The Official Member Magazine of Horse Council BC
BC’s
Equine Lifestyle
Spring/Summer 2020 www.hcbc.ca
celebrating 40 years The HCBC coaching program the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice
PM 40021647
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In This Issue
BC’s
Equine Lifestyle Spring/Summer 2020 is published biannually by HORSE COUNCIL BC 27336 Fraser Hwy., Aldergrove, BC V4W 3N5 T: 604-856-4304 | F: 604-856-4302 Toll Free: 1-800-345-8055 www.hcbc.ca
HORSE COUNCIL BC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Karen Swantje President 604-897-4556
SUSAN HARRISON Officer of Competition 250-416-0094
Sharon Pickthorne Secretary/Treasurer 250-337-1818
TERRE O’BRENNAN VP Recreation 604-940-6958
Nancy Olson-Beaulieu Officer General 604-671-0707
TRACY CARVER VP Membership & Marketing 778-999-7400
SUSAN THOMPSON Officer of Education 604-943-8155
STAFF
LISA LAYCOCK Executive Director administration@hcbc.ca ext.1008 KELLY COUGHLIN Senior Program Director Manager, Industry & Agriculture industry@hcbc.ca ext.1006 WENDY SEWELL Manager, Coaching & Education coaching@hcbc.ca ext.1004 NANCY SPRATT Recreation Coordinator recreation@hcbc.ca ext.1009
4
President’s Message
NEWS 6 7 8 9
On the Cover: “Snowbird Pass”, a beautiful OTTB owned and photographed by HCBC member Sue Ferguson on Vancouver Island.
Membership News HCBC Awards CapriCMW FAQ Pony Tails Kids Club Colouring Sheet
LYNDA ATKINSON VP Industry 250-747-3700 SANDY UNDERWOOD Sport & Community Development development@hcbc.ca ext. 1010 JOCELYN ADAMS Marketing & Communications Coordinator communication@hcbc.ca ext.1003
TRAILS & RECREATION
LYNN WALLDEN Finance & Grants finance@hcbc.ca ext. 1007 SARAH ALLISON Reception info@hcbc.ca ext. 1000
LYNDA ECKSTEIN Membership Coordinator membership@hcbc.ca ext. 1002 FOR A MEDIA KIT AND/OR RATE CARD PLEASE CONTACT COMMUNICATION@HCBC.CA. All material is copyright 2020. All photographs that depict riders without helmets were taken in competition settings where helmets are not traditionally worn and all riders are over the age of 18. HCBC supports the wearing of approved helmets in all equestrian activity. Ideas and opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the idea or opinions of HCBC. BC’s Equine Lifestyles reserves the right to accept, and/or edit material submitted for publication. HCBC 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 results of the information contained in BC’s Equine Lifestyles, or arising therefrom, is the responsibility of the parties involved and not of HCBC. We welcome signed letters to the editor, but reserve the right to publish, edit for grammar, taste and length. For reprint information please contact communication@ hcbc.ca. UPCOMING PUBLICATION DATES Fall/Winter 2020 | October 2020 Spring/Summer 2021 | April 2021 Horse Council BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
13 “Sign Here” - New Access to Increased Road Signage for Equestrians
SPOTLIGHT 10 Celebrating 40 Years & Honouring our Founders Legacy
COACHES CORNER 12 HCBC Coaching Program
INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE 14 What Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice Means for Your Farm
COMPETITION 18 Rider Spotlight
www.hcbc.ca | 3
President’s
Message
To All My Fellow Horse Council BC Members: I was honoured to assume the role of President of Horse Council BC at the last Board of Directors meeting on November 2, 2019. I am still honoured to take on this role, and it has certainly been an interesting and challenging one so far! We all owe a very big thank you to Liz Saunders, the outgoing president, whose four year term expired in November 2019. Liz was a conscientious and competent president, who had a significant impact in guiding HCBC in a positive direction. She has very kindly agreed to remain an active past president, and lend me the benefit of her experience. Thank you, Liz! In anticipation of writing this report, I have been jotting down notes about information that I wanted to share with the membership. These notes are now irrelevant as we try to make sense of our new reality. The Covid19 pandemic has reached deep into our lives, affecting all of us. None of us will escape the personal, social and economic consequences. We must hope that the social distancing we are all practicing will shorten the pandemic and save lives. I am sure that I speak for all of us when I say that it cannot end soon enough! The Executive Committee made the difficult decision to cancel the Board of Directors’ Meeting, scheduled for March 28, to postpone the AGM, also scheduled on that date, and to cancel the BC Equine Education Summit, scheduled for late April. This decision was made one day before the global pandemic was declared. I want to thank the Executive Committee for its foresight, and for their support. Cancelling the Education Summit when we did was, in addition to a safety concern, an economic decision. Many large expenses related to hosting the summit were coming due, and by reacting when we did, Horse Council’s economic exposure was considerably diminished. Horse Council staff had done a wonderful job of arranging for globally recognized speakers to share their knowledge with us. There were many other 4 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
events tied in to the Summit, some of which we hope to reschedule when we are able. You may be aware that, in the interest of preventing the spread of Covid-19, the office of Horse Council BC is closed, and staff are working from home. The transition, with all that entails, was done very quickly and was extremely well managed. Staff continues to be very busy, staying on top of developments relating to our members, and answering questions and concerns, as well as keeping day to day business going. Staff can be reached by e mail, or by phone, at their regular extensions. Be assured that all relevant and reliable information will be passed on to members as soon as it becomes available. There is a great deal of misinformation out there, and I would encourage us all to evaluate carefully the information that comes our way, as well as the source of the information. I want to personally thank Lisa Laycock, our Executive Director, and all the Horse Council staff, for the really exemplary job they are all doing under circumstances never before experienced. In the meantime, I am trying to hard to focus on the positive. Spring is here, the weather has improved, and plants and shrubs are blooming. We are all lucky to have horses in our lives, and to be able to spend time with them outdoors. Horse people are resilient, independent and caring. Let’s use our strengths to weather this pandemic, and help our families, friends, neighbours and communities to do so also. I wish all of you well!
Karen Swantje HCBC President
NEWS
Executive directors
Message
We’re in this together..
As 2020 begun, Horse Council BC was full of enthusiasm and excitement, with big plans for the upcoming year. With the onset of the Covid-19 many things changed in the blink of an eye. Events and activities have been postponed or cancelled, with the horse community doing its part to flatten the curve. Collectively we’re experiencing a lot of changes and firsts right now. As members of Horse Council BC and the equine community, you remain at the forefront of everything we do, as we work through these dynamic times we continue to support the health and welfare of horses and their people. The safety of our equine community has always been our number one concern. We encourage all of those involved to heed the recommendations of the provincial health authority and take actions that safeguard themselves and those around them. Work collaboratively with barn owners to keep everyone safe and horses cared for, even if it means you don’t get to see or ride your horse as much as you like during this unprecedented time. Our team and board at the Horse Council know collaboration and connection are more important than ever right now, and we are committed to keeping you up to date on what’s happening nationally and provincially with government programs, agriculture, sport, recreation and industry, to assist in bringing current resources to our community. We are in regular communication with Equestrian Canada and the other provincial organization to ensure our guidelines to the industry are keeping up with the current
situation. Together we are keeping governments apprised of the impact on our community. We have built a resource page on our website for programs and information that may assist members. Further, we would like to encourage all of the BC equestrian community groups to stay in touch to make sure everyone is able to provide care for their equines during these tough times. There will be individuals who become ill or who cannot buy feed or care for their animals and may need help, please check in on those around you and remember we are in this together. Reach out to those around you, call to check up or just to chat, many people are missing the social aspect being involved in equestrian activities brings. If you have the means to help, please reach out to those who may need it. We will get through this challenging period and will soon be able to get back to the activities we love. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves, your neighbours, and family as we look forward to returning to what most certainly will be a new normal. Until then, we hope you stay healthy and that we can all work together to take care of one another. The BC horse community is resilient and we will come through this together. To quote our esteemed Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry “Be calm, be kind, be safe” and “Wash your hands like you’ve been chopping jalapenos and you need to change your contacts”. Sincerely, Lisa Laycock Executive Director www.hcbc.ca | 5
NEWS
membership news As the COVID 19 pandemic continues, we are all looking for new ways to stay apart but still come together. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us. Though we are not in the office itself, we are still working and will be there to answer the phones and emails and any questions that you may have. The contact list for the staff members that you may be looking for is here: https://hcbc.ca/ about/our-staff/ Further regarding COVID-19, on the HCBC website under the News & Events category, we have a newsfeed that lists updates for the equine community as HCBC receives them. As time allows, please check out our new website and membership database. We have changed to a new online renewal system for 2020. We also refreshed our look for our website and made it easier for you to navigate around in it. Some of the NEW options that the system has includes: automatic renewal for the next year, as well as instant insurance documents and digital membership cards sent to you. This month, we are planning on adding an Apple and Android wallet card application to keep it easier to locate your card on your phone. The membership walkthrough also has some changes (which you might have noticed if you have already completed your membership). Your email address and a password are now required instead of your HCBC Membership Number. Your full birthday is now also needed - which eliminates the need to enter it twice when you purchase Capri optional insurances. The membership walkthrough also has an online Conditions of Membership document which includes a privacy policy for the Adult membership and Parental Consent signatures for family memberships with youth associates under 19 years of age. This will be emailed out if you are renewing over the phone line with office staff. These documents come from info@horsereg. com; please note that these emails may fall into your spam/junk folder if they are not located in your inbox. The subject line will state “Waiver signature requested from (individuals name)”. If it is for a parental consent, it will have one of the parent’s names on it. If you have renewed online yourself then you would have already completed this part of the walkthrough. If you have received one of these emails, you will need to open it and follow the steps so that you can receive your receipt and membership card. Simply open the email, click on the blue link 6 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
within the email and read the Conditions of Membership or the Parental Consent. Check the blue box, which will turn green and then type your name in the box and press the “I agree to the Above” button. It will come back to Horse Council BC and you should receive your membership card and receipt within the next few minutes. One final modification: if your payment was made by credit card, your credit card statement could display charges from Interpodia, HorseReg or Horse Council BC. As other new and exciting changes start rolling out within this year, we will be sure to let you know. We hope that all of our members stay heathy and stay safe.
NEWS
hcbc award recipients CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 AWARD WINNERS 2019 Coach of the Year – Tegwyn Harper 2019 Bob James Volunteer of the Year – Angie Szokol 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. Nomination forms and more information can be found at hcbc.ca > about > HCBC Awards
CODE OF PRACTICE for
AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT NEW RULES ARE NOW IN EFFECT! The previous Agricultural Waste Control Regulation has been replaced by the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management.
WHAT DOES THE NEW REGULATION MEAN FOR THE EQUINE INDUSTRY? 1. Records of farm activities must be kept for 5 years to show you are meeting the requirements of the new regulation. 2. Soil testing for post-harvest nitrate and phosphorus is needed if your farm is 2 ha or more and you apply nutrients to your land (e.g. manure, fertilizer, compost). 3. Minimum setbacks are required from property boundaries, drinking water sources and watercourses. 4. Livestock areas have new varying requirements if they are considered confined, seasonal feeding or grazing areas. 5. Nutrient application, e.g., manure, fertilizer or compost, must not occur on frozen or snow-covered ground. In highprecipitation areas, nutrient application is prohibited from November-January, and requires a risk assessment before application during the shoulder season (October, February, March). 6. Temporary field storage is permitted for up to 7 months for agricultural by-products (e.g., manure) or 12 months for wood residue. If more time is needed, then permanent storage structure requirements apply. 7. High-risk areas include high-precipitation, vulnerable aquifer and phosphorous affected areas. Additional protective requirements may apply. To find out if your farm is in one of these areas, visit the website listed below. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.gov.bc.ca/Agricultural-Environmental-Management BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is assisting the Province of BC with communicating the key changes related to the new Code. Please look for more information on our website or contact your producer association.
www.hcbc.ca | 7
NEWS NEWS
COVID-19 Precautions for Equestrians - UPDATE The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. The following is based on information we have available at this time. We urge all equestrians to continue to stay abreast of the changing landscape surrounding COVID-19 through credible media sources including federal and local government and health authorities. As we navigate through these unchartered waters, our team continues to respond to inquiries regarding the many insurance coverages we administer. The following are answers to some of the common questions we have received.
For Individual/Family Members of Provincial Equine Associations 1) I am a member of my Provincial / Territorial Equine Association. Does my insurance cover me during this time? The coverages provided through individual / family membership are in full force and effect. Membership in our insured provincial / territorial equine associations automatically includes two important coverages: a)
$5,000,000 Personal liability insurance designed to respond to claims brought against you should a personal use horse you own, borrow, lease etc., cause BODILY INJURY or PROPERTY DAMAGE to someone / something else and you are held legally liable. b) $30,000 Accident, Death and Dismemberment insurance, which covers you if you suffer a serious or catastrophic injury through an interaction with a horse (this policy does not cover losses arising from contraction of a disease). 2) The boarding place where I keep my horse is restricting my ability to see my horse and I am concerned that the horse might do something bad because he/she has not been out or worked. Will my liability insurance cover me in this circumstance? What should I do? The personal liability insurance provided through your membership remains in force. As for accessing the horse, the facility owner/manager of the barn is the sole authority to determine when/if they allow boarders to attend to ensure everyone stays safe. 3) If I am handling or riding my horse and something happens where I am held responsible – even though we have been advised to stay home, am I covered? If you are acting outside of legislation that restrict your movements and activities, your insurance may be adversely affected. If you are unsure about what you are legally allowed to do at this time, you need to get clarification from health and government officials. 4)
Can I ride my horse? Neither CapriCMW or your provincial/territorial equine association are in a position of authority to stop you from riding. You will have to consider the many risks associated with this activity taking into consideration the safety of yourself and others as recommended and/or mandated by government and health authorities.
CapriCMW Insurance Services Ltd. TF 1 800 670 1877
E equine@capricmw.ca
8 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
W capricmw.ca/equine
www.hcbc.ca | 9
SPOTLIGHT
Celebrating 40 years & Honouring our founders shared legacy
Horse Council BC is celebrating 40 years in 2020! HCBC was started in 1980 energized by the shared vision of Bill Archibald and Sherman Olson. They sought to create an organization representing both competitive and recreational riders, and to bring together the various breed groups across the BC. Pictured above is an excerpt from the program for the first ever Horse Council BC AGM in 1980. This reflects the vison that Bill and Sherman shared for Horse Council BC to represent the interests of the BC horse community. Their shared passion helped our organization become what it is today, and 40 years later, we continue to strive to represent all equestrian interests in BC. Sherman served as HCBC’s first president. Jan White, coauthor of The Horsemen, wrote: “As a founder of Horse Council B.C., his vision of building a strong, provincial equine body, his commitment to this cause and his dedication and direction as the president for the first 10 years resulted in the strongest and largest of all provincial horse councils in Canada.” He was a founding member and the founding president of Trails BC and played a role in the development of the Trans Canada Trail, now known as The Great Trail. Sherman was a tireless volunteer and a huge advocate for both trails and equestrian sport in BC, until his passing in 2013. 10 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
Pictured here, Bill and Sherman in 1988
Bill Archibald brought so much to the equestrian landscape in BC. Bill was a much respected teacher, horseman, trail boss and deeply committed volunteer. A founding member of Horse Council BC, Bill provided his time and expertise to Haney Horsemen, Trails BC, Backcountry Horsemen of BC, the Great Trail, and the Endurance Riders of BC, undertaking projects from cleaning up streams and rivers to pushing trails through into Golden Ears Park, for the benefit of all citizens and equestrians. His lifelong talent for inspiring and guiding others to share and carry out his vision has left us all an immeasurable inheritance. Bill passed on February 3, 2020 at the venerable age of 90. It is because of men of vision and energy like Bill Archibald and Sherman Olson that we enjoy so many equestrian pursuits today in British Columbia. We may not see their like again, but we can strive to carry the torch and grow their legacies.
Sherman, Dalton Murphy (HCBC’s first ED) and long time HCBC and Horse Trials BC Volunteer Len Kirby.
Bill and friends at an early event
What Bill and Sherman started in 1980, HCBC continues to honour with our current vision statement: Horse Council BC strives to represent ALL horse people in BC regardless of discipline, breed orientation, or sport. We endeavor to be an association that anyone active in the horse sector is proud to be a part of. We are accessible to all our members and communicate with them on both a professional and personal level. We ensure that we set an example for all other associations to follow. We thank all our members for their continued support over the years and hope to continue to serve the BC equestrian community for another 40 years.
www.hcbc.ca | 11
COACHES CORNER
HCBC Coaching Program The coaching programs that HCBC administers on behalf of Equestrian Canada have been in place in varying formats since the 1980’s. Each coach was developed and certified under the system that was available at the time and were evaluated at the current standards. BC produced excellent coaches who have in turn mentored and helped produce subsequent generations of coaches. The Equestrian Canada coaching programs have undergone quite a few revisions over the past 40 years. EC has gone from Coach levels 1 to 4 to Competition Coach, Competition Coach Specialist and High-Performance coach. Provincial Instructors changed to Instructor of Beginners and now to Instructor. No one would have dreamed 40 years ago that we would be able to evaluate new coaches using video, yet we are using this technology very successfully now. The coaching system that Equestrian Canada provides evolves in an effort to keep up with rapidly changing external partner requirements, new studies, technology and sports science. Consideration is given to best practices for the evaluation of coaching ability. There are also increasing expectations from parents to make sure that their child is safe when working with a coach. This is combined with the requirements of the National Coaching Certification Program, the organization that oversees and approves 67 sports certification programs. Every coaching certification must meet the standards and requirements as well as the specific outcomes that the NCCP stipulate. As the NCCP changes and grows, so must the EC Programs. Coach certification must also make changes to support inclusive sport. Terminology must be inclusive, programs cannot be exclusive to any gender or age group. More than using correct terminology the programs must actually put into practice the meaning of inclusivity. The revised coaching programs are putting increased emphasis on training and mentoring. This is intended to produce coaches or instructors who are not only able to demonstrate teaching equestrian skills, but also have the training to help them put those skills into everyday practice. EC is developing tools that are accessible online with lesson plans, help in teaching the “Learn To” programs as well as online learning that is directed to coaches and instructors. There will be more emphasis on the ability to coach and teach rather than on the candidate’s current ability to compete or ride. All coaches are required to complete the Make Ethical Decisions online assessment in order to obtain their coaching certification. Moving forward, training in Safe Sport and/ 12 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
or Fostering Healthy Relationships in Equestrian Sport has been added for those coaches who wish to purchase a Coach License. The issues covered in these courses are extremely important for coaches to understand and build into practice. There is no place for the abuse of children and vulnerable athletes or the abuse of power in ours, or any sport. Parents have higher expectations of the coaches that they choose to teach their children to ride. This training also protects the coach with the knowledge of how to avoid behaviors that may open them up to complaints. Concussion training has been added to the requirements of all coaches to enter the certification program. When the Long-Term Athlete Development Model was created in 2007, sport had started to study athletes of all ages and stages, learning how athletes were developed in respect to age, gender and physical maturity. We learned that young riders were being developed using adult learning and competition models. Equestrian sport developed their own version called the “Long-Term Equestrian Development” (LTED). The principles of LTED have been built into the coaching and instructor programs to help our coaches produce athletes with strong skills that are age and developmentally appropriate. The need for all athletes to learn Fundamental movement skills and physical literacy has been added to the coach training. We see riders as athletes who need to be physically fit. A very important part of the LTED is the understanding that not all riders want to develop into International competitors. The Active for Life stage is one of the largest demographics in BC, these are recreational riders who might compete once in a while or spend their time riding on trails. The Instructor stream has been revised to not only address beginner riders, but also those who want to learn to be better riders, not competitors. Instructor certification has been improved and refined. It is important to note that the Instructor teaches the most important aspect of riding, the fundamental skills. Competition Coaches will build on these important skills and improve them so that they can compete successfully at all levels. Looking back, Equestrians in BC are lucky to have some amazing coaches who have been developing riders in all disciplines and at all skill levels. Looking forward for the next 40 years, we will see even more instructors and coaches coming up through the system to carry on their legacy. Additionally, the EC Coaching Programs that HCBC administers will undergo continued changes, staying current with the wants and needs of equestrians in Canada.
TRAILS & RECREATION
‘Sign Here’ –
New Access to Improved Road Signage for Equestrians The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) has made a welcome change to the way equestrian warning signage is implemented on British Columbia’s roads. Effective Spring 2019, equestrian groups around BC that would like to add or improve road signage in areas where riders must use public roads will be able to contact Ministry district and subdistrict offices and ask for enhanced signage. The familiar diamond-shaped, yellow and black profile of a horse and rider warning sign will be either installed, or if already present, augmented upon written request, by a supplementary tab stating ‘Share The Road’, or a tab stating the kilometre or metre count within which motorists can expect to see horses on the road, or a ‘Crossing’ tab. Dr MaryJane Bowie of Rocking Horse Loop Riders in Nanoose Bay, in cooperation with the Recreation desk at Horse Council BC, worked with Ross McLean, Manager of MoTI’s Provincial Sign Program and Jennifer Hardy, MoTI Senior
Traffic Standards Engineer to come up with the enhancement program. On behalf of all our members, and all road riders in BC, we are grateful to Mr McLean, Ms Hardy and to the Ministry for recognizing a need and taking positive steps to address it. Equestrians report that they have found the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to be helpful and cooperative when they’ve requested strategic new or updated signage in their areas. Note: this initiative is effective only on roads under the jurisdiction of the MoTI. Road riders are encouraged to wear high visibility items such as fluorescent vests whenever they’re coming into contact with vehicle traffic, and to ensure that their horses are road-trained and ready for the experiences they’ll encounter. To find out what you need to request enhanced signage yourself, please visit: https://www.hcbc.ca/index.php/trailsrec/ road-safety/road-sign-help/
www.hcbc.ca | 13
INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE
What the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice means for your farm - large or small. Do now: Records: Keeping records of your farm activities will help show that you are meeting the expectations of the new regulation. Records are not submitted to anyone but are required to be kept at least 5 years as your own back up and could be requested during an inspection by provincial environmental protection staff. If requested, you should be able to provide records within 5 days. Relevant records include: ● Animal numbers and the amount of manure collected on the farm. Records should indicate how much manure is used on the farm and any amount exported off the farm (in m3). ● If manure leaves the farm operation, records are required to document the overall amount, and if in lots of 5 m3 (6.5 yards3) or greater include a log with lot size and receiver information. ● If you have manure stored temporarily in the field, keep a record of the date you started, location, material, and keep a weekly monitoring record. ● Manure or fertilizer that is applied for hay or pasture (how much, where, and when). High-risk areas: Determine if you are in a high-risk area and what actions may need to be taken. High-risk areas include high-precipitation areas, vulnerable aquifer recharge areas, and phosphorus affected areas. An interactive map where you can enter your address. is available online - Vulnerable Aquifer Recharge Areas and Phosphorus-affected Areas Map Tool on the Government of BC website. Storing Manure: Producers must prevent leachate, contaminated runoff, or manure itself from escaping any manure storage and going into watercourses or crossing property boundaries. If your farm is in a high precipitation area and/or a vulnerable aquifer recharge area, there may be some additional Code requirements for practices such as temporary field storage of manure. After cleaning out pens, watch where you pile manure. Manure needs to be either in a permanent storage structure or in a temporary pile. Permanent Manure Storage: If the location of the field storage never changes, permanent storage structure requirements apply: • Permanent structures are not necessarily brick and mortar constructions but have to be able to ensure that the code requirements are met. • If you are in a vulnerable aquifer recharge area, a “protective base” is required as part of the permanent storage structure. A 14 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
protective base is typically a concrete pad. A protective base is less commonly an engineered (compacted) soil liner, most soils would not be considered a protective base. • There are minimum setback distances from the edge of the storage to water sources: 30 meters to a drinking water source and 15 meters to a watercourse that isn’t a drinking water source. Temporary Field Storage of Manure: Temporary piles are meant to be temporary (≤ 7 months). If not, a permanent structure should be used for storage. • Location matters. Temporary piles must not be in low lying areas that may be flooded seasonally or closer than 30 m to a watercourse or drinking water source. • Keep temporary piles off coarse-textured soil if you are in a vulnerable aquifer recharge area. • In high precipitation areas cover temporary piles from October to April. • Change where your temporary piles are located - using the same area continuously will cause nutrient buildup. After a temporary pile is removed from an area, do not use that area again for at least 3 years and re-establish grass or another type of vegetation to remove any nutrients that may be leftover in the soil. Livestock Areas: Different livestock areas are described with requirements that become more stringent as the environmental risk associated with the area increases. For all areas the requirements aim to protect clean water from leachate, contaminated runoff, and manure itself. The Code defines and includes requirements for confined livestock areas, feedlots, seasonal feeding areas, grazing areas, and temporary holding areas. Access to watercourses: If animals have direct access to a watercourse in seasonal feeding areas, grazing areas, and temporary holding areas, ensure that measures are in place to: ● minimize trampling and erosion along the watercourse ● minimize contaminated runoff and manure from entering the watercourse The Code does not include specific practices, however fencing, off stream watering, or limiting watering points are measures that would discourage loitering and help meet this expectation.
Confined livestock areas: A confined livestock area is an outdoor area where animals are confined, either by structures or the topography of the land itself. Normally this is a turn out, paddock, or yard. No access to watercourses: Animals should not have direct access to a drinking water source or other watercourse while in a confined area. Runoff: Ensure any runoff that comes into contact with manure or leachate is contained so that it does not enter a watercourse, flooded area, or cross the property line.
Seasonal feeding areas: These are areas that are used for both cropping and seasonal feeding of animals. Typically, on forage fields where animals are located seasonally and provided supplemental feed. Make sure that on-ground feeding locations and mobile feeding bins are not placed near drinking water sources, watercourses, or the property line. Use the following setbacks:
contained, as they must not enter a watercourse or cross a property boundary. - Piles should not be sited in low lying areas prone to flooding, in locations with standing water or saturated soil. - If your farm is in a high precipitation area (i.e. South Coast), cover any temporary piles of wood residues stored in the field from October 1 to April 1. - Be sure to keep temporary piles off of coarse-textured soil if you are in a vulnerable aquifer recharge area. These are typically soils that are deep and well to excessively drained sands or gravels. • Permanent storage structure requirements: - Ensure that any leachate is contained and runoff from outside the area is diverted away. - If you are in a vulnerable aquifer recharge area, a “protective base” is required as part of the permanent storage structure. A protective base is typically a concrete pad. A protective base is less commonly an engineered (compacted) soil liner, and most soils would not be considered a protective base. Forage: Do now: Records: If your operation has a land base of 5 acres or more, you require records for: ● The application of commercial fertilizers and other nutrient sources containing N and P, such as manure or compost – how much, what product, when, and where. ● Yields and soil test results (see below) for fields that are fertilized.
Wood residue (e.g., sawdust and hog fuel) storage requirements: • For any storage of wood residue, there are minimum setback distances from the edge of the storage to water sources: 30 m to a drinking water source, and 15 m to a watercourse that isn’t a drinking water source. • Temporary field storage or permanent storage structure? - Temporary piles of wood residues are meant to be temporary (no longer than 12 months). If longer, permanent storage structure requirements apply. - Sites for temporary field storage should be changed: they must not occur in the same location again within a 3-year window. Otherwise, permanent storage structure requirements apply to the wood residue pile. • Temporary field storage requirements - Ensure that the materials in the pile and any contaminated runoff or leachate from the pile stays www.hcbc.ca | 15
INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE Do in the fall: Soil testing: If your farm is 2 hectares (5 acres) or larger you are required to have soil test phosphorus and soil postharvest nitrate results from within the last 3 years for soils that receive fertilizers or other nutrient sources containing nitrogen and phosphorus, including compost or manure. This does not include areas that receive manure directly from livestock, only manure that is collected and applied to land: ● The post-harvest nitrate test is intended to quantify any residual nitrate left in the soil at the end of the growing season. Samples for nitrate should be collected to a depth of 30cm (12”) in the fall or early spring ● If the post-harvest nitrate test is 100 kg N/ha (25 ppm for a 30cm/12in sample) or over, the area needs to be sampled again the following year. ● Each sample for post-harvest nitrate should be representative of areas with similar management (crop, fertilizer applications, and irrigation) and soil. Fields or sections may be grouped if they are similar as long as all areas are sampled accordingly. See the Ministry of Agriculture’s website for more information and recommendations on soil sampling and testing. Application of manure, fertilizer, or compost: ● Manure, fertilizer, or compost must not be spread on frozen or snow-covered ground. ● In high-precipitation areas, manure and other nutrient sources are not allowed to be applied during November, December, or January. ● In high precipitation areas a risk assessment needs to be completed in October, February, and March before any manure is land-applied. - The BC Application Risk Management tool can be used to do this - Manure, fertilizer, and other sources of nitrogen must not be applied in excess of the crop nitrogen requirement
Footnote Farm
in South Langley
AEM Code webpage: http://gov.bc.ca/AgriculturalEnvironmental-Management
Riding Lesson Center Certified Instructors and great horses for all levels
Footnote Farm Fjords 16 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
Bred for performance and built to last
www.footnotefarm.com footnotefarm@gmail.com 778-822-3276
Looking for the perfect thing to keep the little horse person in your life busy & learning? The Pony Tails Book of Coloring Fun & Horsey Facts is available NOW through the HCBC bookstore Do you know a horse crazy kid? Horse Council BC’s Pony Tails Kids Club is free and open to kids of all ages! Follow the adventures of Alice the Pony and her friends, Oliver, Panama and Howdy and learn all about horses and ponies. For more info on Pony Tails Kids Club or to order your copy of The Pony Tails Book of Coloring Fun & Horsey Facts visit www.hcbc.ca today!
www.hcbc.ca | 17
Photo Credit Amanda Ubell
COMPETITIONS
BC Rider Wins the 2019 National Championship Finals of J.C. Anderson Legacy Medal Emma Woo of Surrey, British Columbia, wins the 2019 National Championship Finals of J.C. Anderson Legacy Medal The J.C. Anderson Legacy Medal, Jumper Equitation Medal Series was held at competitions across the country in 2019.Riders were tested at a 1:20m – 1:25m jumper height. The top 10 athletes from each region were invited to compete during the National Final Series held at prestigious competitions throughout Canada. Each final round was judged in real-time at the competitions, as well as video recorded and judged by a panel of senior judges. $32,500.00 in athlete development bursaries were awarded, with Emma Woo, the National Champion from Surrey, BC, receiving a $10,000.00 bursary for future training and competition. This program supported young Equestrian athletes under the age of 25 from across the country and was designed to help identify those who have the potential to become Canada’s next generation High Performance athletes. Funding for the program was graciously provided by the J.C. Anderson Family Foundation, and the J.C. Anderson Legacy Fund through the Calgary Foundation and Alberta Sport Connection Donation Program and administered by Alberta Equestrian Federation. Sixteen-year-old Emma, rode her 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Hello Harry Z to the win. Emma has been riding with her coach Ashley Papalia of Papalia Training for the past 5 years.
Rider Spotlight Horse Council BC was able to catch up to Emma and ask her a few questions about herself, her life as a rider, her coach and of course her horse, Hello Harry Z. HCBC Hi Emma first of all congrats on your big win and thanks for taking the time to speak with us. HCBC - How old were you when you first started riding? Emma: I started lead line lessons when I was 6 years old. HCBC - Of all the sports out there, what made you want to be a rider? Emma: Riding has always been my favourite sport. At first, when I started riding ponies, I enjoyed the fun and games that came 18 | Equine Lifestyles SPRING/SUMMER 2020
along with early riding lessons. When I went to my first horse show, the excitement of winning a ribbon drew me in. Now, when I think about being a rider, it is the combined experience of training with my horse and competing as a team that is most important to me. Not only am I able to set goals, I am also able to reap the rewards of self improvement along the way. The best part about horseback riding is forming a strong bond and connection with my horse. I simply love horses, they make me feel happy and content. Photo Credit Amanda Ubell
HCBC - Can you walk us through what a normal day is like for you? Emma: On a normal day, I am in school from 8:30am to 3:00pm, I am in grade 11. After school, I go to the barn. I will either hack my horse, or have a lesson with my coach, Ashley Papalia. Once I am finished at the barn, I head home for dinner with my family and complete homework or study. It isn’t very exciting, but it is a routine that works for me. HCBC - Now can you walk us through what a day at the horse show is like for you? Emma: My coach has a motto, “the horses come first”, and this is how we treat our horses every day. At horse shows, we start the day early by feeding and watering the horses. Mucking stalls, hand walking, prepping and grooming horses take up the early morning hours. Once my horse is ready, we go out for a good morning hack to prep him. Upon returning to the barn, we usually go through a plan for the day with Ashley. Communication is key with our team of riders as we aim to help each other in and out of the show ring. Once I know my class times, I usually check the ring, learn my course, or walk the course. I spend time watching other riders in my class, it helps me plan out my track, anticipate turns and strides. After my classes, I tackle cleaning, icing and wrapping my horse. Horse shows are never boring, there is always a lot of work to be done in a day. I take time to eat, rest and enjoy myself in between competing and doing the work that needs to be done.
about horse shows is the community of friends I get to compete with every year. We cheer each other at the best of times, and find a supportive word and a good joke at the worst of times. HCBC - Tell us about your horse Hello Harry Z Emma: Harry is a 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding. He is a playful, outgoing horse who loves hanging out with me at the barn. He has a good sense of humour and can be very cheeky. He is fun, brave and loves jumping, especially in the Grand Prix rings. He has an easy going personality and he is perfect for me. HCBC - What’s your favourite food? Emma: Sushi! Anytime, any day! HCBC - What is Hello Harry Z’s favourite food? Emma: Harry loves to eat, his favourite food is everything, but I think stud muffins really get him excited.
HCBC - What can you tell us about your coach, Ashley Papalia? Emma: My coach is Ashley Papalia, I have been riding with her since 2014. Ashley is a fun loving, patient and supportive coach who I feel understands me not only as a rider, but as a person. I learn something new from her daily whether it is horse care or a riding technique, she never fails to educate me. Her passion for learning and self improvement is infectious and I have benefitted greatly from it. She strives for excellence in and out of the ring. She guides the development of young riders like me by emphasizing correct riding and horsemanship. With my goals in mind, Ashley looks for fun, new challenges for me like the JC Anderson Medal, the RMSJ Mini Prix, the Thunderbird Good Hands and Seat medal, the CET medal, the Jump Canada medal and many others. I feel these experiences have allowed me to grow not only as a rider but also as a person. She has been instrumental in helping me understand goal setting and achievement. She has taught me to learn from my failures, and not to take myself too seriously. HCBC - What’s your favourite thing about horse shows? Emma: Horse shows are full of ups and downs. My favourite thing
Emma’s first pony, Foxen’s Little Treat 2014 / Photo credit Nora Woo
HCBC OK last question - What is your best advice to any young aspiring rider? Emma: My best advice is to “keep moving forward”! In the last few years, I have learned so much from the horses I have ridden. Many of these lessons were difficult and discouraging. However, every day, I went back to the barn to try again, I was frustrated but committed to improve myself. Don’t be afraid to try new things, don’t be afraid to ask for help. With the help of my coach, team mates, and clinicians, I continue to learn new mental skills and riding techniques. This translates into better communication with my horse and together, we keep moving forward. HCBC Thanks Emma, and again congratulations on your hard work and dedication!
An equestrian-lover’s dream
FOR SALE
29360 TOWNSHIPLINE ROAD, ABBOTSFORD, BC A 39.5 ACRE WORLD-CLASS EQUESTRIAN ESTATE IN THE HEART OF ABBOTSFORD
A rare opportunity to own a turn-key beautifully maintained property with equestrian facilities. This private complex offers an existing 3,632 square foot main building with a coach house and private residence, along with a 4-bay garage, a 10-stall fully-serviced barn, and an extensive indoor riding ring which are all set onto the rolling pastures and trails of the property’s private acreage. Plenty of room to design & build your dream home. For details, pictures and video visit: cushwk.co/2PUg3jJ
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ARRANGE A PRIVATE TOUR CONTACT:
JORDAN SENGARA
PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
RON EMERSON
LIAM BOULTBEE
604 683 3111
