during the third week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. The 2015 Pan American Games Team silver medalist rode to victory not once, but twice, over the course of the week. Aboard her Pan Am Games mount Anton (Antaeus x Shirley), she captured the judges’ attention on Jan. 28 in the CDI-W FEI Grand Prix. She and the 16-yearold Saschen Warmblood gelding owned by her mother, Robyn Eames, and husband, Mark Trussell, earned a score of 72.860% for the win.

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“I was in utter shock to come out winning such a huge class with top competitors,” explained Trussell. “I am very happy.”

Just one day later, Trussell and Anton returned to the winner’s circle, this time claiming victory in the CDI-W FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with a final mark of 75.025%, placing them firmly atop the leaderboard.

“Anton is a miracle,” said Trussell of her seasoned partner, who only returned to top level competition shortly before the 2015 Pan Am Games. “He just keeps getting better. He is 16 this year and feels the best he has ever felt in his life. I think the difference between last season and this show was his expression and my confidence to ride to his capability. He loves to compete and is such a good boy in the ring. It’s my job to present him to his best and I feel like we just get stronger as a team.”

As for her plans for the rest of the season, Trussell explained, “I hope to get great scores in Wellington to secure an Olympic spot for Rio. I will compete Anton in the CDI 5* during week five, and hopefully the nations’ cup as well.”

Fellow Canadians earning impressive scores during week three of the AGDF included Karen Pavicic of Surrey, BC. Riding her 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games mount, Don Daiquiri (Don Cardinale x Rubinstein I), a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Jayne Essig, Pavicic started out with a score of 70.840% for ninth place in the CDI-W FEI Grand Prix. They followed up with a fifth place finish in the CDIW FEI Grand Prix Special after scoring 70.157%.

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Two of Trussell’s 2015 Pan Am Games teammates also claimed top-10 spots on the leaderboard. Megan Lane of Loretto, ON scored 69.078% for ninth place in the CDI-W Grand Prix Special aboard her long-time partner, Caravella (Contango x Riverman), a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she owns with her mother, Cathy Lane. Brittany Fraser from New Glasgow, NS took ninth place (71.625%) in the CDI-W FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with her Pan Am Games Discipline Reports continued on page 36

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Discipline Reports continued from page 35 mount, All In (Tango x Damiro), an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she co-owns with Marc-Andre Beaulieu.

Not far behind Fraser in the Freestyle was Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON and her veteran partner, D Niro (D-Day x Napoleon 625), a 17-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Mary Brooks and Brookhaven Dressage Inc. Together they scored 70.500% for 10th place.

Olympic superstar Werth wins Reem Acra leg at Amsterdam with Weihegold Isabell Werth created quite a stir when winning the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2015/2016 Western European League at the sold-out RAI Arena in Amsterdam (NED) with Weihegold. The lovely mare was competing in her very first international Freestyle, but in the hands of the 46-year-old German athlete who includes six Olympic gold medals and two World Cup titles amongst her career highlights, the 11-year-old horse posted a spectacular score in the early stages of the competition and could not be beaten.

The pair’s success was all the more remarkable for the fact that the class was of an exceptionally high standard, with top riders really raising their game in the battle for points towards the Reem Acra Final in Gothenburg (SWE) in March. Werth admitted afterwards that her victory was unexpected.

“It was a surprise because the Freestyle is really

difficult here in this atmosphere in Amsterdam, and there was an outstanding field of competitors. You know how it is in Freestyle, we did not have the best starting order so I was not expecting to win, but at the end of our test I felt really sure and safe - I’m so very, very happy!” she said.

driving report Chardon claims FEI World Cup Driving title After an amazing battle between the best drivers, IJsbrand Chardon (NED) beat top favourite Boyd Exell (AUS) in the FEI World Cup Driving Final 2016 in Bordeaux (FRA) and re-claimed the title for the first time again since 2006. Winner of the first competition, Koos de Ronde (NED) finished third. The Final of the 15th season of the FEI World Cup Driving turned into a true thriller where the battle went on until the very last moment.

Chardon made the competition very exciting when his back stepper, his son Bram, lost his balance for a fraction of a second at the last gate and almost fell off, which would have cost the Dutchman his victory. But Bram found his balance in time and stayed onboard in the end.

Last starter Exell had to risk everything to beat the very fast and clear round of Chardon.

The six-time World Cup winner had an unfortunate knockdown at obstacle 3, after which Exell put the throttle on even more to make up for that. It did look as if he was going to do it, but a second knockdown in the last half of the course prevented him from winning his seventh FEI World Cup title.

e

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For more information, call

604-534-4922

We build heavy duty stall fronts for your valued horses 36

March 2016

2782 - 216 Street Langley, BC V2Z 1P4

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

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gaitpoStAPPROVED Product Reviews

ITPOST GA

A PPROVE D

drY guY BlanKet revival

M

AG A ZI N E

ry Guy Waterproofing is a very cool find, for this west (wet) coast horseperson. Having been in horses for too many decades to mention, I have a significant collection of blankets in my loft, as rainsheets and winter blankets are a necessity for our clipped horses. I am embarrassed by the number of blankets that were too good to throw out, but just weren’t waterproof enough due to age and wear to use every day. They were kept as ‘Spares’. And so the collection began…

I have tried some of the commercial waterproofing out there — some of it makes the blankets all stiff and don’t last very long, others aren’t worth the rigmarole involved in applying the product, and others are just outright chemical poison — grim stuff. Then I was introduced to Les Johnson, one of the owners of Dry Guy, at the Mane Event, and began hearing from loads of people about their great experience with Dry Guy. Being somewhat of a skeptic, and always looking for excuses to buy new blankets (it’s one of those horse addiction things, like saddle pads and polos — can’t stop!), I was going to take some convincing.

Dry Guy claims to preserve the breathability of modern membrane textiles, and is biodegradable and free from fluorocarbons. It is applied with a pump spray bottle, and water is the dilutant, not solvents or alcohols. Their horse www.gaitpost.com

FoXcRoFT

D

The difference between sprayed and non-sprayed areas is remarkable.

blanket spray is specifically formulated for pet apparel, is mould and stain resistant, and can be bought in a concentrate as well, which is economical. It says it is good for all waterproof clothing, so I gave it a shot. A lot of shots, actually! I sprayed an old favourite sheet that belonged to my retired gelding. He has that retired pear shape that only a few blankets fit well, and Dry Guy Blanket Revival continued on page 38

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

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Dry Guy Blanket Revival continued from page 37 this was his favourite as well. It was an old nylon “Amigo” brand with minimal insulation, and the weave of the fabric, I thought, was too worn and spread apart. After washing and drying the blanket, I just sprayed the surface of the blanket, which took two minutes. I left an area on a hip unsprayed just to see the difference, and sure enough, he was dry everywhere but that hip, where it soaked through to his skin in no time. The spray didn’t completely stop water from getting into the fabric, and it didn’t look like a “coating”, but it definitely didn’t get all the way through to his hair where sprayed. I had another blanket with more insulation which I had stopped using because it would get so heavy when wet. The horse would stay dry because of the body heat generated, but the blanket was almost unmanageable to lift when wet, and would take forever to dry. When sprayed with Dry Guy, it didn’t get to that point of being saturated, and didn’t take forever to hang to dry. The spray repels/encourages the water molecules to form

into droplets and they run off the fabric rather than soak in. This is what allows water vapour to get out of the fabric as well.

I also, out of curiosity, sprayed dog coats, my husband’s multitude of rain coats from inexpensive to quite costly ones, including Goretex, and even our BBQ cover. I bet it would be awesome on tents and awnings, too. I was impressed with how much drier my husband was under his usual rain gear. Dry Guy definitely gave new life to his coats. I gave some to a client and this is what they had to say: “I sprayed my 15 year old Rambo blanket that had been crumpled up in the tack room for years because it was like a sponge; it is now like new! I was shocked how fast, and easy to use Dry Guy was!”

So the good news is Dry Guy is easy to use, works really well and gives new life to those old “spare” blankets. The bad news is now you have no excuse to go out shopping for shiny new blankets… Dry Guy is marketed by Strathcona Ventures, contact info@strathconaventures.com for more information regarding this product.

DryGuy Waterproofing The leader in manufacturing environmentally-friendly BREATHABLE waterproof products for you and your horse.

• Preserves the breathability of modern textiles • Makes the fabric waterproof and dirt repellent • Free from fluorocarbons and biodegradable

dryguywaterproofing.com 38

March 2016

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

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pHoto adS Next issue: April 2016 issue Deadline: march 11th, 2016 Submit Photo Ads on-line: www.gaitpost.com or photoAds@gaitpost.com

all around

Don Celestino: 11 yo 15.1 hh grey Azteca gelding. A wonderful horse. He has done many things including parades, Jumping, trail riding, and Dressage, and excelled at all of them. A pleasure to have at our barn. Contact chrisfranssen@mac.com. Cochrane, AB.

Bellacoullaire: 8 yo 17 hh Swedish WB mare (grandsire Briar 899). Versatile, powerful, personable!

Trailers, bathes, great for the farrier, etc.

UTD vaccines. $18,000.

Contact 778785-5838 or BK.bequine@ gmail.com.

Langley, BC.

Charlie “Miss Hap”: 2004 16.1 hh TB mare.

Hunter/Jumper. Quiet in the ring, good ground manners. Shown Hunter to 3.0', 1.0m Jumper; schooled to 1.10m. Easy to load, trailer, bathe.

Asking $11,000 OBO. Contact Stephanie 403613-7508 or stephcrides@shaw.ca.

Pebble Beach: 15 yo 16.2 hh Han/Tb mare.

Shown H/J & Jumper. Leased for Dressage.

Smooth ride, good on the trails and in the trailer. Owner moving, $8,000 neg. Video avail. from wendyjones@shaw.ca. Contact Trainers Laura 604-551-7768 or Lindsay 604-720-0047.

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Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

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39

BroodmareS

Bravada RPH: 10 yo 15.3 hh chestnut KWPN Dutch Warmblood mare (Consul x Watch Me Walk Away) Impressive Jumper with elegant movement. Could have been a top performance horse — we used her as a broodmare and she has produced 5 fancy foals for us. Offspring are flashy and scopey.

She is currently in foal to Aquilan Calypso and being sold with 2016 breeding to Checkmate! $15,000.

Contact 250-301-1281 or lana-smith@live.ca. Prince George, BC.

Deborah Price

pHoto adS

new low prices every month!

Fairmiah: 14 yo 15.3 hh dark bay CWB mare.

Athletic, well mannered. Suit as broodmare; complicated to ride, not 100% sound. Great bloodlines (Popeye K out of Voltaire). Had foal in 2006. Contact 250-701-7438 or Delayne higgins@gmail.com. Victoria, BC.

$39.95 · regular photo ad $79.95 · deluxe photo ad

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Ripley: 2006 16.3 hh CWB gelding. Bold and scopey. Schooling 3'6"-3'9", grids to 4'3".

Shown in the 1.0m, moving to 1.10m. Not working to his potential due to lack of time.

Fancy with tons of presence. $45,000. Contact 250-318-0332 or info@tlcequestrian.ca.

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March 2016

Valenzia: 2005 15.3 hh Holsteiner mare. Show miles in the Hunters. Suitable for a Jr/Am rider looking to compete in the Jumper or Equitation ring. Very brave and careful over fences with solid flat work. Asking $20,000. Contact 604619-2233 or sarah.loehndorf@outlook.com.

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

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ponieS

Sunshine: 10 yo 14.1 hh New Forest Pony mare. Exc. ground manners, schooling small fences, exc. Dressage prospect as well. Ready for first show! Beautiful mover, exc. temperament. Ridden by a Jr/Am. $7,500. Contact 250318-0332 or info@tlcequestrian.ca.

Jazz: 6 yo 13.3 hh New Forest Pony gelding.

Solid ground work & lunging. Well started U/S, walk, trot, canter, trot poles. Now started over fences. Sweet character and very willing to work. Suit any discipline. $6,000. Contact 250318-0332 or info@tlcequestrian.ca.

proSpectS Aloe Vera: 2013 16.3 hh Oldenburg X mare by Sagnol, o/o Canadian Warmblood by Faust Z. Tall, elegant, sensitive Hunter/Dressage type.

Not yet started.

Asking $10,000. Contact 250-319-1091 or skullmountainranch@gmail. com

Bronty-haurus: 47 hh, aged Schoolmaster. BCbred (millennia, not province). With age comes wisdom — this is one very wise animal! Bronty has taught generations to ride. Back is not swayed at all, still has lovely long neck. Eats anything, really. Contact PhotoAds@gaitpost.com www.gaitpost.com

Caspian: 7 yo 16.2 hh pinto CWB gelding. Super character. Solid flat work with laterals & flying chgs. Brave to the jumps. Suit amateur for Dressage. Training equiv. to Lev. 2, schooling higher level movements. Asking $20,000. Contact 250-318-0332 or info@tlcequestrian.ca.

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

March 2016

41

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235 Allbrook road, Parksville, BC · $859,900 RETIRE TO AFFORDABLE VANCOUVER ISLAND! Super 5 ac horse property, close to trails, comfy 3 bed home, 4 stall barn, Hil-ron 200x70 indoor. Plus plus plus, call now for appointment.

Karen Scott · 250-954-9595 · kmscott@shaw.ca Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach

March News THE BC INTERIOR HUNTER JUMPER ASSOCIATION was established in the spring of 2014 to promote and develop the Hunter Jumper sports in the BC Interior. The club operates out of the Prince George Agriplex. Since inception, the BCIHJA has had three successful shows, two Winter Development Series, two clinics with Ashleigh Charity, and two Year End Awards. At the recent 2015 Awards Dinner and Dance held January 30th, the Hunter Jumper community came together to recognize the accomplishments of fellow athletes, and to thank the many volunteers and sponsors who make the shows possible.

Division 1: 18"-2' 1st place Robyn Yeager on Jazzman; 2nd Maegan Friess on All That Jazz; 3rd place Veronica Campbell on Zephyr.

Division 2: 2'3"-2'6" 1st place Katya Zanozin on Lady Amy; 2nd place Dee Howard on Quixotic; 3rd place Kate Carter on Tango.

Division 3: 2'9"-3' 1st place Lana Smith on Leeto Z; 2nd place Pam McGuiness on Cole; 3rd place Susanne McLeod on Boston.

Division 4: 3'3"-3'6" 1st place Lesley Matthews on All That Jazz; 2nd place Lana Smith on Balto; 3rd place Dee Howard on Arielka.

The inaugural Super Bart Partnership Award was handed out to Emira DeCroos , in recognition of her sportsmanship and the care and compassion she showers on her equine partner, James. The Patty Sims Memorial Volunteer Award was determined by a membership vote and Janet Charlton was the volunteer of the year for 2015. 2016 is shaping up to be a great year with a continuation of the Winter Development Series jump days in January and February and a clinic with Ashleigh Charity in April.

In addition to the BCIHJA Summer Classic in July and the BCIHJA Fall Finale in September there are three other points accumulation shows scheduled: Spruce Ridge Pony Club in May, NCBC CADORA in June and Rosenol Performance Horses in July.

For more information find us on Facebook or BCIHJA.webs.com 44

March 2016

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The voice of equine advocacy, accessibility and welfare.

horse.on.ca

March News Get ready for spring with the OEF Cold weather can mean less time in the saddle, but it doesn’t mean you can’t continue to develop your skills or have a bit of fun. The Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) has you covered with some great upcoming events.

Course Design Clinic The OEF is introducing a new course design clinic on April 11-12 geared not only towards course design candidates, but also coaches and athletes. It will include hands-on training and demonstrations to build skills in walking and analyzing courses, analyzing a rider on course and building courses and tests to train for fun and competition.

For details or to register, visit www.horse.on.ca/event/the-oef-presents-course-designthe-master-plan

Coaching Webinar Series Launched As announced in the fall of 2015, all Equine Canada NCCP certified Level 1, 2 and 3 coaches must transfer their qualifications to the new competency based NCCP. Equine Canada has launched a free Transfer Update Webinar Series to provide coaches

certified in the old NCCP Levels program with the chance to meet the transfer update requirement for Competition Coach and High Performance 1 programs online.

To register, visit horse.on.ca/coaches/nccp-transfer-of-qualifications

Join us for OEF Day at Can-Am Saturday, April 2 has been declared OEF Day at the Can-Am All Breeds Equine Expo.

Join us from 5-6:30 p.m. that day for an OEF Member Appreciation Party, generously sponsored by BFL CANADA. OEF members will be sent an email invitation to reserve their spot at the party. Please note that you must have general admission tickets to the expo to access the OEF party.

Special Can-Am Ticket Offer for Members OEF members have access to a special pre-sale ticket offer that includes half price on the Saturday Evening Extravaganza show with the purchase of a general admission ticket. This deal applies to tickets purchased online for Saturday, April 2 only and does not apply to tickets purchased at the door. For details, visit www.horse.on.ca/oefevents/can-am-equine-emporium.

1 West Pearce Street, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3K3 | Telephone: 905-709-6545 | Toll-free: 1-877-441-7112 Email: horse@horse.on.ca | Fax: 905-709-1867

HTBC SPRING SERIES CLINICS

• Lower Mainland at Island 22 Equestrian Park, Chilliwack BC – April 9th and 10th.

• Interior @ Johvale in Pritchard BC – April 15th, 16th, and 17th. Will include Pace clinic.

• Vancouver Island Clinic at Avalon Equestrian Centre – date TBA – clinician TBA. More info: horsetrialsbc.com - > Education Clinics

STARTER DIVISION 2016 (NEW)

At the request of members, riders and organizers HTBC has reviewed the “Guidelines to Organizers” for “Primary Divisions”, Starter Division, and added an Eligibility clause for those experienced Event riders that choose to use the Starter Division when bringing a new ride into the sport. An experienced Event rider is considered

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to be a rider who has previously competed at the Pre-training Level or above. We are asking those experienced riders to now enter the Starter Division “Hors Concours”.

Please go to HTBC website to view Primary Division Guidelines.

TOPLINE 2016: EVENTING BACK TO BACK

For the 2016 Eventing season, Topline will be running their Events as a “Back to Back” which means two separate events over four consecutive days. Each will have ribbons to eighth place and prizes for the top three placing riders.

Six levels of competition will be run this year including a new combined division of Prelim and Training, where riders will be doing a prelim Dressage and Show Jumping test and running a Training Level Cross Country course.

More info: toplinestable.ca.

Canada’s Greatest Little Horse Mag

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next Deadline: march 11th, 2016 for the April 2016 issue ARENA RENTAL WANTED for dog agility, Fraser Valley, evenings or weekends.

R & E Saddle & Tack Repair

Blanket Repairs and Custom Work

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Please call 604-240-6517 IN SEARCH OF a Dressage horse to lease or part-lease, for an adult rider with experience to 4th level. Over 15.2hh, at least 5 years of age, good, safe mind essential. All other details – let’s discuss!

Please contact jktarg@shaw.ca

HERMEN GEERTSEMA VETERINARY SERVICES Offering today’s technology with Digital X-ray, Prepurchase exams, Farrier consulting, Dentistry, A.I. services and regular annual health care packages for your high performance horse or back yard companion.

“Striving for excellence in veterinary care” www.geertsema.ca hermen@geertsema.ca

604-857-5432 Toll Free: 1-888-858-5432

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March 2016

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Best Possible Nutrition For growing, back yard companions to performance horses, feed TOTAL EQUINE www.geertsema.ca/equine-nutrition

BEESTON LAIRD R.I.D. Frozen semen available for 2016 • $500 Cdn. per breeding dose • Stored in Canada Kerfootequine@hotmail.com

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DIAMOND H TACK Kelowna, BC · 1-877-762-5631 Find us on Facebook! www.diamondhtack.ca

COMPETITIONcalendar BC EvENTS Feb 28 - 27

Feb 28

Mar 5 - 6 Mar 12 - 13 Mar 13

Myles HerMan

animal structural Kinesiology equine Bodywork & riding lessons Phone: 604-309-4616 • Email: mylesherman29@gmail.com

Hooves ‘n’ Hounds Horse TransporT Safe, Reliable Horse Transport Serving Most Canadian Provinces • Fully Licensed and Insured www.hoovesnhounds.com hoovesnhounds@shaw.ca • 1-888-436-0662

iNdEX oF AdvERTiSERS Adams, Lindsay ......................................................................................... 30 April’s Tack Boutique ................................................................................ 18 Ashby, Karen and Christina ....................................................................... 43 Auburn Labs.............................................................................................. 12 Biomedica .................................................................................................. 3 Cloverdale Pharmasave ............................................................................. 18 Country Manufacturing .............................................................................. 36 Dewson, Cheryl.......................................................................................... 42 Dexter Associates................................................................................42, 43 DK Saddlery .............................................................................................. 29 The Dog & Pony Shop................................................................................ 35 Dry Guy Waterproofing............................................................................... 38 Elevate Equestrian .................................................................................... 34 Greenhawk .................................................................................................. 7 Horse Council BC ...................................................................................... 21 Klemm, Mariette ....................................................................................... 30 The Mane Event .......................................................................................... 5 McGill, Lesley............................................................................................ 28 McIntyre, Sidonia ...................................................................................... 34 Otter Co-op ............................................................................................... 13 The Paddock Tack ..................................................................................... 38 Queen Margaret’s School .......................................................................... 19 Rosenol Performance Horses..................................................................... 11 Scheese ................................................................................................... 48 Shaw Insurance......................................................................................... 10 Strathcona Ventures.................................................................................... 2 System Fencing ......................................................................................... 32 Ulterra Ranches ........................................................................................ 19 Woodguard Canada................................................................................... 35 Wrayton Transport ..................................................................................... 18

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Mar 19 - 20 Mar 20

Apr 4 - May 13

2016 Pet Lover Show, Vancouver, BC Izabela: (604) 202-3743 or ileszko@lbmg.ca www.petlovershow.ca MREC 2 Phase and Dressage Schooling Show, Maple Ridge, BC. Jack: (604) 467-5616 or mrec@shaw.ca www.mrec.ca Gateway Dressage Schooling Show, Thunderbird Show Park, Langley, BC. Chris: Chris@tbird.ca LMQHA Horsemans Bazaar, Thunderbird Show Park, Langley, BC. www.horsemansbazaar.com MREC Schooling Show, Maple Ridge, BC Jack: (604) 467-5616 or mrec@shaw.ca www.mrec.ca Gateway Season Finale, Thunderbird Show Park, Langley, BC. Chris: Chris@tbird.ca MREC 2 Phase and Dressage Schooling Show, Maple Ridge, BC. Jack: (604) 467-5616 or mrec@shaw.ca www.mrec.ca Advanced Equine Massage Therapy Course, Kamloops, BC Sidonia: (519) 562-9992 or equinerehab@xplornet.com www.equinerehab.ca

ALBERTA EvENTS Mar 19 - 25

Mar 26 - Apr 1,

Equine Massage Therapy Course, Edmonton, AB Sidonia: (519) 562-9992 or equinerehab@xplornet.com www.equinerehab.ca Equine Massage Therapy Course, Edmonton, AB Sidonia: (519) 562-9992 or equinerehab@xplornet.com www.equinerehab.ca

WAShiNGToN EvENTS Mar 19 - 20

Seminar – Lightness Proof of Balance, Bellingham, WA Linda: (360) 966-4407 or linda@okjenfarm.com Karen O’Neal Eventing Clinic, Cle Elum, WA Natalie: natmc12@gmail.com

May 8 - 6

Please confirm with event organizers before attending any events. Some events are changed or cancelled without our knowledge. Submit calendar events at www.gaitpost.com/calendar. Calendar events must be submitted by the print deadline, in order to be considered for inculsion in the next issue. The Gaitpost Calendar is a free service.

CANADA’S GREATEST LITTLE HORSE MAG

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ViEW GaiTpOST ONLiNE rEGiSTEr FOr FrEE TOday!

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