The Official Newsletter of the Ontario Equestrian Federation
Fall 2013 www.horse.on.ca
Meet Your New OEF Directors Ontario Medals At The CIEC A Look At The Life Of Dressage Icon Eva-Maria Pracht
Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement #40946006
The Official Newsletter of The Ontario Equestrian Federation • 1 West Pearce Street, Suite 201, Richmond Hill ON L4B 3K3
www.horse.on.ca | 1
Fall 2013 is published quarterly by ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION 1 West Pearce Street, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3K3 Tel: 905-709-6545 • Fax: 905-709-1867 Toll-free: 1-877-441-7112 • Email: horse@horse.on.ca www.horse.on.ca
Ontario Equestrian Federation BOARD OF DIRECTORS Allan Ehrlick President/Associations Council Chair 905-854-0762
Jack de Wit Director/Recreation Council Chair 905-655-4666
Marc Nicols 1st Vice President/ Industry Council Chair 705-435-9229
Ken Denouden Director/Competitions Council Chair 416-409-8614
Kimberley Blease 2nd Vice President/ Associations Council Vice-Chair 416-566-1801
Isabel Dopta Director 519-993-1192
Valerie Shipp Treasurer 519-362-5668 Claudia Wagner-Wilson Secretary 905-466-1901 Jane Casselman Director 905-854-2391 Andrea Clarke Director 519-763-3999
Tracey Evans Director 289-231-6775 Grant Field Director/Horse Facilities Council Chair 905-888-1226 Al Patterson Director 905-659-1132 Jean Szkotnicki Director 519-822-2836
STAFF Dianne Graham Executive Director d. graham@horse.on.ca ext. 19
Lesley McCoy Membership Services Rep l.mccoy@horse.on.ca ext. 13
Catherine Barker Operations Manager c.barker@horse.on.ca ext. 23
Gillian Ross Erasmi Coaching Coordinator g.rosserasmi@horse.on.ca ext. 11
Melissa Monardo Marketing Manager m.monardo@horse.on.ca ext. 17
Charlayne Szafranski Administrative Assistant c.szafranski@horse.on.ca ext. 32
Brandon Hall Executive Assistant b.hall@horse.on.ca ext. 30
Angelique Homan Competition Administrator a.homan@horse.on.ca ext. 15
Melissa Kosowan Communications Coordinator m.kosowan@horse.on.ca ext. 27
Stephanie Rutherford Program AdministratorFirst Safe Strides s.rutherford@horse.on.ca ext. 12
Kim Banks Marketing Coordinator k.banks@horse.on.ca ext. 22 Susan Bell Sr. Membership Services Rep s.bell@horse.on.ca ext. 14
Pam Coburn Program Administrator Horse Facilities p.coburn@horse.on.ca ext. 26 Candace Gomes Finance Administrator c.gomes@horse.on.ca ext. 16
Copyright, including electronic, belongs to the OEF. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Articles and letters are welcome from members, but must be signed and include a phone number. The publisher reserves the right to revise all material accepted for publication, including articles, columns, photographs, images and advertisements.
Publication Dates Winter 2014 / December 6 Spring 2014 / February 7 Summer 2014 / deadline May 30 Fall 2014 / deadline September 5
Contents
NEWS 4 President’s Message 4 Executive Director’s Message 6 OEF Associations' Advisory Council Update 6 New OEF Council Members 7 OEF Quarterly Report 10 OEF Welcomes New Board Of Directors 12 CIEC: Ontario Takes Top Spots At Interprovincial Championships 14 NAJYRC Dressage: Talented Team Of Riders Represent Ontario At Prestigious Event 15 NAJYRC Eventing: Ontario Eventers Get Taste Of Team Competition 16 NAJYRC Endurance: Ontario's Emma Webb Battles Heat And Humidity To Win Silver Medal 17 NAJYRC Jumping: Jumpers Gain Invaluable Experience At NAJYRC 18 NAJYRC Reining: Ontario Reiner Emily Wilson Slides Her Way To Silver 19 OEF Model Member Award Nomination Form 20 2014 Membership Renewals Available In November 20 Recreation Advisory Council Update 20 Campaign Collects Obsolete Equine Medications 20 OEF Launches New Blog Section On Website 21 OEF Member Named YWCA Woman Of Distinction 22 Caledon Celebrates 2-Year Countdown To Pan Am 22 Obituary: Jack Reeves – July 31, 1930 - Aug. 16, 2013 23 2014 OEF Youth Bursary Application MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 26 Equine Artist Celebrates 25 Years In The Business 28 Equestrian Icon: Eva-Maria Pracht – Taking Dressage To The Next Level THERAPEUTIC SPOTLIGHT 32 Northern Therapy Horses Brighten Lives AROUND THE BARN 34 OEF Horse Facilities Program Hits The Road SAFETY FIRST 36 First Aid Training Could Save A Life MANE EVENTS 38 2013 Competitions 38 Celebrate OEF Member Day At Royal
ASK BFL 49 Does My Horse Club Really Need Insurance? SPECIAL FEATURE 52 Head Injury Part 4: Survey Data Reveals Concussions Common ON THE TRAIL 54 Saddle Up For Trail Riding In Ottawa 55 Meeting A Horse On the Trail 55 Best Practices for Horses on the Trails BREED & DISCIPLINE UPDATES 56 Ontario Wins Big At Canadian Arabian & Half-Arabian Nationals 56 Welsh Pony And Cob Association Honours Mentors With Award 59 Erin Fall Fair Celebrates Equine Heritage 59 Pony Club Testing: Filling The Gap Between Past And Present 60 Long-Time Road Horse Competitor Retires After Successful Show Career 60 Get Involved With The Ontario Quarter Horse Association 63 Canadian Sport Horses Continue To Prove Their Talents As Eventers 63 Miniature Horse Owners Wrap Up Busy Summer Season 64 Gypsy Vanner Fans Celebrate The Best Of The Breed 64 Mounted Games Are Fun For All Ages 65 Cutting Awards Honour Top Riders And Pay Homage To Cutting Icons 65 Morgan Show Has Been Bringing Enthusiasts Together For 46 Years 67 Ontarians Compete At World Icelandic Horse Championships In Germany 67 Western Ontario Pony Club Hosts International Mounted Games 68 Fun Classes Add New Dimension To Tri-County Driving Show 68 Miniature Horse Club Of Ontario Celebrates Successful Show Season EQUINE GUELPH 71 Fall Newsletter
COACHES CORNER 43 Program Changes On The Horizon 44 Learn To Ride Program Develops Skills For All Ages 45 Quest For Gold: Ontario Athlete Assistance Program
About The Cover: Obviously Too Sweet is a two-year old Leopard Appaloosa filly owned by Dave Adams.
ASK DR. BOB 46 My Horse Has Developed Lumps. What Can It Be?
Cover photo by Shawn Hamilton, CLiX Photography.
www.horse.on.ca | 3
Executive Director’s Message Each year at this time I become reflective of what trials and successes the year has brought. This year is no different, and there is so much to think about. I recently attended an Ontario agriculture event and was sitting with renowned Canadian chef Jamie Kennedy. He spoke of how demands in the food world have come full circle. In the 1970s, when he began his career at the Windsor Arms Hotel, it was considered chic to import the ingredients on your menu and hire chefs from European countries. Local talent and food were just not good enough. After a period of accepting this culinary viewpoint, he enjoyed some locally grown strawberries at his grandmother’s house and realized the sweet taste was how fresh food should taste. He then became a proponent of the local food movement in Ontario, which I think we can all agree has become the new standard. The same movement has become prevalent with Ontario wine. So what does this have to do with horses? Well, in the equestrian world, I sometimes think we believe something is better just
because it comes from somewhere else. When I was a girl everyone seemed to look to horses from the U.S. as being the very best. Today, it seems to be European horses that everyone wants. I am not saying horses from these market hot spots aren’t top quality, but I think the equestrian community needs to keep in mind that where a horse comes from does not necessarily equal success. We should be selecting our horses based on merit, not where they come from. Let’s remember that Ontario has raised some of the most successful horses in history. We have raised Kentucky Derby winners, Olympic gold medal winners and just all around great horses. Ontario now has some of the best breeding stock, professional talent, feed and farms in the world. When a horse is sold in Ontario, the trickle-down economic effect is felt from the farriers, feed producers, barn builders, truck dealers, veterinarians, universities and even the local coffee shop. I encourage you to consider an Ontario-bred horse the next time you are looking for an equine partner. Like chef Jamie Kennedy, you may be pleasantly surprised at the quality you’ll find in your own “backyard“. In the process, you might just help start a local equine movement.
Dianne Graham, Executive Director
President’s Message It is indeed a privilege for me to return as your president for the ninth time. We have a superb staff ready to help you with any of your equine needs within our purview. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank pastpresident Grant Field for his efforts over the past year. Thank you, also, to outgoing directors Lindsey Reeve and Mark Dobrindt for their hard work and dedication to the Ontario Equestrian Federation.
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We are most fortunate to welcome some new directors who bring with them a wealth of talent and experience, which will blend well with our seasoned veterans. I look forward to serving our diverse membership and hope you’ll take the time to share your feedback with me on how we can continue to grow and improve this organization.
Allan H.L. Ehrlick, President
News
New OEF Council Members
The OEF is pleased to introduce NEW 2013 Council members: AFFILIATES Collingwood Agricultural Society, EquuSolutions, Rising Star Pony Club and Sutton Agricultural Society. HORSE FACILITIES Byden Farm Equestrian Services, Cherrylane Equestrian Centre Inc., Foxwood Farm, Goudlin Equestrian, Highview Farms Inc., Horse Alternative Therapeutic Services, Pinto Valley Ranch, Reidell Farms and Willaway Farm. INDUSTRY Angela Saieva Equine Photography, Arthur Strahl Farrier Services, Auchamore Stud, Drury Healthy Horse Feeders Corp., Horse Country Campground, Keller Williams Advantage Realty, McMaster Massage Equine Rehabilitation Services and Red Scarf Equestrian. Please visit www.horse.on.ca to view a current listing of all OEF Council members and learn about the products and services they provide. The OEF appreciates the support that OEF Industry members provide, and encourages WHOA! readers to support OEF Industry, Horse Facilities and Affiliate members! For more information on how you can promote your business please contact Melissa Monardo m.monardo@horse.on.ca, 1-877-441-7112 or 905-709-6545 ext. 17.
Correction:
In the Summer 2013 issue of WHOA! we unintentionally failed to include the Ontario Peruvian Horse Association in the photo caption on page 14. The Ontario Peruvian Horse Association also participates in the Summer Sizzler horse show and their judge, Annette Kart, was present in the photograph of the cake cutting in honour of Toronto Horse Day.
We want to hear your suggestions! Let us know if there is a subject you’d like to see covered in WHOA! or a member you think deserves to be recognized.
E-mail m.kosowan@horse.on.ca
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OEF Associations Advisory Council Update by Allan Ehrlick, Chair
The Associations Advisory Council met on Monday, Sept. 9 at the OEF office. Thank you to Joanne Carr, bilingual OASIS manager from Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals Inc., who gave a very informative talk on what supplements are, how they produce them and the benefits for your equine partner – as well as other family animals and humans, too! Omega Alpha is focussed on educating users on the use of supplements. For more information, visit www.omegaalpha.ca Other business items discussed at the meeting included an update on the OEF’s participation at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the changes to the Spirit of the Horse exhibit for 2013. As some of you may or may not be aware, the OEF has managed the Spirit of the Horse exhibit for the Royal for a number of years. This involved the booking of breed/discipline groups, clinics and participants, setting the daily schedules and the overall management of the exhibit in the months leading up to the Royal, as well as the set-up, the 10 days of the event and the tear down. The Royal has changed the presence of the Spirit of the Horse for 2013, and the OEF is not managing the exhibit this year. If you are interested in participating in the Spirit of the Horse, contact Emma Nolan at enolan@royalfair.org The OEF will have a booth in Hall A and will be celebrating its members with a Member Appreciation Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. This year, the OEF People Make a Difference Awards will be presented at the year-end banquets of recipient associations. The next meeting for the Associations Advisory Council will be held on Nov. 18. Grant cheques will be presented at that time. Following interest from member associations, we will work to secure a speaker to talk about website development/maintenance for the next meeting.
News
Ontario Equestrian Federation Quarterly Report The Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) continuously works on behalf of its members to develop new programs, create new benefits and improve equestrian activity in Ontario throughout the year. To ensure its members are aware of the work being done, every issue of WHOA! includes a quarterly activity report that highlights current projects and those that have been completed. Articles within this issue of WHOA! will provide more details on these various projects.
ASSOCIATIONS
• Associations Council meeting took place Sept. 9 • Following a call for nominations for the position of chair, Allan Ehrlick was acclaimed as chair of the Associations Advisory Council.
FIRST SAFE STRIDES
• Since July 10, First Safe Strides has attended Odessa, Almonte, Lansdowne, Lakefield, Lombardy, Napanee, Merrickville, Sutton, Fenelon, Emo, Shedden, Markdale, Paisley, Arran Tara, Kingston, Madoc, Milton and Coldwater fairs. • Attended Kawartha Hunter Jumper Association series show at Small Victory Farm regarding show administration support and sanctioning of local Hunter/Jumper shows. • Six agricultural societies recruited as Affiliate members. Two applied for and received Recreation Fund money for ring improvements. One additional application is pending. • Started the development of an outreach education program for school children to be delivered at fairs.
COACHING
• Travelled to Ottawa to meet with the new coaching manager at Equine Canada, as well as meet the program coordinators at Kemptville College. • Visited several of our certified coaches and instructors around the province to discuss the programs we offer and ideas for training opportunities. • Organized training and evaluation opportunities for fall and winter. • Issued 110 English and 20 Western rider certificates from July 10 to Sept. 17.
MEMBER BENEFITS
• Royal Horse Show tickets – members receive either 30% off two tickets on Tuesday or 15% off on other nights (excluding the last Saturday) – Sept. 4 to Oct. 15. • TSC Stores – OEF/OFA Member Days Sale – Sept. 9-22 • Equine Nights – Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment – Stouffville, ON. o Waylon Roberts – Oct. 4 @ 7 p.m. o Jessica Phoenix – Oct. 10 @ 7 p.m. o Belinda Trussell – Oct. 17 @ 7 p.m. o Dr. Bruce Watt – Oct. 30 @ 7 p.m.
HORSE FACILITIES COUNCIL
• Toured East and North region facilities and met 12 facility owners. • Common themes were rider level testing/education interest (for riding schools); certification and education opportunities for coaches; and having OEF facilitating communications and education between facility owners. • Attended a Dressage show at the Caledon Equestrian Park.
• Visited Saddlewood Equestrian Centre in Bethany, ON. to review camp program package. • Congratulations to Grant Field, the newly elected chair. Grant is also the incumbent chair of this committee so he will continue his current term for an additional two years.
RECREATION
• Following a call for nominations for the position of chair, Jack de Wit was acclaimed as chair of the Recreation Advisory Council. The second round of the 2013 Recreation Funding Program is now open and is open to all current 2013 Recreation Advisory Council members. Application forms and information are available on our website at www.horse.on.ca
COMPETITIONS
• Team Ontario shipped horses to Calgary to compete at the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships. After three days of competition, they walked away with a gold medal for the Jumper team, gold medal for the Dressage team and bronze medal for the Reining team. Overall, Team Ontario came home with the silver medal!
CLEAN SPORT
• Drug technicians have attended over 100 shows in Ontario in 2013, and close to 580 horses have been selected for random drug testing.
GRANTS/FUNDING
• Cheques for eligible associations who participated in this year’s base application process will be issued at the Nov. 18 meeting. • Look for the 2013-2014 Quest for Gold information and applications to be posted on the OEF website in early November. • 2014 Youth Bursary applications are due Dec. 6.
EVENTS
OEF Representatives attended the following events : • CNE Light Horse Show – Toronto, ON. – July 30 • CNE Jumper Show – Toronto, ON. – Aug. 6 • Region 18 Arabian & Half-Arabian Championships – London, ON. – July 19 • Roberto Teran Clinic for OEF Members – Campbellville, ON. – Aug. 19 • Mustang Festival for Easter Seals – Harwood, ON. – Aug. 24-25 • Trillium Championships – BBQ Event – Palgrave, ON. – Sept. 5 • Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships – Calgary, AB. – Sept. 7-14 • Ontario Equestrian Federation AGM – Sept. 23, 2013
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380 KINGSTON ROAD. EAST, AJAX, ON. L1Z 1W4 PH. (905) 686-0948TOLL FREE: (800) 661 –9622 STORE HOURS: MON. TO SAT.: 10-6, SUN.: 12-5 WEBSITE: www.picovs.ca EMAIL: picovs@bellnet.ca
News
OEF Welcomes New Board Of Directors The Ontario Equestrian Federation is pleased to welcome its new board of directors following the annual general meeting and election that took place on Sept. 23 in Caledon:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Allan H.L. Ehrlick – President Marc Nicols – 1st Vice President Kimberley Blease – 2nd Vice President Valerie Shipp – Treasurer Claudia Wagner Wilson – Secretary
DIRECTORS:
Jane Casselman, Andrea Clarke, Ken Denouden, Jack de Wit, Isabel Dopta, Tracey Evans, Grant Field, Al Patterson, Jean Szkotnicki “We’re excited to welcome and congratulate our new board members and look forward to working with you in the year ahead!” says Dianne Graham, executive director of the OEF. “We would also like to thank our outgoing president, Grant Field, as well as outgoing directors Mark Dobrindt and Lindsey Reeve, for the time they have devoted to this organization and the equine community.” All individual adult OEF members in good standing are eligible to stand for election and vote. Voting took place online in the weeks leading up to the election and members were also able to cast their vote in person during the annual general meeting.
Meet Our New Directors JANE CASSELMAN
For 30 years, Jane Casselman has owned and operated Touch N Go Farms in Campbellville, ON. As a founding member of the Trillium show circuit and a past president of the Ontario Equestrian Federation, Jane has a strong understanding of the equine industry. She works tirelessly to produce grassroots level competitions geared towards developing youth and attracting them to the sport. She presently runs lollipop schooling shows at her facility throughout the summer, with an emphasis on preparing the younger generation for Trillium and A circuit competition. These shows are meant to be fun, while giving children the opportunity to grow and show what they have learned during training at home.
TRACEY EVANS
Tracey Evans is the owner/program director of Dreamwinds Equine Assisted Learning Centre, located at Dreamwinds Stables in Bradford, ON. As a certified career coach and Equine Assisted Learning facilitator, Tracey delivers innovative leadership, team building and life skills development programs for corporate and youth groups using horses as guides. An avid equestrian and former senior marketing executive, she brings together her horse sense and 15 years of leading high performing teams to help others develop critical skills to enable them to reach their full potential.
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Prior to starting her own business in 2012, Tracey was the vice president of merchant services marketing for American Express. She led the merchant services marketing teams for LACC, which includes Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Tracey began her professional career in finance for a large municipality. In 1997, she pursued her Master of Business Administration and enjoyed a very successful marketing career in the telecommunications and financial services industries. After a lifetime of loving horses and 13 years of dedicated riding and horse ownership, Tracey and her partner, Dirk Tews, built Dreamwinds Stables, a small equestrian boarding and training facility. With a strong passion for horses and leadership development, Tracey completed her certification in Equine Assisted Learning Facilitation and launched Dreamwinds Equine Assisted Learning Centre to fulfill her passion for helping others learn through interactive equine experiences.
VALERIE SHIPP
Through riding on the A circuit with Torchy Millar, Eventing with Colonel Michael Gutowski, owning and operating Tallery Stables in Guelph, ON. and being a dedicated show mom to her daughter, Shipp is able to view the industry from different points of view and offer advice from first-hand experience.
Professionally, she is a senior business analyst for information services at Aecon Group Inc., the largest publicly traded construction company in Canada. In addition to her 19 years with the company, she is also a CPA , Certified Management Accountant and holds a BA in Economics from McMaster University. When she’s not in the office, she can be found competing in the Adult 36+ Hunter division and working closely with the Camperdown Riding Club in the Bahamas, a non-profit organization that sponsors Autistic riders.
JEAN SZKOTNICKI
Jean Szotnicki's passion for horses began early in her life. In her youth she showed on the Hunter/Jumper circuit and now has an interest in Eventing. She and her husband Bill have a small farm southeast of Guelph where they have seven horses; three of their own and four boarders. Jean’s work career spans over 30 years in association management. In the 1980s she was assistant manager of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association and since the 1990s has headed up the Canadian Animal Health Institute, which represents the manufacturers and distributors of animal medications in Canada. As president of the institute, Jean works with federal and provincial governments, industry partners in the production and companion animal sectors and in the veterinary profession. She currently serves on the Farm and Food Foundation board of directors and chairs the Health Canada/ Canadian Food Inspection Agency Canadian Animal Health Product Regulatory Advisory Committee.
News
Ontario Takes Top Spots At Interprovincial Championships Ontario’s riders brought home the hardware at the 2013 Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships, which took place from Sept. 13-15 in Calgary, AB. and saw riders from across Canada vying for a place on the podium.
Ariane St. John, who rode in the Junior and Senior Jumper divisions, respectively; Junior Reiner Brianna Pecore of Stoney Creek, ON. and Senior Reiner Ann Pavlic of Dorchester, ON.; and Senior Dressage rider Peter Chiddy of Caledon, ON.
Ontario took home gold medals in team competition in both Jumping and Dressage and also secured a bronze in Reining. In individual competition, Ontario’s riders also made it to the podium, scoring enough points to secure a silver medal for Ontario in the overall standings. Individual medals included:
“We are thrilled with how our riders performed,” says Dianne Graham, executive director of the Ontario Equestrian Federation. “The competition just keeps getting better and Team Ontario rose to the challenge.”
DRESSAGE Junior Gold - Vanessa Creech-Terauds of Caistor Centre, ON. Junior Bronze - Georgia Wade of Fonthill, ON. Senior Bronze - Natalie Tourikian of Richmond Hill, ON. REINING Senior Silver - Jesse Pecore of Stoney Creek, ON. JUMPER Junior Bronze - Christine Carlsen of North York, ON. Senior Bronze - Jacqueline Chevalier of Tecumseh, ON. Team Ontario also included Toronto residents Zoe Meloff and
Guiding the Jumping team was Danny Foster of Milton, ON., a Level 3 Hunter/Jumper coach with 40 years coaching experience. Foster was also selected as the chef d’equipe for Ontario. Returning for the second year as the coach of the Dressage team was Simone Williams, a Level 3 Dressage coach from Navan, ON., who has over 20 years experience coaching up to the Grand Prix level. Brenda Robson was the Reining coach and brought to the team over a decade of coaching experience as a Level 1 Western coach. The Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships is a collaborative event between the national and provincial sport organizations and is key in the development of the next generation of national, international and world champions. ✤
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News
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Ontario Riders Continue To Impress At CIEC By Grant Field, Outgoing OEF President
As the 2013 competition season comes to a close, I reflect on Ontario’s performances at the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships and take pride in our continued success on the national stage.
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Last year I was chef d’equipe and Jumper coach for Ontario at the 2012 Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships, an event this province was attending for the first time. Ontario attended with a small team of four jumpers and one Dressage rider. What a wonderful experience of team camaraderie and competition it was! Of course, it didn’t hurt that we came away with a top 10 Dressage finish, a jumper team bronze medal, and Helen Chambers winning the Jumping Junior individual gold medal. As we entered the 2013 CIEC, the standards and expectations for success had been set high by the first Ontario team last year.
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Team Ontario was made up of junior and senior riders in the disciplines of Jumping, Reining and Dressage. 2. Jacqueline Chevalier and Catalyst, Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Finja and Natalie Tourikian and Cumulus Effect after their wins. 3. Senior Reiner Jesse Pecore and Hickory Ginnin Penny. 4. Junior Jumper Zoe Meloff and Stella. 5. Junior Dressage rider Georgia Wade and Quantum. 6. Junior Reiner Brianna Pecore and Just Plain Gayle. 7. Danny Foster coached the Jumping team, which consisted of Zoe Meloff, Ariane St. John, Jacqueline Chevalier and Christine Carlsen, to a team gold. 8. Dressage riders Peter Chiddy, Natalie Tourikian, Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Georgia Wade jump for joy. 9. Reining coach Brenda Robson and riders Ann Pavlic, Brianna Pecore and Jesse Pecore celebrate the team’s bronze medal win with Equine Canada CEO Jean-Christophe Gandubert. Photos courtesy of the Chevalier family
This year, the competition was held at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping on Anderson Ranch in south Calgary. John Anderson and his team, along with the Alberta Equestrian Federation, put on a fantastic event in the beautiful setting at the base of the Rocky Mountains. As if scripted, this year’s nearly full complement team of four Jumpers, four Dressage riders, and three Reiners worked together with team coaches, private coaches, parents, and spouses to achieve a new and even higher standard of team work and success. I was extremely proud to be part of the closing ceremonies. Ontario received Most Sportsmanlike Conduct and High Score from a Leased Horse in Reining, individual medals in all disciplines and the overall provincial team silver. Ontario team supporters danced and cheered in the crowd, waiving the Ontario flag in celebration of our accomplishments.
The OEF would like to thank Bruce Agra Dehy, Bucas Ltd., EquineLUX, Intercity Insurance Services, Picov’s, SSG Gloves and Tipperary Equestrian, as well as Perry Horse Transport for their generous sponsorship of Team Ontario at the CIEC competition. www.horse.on.ca | 13
News
ADEQUAN/FEI NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY GOTHAM NORTH
Talented Team Of Riders Represent Ontario At Prestigious Event
By Alison Brebner, Shadow Chef d’Equipe
The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships took place from July 16-21 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. and Ontario was once again represented by a talented team of riders. The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders between the ages of 14-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of Reining and Endurance. More than 200 riders competed at this year’s event. Members of the Ontario Young Rider Dressage Team at this year’s NAJYRC were not strangers to the championships, with three out of four having competed there before. The team was comprised of Anneka Sutton of Drumbo ,ON. with Donnegan, Sarah Pfaff of Harrow, ON. with Vavite Fortuna, Madison Lawson of Bonfield, ON. with McGuire and Mariah Sutton of Drumbo, ON. with Renoir. Ellen Rumball of Hillsburgh, ON. was the chef d’equipe and was assisted on site by shadow chef Alison Brebner.
Photo by Nathalie Lawson
Cassandra Jessop and Madison Lawson chat in the golf carts.
Despite the heat and humidity, the team rode well, battling midafternoon ride times in the hot sun to finish in eighth place in the team competition. In the individual competition, Anneka Sutton placed 14th with a score of 65.079% with Donnegan, a 10-yearold Canadian bred stallion by Don Frederico and owned by Karen Thomson. The pair moved on to the freestyle where they finished in 15th place with a score of 60.275% . In the Junior division, the Manitoba/Ontario Junior team finished in 9th place in team competition. Ontario rider Cassandra Jessop of Newmarket, ON. finished 21st on Mariska in the individual competition and Brooke Koppeser of Winterbourne, ON. placed 23rd on Escabar.
Photo by Nathalie Lawson
Canada was well represented in Dressage by talented riders from across the country.
Congratulations for making your province proud! ✤
Photo by Nathalie Lawson
Madison Lawson on McGuire, Mariah Sutton on Renoir, Sarah Pfaff on Vavite Fortuna and Anneka Sutton on Donnegan.
14 | WHOA! Fall 2013
News
Ontario Eventers Get A Taste Of Team Competition
By Jessica Phoenix, Eventing Coach
Each Ontario team member rose to the challenge. Lauren Clark of Uxbridge, ON. wowed spectators with a beautiful Dressage test on Yoscha Bosche that put her at the top of the leader board in the 1* division. Haley Armstrong-Laframboise earned a personal best dressage score riding Dejavu in the 2* Young Rider division with a score of 53.9. A special thank you goes to Olympic Dressage rider Jacqueline Brooks for her support of the Ontario riders during the NAJYRC. Cross-Country day was rife with energy and excitement and the riders couldn’t wait to tackle the course. Demonstrating what a class act our young Canadian riders are, we opted to have a Team Canada vet box where young riders from Alberta and Quebec joined Team Ontario. This was a fantastic opportunity for our young riders to experience for the first time a Team Canada feeling, ultimately helping to prepare them for the international program down the road. Our top-placed Canadian rider after the Cross-Country phase was Moira de Ste Croix-Laframboise of Kars, ON. and Blue Ben, who had an outstanding ride around the challenging 1* course.
April Simmonds of Uxbridge, ON, claimed the individual bronze medal in the 1* Junior division.
From winning the Dressage phase of the 1* division, to thrilling Cross-Country rides, to a bronze medal finish, Ontario’s riders shone in Eventing at the 2013 North American Junior and Young Riders Championships in Lexington, KY. For most competitors, the North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC) marks the first time riders come together as a team, supporting each other throughout the ups and downs of a major competition. It’s an invaluable experience for any rider dreaming of competing at the international level and our Ontario’s Junior and Young Rider teams really took it to heart. The setting had all the makings of a mini-Olympics. From accreditation to tight barn security, riders got to experience first-hand what a major competition feels like. Ontario made its presence known right out of the gate by winning the golf cart team challenge, which is a fun parade that each young rider team competes in following the opening ceremonies. Our Canadathemed golf cart was unmatched and clinched the win! During Dressage, every Ontario rider was ringside to support and cheer on their teammates. It was wonderful to see our next generation of riders embracing the team mentality that is required to ride at the international level. In preparation for the NAJYRC, riders compete individually, often against one another, so it’s a big change to switch gears and ride as a team.
On the final day of competition, Show Jumping proved to be every bit as thrilling as the previous phases and Ontario’s riders exuded team spirit and professionalism. April Simmonds of Uxbridge, ON., riding Impressively Done, jumped a clear round to rise up the leader board and claim the individual bronze medal, much to the delight of her fellow team members. The team finished 5th overall in the very competitive 1* Junior division. In the challenging 2* Young Rider division, Dasha Ivandaeva and Autorytet jumped around the course to claim an 8th place finish overall, with three rails down. We were delighted with her performance! The NAJYRC proved to be a tremendous learning experience for Ontario’s Junior and Young Rider Eventing Teams. Each rider came together during competition to form one cohesive team but, more importantly, these riders came away from competition with a new support group that they can lean on throughout the inevitable ups and downs of Eventing. I’d like to give a huge thank you to our Chef d’Equipes Jennifer Kellock and Momo Labramboise, our team veterinarian Dr. Kathryn Sawarski, and all of the parents for helping to make the 2013 NAJYRC an amazing experience for our riders. Also, a big thank you goes out to the Ontario Young Rider Organizing Committee, Selection Committee and of course to the Ontario Horse Trials Association (OHTA). I hope to have all of these riders back next year to help lead and mentor additional up-and-coming riders! You are our future and from where I’m standing, the future is bright! ✤ www.horse.on.ca | 15
News
ADEQUAN/FEI NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY GOTHAM NORTH
Ontario’s Emma Webb Battles Heat And Humidity To Win Silver Medal By Daphne Richard, Endurance Canada
intense Kentucky heat and humidity, but holding their position in the top three. “My crew worked hard on Vagas during the next vet gate, and heading out on the next loop he was feeling and looking much better,” Webb says. “I was still riding with Jessica DiCamillo from New Mexico on the fourth loop, and we slowed the pace to keep the horses as cool as possible. Riding with someone really does make a difference, helping us to stay positive – we smiled the whole way!” At the fourth vet gate, Vagas had lost another shoe, requiring the farrier once again. “Since Vagas was feeling and looking great, we cantered out of the gate on the last loop,” Webb says. “There were riders all around me, just ahead and behind me. I told Vagas, ‘We can do it!’ When I caught up with the rider in front of me, Vagas was on a mission. We cantered passed them and just kept on going.” Photo by Pete Landon/Brant Gamma Photos
Emma Webb (left) rode Vagas to an individual silver in the 120-km ride.
Ontario’s Emma Webb rode a brilliant ride on the exceptionally talented chestnut Arabian gelding, Vagas, leading the Canadian contingent from start to finish, to capture the individual silver medal at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. They completed the FEI CEI 4* 120-km race in 7:29:40. U.S. rider, Cassandra Roberts, won the race in 6:19:21, a blistering pace on a hot, humid day in Lexington, KY. Webb’s equine partner, Vagas, is owned by Canadian Endurance Team member, Robert Gielen, who has competed for Canada at both the World Equestrian Games and World Endurance Championships. Vagas is in his third year of competition, completing 24 rides with 11 Best Condition awards, 15 first place finishes and nine 50-mile rides in under five hours. Webb’s plan from the start of the race was to stay behind the early front-runners, maintain a steady speed and, most importantly, keep Vagas happy. Everything went smoothly into the first vet gate at 16.8 miles with Vagas pulsing down easily and moving into a mandatory hold of 40 minutes, with a missing shoe! Once the shoe was replaced, off they flew. “We had an awesome second loop. There was lots of water and since it was mostly a two-way trail, I got to see many of the other riders. Everyone was happy and cheering for each other,” says Webb. “That is the great thing about this competition; we are all there to have fun!” At the second vet check, all shoes were on and Vagas was looking good. During the 18-mile third loop, they were both feeling the 16 | WHOA! Fall 2013
Once they had the trail to themselves they were in their element and maintained the canter for the whole last loop, savoring the experience. “Cantering into the finish line and vetting through felt terrific and once it was over I was just so happy, not because I didn't have to get back on, but because I knew that my positive thinking all day, my focus on getting what needed to be done, done, had resulted in this special moment,” Webb recalls. “Vagas was amazing. He pulled it off! Without the incredible support from my pit crew and the rest of the team, and all the long distance support and positive vibes from across Canada, this would not have been possible. Thank you to everyone for your help!” Webb’s team silver is shared with Alberta riders Jessica Yavis (5th individual) and Jaylene Janzen, (11th individual). Webb, 19, the “elder stateswoman” of this elite team, was born and raised with horses. Endurance has become a way of life for Webb and success in this sport came early: in 2006 she competed and won the Ride ‘n’ Tie Canadian Championships and earned a position on the Ontario Endurance Team after finishing in the top 10 in a very wet cold, and difficult 50-mile championship ride in Quebec. She was on the Ontario Team from 2006 through 2010. With a world ranking of 9th on the FEI Young Riders list in 2012, Webb was on the Canadian Young Riders Endurance Team, which turned in a gold medal performance at last year’s NAJYRC. With her continued success in Kentucky, Webb is now aiming for a position on the Canada East Senior Team for the North American Endurance Team Challenge in Florida this December. Beyond that, she has her sights set on the World Equestrian Games in France in 2014. Webb is striving to achieve FEI Elite Status, with eight of 10 FEI CEI 3* races already completed. ✤
News
Jumpers Gain Invaluable Experience At NAJYRC by Hyde Moffatt, Jumping chef d'equipe
up with 24. Unfortunately, this score was not good enough to keep them in the top six teams moving on to the second round of team competition, although the riders who had completed both the first round and qualifier were able to continue competing for individual scores. Blum again led the way for Ontario with a score of eight faults in the second round, qualifying her for the first round of the individual final. Vilcini was clean through most of the course before having troubles at a particularly difficult triple combination, resulting in elimination.
Photo by Peter Steffens
Under the tutelage of chef d’equipe Hyde Moffatt, riders Adrien Vilcini, Mikala Chesler, Jacqueline Steffens, Kaitlyn Blum, Lexus Arbuckle, Hailey Mackinnon and Muhammad Itani represented Ontario in show jumping.
For the first time in years, Ontario was able to field both a Junior and a Young Rider Show Jumping team to compete at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. Junior competitors representing Ontario this year were Adrien Vilcini of Peterborough, Kaitlyn Blum of Gormley, and Mikala Chesler of Orangeville. The senior team included Muhammad Itani of Essex, Lexus Arbuckle of Guelph, Hailey Mackinnon of Ashton and Jacqueline Steffens of Harriston. The horses arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park on Monday, July 15 and competition began on Wednesday afternoon with the first individual qualifier. For the Juniors, this class was run as a Table A speed class, with clean rounds carrying a score of zero faults onwards for their individual scores. Blum and her horse, Carnell, finished this round with seven faults. Vilcini and I Am finished on 12 faults. Chesler and Ilian Du Taute had trouble this round at the water and were eliminated. In the Young Rider division that followed, their first qualifier was run as a Table C class under the same format as the World Equestrian Games. Under these rules, the fastest time of the day is the winner, with seconds added to your time for every jump lowered on course. The winner of the class carries on a score of zero faults, with everyone after that carrying a score based on how far behind the winner they were. Ontario was well represented in this round by Steffens and Quercus van Generese, who posted the second fastest round of the day. Even with 12 seconds added to her time for three fences down this left her sitting 11th individually after the round. Arbuckle and Castor van de Kranenburg also incurred a few faults on route, leaving them in 17th, followed by MacKinnon and Class Action in 18th and Itani and Tax Free in 21st place. Thursday morning was the start of the team competition. The Juniors started things off and, as a three-person team, they did not have the luxury of a drop score. Blum led the Ontario riders with a score of 14 faults, while Chesler had 23 and Vilcini ended
Arbuckle led the Young Riders in the first round with a score of 12 faults, followed by Steffens with 16, Itani with 27 and Mackinnon with 40. The course featured a very difficult triple combination early in the course, and a technical line both to and from the water jump. With class specifications allowing the builder to set the jumps to 1.50m, this course took its toll on all teams; there were no clean rounds in the first round and only two clean rounds on second attempt. With Ontario remaining in the top six teams and qualifying for the second round, the riders were afforded the opportunity to jump again. Mackinnon started things off with a score of 35 faults, setting a trend that saw all the Ontario riders lower their scores from the first round. Arbuckle finished with eight faults, Steffens with 12 and Itani with 21. The final tally of 96 faults was good enough for a 5th place team finish. All the riders managed to qualify in the top 25 individually, allowing them all to compete in the individual finals. Friday brought a well-needed day of rest for all but Vilcini and I Am, the lone Ontario representative for the “farewell class.” Vilcini’s score of four faults proved to be almost good enough for the win, but second place was a great way to end his inaugural venture to Young Riders, and a great way to get back in the ring one last time. The next day, the first round of the individual final for the Juniors was contested by Blum and Carnell. Carnell unfortunately took exception to a very large horseshoe-shaped jump that resulted in their elimination. Itani, Arbuckle and Steffens all returned to competition for the finals, but Mackinnon elected to withdraw from competition after her horse developed a quarter crack. Itani and Tax Free were the first to contest the finals, continuing on their trend of improvement in each round. A score of nine faults vaulted them up the standings to 16th place – a great result, but unfortunately not quite into the top 15 continuing to the second round. Arbuckle continued the trend of improvement with rounds of 12 and nine faults, scoring an individual finish in 12th place. Steffens set the tone in the first round of the final, leading all riders with the first clean round of the day. Over the shorter and even more difficult second round, she followed that performance up with eight faults, which vaulted her into a NAJYRC personal best 9th place finish. Congratulations to Team Ontario! ✤ www.horse.on.ca | 17
News
ADEQUAN/FEI NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY GOTHAM NORTH
Ontario Reiner Emily Wilson Slides Her Way To Silver
Submitted by Wendy Dyer, Reining chef d’equipe
Ontario’s lone competitor in the Reining division at this year’s North American Junior and Young Rider Championships made her province proud when she won the opening “welcome competition” before going on to take silver in both the individual and team competitions. Reining was introduced to the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in 2008 when a horse named Miss Cielo Chex made the trip from Ontario to Denver, CO. She won a silver team medal that year ridden by owner Tammy Wilson’s niece, Darcy Wilson.
Having a day of rest to catch up on some sleep and regroup helped Emily pull it altogether for the individual competition. Her skill and maturity belied her young age as she completed the pattern like a pro with beautiful transitions from fast to slow circles and wellexecuted stops and rollbacks. With a score of 211.5, the silver medal belonged to Emily Wilson and Miss Cielo Chex. She had saved her best to last! ✤
Since that time, Miss Cielo Chex has made the trip every year with Darcy and, more recently, with Emily Wilson, Tammy’s daughter. Each year they have brought a medal or two home to Ontario and 2013 was no exception. Watching her cousin ride Cici at the championships in the past, Emily could not wait to be old enough to compete herself. She knew the rules, format and the park. She also introduced herself to other reining competitors, offering help and sharing her knowledge of the event. Finally Emily’s time came in 2011. Riding Miss Cielo Chex, she brought home silver team and individual bronze medals. This only made her more determined to return and do better. When Emily entered the arena this year for the “welcome competition,” it was evident she had worked hard honing her skills since last year’s silver team medal. Nerves always come into play but Emily looked calm and collected as she guided Cici through the pattern to emerge the winner of the class with a 205.5. This set the stage for the rest of the week. However, it must have taken Emily’s nerves a little longer to emerge, as the team competition did not go as well. Regardless, the team was able to secure the silver medal.
Photo by Waltenberry
Emily Wilson and Miss Cielo Chex took home silver in both team and individual competitions.
The OEF proudly supported all Ontario athletes at the NAJYRC by covering entry and stabling fees. Congratulations to all riders, horses & support staff who represented Ontario with such pride at the 2013 NAJYRC!
18 | WHOA! Fall 2013
News
Ontario Equestrian Federation Model Member Award The OEF is very pleased to announce an exciting award that will recognize outstanding individuals in the equestrian community, whether in sport, leisure, business or otherwise. The OEF Model Member Award will be bestowed on those that exemplify superior acts of good sportsmanship, benevolence, comradeship, etc. the horse industry, regardless of discipline. All current OEF Members are eligible to make nominations and/or receive an OEF Model Member Award with the exception of OEF staff, board of directors and immediate family members of staff and directors. In an effort to acknowledge Model Members, the OEF will present all recipients with black wool coolers that include the OEF logo. Supplied by Brubacher's Harness and Saddlery, the coolers will be presented to the recipients during a special presentation arranged by the OEF. Please note that the OEF Model Member Award is a separate award from the OEF Annual Awards and can be presented at any time throughout the year. The OEF Model Member Awards will only be presented to those who are most deserving. For more information please contact Catherine Barker at c.barker@horse.on.ca or 1-877-441-7112 ext. 23.
Nominee’s Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________________________________________ Postal Code: __________________________________________ Telephone: _______________________________________________________ Email:______________________________________________________ Nominated by: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________________________________________ Postal Code: _________________________________________ Telephone: ___________________________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________ Please outline why you feel this person is deserving of the OEF Model Member Award. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION 1 West Pearce Street, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3K3 phone 905-709-6545 • fax 905-709-1867 • tollfree 1-877-441-7112 • email b.hall@horse.on.ca • website www.horse.on.ca www.horse.on.ca | 19
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2014 Membership Renewals Available in November 2014 OEF membership renewals will be available in November and notices will be sent out in the mail or by e-mail, depending on the method you selected on your 2013 application. Here are a few tips to make sure that your membership form is completed properly to ensure that your membership can be processed promptly and accurately. Include Your Birth Date: Due to your automatic insurance coverage we must have a record of your birth date. Sign And Date Your Form: Please ensure that you sign and date your application form. Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be returned. Privacy Policy: By law, you must give us permission to send you any correspondence that goes through a third party i.e. a mail house or e-mail service. Please be sure to read the privacy policy and answer accordingly. If you do not check the box we cannot send you OEF mailings, including WHOA!, e-mail notices, etc. Please note that the OEF does not sell its membership lists. Submitting An Application: We can only accept membership forms that are completed online or hard copies that are returned via fax, mail or in person. We cannot accept membership applications over the telephone. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa, MasterCard, cheque, money order or cash (in person only).
Rec Advisory Council Update The Ontario Equestrian Federation has $27,000 available in 2013 for recreation funding opportunities for member clubs and groups of the Recreation Advisory Council. The program is designed to fund educational programs, legacy improvements and trail development projects for equestrian communities in Ontario and is an important step in the future of recreational equestrian activities in the province. First Round Grant Recipients Selected The OEF is pleased to announce the following successful applicants who received money through the first round of the 2013 Recreation Funding Program: • • • • •
EquuSolutions Erin Agricultural Society Orillia and District Agricultural Society Renaissance Riders Recreational Riding Club Rising Star Pony Club
The second round of the 2013 Recreation Funding Program is now open and is open to all current 2013 Recreation Advisory Council members. Application forms and information are available on our website at www.horse.on.ca. The application deadline is Friday. Nov. 29, 2013 at 4 p.m. There will be a meeting of the Recreation Advisory Council on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. the OEF office.
Campaign Collects Obsolete Equine Medications Do you have unwanted or expired equine medications or agricultural pesticides around your barn? From Oct. 15-25, the Clean Farms Obsolete Collection Campaign will be operating at over 30 locations across Ontario to safely dispose of these unwanted items at no charge. Clean Farm is a not-for-profit industry stewardship organization committed to environmental responsibility through the proper management of agricultural waste. For more information and to pre-register products for disposal call 877-622-4460 or visit www. cleanfarms.ca
OEF Launches New Blog Section On Website We are pleased to announce that we have launched a new blog section on the OEF website where members can find content on a variety of subjects that matter to horse owner, riders and equine enthusiasts of all riding disciplines and breeds. While still in the development stages, on our new blog section you will find a Q&A style blog with BFL Canada where members can ask their insurance questions. We are currently in the process of moving some of guest columns that appear in WHOA! over to this new blog section to give our readers more content on a more consistent basis, so stay tuned! To check out our blogs, visit www.horse.on.ca and go to the Resources tab > Blogs. We welcome your feedback and content suggestions. 20 | WHOA! Fall 2013
News
OEF Member Named YWCA Woman Of Distinction
Photo by Shoot Photography
very much a “man’s world.” After practicing law in two large firms she opened one of the first women-owned legal practices in Toronto. A mother of three who worked her way up to become a Judge, Epstein has gained valuable experience as a woman and a mother in the legal profession and is committed to supporting other women lawyers. She regularly lectures to women entering or re-entering law, offering insight and guidance about balancing family and professional lives.
Justice Gloria Epstein, an avid equestrian who runs a successful breeding operation at KingRidge Stables in King, ON., is the recipient of a YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Award for her active role in the community. Epstein serves as a Judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. A trailblazer in the legal profession, Epstein obtained her law degree from the University of Toronto in 1977, when law was
Always eager to help improve the lives of others, Epstein is an active member of the National Board of Directors of Pathways to Education, helping youth in at-risk communities complete high school and transition into post-secondary education. She is also the co-chair of the board of the Ontario Justice Education Network, an organization dedicated to promoting understanding and dialogue to support an inclusive justice system. Epstein has also served on the board of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and remains a strong supporter. When Epstein isn’t changing her community and serving as a role model and mentor to others, she can be found in the saddle. Visit the News section of our website at www.horse.on.ca to read more about her life. A feature article written by Laurel Graham, the daughter of Hugh Graham, offers a rare glimpse into the life of this respected horsewoman. Epstein reveals why it took her until the age of 35 to pursue her passion for horses, and how she has not only made a name for herself in the show ring, but also helped others fulfill their dreams.
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Caledon Celebrates 2-Year Countdown To Pan Am The equestrian community gathered at the Caledon Equestrian Park on July 10 to mark the two-year countdown to the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. The Town of Caledon has been selected to host the Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping components of the Games at the Caledon Equestrian Park in 2015. To mark the occasion, equine enthusiasts and local supporters joined town of Caledon staff, provincial officials, sponsors and Pan Am spokespeople at the park to tour the facilities, hear speeches and witness the unveiling of the official flag and mural. Special equestrian guests included Olympian Jessica Phoenix, of Uxbridge, ON. who won individual gold in Eventing at the 2011 Pan Am Games. To the delight of the audience, Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON., who won a team silver in Dressage at the 2003 Pan Am Games, performed a Freestyle demonstration aboard D Niro, her mount from the 2012 London Olympics. Similar countdown celebrations took place in 10 municipalities across southern Ontario in anticipation of the upcoming Pan/ Parapan American Games, which are the world’s third largest international multi-sport Games, surpassed in size and scope only by the Olympic Summer Games and the Asian Games. Close to 7,000 athletes from across Latin America, South America, the Caribbean and North America will compete in 36 Pan Am sports and 15 Parapan Am sports at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
Olympian Jacqueline Brooks performed a demonstration on D Niro.
Obituary
Jack Reeves
July 31, 1930 - Aug. 16, 2013 For many Morgan horse owners, the name Jack Reeves is synonymous with Morgan horses. The Reeves family became Morgan owners in 1966 with the arrival of the colt, Hippothous. With “Hippi” in tow, Jack, his wife Kay and young sons Greg and Geoff moved to the farm in Uxbridge, ON. It wasn’t long before the mare, Williams Drumlin Lou, and her daughter, Aristippi, were added. Chestnut Hill Morgans was created! In no time the Morgans began to multiply at that Uxbridge farm. Canadian Livestock Records lists 43 Morgans registered with the Chestnut Hill prefix. The Reeves’ Chestnut Hill Morgan Farm attracted numerous visitors and introduced many to the Morgan breed of horse. As a family, they were dedicated to the breed from the start. When the local Ontario club was formed in 1968, Jack and Kay were 22 | WHOA! Fall 2013
there and provided their total support from that moment forward. A founding member of the Ontario Morgan Horse Club, he led the organization as president from 1979-1982 and again from 1987-1988. Jack was also a founding member of the Canadian Morgan Horse Club, which later became the Canadian Morgan Horse Association (CMHA). He was the CMHA President from 1990-1993. Prior to his presidency and afterwards, he continued to take an active part in both these associations. Jack was an American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) director from 1981-1988 and was a driving force behind the Reciprocity Agreement between the AMHA and the CMHA. It is this landmark agreement that allows breeders to register their Morgans in Canada without the need to register in U.S. first. Jack’s interest in Morgans is as diverse as the breed itself. From Gaming to English Pleasure to Carriage, the Chestnut Hill horses have done it all. Their beloved Aristippi was the first Canadian Morgan to win a Grand National title in 1974 in Trail. Jack was also quite proud of being the first Golden Whip Award winner at the Canadian Carriage Classic with his mare, Chestnut Hill Erica. Jack passed away on Aug. 16, 2013 at 83 years of age. He led a tremendous life as a husband, father, businessman and volunteer. He was a man of integrity and will be missed by many.
ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION
2014 YOUTH BURSARY
A P P L I C AT I O N deadline - 4:00pm December 6, 2013
The OEF Youth Bursary is aimed at supporting young riders/drivers and horse persons of all disciplines who are OEF members and full time high school students where financial resources and/or personal hardship is a significant impediment to them reaching their equestrian goals. To qualify for the OEF’s Youth Bursary applicant’s must: • be between the ages of 14 and 17 as of January 1, 2014; and • the applicant and coach must hold a valid 2014 OEF membership A qualified candidate must also submit the following: • a completed and signed application form including the appended release and publicity agreement, and applicant package before the deadline of 4:00pm December 6, 2013; • A 250 word essay describing: a. the applicant’s interest and experience with horses; and b. what would the applicant do with the bursary funds if they were a successful bursary candidate; • include a photo of the applicant with their horse (if applicable); • a letter of reference from the applicant’s coach or trainer, or if the applicant does not ride with a coach, a personal reference from a person who is not a family member; • a copy of the applicant’s current report card APPLICANT INFORMATION: Name:___________________________________________ OEF Membership #: ____________________________ Date of Birth: ____________________________ Social Insurance Number: ________________________ mm/dd/yy Full Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number: _____________________________________ Email: ____________________________________ Parent/Guardian: ____________________________________ Total Household Income : _________________________ Total Number of Adults In Household: __________________ Total Number of Children In Household: ________________ Applicants School Name & Address: __________________________________________________________________ School Phone Number: ________________________________ School Fax Number: ____________________________ APPLICANTS COACH: Name:___________________________________________ OEF Membership #: ____________________________ Phone Number: _____________________________________ Email: ____________________________________ Name of Facility: _____________________________________ NCCP Certified: YES NO Other (BHSI/FEI): _____ RIDING/HORSE EXPERIENCE:
None
Up to One Year
Between 1 and 5 Years
More than 5 Years
RIDING FREQUENCY: Once A Week ARE YOU A MEMBER OF:
2 to 3 times per Week
3+ times per Week
4H Club Pony Club EC Learn To Ride Program
Year Round Rider
NCCP Instructor of Beginner Program
Do you participate in any other sports? If so please describe: ___________________________________________________ How do you have access to horses? Own Lease Schooling Facility How are your equestrian activities paid for (i.e. do you contribute to covering the cost of your participation and, if so, how much)? _________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Describe any challenges you face in participating in your sport/activity? ____________________________________________ LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS: Please list the names of your local media (community newspapers etc.)
1. _______________________________________________________ 2. _______________________________________________ 3. _______________________________________________________ 4. _______________________________________________
RELEASE FORM: I, ___________________________________________, acknowledge that ________________________________ (parent/guardian) (applicant) is applying to the Ontario Equestrian Federation’s Youth Bursary Program. I hereby consent to his/her involvement in this Program. It is recommended that he/she attend an approved riding facility to receive coaching in horse-related skills. This is to clarify that the information provided is accurate and the applicant and parent/guardian agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the Ontario Equestrian Federation. Publicity Agreement: I hereby give permission to the Ontario Equestrian Federation to use the name and/or photo of my son/daughter in conjunction with the OEF Youth Bursary Program being reported in the OEF newsletter, WHOA!, and in articles or reports of activities used on the radio or in newspapers, magazines, the OEF website, or other media which may be utilized by the OEF for publicity or communication purposes. Signature: ____________________________________________ (applicant)
Date: _______________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________ (parent/guardian)
Date: _______________________________
CHECKLIST: Please be sure to check off all of the following to ensure the applicants Youth Bursary application is complete: Applicants 2014 OEF membership has been purchased Applicants coach has purchased his/her 2014 OEF membership (if applicable) 250 word essay describing the applicants experience with horses and how the applicant plans on using the Bursary money A colour photo of the applicant along with their horse (if applicable) is attached to the application and an electronic version has been emailed to p.coburn@horse.on.ca (minimum 300 dpi) A letter of reference from the applicants coach/trainer or a personal reference letter is attached to the application A copy of the applicants recent report card The application must be completed IN FULL and accompanied by all required original documentation. Applications received after the due date will not be eligible. Faxed or emailed applications WILL NOT be accepted. All information provided will remain strictly confidential. Ontario Equestrian Federation ~ 1 West Pearce St, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3K3 p: 905-709-6545 ext. 26 e: horse@horse.on.ca
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Member Spotlight
Photo by Brad Goldring
Equine Artist Celebrates 25 Years In The Business
By Melissa Kosowan
This fall marks 25 years since equine artist Debbie Goldring of Harrow, ON. made a leap of faith and turned her passion into a career after spending years honing her craft.
a lot of detail. I want to see everything – the shine on the tack, the sparkle on the bit, the veins and the muscle. Some people are amazed I can get that with pastel.”
“I have always had a love for horses, even before I started riding,” says Goldring, who took her first riding lesson at the age of 11. “I’ve always been drawing and, of course, the first subject matter was horses.”
Over the span of her career, Goldring has had the opportunity to paint such famous horses as Secretariat, Northern Dancer, Abdullah, Dance Smartly, Big Ben, A Fine Romance, Rio Grande and Chrevi’s Capital. The highlight, according to Goldring was being commissioned by the Ontario Equestrian Federation to create original pastel head studies of the 2008 Olympic Show Jumping team’s silver medal winning horses. Goldring created studies of Ole, In Style, Special Ed, and the individual gold medal winning horse, Hickstead.
What started off as a hobby slowly grew into a budding career as friends at the Halton School of Equitation where she boarded and worked saw her talent and commissioned her to create portraits of their horses. Before long she was setting up booths at shows. “When I was working at Halton I was half days, so I would work at the barn in the morning, I’d ride some horses and then I’d come home and draw,” she says. “And I would draw and draw – just practice and practice.” It wasn’t until after her son was born, however, that Goldring realized her “day job” in the Toronto world of business just wasn’t the same anymore. She longed to be at home with the new member of her family and saw her artistic abilities as a way to make that dream a reality. “It started out slowly and took me awhile to even say I was an artist,” says Goldring, who is self-taught. “I now say it with pride.” Working in pastel, Goldring captures not only the physical characteristics of her subjects with life-like detail, but also their character. “I want people to connect with it,” says Goldring. “I try to achieve 26 | WHOA! Fall 2013
“There are a lot of great memories and a lot of special moments,” says Goldring. “I have met so many incredible people over the years, and their animals, and heard stories of their bonds to their animals and the struggles and successes that they’ve had. It’s been really quite amazing.” Goldring jokes that her artwork is even more widely travelled than she is. Her work can be found in Japan, Australia, England, France and various towns and cities throughout North America. “I have met incredible people . . . You get involved with them and you get involved with their animals’ lives,” says Goldring. “I have people, even from many, many years ago, calling and e-mailing saying, ‘You know the portrait you did of so and so? They passed away awhile ago.’ They sort of keep me updated on their animals. They say thank you for doing the portrait. Now that they’re gone it’s even more special. I’ve made a lot of great friends over the years.” ✤
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Member Spotlight
Eva-Maria Pracht
Taking Dressage To The Next Level by Melissa Kosowan
C
anadian Dressage rider Eva-Maria Pracht is a graduate of the school of hard knocks. Trying to live up to the demanding expectations of one of Germany’s greatest Dressage riders is no easy feat, especially when he’s your father. Growing up, Pracht worked tirelessly to perfect her riding to please her father, the legendary Josef Carl Peter Neckermann, but compliments were few and far between. Having won six medals at four different Olympic Games, Neckermann had exacting standards. “He was the strictest teacher. He just never said ‘Good.’ He could not say this because it wasn’t good enough for him,” says the petite 76-year-old, who now calls Cedar Valley, ON. home. “Nothing was good enough for him. His goal was so high and he expected it from others, too.” While softer characters may have crumbled under the watch of such a critical instructor, Pracht wasn’t cut from the same cloth. She inherited her father’s discipline and went on to not only make her father proud, but also her country, when she took home team bronze in Dressage at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Photo courtesy of the Prachts
“No other kid would have gone on with this,” says Pracht, who holds the distinction of being on the team that won Canada’s first and only medal in Dressage. “But I was so completely horse crazy, I had it in my blood.” Pracht never gave up though, and eventually she rivaled her father in the ring. “I just always tried as hard as I could to do as good as my father,” 28 | WHOA! Fall 2013
Eva-Maria Pracht and her beloved Olympic mount, Emirage.
Photo by Hans Krutsch
Member Spotlight
Martina von Buttlar, Josef Carl Peter Neckerman and Eva-Maria Pracht pose for a photograph following a demonstration on German TV (above left). Eva-Maria Pracht is congratulated by her father after placing 3rd with Antoinette at the 1970 CDIO Aachen (above right).
she says. “I tried to beat him. That was my goal and I beat him a few times.”
the Montreal Olympics, so she returned to the Games in 1976 as a spectator.
Although she didn’t beat him, one of her proudest moments was placing third behind her father in the Grand Prix at the prestigious CDIO Aachen horse show in 1970. She rode Antoinette, the gray mare her father had ridden to team gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Beating them both was Olympic gold medalist Liselott Linsenhoff, who took top spot.
“The Canadians treated us like kings,” she says. “We made so many friends that my husband said, “The day I sell my business, I’m moving to Canada.’”
The towering trophy cabinet in Pracht’s study is testament to the success she has enjoyed. The wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling cabinet is brimming with trophies and medals, including her Olympic medal, which was almost lost in a house fire. Each one holds a special memory and serves as a reminder of the milestones she has celebrated during her extensive Dressage career. Pracht’s introduction to Canada began at the 1964 Olympics when she met and befriended Canadian Dressage rider Christilot Boylen. A decade later, Boylen invited Pracht to come to Canada to perform in a Dressage demonstration at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for the visiting Princess Anne. She returned the following year, in 1975, this time with a plane full of the best Dressage horses in Europe. Pracht and her husband, Hans, who was not only well connected in the equine world, but was also in the shipping business, were asked to assist in hosting a show on the grounds where the Olympics would be held the following year. “Since we already made so many friends in Canada, they called my husband and said, ‘Can you do as a big favour? Can you not bring some Dressage horses over from Europe?’” recalls Pracht. Unfortunately, her Grand Prix horses fell ill during the qualifier for
So on Nov. 8, 1981, the Prachts and their top horses made the move to Canada, establishing what is now the Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Cedar Valley. Her goal in her new country was a simple, yet challenging, one – to increase the profile of Dressage in Canada. “They were instrumental in bringing over great horses. The first Grand Prix horse I ever had was from them,” says four-time Olympian Ashley Holzer, referring to a horse named Orsk. The Prachts managed to do the impossible in 1986 when they brought the prestigious Dressage World Championships to North America. Hosted at their facility, it was the first time the competition was held outside Europe. “I think that opened the eyes of many, many, people,” says Holzer, who trained with Pracht when she first opened her facility and rode on the same team as her at the 1988 Olympics. “It’s hard to say where things would be had this not happened, but you have to be foolish to think that it didn’t have a huge impact on the sport in our country.” The icing on the cake was that Pracht’s own up-and-coming horse, Emirage, finished in the top three at the championships. Pracht had discovered the striking chestnut gelding in 1984 while visiting Herbert Krug, a good friend and accomplished rider in Germany. The horse wasn’t for sale, but Pracht’s husband took Krug out to the local pub that night in hopes of changing his mind. www.horse.on.ca | 29
Member Spotlight “He came at 2 o’clock back to my mother’s house in Frankfurt. He was laughing and so happy. He said, ‘Congratulations, you have the horse!’” Pracht recalls. “I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night!” The sales agreement was scrawled on a coaster from the pub, a keepsake Pracht still keeps to this day. At the age of 10, Emirage began serious Dressage training – the age at which other horses were already reaching the Olympic level. “When I got him here, he was running away with me and didn’t want to go in the ring and he threw my husband off, but still I believed in him,” Pracht says. “I had this feeling. Emirage and me, we clicked so much together. We were a team.” In 1987, Pracht rode Emirage to a team gold at the Pan American Games held in Indianapolis. What made the win particularly special was that Pracht was riding on the same team as her daughter, Martina von Buttlar, who rode Little Joe, the horse Pracht rode at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Moving Emirage up from the Prix St. George to the Grand Prix level proved to be a challenge though, as he couldn’t seem to master the one-tempi changes. After a year of struggling to teach the movement, including flying Emirage back to Germany to have her father ride him, Pracht thought her horse might never see his potential realized. Then one day, she discovered “the button” that he responded to. “One way day, by accident, I held the outside rein a bit stronger and he did 20 one-time changes,” Pracht says, beaming as she remembers how excited she was. “I jumped off the horse, I went to the phone and phoned my husband.” When it came time for the Olympic trials, Pracht had a fresh horse on her hands after giving him some time off following a successful winter show season in Florida. Maybe it was the lucky
Photo by Cealy Tetley
“I loved every minute of it,” recalls von Buttlar, who sits at her mother’s dining room table as she relives the experience. “It was awesome!”
Eva-Maria Pracht and Emirage were part of the bronze medal team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
red socks she always wore, even returning to the hotel before her ride when she realized she had forgotten them, but they made the Olympic team after a rocky first qualifier. In 1988, Pracht and Emirage entered the Dressage arena at the Seoul Olympics, proudly wearing the Canadian flag on their saddle pad. Together, along with teammates Cynthia Ishoy and Dynasty, Gina Smith and Malte and Ashley Nicoll and Reipo, they made history by winning bronze – Canada’s first and only Dressage medal. “To do this for Canada made me so happy, so proud!” Pracht says. “Especially when my husband and I really brought Dressage to Canada when we had the World Championships in ‘86.” As Pracht stood on the podium, with Emirage and his trusted groom, Alice Beaty, standing behind them, she remembered something strange that had happened before the Olympics. She had been out in Toronto with friends and stopped by a fortuneteller for fun. “She was telling me, ‘I see next year a big trip very far away, very far away. And I see something hanging around your neck – like a type of a medal. You will be very happy,” Pracht says.
Gina Smith, Cynthia Ishoy, Ashley Nicoll, and Eva-Maria Pracht won team gold for Canada at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
30 | WHOA! Fall 2013
Since she wasn’t even qualified for the team, she dismissed the idea as ridiculous, but she didn’t forget about.
Member Spotlight pneumonia and Emirage badly dehydrated from the withering Spanish humidity, the pair made it through the competition. In the process, Emirage became the first horse in history to carry two generations of the same family in the Olympic Games. “I was very proud – I had tears in my eyes,” Pracht says of watching her daughter and Emirage together in front of the world. Now, the next generation is making a name for herself in the ring. Sabrina von Buttlar, Pracht’s 12-year-old granddaughter, is successfully showing in the Children’s Hunter division. “I think both my father and my grandfather would get a kick out of my daughter,” von Buttlar says. Pracht’s love and pride for her granddaughter is immediately evident from the moment you step inside her home. Photos of the fair, blonde- haired girl are tucked into every available nook and cranny, surrounded by old photographs of great Dressage horses that were part of the Pracht legacy. Photo by Werner Ernst
Now a proud horse show grandma, Pracht never misses any of Sabrina’s competitions. She has high hopes for the talented young rider, who is coached by Erynn Ballard. Pracht hopes some day Sabrina might carry on the family’s Olympic tradition.
Canada's Dressage Team members make their victory pass the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
“The day at the Olympics when I bent down to get my medal, I remember and I said, ‘Oh my god. She was right. She was right!’” Pracht says. It was a sweet victory made sweeter because her father, who was battling blood poisoning, made it to watch her ride and was genuinely proud of what his daughter had accomplished. It had been 16 years since he won his last Olympic medal and now he was watching as the next generation stood on the podium. “My father got up and came to me and for the first time in my whole life, he had tears in his eyes,” she says. “It was best moment in my life. He was so proud of me and he congratulated me. It was a big moment in my life.”
“I never will push her, but in fact, I have the feeling that one day she will make the Olympic team,” says Pracht. “Other kids play, but she wants to be all day in the barn.” While you might not see Pracht in the show ring anymore after an injury forced her to give up the sport, her influence can still be felt in the Dressage world. Pracht regularly helps Holzer at shows and assists the top-level rider and her students at Holzer’s training facility in Florida. So trusted is Pracht’s guidance that Holzer tried to have her accredited to be her “eyes on the ground” during the 2012 London Olympics. “She is a Dressage rider that has done a lot for Canada and, unfortunately, has received very little recognition. She came over here many, many years ago and really gave Dressage a presence,” says Holzer. “She is so generous with her time and she is very positive. I can’t say enough about her; she’s a lovely lady.” ✤
At the end of the 1991 season, Pracht made the decision to pass her beloved Emirage on to her 26-year-old daughter. After losing her husband that year at the age of 66, showing horses just wasn’t the same anymore without her partner by her side. She also longed to see her daughter ride at the Olympics. “It was a little bit difficult, but I really wanted her to do it and go to the Olympics,” Pracht says. “She didn’t want him and I said, 'Try it, try it.' I worked really hard with her and I convinced her and I showed her how to do it.” While her mother thrived on challenging, feisty horses, von Buttlar preferred a more obedient mount, which Emirage was not. While the two didn’t see eye to eye sometimes, they made it to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. “We had an understanding, let’s say,” von Buttlar says. “He was not my favourite horse but we made a compromise and made it work.” While the Games didn’t go as intended, with von Buttlar battling
Emirage carried the next generation to the Olympics when Martina von Buttlar rode him at the 1992 Olympics.
www.horse.on.ca | 31
Photos courtesy of Northern Lights Therapeutic Riding Association
Therapeutic Spotlight
Northern Therapy Horses Brighten Lives by Melissa Kosowan
Living with a disability is challenging, particularly for those who live in more remote parts of the province, which is why Jo-Anne Chevalier couldn’t say no when asked if she would share the healing power of horses with others. For years, people who lived along the Highway 11 corridor near Kapuskasing, ON. had access to a facility that offered therapeutic riding. When it closed they looked to Chevalier, a local Equine Canada certified coach, to carry the torch. With determination and only a single horse to start her program, Chevalier founded Northern Lights Therapeutic Riding Association 23 years ago and it has been changing lives ever since.
For Rides program to enable the riders to set goals. “It gives them a compass and a guideline and they know where they are and where they want to be,” says Chevalier. “The opportunity for growth is measured there.” Many of the riders at Northern Lights also participate in local fairs, horse shows and parades, which Chevalier says translates into improved self-esteem and pride for her riders. Northern Lights is also home to a Para-Dressage team that competes at shows and takes part in the Para-Equestrian Canada Sea-to-Sea ParaDressage Video Competition.
Located in Val Rita, ON., Northern Lights offers therapeutic riding sessions on eight horses that have overcome their own challenges in life. With the longer, harsher winters of Northern Ontario and no indoor riding arena in which to work, the therapeutic program runs for 16 weeks each year.
More than just building confidence or self-worth, Chevalier has countless stories of how horses have transformed lives. Chevalier recalls one young woman who had been raped. After working with the horses she developed confidence and assertiveness that transferred into her day-to-day life.
It begins with an intensive conditioning session in May that gets both horse and rider back in shape followed by one-on-one goal oriented sessions in mid-summer. Day camps round out the program and teach participants riding theory, horse health, tack and other management subjects. Special guests also visit the stable to talk about important subjects such as bullying and offer tips on things like stretching or relaxation techniques.
“When she first came here she wouldn’t look anyone in the eye, her shoulders were rounded, she wouldn’t hardly speak,” recalls Chevalier. “She came for two complete seasons, by the time she left she stood straight up, looked you in the eye and I’ll tell you, that horse didn’t take a step he wasn’t supposed to. It was so amazing. I couldn’t believe the difference.”
“In the camps they do a little bit of everything,” says Chevalier, who notes the therapeutic riding and equine assisted therapy programs are flexible to meet specific needs. “They do Pony Club games, we do trail riding, obstacle courses – you want to keep them interested because you can only do Dressage so much. But we will incorporate the figures into games.”
Chevalier admits she, too, has been transformed along the way. Although she has been riding since she was 12 years old, she never imagined that therapeutic riding would be her calling. Today she is an examiner with CanTRA and even helped create the first assistant instructor manual for the organization. She is also working on becoming a learning facilitator through the National Coaching Certification Program.
Northern Lights also incorporates the Equine Canada Learn to Ride Program, the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) Achievement Rainbow program and the OEF Ribbons
“It’s been a blessing to me. These people have been angels and helped me grow,” Chevalier says of the riders who come through her program. “I think it was a win-win situation for everybody.” ✤
32 | WHOA! Fall 2013
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Around The Barn
OEF Horse Facilities Program Hits The Road By Pam Coburn, Horse Facilities Program Administrator
Over the past few months, I have been travelling across the province to meet with stable owners and talk about the OEF Horse Facilities Program. I want to thank the many barn owners who invited me to visit to discuss the program, offer their suggestions and feedback and share their ideas. It was a wonderful way to get to see the province’s farms, and also to hear about the challenges rural Ontarian riders face. The meetings allowed for us to hear and discuss lots of new ideas for improvements to the Horse Facilities Program, although some will warrant further discussion with member facilities. I’m in the process of reviewing them all now, thinking about implementation priority and timing. We will have a conference call/meeting together later this year to review specific recommendations and ideas to be brought forward in 2014. I’m pleased to report that we’re almost at the point of doubling program membership over last year. Increasing participation in this program has allowed us to broaden the pool of input we receive and enrich the program for the facility owners and their riders and boarders. Two main themes emerged from my consultations around the province, the first was interest in finding new and more ways for facility owners to communicate with each other – through e-mail groups, conference calls, meetings and discussions that are more inclusive to those who are not within travelling distance of the Greater Toronto Area, and webinars focused on information of specific interest to facility owners. The second theme was finding new ways to promote OEF Horse Facilities Program members and the importance of accreditation. We provide assistance to coaches at our member facilities to 34 | WHOA! Fall 2013
become certified and we work with riding schools to help them administer the Learn to Ride program for their students. Now we have to find new and innovative ways to promote the value of these credentials and the importance of selecting a stable with them. It’s important for us, as a largely unregulated industry, to make a very public statement that we understand and have taken steps to respond to our responsibility for safety. The Horse Facilities Program is important to our industry because it reflects our commitment to a set of standards in the way our horses are kept and managed and how our facilities are maintained. In doing so, it supports riders – from competitive boarders, to camp participants, to riding school students – to ensure they enjoy a safe learning experience. Our goal is to continue to grow this program through the coming years by providing additional incentives to belong, including the opportunity to make connections with fellow facility owners and operators to exchange information and best practices. On my journey to farms across the province I was very aware of how very large and diverse this province is. While we might be located in different geographic areas, Ontario horse enthusiasts have a lot in common and can learn from each other. We hope you’ll strongly consider a membership in the OEF’s Horse Facilities Council for 2014. Currently an extended membership is available that will allow you to join immediately and, for a nominal fee over the annual membership cost, enjoy the benefits of the program for the balance of 2013 as well as 2014. You can reach me at p.coburn@horse.on.ca or toll free at 1-877-441-7112. ✤
Safety First If a fellow rider were to have an accident at the barn, would you know what to do? If you haven’t taken a first aid course, you could unintentionally cause further injury. While everyone should have first aid training, it’s particularly important when working around horses and riding. “The standard at St. John Ambulance first aid is three feet. If you fall from a height greater than three feet, then there’s a possible head or neck injury,” says Bill Thomas, an Equine Canada English Level 1 Coach who also teaches first aid for St. John Ambulance. Not only does a rider fall from a great height, there is force behind that fall and, once on the ground, the rider also runs the risk of being stepped on or kicked by their loose horse. “Normally when people fall off, it’s not just that they slump and fall off; there is some force behind it,” says Thomas. “The horse is bucking so the person falls off that way, or they are trying to do a jump and the horse stumbles or the rider loses his balance – so there is a lot more force than simply falling off a three-foot stepladder.” According to Thomas, when a rider does fall off, their natural inclination is to try to get right back up and get back on the horse. And many of the people who rush to their aid don’t know any better and don’t try to stop them or even encourage them to get up, which could make an injury worse. First aid teaches how to assess that individual to determine if they need medical attention. “I was a fox hunter for awhile and we had a woman and her horse spooked and she rode through a few trees before she came off. So she was pretty badly bruised and was complaining of a neck injury and people wanted to lift her off the moist ground,” Thomas says. He recalls telling them, “No, no! Leave her there – let’s find out if there is an injury before we start moving her. There is a real process to handling a casualty.” First aid courses also arm people with the training they need to prevent panic from setting in during an emergency, which can prevent the injured person from getting the help they need. “What we teach is what we call emergency scene management. It’s a plan,” explains Thomas. “If there’s an accident – if your three-year old comes to you with a cut finger, you stop on the 400 for an accident or someone gets thrown off a horse – no matter what that situation is, the plan is exactly the same. The very first thing you are taught in every first aid course is, what is the plan? What do I do when there is an emergency?”
First Aid Training Could Save A Life By Melissa Kosowan
Although any first aid training is a positive step, Thomas recommends horse people take a two-day course. The first day of training deals with emergency scene management, hemorrhaging and other catastrophic injuries, but day two looks at more common injures that could occur at a stable. “The second day is the one that really pertains to horseback riding because you will learn how to stabilize a sprain or strain or a fracture, and to recognize them and what to do. It’s that day that you also learn about properly getting a splinter out of your hand or getting a piece of dust out of the eye – those are much more common in a stable injury than someone having a heart attack.” So if you haven’t taken a first aid course, or have let your certification elapse, what are you waiting for? Your first aid training may just save a life! ✤
36 | WHOA! Fall 2013
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Mane Events
2013 COMPETITIONS BRONZE DRESSAGE Competition Name RCRA Halloweenfest RCRA Snowflake 1
Start Date End Date Location 2013-10-26 2013-10-27 Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) 2013-11-30 2013-12-01 Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA)
Contact Email or Website www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca
2013-11-01 2013-11-10 Exhibition Place, Ricoh Coliseum
www.royalfair.org
2013-10-09 2013-10-10 Norfolk County Fairgrounds
www.norfolkcountyfair.com
2013-11-06 2013-11-07 Exhibition Place, Ricoh Coliseum
www.royalfair.org
2013 Will O'Wind Horse Trials
2013-10-12 2013-10-12 Will O' Wind
www.willowindfarm.ca
GOLD HUNTER/JUMPER 2013 RCRA Fall Classic
2013-10-11 2013-10-13 Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA)
www.rcra.ca
2013-11-01 2013-11-10 Exhibition Place, Ricoh Coliseum
www.royalfair.org
SILVER BREED
2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
SILVER HUNTER/JUMPER
Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show
GOLD DRESSAGE
2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
GOLD DRESSAGE
PLATINUM HUNTER/JUMPER
2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Celebrate OEF Member Day At Royal The OEF will once again be attending the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and we hope to see our loyal members there for a special celebration in their honour. We have declared Tuesday, Nov. 5 OEF Member Appreciation Day. We encourage all OEF members to visit our booth in Hall A for prizes and incentives. As part of OEF Member Appreciation Day, we will also be running contests on Facebook and Twitter throughout the course of the day. Be sure to follow us to find out how you can win! You can find us at Facebook.com/OEF.Horse and Twitter.com/OEF_Horse. Back by popular demand again this year is the OEF/RAWF Fan Zone where equine enthusiasts can meet their favourite top-level riders. The Fan Zone will be running throughout the duration of the Royal, so be sure to stop by and get an autograph from the riders you admire. Stay tuned for further details about OEF Member Appreciation Day, including time and location, as well as a list of special guests scheduled to appear in the OEF/RAWF Fan Zone. American Show Jumper Kent Farrington with fans at last year's Fan Zone.
EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPY BY DIANE DIANE BARROW, C.E.M.T. 406 - 249 MAJOR MACKENZIE DR. E. RICHMOND HILL, ON L4C 9M8 905 884 8799 DIANE@YORKREGIONHORSEMASSAGE.COM
38 | WHOA! Fall 2013
CERTIFIED EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPIST SERVING YORK REGION SPORTS MASSAGE FOR A HAPPIER HORSE
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*the RoYal has a lot that’s new
This year, The Royal Horse Show is more exciting than ever. Sylvia Zerbini, formerly of Cavalia, will entertain with her amazing Arabian horses. The Ontario Toyota Dealers Royal Rodeo will feature “The Horse Whisperer” Guy McLean. The prestigious Hickstead FEI World Cup™, sponsored by Groupby, will showcase International Show Jumping at its finest. tickets on sale now BUY online FoR Best seats at RoYalFaiR.oRG watch FoR the oeF eBlast FoR savinGs hoRse show tickets inclUde GeneRal admission to the FaiR
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novemBeR 1-10 www.horse.on.ca | 39
New at The Royal RoYal JUnioR JUmpeR championship
Watch Canada’s rising stars make their debut at The Royal Nov 7th & Nov 9th. You just may see our next Olympic star in action!
national ponY JUmpeR challenGe
Ponies and their young riders will compete for their share of $10,000 and the coveted title of Royal Champion on Nov 2nd.
thoRoUGhBRed line division
Visit the Horse Palace on Nov 9th to see the athleticism and versatility of these amazing and beautiful athletes in action.
featured sYlvia ZeRBini – Enjoy a production of ‘Liberte’ by the world-renowned former lead of Cavalia live Nov 6th-9th.
GUY mclean – See the Australian Horseman and Bush Poet,
Guy McLean perform in The Royal Horse Show & The Royal Rodeo, Nov 1st-3rd.
amBeR maRshall – Star of CBC’s popular series Heartland and voted Canada’s Favourite Screen Star at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards, will be on hand to MC at The Royal Rodeo and entertain at the President’s Choice® Animal Theatre Nov 2nd and 3rd. eqUine exhiBit (hall a) FocUs – Tack shops from
around the world will showcase their wares from trailers, riding apparel, equestrian art and more for a shopping experience that’s uniquely Royal.
cheF challenGe – Top Chefs will compete in The Royal Chef Challenge hosted by Curtis Stone.
40 | WHOA! Fall 2013
featured Ricoh BiG Ben challenGe
This year, there’s family fun and equestrian-inspired entertainment for young and old alike.
the GReenhawk canadian cUp
On Nov 1st and 2nd, see talented riders from across Canada compete for a share of the $75,000 prize and the coveted title of Canada’s National Show Jumping Champion.
the canadian hUnteR deRBY Finals
Join us on Tuesday, Nov 5th to see The Canadian Hunter Derby Series National Championship. Top horse-and-rider combinations from across the country compete for a share of the $50,000 prize.
hickstead Fei woRld cUp
sponsored by Groupby Join us Nov 6th for the crown jewel of equestrian competition with talented riders from more than 5 nations competing for a share of the $100,000 prize.
weston canadian open
Olympic calibre riders from invited nations put the pedal to the medal in this single round speed competition on Nov 8th.
An electric atmosphere on Saturday, November 9th sets the tone for the last international competition ot the 2013 season. Book your tickets early to this sell-out show.
the ontaRio toYota dealeRs Rodeo
Get the family together and spend a Sunday afternoon at a live Rodeo in the Ricoh Coliseum, Nov 3rd.
RoYal dRessaGe cUp invitational
Beauty and elegance are the name of the game when the top four invited riders compete in the Freestyle on Nov 7th.
maGniFicent coaches See these magnificent coaches presented during the evening performances on Nov 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th.
canine eqUine challenGe Take your family on Nov 9th to a matinee performance of these hilarious dogs as they partner with an international show jumper to compete to see who’s the TOP DOG!
TM
the RoYal aGRicUltURal winteR FaiR
novemBeR 1-10
www.horse.on.ca | 41
*TELL YOUR FRIENDS ThaT ThE ROYaL haS a LOT ThaT’S NEW! There is so much to discover at The Royal this year. Like the brand new President’s Choice® Animal Theatre, where Spirit of the Horse, Goats-on-the-Go, Sheep Herding Dogs, Animal Psychic and more will delight all ages. This year we will showcase and celebrate our Royal Champions. The finest chefs will compete in The Royal Chef Challenge. There’s also the aMAZEing food journey: a hands-on exploration of local food from farm to table. And so much more!
BUY online FoR Best seats at RoYalFaiR.oRG hoRse show tickets inclUde GeneRal admission to the FaiR
TM
farm fresh fun™ the royal aGrICUltUral WINter FaIr 42 | WHOA! Fall 2013
novemBeR 1-10
Coaches Corner
Photo by Shawn Hamilton, CLiX Photography
Program Changes On The Horizon By Gillian Ross Erasmi, Education Coordinator
Learn to Ride Program
Those participating in the English Learn to Ride Program may have noticed that Equine Canada started selling new revised rider manuals this past spring. As the program continues to evolve, expect to see changes with respect to processes, applications and testing standards being introduced in the next few months. The OEF will host clinics to train coaches and instructors using the new materials beginning January 2014. Riders and examiners should continue working with the current system, as there will be a grace period as we adapt to the new procedures. The Western Coaching Committee released newly revised Learn to Ride Program manuals and provided updated testing materials in 2012. This national committee of volunteer coaches continues to review the program, so expect further updates over the next few years.
Trail Guide Program
As many of you are aware, Equine Canada announced in February 2013 that they have been working with QuĂŠbec a Cheval on a National Trail Guide Certification Program. They are close to having the outline and materials completed and available. The OEF
hopes to be able to offer training for the new national program in the spring of 2014. Ontario has put the provincial program on hold until we see how it fits in with the new national program.
Coaching and Instructor Certification Programs
The Ontario Equestrian Federation offers training and evaluations for Competition Coach Specialist for Dressage, Eventing, Hunter/Jumper; Instructor and Competition Coach for English and Western; Instructor for Carriage Driving and Saddle Seat Instructor certification under the Coaching Association of Canada and Equine Canada National Coaching Certification Program. If you are interested in any of the programs, please visit www. horse.on.ca for more information and consider submitting an application to education@horse.on.ca. An application will open a file for you to track all your training and put you first in line to receive information on training and evaluation opportunities. Program applications are submitted at no charge and do not hold you to complete the evaluation process in a specific time frame, or at all. The application process allows us to better serve Ontario equestrian professionals by planning training and evaluation events in appropriate areas of the province. ✤ www.horse.on.ca | 43
Coaches Corner
Learn To Ride Develops Skills For All Ages By Gillian Ross Erasmi, Education Coordinator
We are fortunate in Canada to have a nationally recognized rider and driver development program for English, Western, Saddle Seat and Carriage Driving. The Western Learn to Ride Program has been in place for over 30 years and the English Learn to Ride Program began in the 1990s as a one to three-level program, which later developed into a one to eight-level program in 2005. The Ontario Saddle Seat committee has worked hard to develop several levels of a new Learn to Ride Program, which is pending review by the national committee. The Learn to Drive Program was developed by Drive Canada several years ago. These programs start at the beginning with an introduction to the horse and how to safely work around the horse and in the stable. There is a focus on the equipment used and skills needed for the fundamentals of riding or driving. As participants progress through novice, intermediate and advanced levels, they will increase their technical and practical skills as well as their knowledge on horse care. These are non-competitive programs to develop horse people with not only riding/driving skills, but also the ability to care for their horse’s needs. The OEF processes hundreds of Learn to Ride tests each year from all levels, sending out certificates and badges to successful candidates. Both the young, and the young at heart, participate in this program, whether they are new to the sport or are experienced riders. The OEF has issued certificates for riders ranging from seven years old to 85 years of age!
44 | WHOA! Fall 2013
Why participate in the Learn to Ride/Drive Program? • Many participate to gain more knowledge and skill to ride and drive horses • People like to have measurable goals to work towards • Some participate in order to complete their prerequisites to become a certified coach or instructor • Many non-competitive riders like to have a way to describe their abilities or level of experience • Many competitive riders are very goal oriented and like to have their rider levels to work on when they are not preparing for competition The Learn to Ride Program is a wonderful tool for riding schools to offer their clients. Many use the levels as a standard assessment for part-boarding, practice riding and off-site competitions. “As an industry it gives us standards that show the general public that we have a system in place that it is recognizable and it quantifiable,” says Level 3 Eventing Coach Margaret Godson of Myrddin Stables near Erin, ON. “Parents are looking for a measure of their children’s progress and in some cases they want their investment in their learning to lead to an opportunity in the future – be it a vocation, part-time job, or a stepping stone to becoming an Olympic athlete.” Godson, who has been involved with the English Learn to Ride Program since its inception, adds, “I feel the greatest value of the program is that it puts the emphasis on the care, treatment and systematic development of the horse, as well as the rider.” ✤
Coaches Corner
The Quest for Gold Program was established to provide additional support to athletes from Ontario and to increase the performance and number of Ontario athletes competing at the highest national and international levels, thereby contributing to the improved performance of Canada at international competitions.
MUHAMMED ITANI
SABLE GIESLER
Muhammad Itani’s summer show season began with a number of solid placings with his horse, Tax Free, in the High Junior/ Amateur division on the Canadian national level circuit. As an important step in qualifying for representing Canada in the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), the Caledon, ON. resident competed at the Grand Prix Level with an 8th place finish in the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix (USEF National Standard) out of a tough field of professional U.S. competitors.
Sable Giesler’s mount, Evil Munchkin, is gradually being brought back into full work after sustaining an injury that sidelined him for several months. In the meantime, the Powassan, ON. rider has been enjoying competing with Rebel Munchkin in Ontario. She completed the CIC* at Will O’ Wind Horse Trials in July. In addition, another munchkin has joined the “empire.” Devil Munchkin (barn name Kermit) is a fiveyear-old Dutch Warmblood who was imported from England in the spring. Previously he was a Show Jumper but he has been quickly catching on to Eventing, competing at the Pre-Training level and finishing in the ribbons at every show. He is a cousin to Evil Munchkin and Giesler is hopeful he will follow in the footsteps of his successful relation.
After Vermont, Itani and Tax Free competed at the NAJYRC in Lexington, KY. He and his teammates took home a team 5th place finish. The NAJYRC experience carried forward through the remainder of the summer, during which time Itani had a number of top placings, including winning the High Junior/Amateur Jumpers and a 3rd place in the Jump Canada National Talent Squad at the Angelstone National Phase II. Itani is hoping to qualify for both Talent Squad and the High Junior/Amateur Jumpers at The Royal this year and is also entering another semester at the University of Guelph.
JACQUELINE STEFFENS
Photo by Ian Woodley
Erin MacDonald of Barrie, ON. had a good summer with Tobiaz, finishing 8th at Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, MI. and 2nd at the Grandview Horse Trials in August. She made the tough decision to offer him for sale and will start looking for a new prospect this fall. MacDonald’s 10-year-old Hanoverian, Java, has been recovering from a foot injury and will start back under saddle in the next month or so. MacDonald is starting to look forward to the winter season in Florida and plans to start showing her young horse and Java again with the goal to represent Canada at the Pan-American Games in 2015.
Photo by Peter Steffens
ERIN MACDONALD
Jacqueline Steffens of Harriston, ON. and her horse, Quercus Van Generhese, travelled to Kentucky in July to compete at the North American Junior and Young Riders Championships as a member of the Canadian team. After five rounds of competition, they finished 9th individually, with a clear round in the individual final.
Through the financial support of the Quest for Gold grant, Steffens has been able to enter a number of Grand Prix classes, which she says would have otherwise been too expensive. She had a very exciting week at the Orangeville International CSI2* where she and Quercus went double clear in the FEI Grand Prix, earning 3rd place, as well as receiving the Leading Lady Rider Award. It has also been a very rewarding year with the young horses she has been bringing along. Chikita, which Steffens purchased as a yearling, won the high point season champion award for the six-year-old division this year, and will be competing in the Young Horse Finals later this month. www.horse.on.ca | 45
Ask Dr. Bob
Melanoma appears on the throatlatch of an aged Arabian gelding as a hard black nodule.
Dr. Bob My horse has developed a few lumps. One is located in the throatlatch and one is under the tail. What can it be? Lumps and bumps that occur on a horse’s skin can be divided into neoplastic (tumour) and non-neoplastic (inflammatory, parasitic-induced) masses. The location of the lump, its outward appearance, how recent it appeared, the age of the horse and the coat colour often help in the differentiation of the mass. Definitive diagnosis, however, often requires aspiration of the contents and histological (microscopic) examination, since many cutaneous masses appear clinically similar. TUMOURS OF THE SKIN OF HORSES
common penile and preputial neoplasm in the horse (4). Smegma, the waxy exudate found around the penis and sheath is suggested as being the most likely carcinogen (5). These tumours may metastasize to regional lymph nodes if not treated aggressively. Therefore, any change in skin pigmentation around the eye, penis or sheath should be immediately examined by a veterinarian. Treatment options include surgical excision, cryosurgery or laser surgery. Reoccurrence after treatment can be expected in 1725% of cases (4).
There is no consistently effective therapy for sarcoids and therefore veterinarians use a variety of treatments, including: ligation, surgical excision, cryosurgery, laser surgery, topical application of cytotoxic compounds (e.g., zinc chloride, 5FU cream (called Efudex in Canada)) or intra-lesional injections of cisplatin, immunomodulation (e.g., EqStim, BCG) and autogenous polymerized tumour particles (vaccine made from a sarcoid). Commonly, when one or a few of the sarcoids are removed, an immunization response occurs and the remaining sarcoids disappear.
MELANOMAS For the Percheron breed and other horses with dilute coat color (white or grey), the most common neoplasia is the melanoma or melanocytic tumour. It is not a case of whether a grey horse will develop a melanoma(s) but, rather, when and where will it develop. Melanomas are not a single entity but a complexity of equine proliferative cutaneous melanocytic lesions with at least three different forms, including: melanocytic nevi (melanocytoma), dermal melanomata (if there are multiple, confluent dermal melanomas, this is referred to as dermal melanomatosis) and anaplastic malignant melanomata (1, 6). These tumours commonly appear under the tail, perineum and external genitalia, as well as the parotid area (behind the jaw). They are usually slow-growing, locally invasive tumours with the potential to metastasize (grow internally) and grow extensively, which makes early treatment desirable. The higher incidence of melanomas in horses with the dilute coat color mutation is believed to go hand in hand with the inheritance of these mutated color genes (7). Melanomas can be malignant, therefore it is best to have lumps biopsied early so early diagnosis and treatment can be initiated and a more cosmetically acceptable and desirable outcome possible. Surgical excision, cryosurgery or laser surgery can be used to remove those melanomas that are bothersome to the horse and owner. Cimetidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist that is used in humans to inhibit the production of acid in the stomach, has been used to slow the growth of melanomas with mixed results.
SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS Squamous cell carcinomas can be aggressive tumours that occur around the eye and the penis in adult horses. They are the most
NON NEOPLASTIC MASSES There are a number of non neoplastic masses that can appear as very small to extremely large masses. They include abscess,
SARCOIDS The equine sarcoid is a locally aggressive, fibroblastic skin tumour, which can appear as a flat or cauliflower-like growth, either singularly or as multiple growths, usually in the young horse. It consists of transformed fibroblasts with very little involvement of the epidermis. Sarcoids are the most common dermatological neoplasia reported in horses. It is widely accepted that the bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 are associated with the pathogenesis of sarcoids (1). Papillomaviruses are also associated with warts in humans. Sarcoids usual appear in younger horses and may spontaneously disappear. The distribution of lesions and the epidemiology of sarcoids strongly suggest that flies are significant as vectors (2, 3).
46 | WHOA! Fall 2013
Ask Dr. Bob hematoma and chemical or allergen induced inflammatory masses (hives, granulomas). Because these masses can resemble each other, fine needle biopsy conducted by your veterinarian combined with a good history will differentiate the causative agent. An abscess is an accumulation of pus that accumulates in the subcutaneous tissue. It is the body’s defensive mechanism to wall off a contaminated area usually caused by a penetrating object carrying bacteria into the tissue. Abscesses are diagnosed by aspiration of pus. Even the largest and ugliest abscess will shrink away to nothing with drainage/lancing and flushing to remove the pus. A hematoma is an accumulation of blood outside the blood vessels. In horses, they can be caused by blunt force trauma that ruptures a blood vessel(s) and results in blood accumulating under the skin. Once they are mature (the blood vessels are no longer leaking) they can be drained by your veterinarian and where possible pressure applied to induce shrinkage and prevent further leakage of blood.
Urticaria, or hives, on the belly of a horse.
Hives (urticaria) are usually allergic reactions and appear as multiple raised areas along the sides and neck and back. The reactions can be from ingestion or physical contact and caused by, but not limited to: the ingestion of medications; the ingestion of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in the form of urea in commercially prepared feeds; contact dermatitis (e.g., buttercup); reactions to topically applied insecticides and stings or bites from insects. Culicoides species are midges that cause summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD) or “sweet itch.” The biting midges mediate an immune response by the host (horse). IgE antibody and histamine are released and a cascade reaction results in a severely inflamed pruritic (itchy) reaction on the skin. Selfmutilation of the area further acerbates the reaction. Prevention is aimed at reducing the population numbers of midges in the general geographic area, the application of insecticides and repellents on the horse’s skin and the wearing of rugs, protective blankets and face masks. Treatments usually include antihistamines, steroids and anti pruritic fatty acids supplementation. Habronema and Draschia are species of stomach worms, which usually cause no significant problem with horses. However, when larvae of these stomach worms are deposited by flies onto cuts or the conjunctiva around the eye, they invade the tissue and cause a local cutaneous inflammatory reaction. The inflammatory lesion is known as “summer sores” or cutaneous habronemiasis (8). The lesions can appear as circular erosions on the lips or large granulomatous lesions that can be mistaken for sarcoids or squamous cell carcinomas. Biopsies may help in the differential diagnosis but the use of avermectin wormers orally are effective treatments. SUMMARY The lumps and bumps of horses can look similar, even to the trained eye. It is imperative that biopsies and fine needle aspirates be used when these lesions appear to ensure the best possible outcome for the welfare of our horses. Contact your veterinarian for further information on these subjects and visit www.horsenewsandviews for more information on horses. REFERENCES 1. Schöniger S, Summers BA. Equine skin tumours in 20 horses resembling three variants of human melanocytic naevi. Vet Dermatol 2009; 20(3):165-73. Epub 2009 Apr 3. 2. Knottenbelt D. Skin neoplasia: sarcoid. In: 9th Congresso Nazionale Multisala SIVE, Pisa, 2003. 3. Yu AA (2006): Sarcoids. Proc American Association of Equine Practitioners 2006; 52:478-483. 4. van den Top JG, de Heer N, Klein WR, Ensink JM. Penile and
Hematoma on the penis of a horse.
preputial squamous cell carcinoma in the horse: a retrospective study of treatment of 77 affected horses. Equine Vet J 2008; 40(6):533-7. 5. Lopate C, LeBlanc M, Knottenbelt D. Neoplasms of the reproductive organs. In: Chapter 4, Equine stud farm medicine and surgery, The Stallion:Saunders, Elsevier Science Ltd., 2003:100-104. 6. Valentine BA. Equine melanocytic tumours: A retrospective study of 53 horses (1988-1991). J Vet Internal Medicine 1995; 9(5):291-297. 7. VMRCVM – Research program. Malignant Melanomain Horses. Virginia-Maryland magazine. http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/ research/ceco/melanoma.asp Accessed 10/24/2012 8. Schuster RK, Sivakumar S. A xenodiagnostic method using Musca domestica for the diagnosis of gastric habronemosis and examining the anthelmintic efficacy of moxidectin. Vet Parasitol. 2013 Oct 18;197(1-2):176-81. This information was developed by Dr. Bob Wright in collaboration with Dr. Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren. Dr. Bob Wright has authored more than 150 fact sheets, information sheets and scientific publications. He now provides consultation on the horse industry from his home in Belwood, ON. E-mail dr.bob.wright@gmail.ca or visit www.horsenewsandviews. com Dr. Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren, DVM, MSc, CertEM (StudMed), GespPD, MRCVS is in equine practice in Norfolk, UK. He recently completed his masters degree at the University of Edinburgh. E-mail hans.delaunois@googlemail.com www.horse.on.ca | 47
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Ask BFL
My Horse Club has only $300 in the bank and we run only one or two events per year. Do we really need to have insurance? We hear this question quite often, but the answer is simple. Yes! As soon as a fee is charged to a third party (membership fee, horse show entry, etc.), there are two exposures that the club must address to protect club members and its directors: Commercial General Liability (CGL) and Directors’ and Officers’ Liability (D&O). No matter how small the club, things can go wrong, and insurance is needed to protect the club and individual members from financial hardship. Here is a story to help put things in perspective. A horse club decided to host a schooling show at a local riding stable. They signed a contract with the stable and paid a rental fee. The show programs were printed and distributed, and the entries started coming in. Everything seems just fine, except there was a slight problem. The stable owner heard that one of the expected exhibitors, a local horseperson, had been recently charged with “horse abuse” (alleged, not proven), and advised the club that this person was not to be permitted on the show grounds. The club, not really having any choice, refused the entry form for this individual when it came in. The individual then sued the club, claiming defamation of character resulting in lost business, among other things. Luckily, this club had both a CGL and D&O policy in place. The respective insurers were able to step in and cover the club’s defence costs, even though the club seemed to hold no responsibility for the circumstances. You may think this situation would never happen to your club, but unusual situations happen all the time and often cause either physical damage or financial loss. This is where you need insurance to come into play. A CGL policy protects the club if it is sued for bodily injury or property damage to a third party. Your club may run only one “event” per year, but it likely also participates in meetings, fundraisers, parades, parties and other functions where a loss
could occur. Therefore, it needs an annual CGL policy to protect its assets and those of its members, 365 days a year. Sometimes we hear that a club does not purchase CGL insurance because its members are required to join the OEF. Remember, the OEF membership liability program protects the individual member for his or her own liability for actions arising out of the personal use of their horse. It does not cover the member when acting on behalf of their club. Here is an example to help explain the difference. ABC Horse Club is running a gymkhana. Mr. Smith, who is a member of the OEF, is working the in-gate of the competition ring as a volunteer for the club. He forgets to close the gate when Mrs. Jones, who is also a member of the OEF, enters the ring. Mrs. Jones falls off in the ring, and her horse gets loose into the parking lot, where it injures a spectator. Mrs. Jones, the horse owner, is sued for the injury her horse causes. Her OEF membership policy will respond, but her club’s CGL policy will not. She has acted as an individual, not as a representative of her club. Mr. Smith, the club volunteer, is also sued for his negligence in not closing the gate. He has acted as a representative of the club, not as an individual. As such, his OEF membership policy will not respond. It is the club’s CGL policy that should respond in this case. If the club does not have a CGL policy, then Mr. Smith could face huge legal bills just to defend himself, nevermind a settlement if it is awarded in favor of the injured party. Asking your club’s members to maintain an OEF membership is still a very good idea, as it ensures that individual members can defend themselves in cases where they hold responsibility for the actions of their horses. Without this protection, the club may be unwittingly dragged into a lawsuit because it is perceived to have www.horse.on.ca | 49
Ask BFL a deeper financial pocket than that of the individual. In addition to the CGL policy, the club should have a D&O policy to protect its directors and officers in the event they are sued for wrongful acts in the operation of the club. Did you know that directors are held personally liable with respect to their duties? Investigations of alleged wrongful acts can result in enormous defence costs even if ultimately it is established that no wrongdoing occurred. Wrongful acts can include, but are not limited to: discrimination, sexual harassment, violation of an individual’s civil rights and violation of various statutes (such as the Income Tax Act, Corporation Tax Act, or Competition Act). Some examples of claim scenarios include: providing advice to members, enforcement of the club’s rules and regulations, mismanagement of funds, uncollected or withholding of taxes, misrepresentation, wrongful dismissal (includes volunteers!) and unpaid wages. Again, you may feel as though none of these scenarios could ever apply to your club’s situation, but remember, an allegation of a wrongful act can cost thousands to defend, whether or not the director is found guilty of committing the wrongful act. Sometimes we hear from clubs that they simply can’t afford the insurance. If you have a club with 25 members, chances are the cost to implement both CGL and D&O policies will work out to less than $20 per member. This is a very small price to pay in order to protect the people who make your club possible. BFL wants to help make insurance more affordable for OEF Association Council members and Affiliate members. We are pleased to announce that for 2014, OEF member clubs that purchase both a CGL and D&O policy through BFL will receive their choice of a prize selected from our catalog of gift items, or a $50 cash donation. Clubs must require their members to maintain OEF individual memberships to be eligible. Please speak with a BFL representative for more information. Sara Runnalls is Vice President and Associate at BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. in Toronto, the official insurance provider to the OEF and its members.
What’s Coming Up In October: Features include how the FEI’s proposed changes to the Olympic qualifications for Rio 2016 will affect Canada; “Vets and the Law”; the threat of Vesicular Stomatitis; “Equine Separation Anxiety” and how to avoid “herdiness”. Enjoy a candid Q&A with Jim Elder; see how the Canadians fared at NAJYRC; and learn about probiotics and prebiotics for horses. November: Read news and results from the Spruce Meadows Masters; see what has been keeping Equine Canada's new CEO busy; learn how to “Winterize Your Horse” and “Feed for Long Hauls and Flights”. Amateur riders offer tips for success; discover how to find and keep sponsors, drop in on an interview with Clayton Fredericks; and see what's new at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. December: Look back on the highlights of 2013 with our year-end wrap-up; see the latest in surveillance systems for broodmares; results from the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final; “Giving Back” and riders' favourite charities; finding and training good ponies; and Canadians helping Cuban horses. All issues include important horse health and nutrition information, profiles, show results, and training tips from top riders and coaches including David Marcus, Shannon Dueck, Jenn Serek, Hyde Moffatt, Bobbie Reber, Diana Burnett, Jessica Phoenix ... and more! Pick-up a copy at your favourite tack shop or subscribe online at Subscribe.Horse-Canada.com to subscribe today.
50 | WHOA! Fall 2013
BFL Welcomes New Staff
BFL CANADA is pleased to welcome two new equine industry insurance professionals to the team servicing the Ontario Equestrian Federation and its members! LISA FUHLENDORF
Lisa Fuhlendorf joined BFL’s equine team in March 2013 as a customer service representative, after working at Secure Insurance Solutions (formerly Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd.) for four years. Lisa is a lifelong horseperson who began her showing career as a member of Canadian Pony Club with a passion for Eventing. She continued working with horses at a professional Hunter/Jumper barn as a rider and groom and also did some independent training and rehabilitation of horses before taking a position with a racing stable as a groom, veterinary assistant and assistant barn manager. Lisa now owns a show jumper and continues to indulge in her love of horses. DAINA STRICKLAND
Daina Strickland joined BFL’s equine team in July 2013 as a client executive, with 20 years of experience as an equine and farm specialist from Cornerstone Insurance Brokers (formerly Colley, Borland and Vale). Daina is another active, lifetime horseperson with origins in Canadian Pony Club. As a young rider, Daina competed in Hunter/Jumper before finding her passion in Dressage. As a Canadian Pony Club volunteer, she has acted as regional and national Dressage chair, regional Prince Philip Games chair and now the district commissioner of her local branch, the Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club. She is the proud owner/operator of her own farm property where she raises her three horse-loving children, and specializes in breeding and showing Welsh Mountain ponies.
What’s Coming Up In November/December Issue
Equine psychologist, Antonia Henderson, Ph.D., takes readers into the emotional world of horses, questioning the depth and scope of their feelings. Experts from Kentucky Equine Research explain the causes of poor appetite in horses, and how to deal with picky eaters. Equine nutritionist, Shannon Pratt-Phillips, Ph.D., provides feeding guidelines for retired or geriatric horses. Find out how winter weather affects horses’ hooves, and learn how to care for them properly under these harsh conditions. Ashley Whitehead, DVM, provides step-by-step instructions for administering eye medications. Carlos Tabernaberri explains how to achieve self-carriage and collection under saddle, while Anne Gage gives advice on dealing with hard to stop horses. A holiday gift guide featuring interesting and unique products for horse lovers.
That’s not all, so make sure to pick up a copy or subscribe today at Subscribe.Horse-Canada.com, so you don’t miss a thing!
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Jacqueline Brooks Dressage Clinic November 30 and December 1, 2013
Private Session - $300 Semi Private Session - $400 (2 riders) Semi Private Session - $450 (3 riders) Auditing - $50/day (Group rates available) To reserve your spot call 519-606-1482 or email admin@reachhuron.ca REACH Huron - 169 Beech St, Clinton, ON www.reachhuron.ca
www.horse.on.ca | 51
Special Feature
onto the sofa. It was then that she noticed blood was spurting from his right ear and she knew that it was serious. She called an ambulance and he was taken to a local hospital. The treating team knew that Mr. G had sustained a significant brain injury and they tried in vain to secure a critical care bed for him in Ontario. Eventually, a bed was found for him in Buffalo, NY. where he was transferred by air ambulance. He was diagnosed with massive bleeding into the left side of his brain and required two surgeries to release the pressure that was building in his brain. Over the next few weeks, Mr. G. showed a remarkable recovery of his ability to move, speak and remember. When he had stabilized, he was transferred by land to the border and then airlifted to his local hospital in Bracebridge. However, when he arrived he looked grey, was unconscious and breathing by ventilator. A repeat CT scan showed that he had had a massive re-bleed and he succumbed to his injury two days later. Because of stories like this and our experience in caring for similarly injured people, we ran a survey in the summer issue of WHOA! to better understand how concussions affect equestrians. As we had an overwhelming response from 1,396 people, mostly women (97%), it appears our concern is well-founded.
Head Injury Part 4: Survey Data Reveals Concussions Common By Nora Cullen, MD, MSc, FRCPC and Gregory O’Shanick, MD
It was a tragic end to a lovely life. Mr. G was 73 years old and in excellent health. He and his wife had lived and worked on a farm in Bracebridge, ON. for 38 years. They looked after two of their own horses, boarded seven and grew hay. On the eve of their 52nd wedding anniversary, October 9, 2007, Mr. G went to the barn to tend to the horses. What happened next is not clear. Based on his wounds, it seemed that one of the horses, a three-year-old mare who was known to be a bully, kicked Mr. G in the upper arm. He fell backwards and hit his head on a doorframe, then fell to the cement floor, hitting his head again. Mr. G got up, walked to the house and into the living room, where his wife noticed something was amiss and asked him what was wrong. He said, “My head hurts” and then flopped 52 | WHOA! Fall 2013
Several things came to light as we sifted through the data. Concussions while working with horses are surprisingly common. Almost 86% of those who responded had sustained one or more concussion. As is frequently seen in other sports, this can be life altering. The more experience people had with horses, the more likely they were to have had a concussion. About 66% of those individuals experienced a loss of consciousness, and medical attention was sought by 82% of those who had received a blow to the head. Forty-seven per cent received some form of treatment and 26% had no recollection of the incident. The good news was that the vast majority (95%) of the people who responded to this survey use a helmet while practising or schooling a horse. Likewise, they insist that minors under their care wear helmets when on or around horses. Helmet use increases with the number of concussions, indicating that people do learn from experience. Of concern, however, only 4% of people wear a helmet when they are grooming or feeding their horses. As we learned by the sad story of Mr. G, the simple precaution of wearing a helmet when tending to his horses might have saved his life. ✤ Nora Cullen, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is chief of staff at West Park Healthcare Centre in Toronto and is an associate professor at the University of Toronto. Gregory O’Shanick, MD, is president and medical director at the Center for Neurorehabilitation Services in Richmond, VA and is medical director emeritus of the Brain Injury Association of America. O’Shanick is also a rider and was named the 2012 U.S. National Champion in HA/AA Western Pleasure AATR Select.
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On The Trail
CEREC is a non-profit group of horse enthusiasts of all disciplines who enjoy informal and non-competitive trail riding. Your membership in CEREC supports the development and maintenance of trails and it can get you a discount on trail passes so you can ride affordably. They even offer a family rate so the whole gang can ride together! Working with the NCC and Prescott-Russell Counties, CEREC has been expanding horse riding opportunities in the Ottawa region, adding trails in the Ramsayville and Larose Forests. In the works are new trails in the Cumberland Forest. In recognition of CEREC’s efforts, the Ontario Trails Council presented it with the Provincial Trail Builder Award in 2006. The honour recognized their effort and their ability to bring partners to the table in order to provide recreational riding in the region.
Photo courtesy of Capital Warmbloods
For more information about CEREC and its trails visit www.cerec.ca
Ashley Becke (front) and Nancy Tremblay Winfield enjoy a trail ride on the NCC trail system aboard three-year-old youngsters bred by Capital Warmbloods.
Saddle Up For Trail Riding In Ottawa Submitted by Patrick Connor of the Ontario Trails Council
If you have never been trail riding in Ottawa, what are you waiting for? Beautiful trails beckon for enthusiastic riders who want to experience the capital region on the back of a horse. In the Ottawa area, the biggest trail organization is the National Capital Commission, a crown corporation of the Government of Canada. Known as the NCC, it is responsible for planning, as well as taking part in the development, conservation and improvement of Canada's Capital Region. Other regional partners include the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, which has a significant trail known as the Sentier Prescott-Russell. When it comes to horses, the NCC and Prescott Russell County Forestry offices work with Club Equest Ramsayville Equine Club (CEREC), which offers equestrian riding trails, trail maps, trail locations, information on parking and events. 54 | WHOA! Fall 2013
If you are planning on heading out to enjoy CEREC trails, here are a few tips to keep in mind: • Trail passes – You need a trail permit to ride a CEREC trail. There are two types – day pass for $10 or an annual pass for $50. A family membership includes passes for all. Passes can be purchased online. • Parking for horse trailers – Each location has parking for horse trailers. Ramsayville has a smaller parking lot and therefore the maximum number of trailers that can be safely parked at that location is about eight. Larose Forest has a much larger parking lot and can accommodate up to 80 trailers. • Overnight stabling – There is no overnight stabling on-site. Please arrange through CEREC and the Larose Forest office. If you are going to Ramsayville there is no overnight camping. • Power hook-ups – Bring your own generator or power. • Water and feed – Bring your own water and feed. • Trail maps – Available on-site and online: oR amsayville Map - http://www.cerec.ca/images/stories/ TrailMaps/Ramsayville_Map.pdf oL arose Forest Map - http://www.prescott-russell.on.ca/ images/usergroup/Planning/Trails_3_seasons.pdf • Seasons of operation – Spring, summer, fall. •H ours of operation – In and out during daylight (especially Larose). • Trailheads – For your GPS! o Ramsayville - 45.42153,-75.697193 o Larose Forest - 45.399655,-75.255661 •H unting – Please watch for in-season activity, as CEREC recommends no horses at this time. •M ulti-use trails – Look for non-motorized in Larose Forest, and cross-country in the winter. Ramsayville trails are solely for horses! •B ridges – On marked horse trails, bridges are horse rated for safety. •R ider Insurance – All riders must have at least $2 million liability as a condition of having a trail pass. Ontario Equestrian Federation members meet this requirement. The Ontario Trails Council was established in 1988 and started as a coalition of trail user groups such as hikers, cyclists, snowmobilers and equestrians who shared an interest in trails and in the conservation of abandoned rail lines for use as trails. The charity promotes the development, preservation, management and use of recreational trails in Ontario.
On The Trail
Meeting A Horse On the Trail
Best Practices for Horses on the Trails
USE THE THREE C'S 1. courtesy 2. communication 3. common sense
1.
•
Make your presence known from a distance by calmly addressing the rider.
3.
•
Please pass slowly on the left after the rider acknowledged your presence.
4.
•
If you are motorized, we request that you stop and shut off your engine as a courtesy. Please greet the rider and wait until horse and rider have moved off a safe distance before continuing.
•
If you are unsure of what to do in any situation concerning a horse, please ask the rider before taking any action.
•
We all share the trails, so lets work together in harmony to ensure safe and enjoyable trails.
Courtesy of the Ontario Trail Riders Association, www.otra.ca
Connecting Buyers & Sellers for 29 years Jane Chisholm
*
2.
5.
6. 7.
You and you horse should have suitable riding attire – hunter orange from waist up all year, boots with a heel, helmet, wellfitting saddle and good tack. Ride with a suitable horse – size, conditioning and training matter. Carry a first aid kit, cell phone, GPS/compass and map on you NOT the horse. Never lead off until all riders are mounted. Stay on the marked trails and obey the signs. Know where you are on the trail in case of an emergency. Walk on the right of the trail or road. Never canter or gallop. Leave two horse lengths between you and the other horses even when you have stopped.
8. 9.
10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.
When crossing a road do so all together. Use the buddy system; be responsible for the rider in front and behind you. If riding alone, tell someone where you have gone and when you will return. Use the three C's – Courtesy, Communication and Common Sense. Do not litter on the trail or campsite. Put manure and hay in designated areas. Leave only hoof prints behind. No dogs on the trail or alone in the campsite. No alcohol or smoking on the trail. Water your horse into the shore, and do not cross or wade unknown waters.
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Breed & Discipline Updates
Ontario Wins Big At Canadian Arabian & Half-Arabian Nationals Submitted by the Arabian Horse Association of Eastern Canada
Claire Linley with Woolhavens Tyme to Dance: Top Ten Sport Horse Geldings, Top Ten Sport Horse Geldings ATH, Top Ten Sport Horse Under Saddle JTR David Carr with DA Travail: Top Ten Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure AAOTR 40+, Top Ten Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure 40 + Over AATR Derek Jones with DJS Mark of Fame: Top Ten Western Pleasure Junior Horse
Photo by Jeff Janson
Elaine Ward with KF Almaz: Top Ten Dressage Fourth Level, Top Ten Dressage Prix St Georges, Top Ten Sport Horse Half-Arabian Show Hack
Allan H.L. Ehrlick and EVG Ellie Mae were Reserve National Champion.
Members of the Arabian Horse Association of Eastern Canada enjoyed their fair share of victory passes at the 2013 Canadian Arabian & HalfArabian National Championship Horse Show in Brandon, MB. The prestigious show, which took place from Aug. 12-17, saw Ontario owners and riders take top honours in numerous different classes and disciplines. The Arabian Horse Association of Eastern Canada (AHAEC) is proud of all its members who exhibited and would like to congratulate the following members on their wins: Allan Ehrlick with EVG Ellie Mae: Reserve National Champion Half-Arabian Working Hunter AAOTR, Top Ten Half-Arabian Working Hunter ATR, Top Ten Half-Arabian Regular Working Hunter, Top Ten Half-Arabian Hunter Hack Austin Hall with TS Klassic Expression: Top Ten Western Pleasure Walk/Jog 10 & Under Emily Turner with Prince Star of Lilly: Top Ten Arabian Hunter Pleasure 13 & Under JOTR Brian Hall with TS Klassic Expression: Top Ten Western Pleasure Select Rider AATR Brian Hall with Billy the Kid BR: Top Ten Half-Arabian Western Pleasure Select AATR
John Code with Marwans Silhouette: Top Ten Arabian Breeding Mare Kaitlyn Wallace with BFA Magic Chances: Top Ten Arabian Hunter Pleasure 13 & Under JTR Matthew Harbridge with Sir Royal Bey Montana: Top Ten Country English Pleasure/Hunter Pleasure Walk/Trot 10 & Under Michelle Harbridge with Slam Dunk DS: National Champion HalfArabian Hunter Pleasure 40 + Over AATR, National Champion HalfArabian Hunter Pleasure 40 + Over AAOTR Michelle Harbridge with Sir Royal Bey Montana: Top Ten Arabian Hunter Pleasure 40 + Over AAOTR, Top Ten Arabian Hunter Pleasure 40 + Over AATR Natalie Hunt with Dancin to Victory: National Champion Western Pleasure AAOTR 19-39, National Champion Western Pleasure AATR 19-39 Wes Eddy with Aaragon BPA: Top Ten Half-Arabian Geldings Stock/ Hunter Tara Porter with Avatar Cat Ballou: Top Ten Arabian Mare AAOTH Tara Porter with Shake It Up: Top Ten Half-Arabian Native Costume, Top Ten Half-Arabian Native Costume AOTR, Top Ten Country English Pleasure AAOTR 19-39 And, congratulations to previous AHAEC member: Robyn Theedom with Ames Cassanova: Top Ten Country Pleasure Driving ATD
Welsh Pony And Cob Association Honours Mentors With Award Submitted by the Welsh Pony and Cob Association of Ontario
The Welsh Pony and Cob Association of Ontario is now accepting nominations for its Mentor Award, which is given to a senior member who has mentored a junior member throughout the show season. The Welsh Pony Cob Association of Ontario (WPCAO) presents the Mentor Award to give junior members a chance to recognize their mentor and to show their appreciation for all the time and knowledge that the senior member shared. Last year was the inaugural year for the award and Janene Howran, of Howran Hills Farm in Peterborough, ON., was named the 2012 Mentor of the Year. Howran was nominated by two junior members who praised her for helping them succeed in the show ring. “Janene has helped me a lot. She reminds me of the things to do to make my pony stand straight in the show ring,” one of her nominators said. “She makes showing fun.” The WPCAO honoured Janene Howran by presenting her with a gift
56 | WHOA! Fall 2013
certificate and a copy of Adele and her Ponies, a CBC documentary about Adele Rockwell of the Ardmore Stud. As part of the nomination process, the junior member must submit a short story/essay describing how this senior member helped them throughout the show season. For example, a mentor teaching the junior member how to care for their pony, the proper way to dress for the different Welsh classes, how to show their pony on line or the proper turnout of the pony in the different divisions. If you are interested in nominating a member for the award, please complete the online nomination form that can be found on the Welsh Pony and Cob Association of Ontario website, in the Awards section, at www.welshpony.on.ca. Submit the nomination to Maisie Durward via e-mail at durward@i-zoom.net Nominations must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2013. The Mentor Award will be presented at the 2013 year-end awards banquet, held in December at the Utica Hall in Utica, ON.
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Breed & Discipline Updates Erin Fall Fair Celebrates Equine Heritage Submitted by Lee Davies & Bridget Ryan, Erin Agricultural Society/Erin Fair
There is hardly a person in Wellington County – or Dufferin, Caledon, or Peel for that matter – who doesn't smile when they think of the Erin Fall Fair.
Photo by Tristan Clark Photography
Established in 1850, the Erin Fair has become a Thanksgiving tradition. Each year, 25,000 visitors pass through the gates at the Erin Fairgrounds. Cattle, sheep and goats are fine, but equine people know it’s really the horses that grab our hearts. The 2013 fair was no exception, with a great lineup of equine related entertainment, show classes and hands-on horse activity all weekend. From the steadfast heavy horses, to the nimble gaited pony breeds, to the exciting mini chuck wagon races, there was something for everyone. The Hunter/Jumper Show took place on Saturday and Sunday morning Barrel Racing welcomed an enthusiastic audience and lots of competitors. New for 2013, adults were included in the Gymkhana Show, which hosts novice classes and games, and a very popular costume class. The Equine Tent returned to the Erin Fair for the fourth year, showcasing Equine Guelph’s award-winning EquiMania!, live horse breed presentations, and educational clinics. Entries from the stable building class were on display in the Equine Tent and expanded to include adult entries. Apparently big kids like to create “dream horse farms” too! Other special features included an on-site saddle maker, a talk and book signing by an equine author, an equine art and photo exhibit, a Classical Dressage demonstration, lunch-time learning with the University of Guelph, the Eglinton-Caledon Hunt Club hounds and a hot-shoeing farrier demonstration. With support from the OEF, the Erin Agricultural Society, made a big commitment this year towards improving its horse ring and upgrading show safety guidelines. It is looking to expand its facility rental
throughout the year to host breed shows, as well as local and regional horse competitions. Beyond the Erin Fair, various horse venues and a variety of equine adventures are available in the Town of Erin, ranging from world-class show jumping at Angelstone Equestrian Park, to riding instruction and horse shows at Myrddin Equestrian Centre, to bed and bale farm experiences. Erin is also part of the Headwaters Region, which will host the 2015 Toronto Pan-Am Games at the newly renovated Caledon Equestrian Facility in Palgrave. Erin welcomes horse people and their friends, from all over the GTA region to the pretty villages, and quaint country estates, right into the heart of horse country. For further information about the Erin Fair Equine Events, or to book Erin Agricultural Society grounds for shows, visit www.erinfair.ca/horses.
Pony Club Testing: Filling The Gaps Between Past And Present Submitted by the Central Ontario Region of the Canadian Pony Club
Known for its development of up-and-coming equestrians, Canadian Pony Club activities include educational clinics as well as competitions in such disciplines as Show Jumping, Dressage, Rally/ Eventing, PPG/Mounted Games, Tetrathlon and Le Trec. However, the cornerstone of Pony Club has always been education. From the grass root D’s all the way to the mighty A, Pony Club ratings are recognized around the world. Looking through Pony Club’s testing records is like a who’s-who of the equestrian world. The biography of most of Canada’s team members, both past and present, include Pony Club at some level. In fact, don’t just look at Canada – pick any country and, if they have Pony Club, you will find it as part of their team members’ histories. All levels have both a stable management and a mounted component, ensuring members are well-rounded equestrians who not only walk the walk, but also talk the talk. This year in Central Ontario, tests were conducted at the D levels (for the newest and youngest members), through the C levels (four members successfully completed their new C and C1 ratings in August). One member even worked through her B2 level. As of now, 30 members have tested up to the next level this season, and there are more tests scheduled for the fall. Once members reach the A and B levels, the tests draw members and examiners from not only around the province, but also across the country. It can also become a multi-day event if the candidates are testing both their stable management and mounted components at the same time.
This past winter, Nellie Bradbury, Central Ontario Region’s assistant regional test chair, took an inventory of the region’s test results going back to 1983. Pony Club is often asked by alumni to confirm what level they may have attained during their time as a member. While the national administrator for Pony Club maintains documentation at the highest levels, this is not always an easy task for the lower levels, which are maintained regionally. Records are occasionally incomplete or may have been passed along from volunteer to volunteer, becoming less intact along the way. “These records tell a great deal about the history of Pony Club in Canada,” says Bradbury. “Through the testing records we can trace the establishment of new branches and the progression of Pony Club members through the years.” A major question has been raised about what may have happened to records prior to that year, and the regional committee is now turning to its alumni to share any information that may still be available. Whether it’s an individual testing card or a box of documents that has moved houses a few times and never been re-opened or passed back to the regional committee, Pony Club would like to hear about it. To help update the records and make Central Ontario Region’s history, please contact centralontarioregion@ponyclub.ca.
www.horse.on.ca | 59
Breed & Discipline Updates Long-Time Road Horse Competitor Retires After Successful Show Career
Photo by Howard Schatzberg
Submitted by the Canadian Road Horse Association
Carolyn Nugent and Total Vision proudly take their victory pass as 2010 Reserve Canadian Road Horse to Wagon Champion at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Total Vision, a fixture in Road Horse classes throughout Ontario for over a decade, has been officially retired by his owner, Canadian Road Horse Hall of Fame member, Lloyd Nugent of Napanee, ON. The flashy Standardbred gelding by Dream of Glory made 96 starts as a racehorse before beginning his life as a show horse in 2000, a role he willingly took on with great passion and enthusiasm. For the next 12 years Total Vision was a contender for the red ribbon every time he entered the ring, not only at The Royal, but also at the many fairs and horse shows at which Nugent Stables competed. Early in his show career, he caught the eye of the judges at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, winning the inaugural OHHA Green Roadster Classic in 2001. While that first red Royal rosette was in a bike class with owner Lloyd on the lines, driving duties throughout his career were shared between Lloyd and his daughter, Carolyn, who steered “Totie” to the tri-colour rosette in 2011 in the Canadian Road Horse to Wagon Championship. That same year, Kerri-Lynn O’Hara partnered with Total Vision to win the Ladies Road Horse Class at the Royal, an achievement they would repeat in 2012. Total Vision’s versatility and ability to win in both bike and wagon classes arguably made him one of the very best road horses of his era.
During his show career, Total Vision won 10 classes at the Royal. He was a four-time winner of the Single Road Horse To Wagon 15.2 and under wagon class, a four-time winner of the Ladies Road Horse to Bike (twice driven by Carolyn Nugent and twice with Kerri-Lynn O’Hara), as well as the aforementioned 2001 OHHA Green Road Horse to Bike and 2011 Canadian Road Horse to Wagon Championship. Additionally he earned reserve champion honours twice. He was the 2001 Reserve Road Horse to Bike Canadian Champion and the 2010 Reserve Road Horse to Wagon Canadian Champion. Nugent Stables, like many road horse exhibitors, consists of family members of multiple generations, each sharing a portion of the training, preparation and showing. It is such a small stable, in fact, that when the family began to think of retiring their beloved Total Vision, they built an addition on their barn to ensure him a place of honour at their farm, while still providing enough space to add a new horse to their show string. Total Vision, now 21, will be missed in the show ring by his owners, fellow road horse exhibitors and road horse enthusiasts alike, as he enjoys a well-deserved and pampered retirement in that stall built just for him at Nugent Stables.
Get Involved With The Ontario Quarter Horse Association
Submitted by the Ontario Quarter Horse Association
The Ontario Quarter Horse Association show season has come to a close for another year with the last OQHA approved show held Labour Day weekend at the Paris Fair. This year saw great attendance at all the shows held throughout the province. Not only were the weekend shows well attended, but there were also a number of new faces at all three of the AQHA All Novice shows, which were held in Carp, Orangeville and Ilderton. The novice shows are a great avenue for new exhibitors wishing to try out an AQHA show and compete against others with similar show experience. Novice shows offer exhibitor prizes and clinics offered by professional horsemen and women in Ontario. The Ontario Quarter Horse Breeders Futurity was a success with close to 50 mare and foal nominations in 2013. The futurity is a great avenue for Quarter Horse breeders to showcase up-and-coming prospects. Anyone raising registered Quarter Horses is eligible to participate at this futurity. More information can be found on the 60 | WHOA! Fall 2013
OQHA website www.oqha.on.ca/futurity/futurity.html The weather was gorgeous for the AQHA/OQHA Annual Trail Ride held at the farm of Steve and Karen Cook in Omemee, ON. on Sept. 7-8. Approximately 20 riders enjoyed a weekend of fun on the scenic trails at Esker Springs Ranch. The Cooks served up a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner and provided an evening of entertainment for the riders. All breeds are welcomed to attend this trail ride, which is held each fall. As fall rolls around, OQHA would like to remind anyone wishing to get more involved with the Ontario Quarter Horse Association that the Annual General Meeting and awards banquet is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 in Guelph, ON. If you would like information on how to get more involved with the association, please feel free to discuss with any of the directors. For more information on the Ontario Quarter Horse Association, visit www.oqha.on.ca
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Breed & Discipline Updates Canadian Sport Horses Continue To Prove Their Talents As Eventers Submitted by Tracy Hanes, Canadian Sport Horse Association
To meet the multiple demands of power, agility, bravery and speed, Event horses must be good all-around athletes. And from the lower levels up to the highest international levels of the sport, Canadian Sport Horses are proving they have what it takes to excel. Below is a list of some of the current Canadian Sport Horse Eventing stars, as well as a look at the brightest up-and-coming talents: Riddle Master: This 12-year-old bay gelding (Rodero x Legacy 3rd), owned and bred by Caroline Bazley and her mother Jean Watson of Blithe Hill Farm, is a top international Eventer with rider Rebecca Howard of Salmon Arm, B.C. After representing Canada at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and the 2012 Olympics, Howard and ‘Rupert’ relocated to England to further develop their skills.
Foxwood High: The tall 2004 bay gelding (formerly High Society 3E by Rio Bronco x Evita II), owned by John Rumble and bred by KingRidge Stables, is partnered with Selena O’Hanlon of Kingston, ON. “Woody” was the youngest Canadian horse at the 2011 Pan Am Games, where the Canadian team earned silver. This past June, he and O'Hanlon finished second in the highly competitive Bromont CCI 3* event. Glendening Avis: This buckskin mare (Ferrari GS x Adora 2nd), bred by Glendening Sport Horses, is owned and ridden by Callie Evans of Lindsay, ON. Early this year, eight-year-old Avis won two Intermediate horse trials in the southern U.S. before being diagnosed with Lyme disease. After successful treatment for the virus, Avis came back to place third at both the Dreamcrest CIC 2* and Wits End CIC 2* events. Evans and Avis successfully made the move up to Advanced in August at the Richland Park Horse Trials, finishing in 14th place. Yarrow: This chestnut gelding galloped to victory at the Bromont CCI 1* in June with Waylon Roberts, claiming top spot. It was just the second time the young homebred had competed at the CCI 1* level. Waylon’s parents, Kelly Plitz and Ian Roberts of Dreamcrest Farm in Port Perry, ON., bred Yarrow. He is the offspring of the late Grand Prix international show jumper, Yavari, an Argentinian Thoroughbred,
Photo by Chris Murray
The duo placed 12th in their first Badminton CCI 4* in the spring, then followed up with a third place finish at the Barbury Castle International Horse Trials in July and another third place at Haras du Pin CIC 3* in August. Rupert and Howard will be a duo to watch at next year’s WEG in Normandy, France.
Callie Evans and Glendening Avis won two Intermediate level horse trials this year before recently moving up to Advanced.
and Amelia II (Ali Baba/Zucarlos). At just six years old and with the talented Roberts aboard, Yogi’s future is bright. The Fluorescent Adolescent: The five-year-old half-sister to Yarrow is also proving she has a talent for Eventing, after winning the open training division at Grandview Spring Horse Trials with rider/owner Hannah Rankin of Port Perry, ON. The loudly coloured pinto chestnut mare (registered as F.N. Loud, Gaudi x Amelia) was bred by Kelly Plitz of Dreamcrest Farm. Miss Conception: Robyn Townsend and her seven-year-old grey mare, Miss Conception (Bethany K), won the Senior Training division at Harmony Horse Trials in Quebec in August and were 5th in the Training division at Little Bromont Horse Trials in June. The mare, bred by Ashland Farm, is by Novalis and out of Idette. Townsend, who teaches and trains at her family’s Fin de Ville farm in the Ottawa Valley, has put in all the mare’s training after choosing her from a field of young horses at Ashland Farm.
Miniature Horse Owners Wrap Up Busy Summer Season Submitted by Brian McGowan, Eastern Ontario Miniature Horse Club
Members of the Eastern Ontario Miniature Horse Club were kept busy with numerous events sponsored by their club over the summer months. Over 30 members and their spouses attended the annual horse drawn wagon ride in June through Ottawa’s historic Byward Market. John Cundell, owner of Ottawa’s oldest and only existing private stable within the city core, provided a running commentary of the sites during the tour. Cundell’s Belgian teams were immaculately prepared as usual. This was followed by a buffet meal in one of the numerous restaurants providing gastric delights in the area.
Club members attended the numerous Ottawa Valley Fall Fairs in September, concluding their driving season with a final drive in October amongst the orchard trees and berry plants at Ovens Berry Farm in Osgoode, ON. Again, club members enjoyed a potluck supper. Members are looking forward to the annual meeting in late October, as well as the upcoming winter driving season.
In July, the members gathered again to drive amongst the tall pines in LaRose Forest. A “boil up” (a Newfoundland term for a snack prepared in the bush) featuring wieners, bread and beans, along with copious quantities of green tea, was then enjoyed. In August, members gathered again for a corn roast at the facilities of the club chair in Edwards, ON. Horse games for the children followed a precision driving demonstration by the club’s newly formed driving team consisting of eight members and their horses. This team has gathered each Tuesday evening during the summer months to practice. Each practice was preceded by a training session on safe harnessing and driving techniques for the newer drivers.
Members of the Eastern Ontario Miniature Horse Club musical driving team practice their routine.
www.horse.on.ca | 63
Breed & Discipline Updates
Gypsy Vanner Fans Celebrate The Best Of The Breed Submitted by the Canadian Gypsy Vanner Horse Club
The Vanner Girls consist of Kendra Taylor, Kaitlyn Worton, Shyla Cardy and Shannon Hanley. The group blends music and precision equestrian skills.
This time of year is always exciting for the Canadian Gypsy Vanner Horse Club and Gypsy Vanner lovers across Canada and the U.S. The highlight of the year is the biennial Vanner Fair, which was held September 21-22 and brings together and showcases the best of the breed. To add a little showmanship dazzle to the event, four accomplished riders got together to form the "Vanner Girls" along the model of the famous Canadian Cowgirls. Performing at Vanner Fair and slated for a reprise at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair from Nov. 8-10, these riders and their Gypsy Vanner horses blend music and precision equestrian skills in captivating fashion. Featuring a song solo by Alyssa Roy, the musical beat accompanied by thundering hooves and flowing feathers, the Vanner Girls and their horses delighted audiences with their spectacular display. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of watching the Vanner Girls perform, here’s a glimpse of who they are: Shyla Cardy is the daughter of Rita Susgin of Vanner Manor and has been riding Gypsy Vanners for 10 years. She has been performing demonstrations in the Spirit of the Horse ring at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair since the age of eight. Cardy rides Western and English and drives. She has shown successfully, including at the Silver level in Dressage. She and her Vanner mare, Candy Queen, were reserve champions at the first Vanner Fair in 2011.
Shannon Hanley is the stable manager, trainer and coach at Deerfields Stables in Palgrave, ON. Describing the Gypsy Vanner as the “best all-around horse,” Hanley has taken Gypsy Vanners to numerous riding demonstrations and shows, including EquiChallenge, the Royal, and the All About Pets show. She also competes in OHTA Eventing with a Gypsy Vanner, placing second this season to date. Kendra Taylor is the main trainer for Wellington County Gypsy Vanner Horses and has been riding since the age of three. Taylor also trains at other local farms, including the Gypsy Vanners at Kilsallagh Farm. She recently showed successfully with Wellington County Gypsy Vanner mare, Sasha, winning a number of local and provincial Dressage championship titles. Kaitlyn Worton, also of Deerfields Stables, is a relative newcomer to the world of Gypsy Vanners. She quickly realized the incredible nature of these intelligent, friendly horses. Riding since the age of seven, Worton began breaking and training horses for Dressage at the age of 16. At 19 years old, she started Eventing with her Thoroughbred gelding. The Canadian Gypsy Vanner Horse Club and its members are delighted that the breed we love, already boasting pizzazz and sparkle, is now perfectly showcased in this new musical adventure. Bravo, Vanner Girl team!
Mounted Games Are Fun For All Ages Submitted by Mounted Games Across Canada
Another competition season is almost complete and the Mounted Games Across Canada is thrilled to call it successful! With three pairs meets and one team meet, and riders from 68 years young to six years old, who wouldn’t be happy? Mounted Games Across Canada (MGAC) hosts fun-oriented, family events with games to suit the different abilities of riders. The goal is fun and safety at all times. This season riders enjoyed an assortment of traditional games, with an addition of several new games at the competitions. Riders and horses had a spacious playing field to enjoy 64 | WHOA! Fall 2013
these activities, thanks to the support of the Grand River Raceway. The MGAC would like to congratulate and thank our ground crew; without them the setup and smooth flow of the games would not be possible. However, like any organization, more assistance is always appreciated. To learn more about Mounted Games, including how to get involved, visit www.mountedgames.ca
Breed & Discipline Updates Cutting Awards Honour Top Riders And Pay Homage To Cutting Icons Submitted by the Ontario Cutting Horse Association
Another show season has come and gone, leaving members of the Ontario Cutting Horse Association reflecting on competitions held over the past few months and looking forward to the coming year.
the Ontario Cutting Horse Association the Paris Fair venue. Robertson is remembered for the encouragement and support she provided to OCHA youth.
The Paris Fair, held on Labour Day weekend, is always a good venue for the cutting club. It is always a fun weekend and there are a lot of spectators with questions, which makes it a great venue to introduce others to the sport. This year, riders were also blessed with good weather.
Walter Hellyer was at Paris Fair to present the trophy for aggregate best score in the Open Class to Craig Ellis’s horse, Starlight Merada, shown by Rick Dubay, and the trophy for aggregate best score in the Non-Pro Class to Lauren Minshall. Noreen Whyte, an OCHA director, presented Ty Donaldson with the Diane Robertson Youth Trophy for best aggregate score for the two days. Robertson showed in the 2,000 Limit Rider Class. The trophies will remain on display at Paris Fair in the main building showcase.
Photos by Don W. Crawford / www.cuttinghorsephotos.com
At the Paris Fair show the club has special awards presented by Walter Hellyer, a founding member of the Ontario Cutting Horse Association (OCHA). There is also an award in memory of Diane Robertson, a member who, along with John Greene, was instrumental in getting
Walter Hellyer, judge Pam Scott, owner Craig Ellis and Starlight Merada, shown to a win in the Open Class by Rick Dubay, pose with the Walter Hellyer trophy.
Ontario Cutting Horse Association director Noreen Whyte presents Ty Donaldson with the Diane Robertson Youth Trophy at Paris Fair.
Morgan Show Has Been Bringing Enthusiasts Together For 46 Years Submitted by the Ontario Morgan Horse Club
The 46th Ontario Morgan Horse Championships Classic took place on July 20-21 at the Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Newmarket, ON. It has come a long way from the annual show that began decades ago. Forty-five years ago, the Ontario Morgan Horse Club began holding an annual show. This has now become the Ontario Morgan Horse Championship Classic, a fancy name, but the same good show with lots of fun for everyone. Countless people have worked over the years to make this show successful, and the current committee is just as dedicated and worked just as hard to make this the best show yet.
Photo by River Bend Designs
Greg Reeves leads the show committee and he learned from the best – his father Jack Reeves was show chairperson for many years taking the show from a one-day event to a two-day showcase. Greg’s mother, Kay, was also show secretary for a very long time and she set the standard for show secretaries. Friday evening was abuzz with horse trailers pulling into the grounds and setting up stalls, tack stalls, and everything you need to keep the horses comfortable. It was hot this day and strong storms were heading in, which always make unloading interesting. Fortunately, everyone made it just fine and thankfully the storms blew out the hot, humid weather to make way for cooler summer days and evenings. A hot dog welcome party was staged for Friday evening, hosted by Brenda Casteels, Nancy Kavanagh, Christi Nye and Anne Munro. Hot dogs, salads, watermelon and cold drinks are always enjoyable after a long afternoon of settling in. The Youth Challenge, sponsored by the Canadian Morgan Horse Association, began Friday evening with eight youth participating. Greg Reeves scored the horse judging component and Ally Bianchi judged the speeches. Thank you to Andrea Lehman and Lisa Kavanagh for running the challenge and to Greg and Ally for their judging.
Baronial Blues N Jazz, bred by Anita Jackson and owned and shown by Brenda Casteels, won the 2 & Under Mares class. Photo by River Bend Designs.
The last portion of the youth challenge took place Saturday evening with the equitation class, which is judged by our horse show judge, Todd Trushel. For the second year in a row, the champion was Mackenzie Collins, followed very closely by Kyla Vendrig, who was also reserve champion in 2012. Congratulations, girls! For a full write up and results, visit www.ontariomorgan.on.ca www.horse.on.ca | 65
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Breed & Discipline Updates Ontarians Compete At World Icelandic Horse Championships In Germany Submitted by Jane Hamilton, Icelandic Horse Association
in this year’s competition. The team did not return to Canada with red ribbons, but they did win over many fans and admirers during the competition.
Photo by Stroscher Fotographie
“It was wonderful having a recognizable Canadian presence at the World Championships and I truly believe this is the beginning of something great,” says Stoncius. “We need to focus on how well we were received internationally and move forward, to continue being involved.”
Victoria Stoncius was one of two riders from Ontario to ride at the World Championships. Stoncius was team captain.
Two young members of the Ontario Icelandic Horse Association recently travelled to Germany to compete at the 2013 World Championships for Icelandic Horses. Team Captain Victoria Stoncius of Mississauga, ON. and Sydney Horas of Caledon, ON. are active participants in the Ontario Icelandic Horse Association (OIHA) and represented Ontario at the World Championships, which took place in August in Berlin. They were joined in Berlin by British Columbia rider Shaundel Dodds and a group of enthusiastic red-shirted Canadian supporters. The Icelandic horse is tremendously popular in Europe and, of course, Iceland, its country of origin. It is exciting to note that Canada is now entering into world-class competitions. Stoncius competed in the World Championships in Switzerland in 2009. She placed 39th out of 200 competitors in the T1 (Tölt) class and she was determined to be involved
Stoncius notes that she was particularly proud of Maja II fra Fitjamri, bred by Arnold Faber of British Columbia, and now owned by the Roosjen family of Holland. “She is an amazing example of the Icelandic horses Canada is breeding and everyone noticed her,” Stoncius says.” Seven-year-old Maja was the first Canadian Icelandic horse ever to compete in the World Championships. She not only placed fourth, but she also made a very big impression on everyone who attended! She is being bred to a five-gait world champion before returning home to her young owner and family in Holland. Increasing numbers of young riders are being drawn to the Icelandic horse breed because of its strength, speed, stamina, agility, temperament and ability to “go the distance” and beyond. As Horas’s father, Brian, commented after the family’s Berlin 2013 experience, “Icelandic horses can bring you friends for life”. Now that Team Canada has been formally introduced as a force to be reckoned with world-class competitions, watch for them in future European events! The next Icelandic Horse World Championships will be held in Herrning, Denmark, in 2015. For more information, visit www.feif.org/Sport/ WorldChampionships2015
Western Ontario Pony Club Hosts International Mounted Games Submitted by the Western Ontario Region of the Canadian Pony Club
Riders head out on a drag hunt with the Wellington-Waterloo Hunt.
On Aug. 14, teams set to compete at the Prince Philip International Mounted Games were entertained by the Wellington-Waterloo Hunt at Jock and Virginia Buchanan-Smith’s Pitcaple Farm in Puslinch, ON. These teams came from across Canada, the United States, Australia and the U.K. and consisted of five athletes, a coach and a chaperone. Everyone was mounted thanks to local horse owners who provided
horses – at least 24 were needed. This was a drag hunt, with seven couple of foxhounds “speaking” to the scent. The four Mounted Games teams then went on to compete on Aug. 24 at the Fergus Fair Grounds where the Australians took the championship from the British, Americans and Canadians. www.horse.on.ca | 67
Breed & Discipline Updates
Fun Classes Add New Dimension To Tri-County Driving Show Submitted by Jean McLean, Tri County Carriage Association
On July 27, 2013 Tri-County Carriage Association held its 30th Anniversary Summer Show at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington, ON. The club was very fortunate to have the experienced Morris Kerr judging and Jim MacKay as ringmaster, familiar to many as the ringmaster at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Classes held in the main ring were traditional Pleasure Driving Turnout, Pleasure Driving Working and Pleasure Driving Reinsmanship, with three additional fun classes: Carriage Dog, Drive and Ride and Costume. The fun classes added interest for spectators and competitors alike, giving an opportunity for creativity that resulted in giggles and laughter by all. In the Drive and Ride Class, turnouts were first shown in harness with walk, slow trot, working trot, strong trot, halt and rein back demonstrated. A changeover then occurred, during which the horse or pony was prepared to be shown under saddle. Walk, trot, canter, halt and rein back were demonstrated by the riders. In this class the rider and driver do not have to be the same person. Many of pony competitors enjoyed watching their children or grandchildren demonstrate their riding skills.
Photo courtesy of Jump Shot Photography
Costume Class exhibitors had to design their own costumes to suit both the horse/pony and carriage. Costume possibilities were as varied as the competitors’ imaginations. Judi Morris dressed her equine partner, Tickle, as a train and she dressed as the conductor. Helen Velenosi transformed The Sundance Kid into a dog catcher and she stayed on the carriage as a dog. The Carriage Dog Class was judged primarily on the suitability of the dog to serve as a companion. Turnout was shown in both directions of the ring at a walk, slow trot and working trot. The dog could not be tied to the vehicle and was expected to be standing, lying down or seated. The dog was observed to ensure it did not interfere with the driver in any way. The three additional classes included in the TCCA Summer Show made the experience more enjoyable for everyone. The extra classes allowed drivers to expand their horizons, participate in an event with family and canine companions and use their creativity. By including these classes, spectators were able to enjoy something new and different and see a wider variety of Carriage Driving classes.
Barb Bowen, Karri Bylsma and Bear compete in the Carriage Dog Class at TCCA's Summer Pleasure Show.
Miniature Horse Club Of Ontario Celebrates Successful Show Season Submitted by Katie Young, Miniature Horse Club of Ontario
With show season in full swing and members taking advantage of the warm weather, it was a busy, fun-filled summer for the Miniature Horse Club of Ontario. The Miniature Horse Club of Ontario (MHCO) point series shows began with the Brooklin Fair at the beginning of June, and continued with shows at the Orangeville Fair on Sept. 1 and the Great Northern Exhibition in Collingwood on Sept. 22. The MHCO also held the Ontario Miniature Horse Classics Show on July 20 at QuarDream Equestrian Centre. The Classics Show is an American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) Sanctioned show, and this year proved to be a highly successful one! According to show manager Dianne Schieck, there were 89 horses from 30 farms, totalling 438 entries in 124 classes. On July 27-28 the MHCO Youth Plus Club held an annual campout for all MHCO members. The Swaffields generously hosted this event at their farm, Applebrook Acres, and many members enjoyed a weekend of fun with other members, great food and an enjoyable show with their horses. On Aug. 25 the club also attended the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto and held a show for the MHCO youth members and 4-H members. 68 | WHOA! Fall 2013
On Sept. 5, many members travelled to Tulsa, OK. for the AMHR Nationals, which ran until Sept. 15. They made their club proud, with many of them receiving top 10 placings in very competitive classes. For the members who were not able to attend this year, many watched the show online to cheer on their fellow competitors. Finally, to mark the end of show season the MHCO will be holding a banquet on Oct. 27 for members to receive their year-end awards, as well as to gather for the annual Fall General Meeting. The points that the MHCO members earned from each of the MHCO point series shows will be added up and at the banquet and members and their horses will be awarded champion and reserve champion for each class. After a delicious lunch, members will also participate in the annual meeting to discuss upcoming events, improvements to the club, and the success of the club during the past year. The MHCO is always happy to welcome new members to the club, and encourages prospective members to check out its website at www.mhco.ca, or to come to an MHCO event to experience the fun first hand!
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Equine Guelph Research Update
Fall 2013
helping horses for life
Parasite Control with Dr. Peregrine Rotate or rest?
That is a very good question when it comes to the use of deworming products. After speaking with parasitic disease expert and Ontario Veterinary College researcher Dr. Andrew Peregrine, I am not only eager to pick up more poop but I am keen to have it analyzed. When a growing resistance to
being applied to a problem that does not exist. Parasite burdens are not the same for every horse. “Less than three percent of horse owners perform fecal exams and to date this is the only way to find out if your horse is carrying an unhealthy parasite burden,” says Peregrine. He recommends all horse owners get in the habit of performing a fecal at least once a year, ideally in July or August when strongyles are most active.
Photo: Kayla Dorricott
Picking up manure twice a week is a good practice to decrease parasite populations dewormers is cited as a major issue concerning horse owners today, a fecal exam to see if your parasite control program is working makes logical sense. The results may indicate it’s time to rotate wormers or perhaps your deworming is
INSIDE
There are other physical signs such as weight loss, diarrhea and unusual levels of colic occurrence but these signs are not exclusive to parasite overload. They are good reasons to call your vet to determine the cause!
Peregrine advises horse owners to discuss the appropriate parasite control program with their vet to be sure they are following an individual program that is right for their horse. Rotation of deworming products (not just switching brands but switching drug classes) should
Volume 10, Number 2
Stem Cell Project Update .........................................2 Tracking Troponin....................................................3 Celebrating Ten Years of Innovative Research .............4 Rhinitis Vaccine on the Horizon .................................6 Protocols for Dealing with Disease .............................7 Colic Prevention......................................................8
not be the only point of conversation. Environment and stage of life plays a key role in determining what measures can be taken to keep the parasite population in check. And of course, the starting point is a fecal exam to learn if the egg count warrants action. If the fecal egg count is high – another exam two weeks after deworming will let the horse owner know if what they are doing is working. Peregrine points out a few factors affecting parasite control planning: • foals are predisposed to roundworms • horses spending long periods indoors are more at risk for roundworms and pinworms • horses on pasture are more at risk to pick up strongyles while grazing – this risk increases in paddocks that are overstocked with horses continued on page 2
Welcome to a special bi-annual report on the ground-breaking research funded by partners, sponsors and donors to Equine Guelph’s Research Program. This 10th anniversary issue celebrates the latest innovations in equine research. Be sure to follow the links to expanded articles outlining future stem cell therapy ventures and comparative studies analyzing equine footing. We hope you enjoy the feature article showcasing OVC researchers’ success stories and current projects. Dr. Jeff Thomason, Co-Chair Equine Guelph Research Committee
EQUINE RESEARCH UPDATE Continued from page 1
Parasite Control with Dr. Peregrine While not all horse owners have the luxury of keeping their horse on 5 - 10 acres of pasture (a minimum of two acres/horse is recommended but more is optimal), management of their environment can vastly decrease the chances of parasitic disease: 1. Picking up manure twice a week (more in wet conditions) can have a massive impact decreasing parasite populations. 2. Rotating pastures can be beneficial during grazing season when implemented for 2 – 3 months at a time. 3. Graze other species on the pasture (ie. Cows for one month). 4. Clean stalls daily. 5. Steam clean stall walls and flooring when occupants change. Funding for Dr. Peregrine’s equine parasite research has been provided by Zoetis, the E.P. Taylor Foundation and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs/Equine Research Centre.
Work closely with your veterinarian for the right parasite control program for your horse. For more information on how to collect a fecal sample please refer to Equine Guelph’s info sheet located at the bottom of the healthcare tools page: http://EquineGuelph.ca/education/healthcare.php
topic: demonstrator:
DEMONSTRATION OF HOW TO COLLECT A FECAL SAMPLE
Dr. Susan Raymond, Equine Guelph Education Officer
Equine Guelph Features Video on Fecal Collection: http://EquineGuelph.ca/videos.php Story By – Jackie Bellamy
Grant Brings Stem Cell Research closer to In Vivo Studies “The tool box is equipped,” says University of Guelph researcher Dr. Thomas Koch, as he and his team prepare to move on to studies using live horses. Their previous research, along with a $750, 000 grant for a new laboratory and bioreactor, has put Koch’s team at the forefront of equine regenerative research. This year, Koch together with Professor Judith Koenig for the first time ever, injected stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood into an injured tendon of a thoroughbred race horse. No apparent negative results have been recorded in the first five weeks. This has provided Koch and the regenerative medicine team at the Ontario Veterinary College with a starting point for future in vivo studies to assess the safety and healing potential of stem cells in live horses. To learn more about this exciting new step in research go to the full story at: http://EquineGuelph.ca/news/index.php?content=381
Dr. Thomas Koch is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Ontario Veterinary College and an adjunct associate professor in the Orthopedic Research Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, His work is funded by the Danish Research Agency for Technology, Production and Innovation, Grayson Research Foundation of Lexington, Kentucky, BioE Inc. of Minnesota, USA, SentrX Animal Care Inc.of Utah, USA, and Morris Animal Foundation (USA), Pet Trust and the Equine Guelph Research Fund. The $750,000 grant has been provided by the Canadian Foundation of Innovation – Leaders Opportunity Fund. Story By – Kathleen Kocmarek
Help us Celebrate 10 years of ‘Helping Horses for Life’ “We could not have achieved this milestone without your support,” says Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph. “For ten years our reputation has been built based on equine welfare priorities and we continue to expand our offerings to help horse owners and caregivers provide the very best care for our beloved horses.”
2 Equine Guelph
We invite you to help us continue to grow by making a special gift this year to our welfare education programs. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt, and every amount makes a difference. Please consider joining our celebration by making a special gift in honour of our 10th anniversary. Phone: 519-824-4120 ext 54431 Online:http://equineguelph.ca/donations/donate.php (online gifts receive an e-receipt) Mail: Equine Guelph, c/o Alumni House, University of Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 (cheques payable to University of Guelph/ Equine Guelph)
EQUINE RESEARCH UPDATE
Tracking Troponin When it comes to matters of the heart, OVC researcher, Dr. Physick-Sheard has been pumping out successful research. His collaborative research with Dr. Kim McGurrin using transvenous electrical cardioversion has given many racehorses suffering from performance problems due to arrhythmia their careers back. PhysickSheard has not missed a beat with his next research study, which will examine a possible relationship between exerciseassociated arrhythmia, heart muscle damage, and cardiac troponin I levels in race horses. “A known connection has been established between exercise and troponin levels,” says graduate student Dr. Tanya Rossi, who has been working with Dr. Physick-Sheard on this multi-faceted study. Physick-Sheard and Rossi are very interested in delving into the “chicken and egg” like quandary, “has heart muscle damage caused a rhythm disturbance or is it the other way around.” Measuring troponin levels has been held up as the ‘gold standard’ in diagnostics for human patients with cardiac disease. Troponin is a protein that is released into the bloodstream and can be detected even when there are only low levels of damage. Physick-Sheard will be the first to tell you, “Horses don’t have heart attacks,” but coming up with a standard troponin test for horses may allow vets to detect heart muscle impacts before they can become a cause of poor performance or mortality.
Photo: Dave Landry
Researchers hope to gain a greater understanding of the link between rhythm disturbances and troponin levels The initial stages of this study are proving intensive as there has been a lack of standardization for analysis of commercially available tests for troponin in equines. To ensure accuracy of results Physick-Sheard and Rossi are testing the ability of commercially available human troponin 1 assays to detect equine troponin I. Physick-Sheard jokes that part of the study is testing the hearts of the researchers, as they endure sleep loss and caffeine overloads, following and monitoring a group of racehorses, collecting blood samples from catheters for a full 24 hours! By measuring and examining differences in
both magnitude and time course of troponin I release between ‘normal’ racehorses and those exhibiting arrhythmia, the researchers hope to gain a greater understanding of the link between rhythm disturbances and troponin levels. Results could potentially lead to a standardized post-race test which could help maximize the welfare of horses from the perspective of protecting against cardiovascular disease, using troponin levels as an early detection method. Funding for this research project has been provided by Equine Guelph and the Ontario Veterinary College Office of Research. Story By – Jackie Bellamy
Advances Evolving from Research It is hard to believe the multitude of achievements made by Equine Guelph in these past ten years. The team has made commendable advances funding research and developing educational pathways, always responding to industry’s expressed needs. I am pleased to report this issue is overflowing with research information; necessitating links to expanded articles.
Equine Guelph, at the University of Guelph, has been a champion in building partnerships among industry associations, commercial ventures, private organizations and donors and government to fund equine research which improves the health and welfare of the horses in our industry. As the industry continues to experience uncertain times, acquiring future research funding is a challenging but vital mission. As you read through
these pages outlining many discoveries which ultimately benefit the lives of our horses, please recognize your generous contributions are the impetus that drive research forward. Whether your role is big or small; funding of research projects are always a collective effort. Dr. Jeff Thomason, Co-chair, Equine Guelph Research Committee
Equine Guelph 3
Equine Guelph Celebrates TEN Dr. Keith Betteridge, recipient of the Pioneer Award of the International Embryo Transfer Society and Honorary Chairman of the XIth International Symposium on Equine Reproduction in New Zealand, January 2014, has contributed greatly to increasing understanding of the role played by the embryo itself in maintaining pregnancy. Studying failing pregnancies is giving insight into identifying potential diagnostic biomarkers of infertility. Dr. Thomas Koch
has discovered an ingenious way to isolate mesenchymal stromal cells from umbilical cord blood, putting the UofG on the map as a leader in equine stem cell research. Koch is optimistic that advances in stem cell research will create treatment options for joint cartilage repair and could one day cure previously incurable photo: Studio 404 degenerative diseases.
Dr. Dorothee Bienzle
says, "Our research on heaves in horses has yielded fascinating insight into how the horse lung defends itself against inhaled moulds and dust particles, and how some of the genes involved in this defense have evolved over time."
Dr. Katrina Merkies
research into horse-human interaction has shown that i) horses do respond positively to calm, pleasant voices; ii) human body posture directly influences horse responses in the round pen; and iii) contrary to common belief, horses are actually less stressed around nervous humans.
Dr. Jeff Thomason has been conducting ground-breaking research studying riding surfaces
in multiple equine disciplines. Results stand to assist footing designers in reducing the chances of injury to horses as they create their next generation of products. Read the latest news on surfaces at: http://EquineGuelph.ca/news/index.php?content=382
From the Ground Up Thomason explains the need for cushion & maintenance are shared by different disciplines (racing, jumping‌) but purpose built footings each have their challenges. Photo: Warren Bignell
YEARS of Innovative Research Dr. Tracey Chenier
is unraveling the mysteries associated with freezing embryos for future transfer in the horse. Freezing the embryo is a common practice in cattle but photo: Kathleen Kocmarek difficult in horses, due to its unique capsule. Perfecting the freezing process would make international transport of horse embryos a reality.
Dr.
Judith
research
has
Koenig’s
yielded
Dr. Kim McGurrin & Dr. Peter Physick-Sheard have had enormous
photo: Kyle Rodriguez
Dr. Scott Weese
success treating arrhythmia in performance horses with a technique they developed using transvenous electrical cardio-version. With a response rate over 98%, this technology has put many a racehorse’s career back on track.
is using 'next generation sequencing' to research the mysteries of one of the most complex bacterial populations on the planet the equine intestinal tract. Links to gut flora interaction and healthy immune function have been drawn. Further understanding could prove useful in prevention of digestive conditions, metabolic disorders and allergic disorders.
wonderful advances in wound healing. Her work involving shock wave treatment has shown benefits in reducing proud flesh and decreasing healing time of large wounds. Koenig is also collaborating on very promising research in tracking stem cells for use in regenerative therapies.
Dr. John Prescott
regards the greatest innovations of the research from his laboratory as being the discovery of the virulence plasmid of Rhodococcus equi, obtaining the genome sequence of a foal virulent strain, and the proof of principle that foals can be fully protected by 3 weeks of age by oral immunization against Rhodococcus equi. Examples of ongoing research topics include: vascular pathologies (Dr. Arroyo), stem cell therapy (Dr. Betts), diagnostic imaging (Dr. Chalmers), colic (Dr. Cribb), neuromuscular disease (Dr. Hanna), bioengeneering (Dr. Runciman), colitis & C. difficile (Dr. Staempfli), pain management (Dr. Valverde) and respiratory medicine (Dr. Viel). Follow this link to view more OVC researcher’s profiles and learn about their exemplary work
http://EquineGuelph.ca/research/researcher.php
EQUINE RESEARCH UPDATE
Rampant Rhinos – As a horse owner, you are very aware of common influenza viral infections and the equine herpesvirus, commonly known as rhinopneumonitis. You may not be aware of the other viral groups simultaneously vying for your equine host that can put them out of commission for weeks or even months with respiratory ailments diminishing their ability to perform. Ontario Veterinary College researchers, Dr. Laurent Viel and Dr. Andrés DiazMéndez have recognized in a recent equine respiratory outbreaks study in Ontario, the role of equine rhinitis viruses. The prevalence of these viruses in the equine horse population in Ontario is equally as high as the influenza virus infections. To confirm the potential role of equine rhinitis A virus in equine respiratory infection, they were able to show that experimentally infected horses develop clinical disease similar to influenza and herpes virus. They have been on a mission which has been contributing to the development of an equine rhinitis A virus vaccine as a preventative measure against a virus that can lead to the most common respiratory diseases.
Drs. Viel & Diaz-Méndez are able to study the effect of viral infections on airway epithelial cells using an in-vitro model Little is known about the equine rhinitis viruses A and B, (ERAV & ERBV) but equine rhinitis A virus has been identified in 65% of cases in a prevalence study in Ontario. Equine Influenza was found in 56.5% of affected horses and 17% of horses were found to have both ERAV and 6 Equine Guelph
A vaccine on the horizon?
influenza simultaneously which suggests some equine respiratory disease outbreaks may be initiated by a combination of these viruses.
Fever, swollen lymph nodes and mucus production are clinical signs of equine rhinitis viral infections. The diagnosis of these infections is challenging without laboratory testing using both a nasopharyngeal swab and a serum sample taken within 24 – 48 hours of signs.
About rhinitis A virus
Originally thought to be a fairly trivial illness, only affecting the upper airway; rhinitis A virus is now known to replicate in both the upper and the lower airways and may lead to inflammatory airway diseases. Viel begins by comparing rhinitis viral infections to the common cold, “We became particularly interested in the equine rhinitis viruses because they have discovered that in humans, human rhinovirus is associated with asthma development and asthma exacerbations. “If a child contracts human rhinovirus at a young age, their chances of developing asthma increase. Viel and Diaz-Méndez are similarly trying to figure out the role equine rhinitis viruses may be playing in exacerbating horses with respiratory airway obstruction (also known as heaves). With similar replication and transmission (nasal and aerosol) as other respiratory viruses, equine rhinitis
viruses can be hard to detect without laboratory testing using both a nasopharyngeal swab and serum sample. Two blood samples are taken 12 – 14 days apart to look at antibody levels (titers) responding to common equine respiratory viruses. Diaz-Méndez says, "Timing is crucial for virus isolation - ideally in the first 24 hours of clinical signs." Three weeks of rest is a recommended precaution to guard against the risk of the disease worsening and putting the horse at risk of persistent airway inflammation. Diaz-Méndez and Viel have been successful in reproducing the disease in an experimental study. Ongoing studies include using a model airway (in-vitro) to challenge bronchial epithelial cells with equine rhinitis viruses and then study the effects on the airways mucosal surface. This will allow further study of how the virus and allergens affect the cells. Information from their intensive research on isolating the rhinitis virus and studying its effect on both the upper and lower airways have contributed greatly to the development of a vaccine which is conditionally approved in the US at the present time and likely available in Canada as early as next year. Funding for this research has been provided by Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada), E.P. Taylor Research Fund and Equine Guelph. Story By - Jackie Bellamy
Check out our Healthcare Tools
http://EquineGuelph.ca/education/healthcare.php
EQUINE RESEARCH UPDATE
What are the Protocols for Dealing with Highly Infectious Disease like EHV-1 in Canada? The short answer (to the surprise of many) is that there is no preestablished nation-wide protocol for most equine disease outbreaks. Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Dr. Scott Weese explains, “Every outbreak is managed differently, based on the disease, the types of horses, where exposure might have occurred and a range of other factors.” Typically, a disease like EHV isn't going to be noted during a horse show, since it takes some time for illness to develop after exposure. Therefore, the response is more of an investigation of what happened at the show, why and how it can be prevented in the future, and of course trying to prevent further transmission in the community (e.g. identifying exposed horses, communicating with people who have been to the show with recommendations to quarantine and test exposed horses and potentially all horses, surveillance for ongoing transmission from horses that have left the show). With horses, there's no regulatory body with a mandate to oversee (and fund) this type of investigation unless it's a federally reportable disease like rabies (and even then, assistance may not be forthcoming). Some provinces have more authority and interest (e.g. the Animal Health Act in Ontario gives the province a mandate and powers to intervene) but often investigation is not a priority for regulatory bodies and it's left to whoever is around and interested. There are some good outbreak management guidelines from different institutions or groups (e.g. the American College Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statements on EHV and strangles) but there is no standard approach. Because testing costs are placed on the owners, responses can be quite varied since getting people to test when indicated can be a challenge. Additionally, getting people to follow quarantine recommendations is a challenge because of inability to effectively quarantine on their farm or unwillingness to do so (usually more the latter). So, each outbreak ends up being managed quite differently. Weese specializes in tracking disease and infection control.
Content from this article is taken directly from WormsAndGerms.com, an informative blog, co-authored by Weese and Dr. Maureen Anderson. Weese has also been involved with the development of Equine Guelph’s Biosecurity eWorkshop which helps horse owners and facility operators learn to identify and reduce the risks associated with infectious disease. “Increasing knowledge of best biosecurity practices stands to benefit the horse industry by reducing the risk of disease transmission and, in turn could create a huge positive economic impact and prevent a potential catastrophic outbreak,” says Weese. “Whether you are travelling to a trail head or heading for an event as grand as the Pan Am Games, there are many practical steps you can take to reduce the chances of your horse contracting an infectious disease.” In general, the key points to outbreak investigation and management are: • Identification of a problem • Diagnosis of the problem • Communication to let people know what's happening • Identify potentially exposed and infected horses • Quarantine, if appropriate (usually some form of quarantine is indicated, but not necessarily for all diseases) • Develop testing recommendations • Develop and communicate a plan to maximize compliance with quarantine and testing • Create a way to centralize data collection and communications, so that a clear picture of what is happening is obtained • Keep people in the loop as the investigation ensues to maximize compliance and decrease loss of compliance because of boredom or fatigue with the recommendations Story By – Dr. Scott Weese
Next offering of online Biosecurity eWorkshop is Oct 21 - Nov 3. Register at: http://EquineGuelph.ca/eworkshops/biosecurity.php http://equineguelph.ca/Tools/healthflash.php Equine Guelph 7
UPDATE ON EQUINE GUELPH’S WORK
The ‘Year of Colic Prevention’ Has Been Eventful!
In response to a high industry demand, Equine Guelph has been giving horse owners ample knowledge to digest with its new colic prevention programs. Targeted at reducing colic risk through teaching best management practices, the first offering of Equine Guelph’s Colic Prevention eWorkshop sold out quickly. The Colic eWorkshop will join the lineup of Equine Guelph’s popular two-week online short courses which already include: Biosecurity and Safety & Behaviour. The year began with helpful colic prevention tips appearing monthly in Equine Guelph’s E-News. These tips along with the introduction of HEALTHflash (seasonal health care reminders), have resulted in an enormous increase in E-News readers. To take advantage of the Equine Guelph Colic Prevention Program:
1) Sign up for monthly E-News at http://equineguelph.ca/news/signup.php
EVENTS
2) Download the PDF poster of all twelve Colic Prevention tips at: www.EquineGuelph.ca/education/healthcare.php 3) Get a customized colic risk rating for your horse with the new free online tool at: www.EquineGuelph.ca/Tools/colic_risk_rater.php 4) Register at http://equineguelph.ca/eworkshops/colic.php, for two-week online short course running fall, 2013 & winter, 2014 for only $75 Investment in this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, this program is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council. TANDARDBRED CANADA
Mark your
calendar!
Colic Prevention eWorkshop
Sept 23 – Oct 6 Milton Fall Fair
(EquiMania!) Sept 27 - 29 Erin Fall Fair
(EquiMania!) Oct 11 -14 Biosecurity eWorkshop
Oct 21 – Nov 3
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
(EquiMania!) Nov 1 -10 Equine Guelph thanks the following animal health companies for sponsoring our tools:
HEALTHflash &
Lameness Lab &
HEALTHflash &
Vaccination Equi-Planner
Journey through the Joints
Biosecurity Risk Calculator
http://equineguelph.ca/Tools/healthflash.php http://equineguelph.ca/Tools/equiplanner.php
educating horsepeople
http://www.equineguelph.ca/Tools/lameness_lab.php
http://equineguelph.ca/Tools/healthflash.php
Equine Guelph’s Online Courses
(Next offering January 2013) Anyone wishing to excerpt Equine Guelph should contact: Jackie Bellamy, ext 54756 jbellamy@uoguelph.ca
http://equineguelph.ca/Tools/journey_thru_joints.php http://www.equineguelph.ca/Tools/biosecurity_2011.php
funding industry research
Equine Guelph, University of Guelph 50 McGilvray St., Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1
promoting health & performance
equine guelph
helping horses for life™
tel: 519.824.4120 ext. 54205, fax: 519.767.1081 horses@uoguelph.ca • www.EquineGuelph.ca
Your Horse b Your Passion
Sophia Jacobs and Rusty, an Arabian/QH gelding owned by Rose Schroeder. “He has taken me and many of my friends and students on some amazing and memorable journeys. Bless his big horse heart.” Rose Schroeder (from our 2010 Photo Contest)
Photo: Rose schRoedeR
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