Whoa! spring2013

The Official Newsletter of the Ontario Equestrian Federation

Spring 2013 www.horse.on.ca

Hosting A Safe Horse Show Understanding Drug Testing 2013 CIEC Selection Criteria

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The Official Newsletter of The Ontario Equestrian Federation • 1 West Pearce Street, Suite 201, Richmond Hill ON L4B 3K3

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ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION

Spring 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 Grant Field President 905-888-1226

Isabel Dopta Director 519-993-1192

Allan Ehrlick 1st Vice President 905-854-0762

Susan Legge Director 289-221-2279

Ken Denouden 2nd Vice President 416-409-8614

Marc Nicols Director 705-435-9229

Paul Richardson Treasurer 905-838-1809

Lindsey Reeve Director 905-424-1151

Al Patterson Secretary 905-659-1132

Bonnie Simpson Director 705-438-5752

Kimberley Blease Director 416-566-1801

Claudia Wagner-Wilson Director 905-466-1901

Andrea Clarke Director 519-763-3999

Jack de Wit Honorary Director 905-655-4666

Mark Dobrindt Director 905-892-9769

STAFF

Contents NEWS 4 President’s Message 4 Executive Director’s Message 6 New OEF Council Members 6 Strong Rides By Canadians At 2013 World Dressage Masters 6 New OEF Council Members 6 OEF Associations Council Update 7 OEF Quarterly Report 10 Ontario Equestrians Honoured With National Awards 14 Membership Requirements For Competition 15 2013 OEF Youth Bursary Recipients 16 OEF Model Member Award

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 18 One-Eyed Horse Inspires Kids Book 20 Equestrian Icon: Dorinda Greenway - A Lifetime Devoted To Horses

Dianne Graham Executive Director d. graham@horse.on.ca ext. 19

Anne-Marie Payette Membership Services Rep a.payette@horse.on.ca ext. 14

Catherine Barker Operations Manager c.barker@horse.on.ca ext. 23

Gillian Ross Erasmi Coaching Coordinator g.rosserasmi@horse.on.ca ext. 11

AROUND THE BARN 26 Standards Form The Foundation Of The Horse Facilities Program 27 Equine Real Estate: Not Just A Rural Property

Melissa Monardo Marketing Manager m.monardo@horse.on.ca ext. 17

Charlayne Szafranski Administrative Assistant c.szafranski@horse.on.ca ext. 32

SAFETY FIRST 28 Learn To Lunge Safely And Effectively

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 Lesley McCoy Membership Services Rep l.mccoy@horse.on.ca ext. 13

Pam Coburn Program Administrator Horse Facilities p.coburn@horse.on.ca ext. 26 Neil Evans Finance Administrator n.evans@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 Summer 2013 / deadline May 31 Fall 2013 / deadline September 6 Winter 2014 / December 6 Spring 2014 / February 7

THERAPEUTIC SPOTLIGHT 24 Horses Heal At Ottawa's Tranquil Acres

MANE EVENTS 30 2013 Competitions 32 Mark Your Calendars For Toronto Horse Day 32 National Women's Show 34 Ontario Seeks Riders And Coaches For Interprovincial Show 35 CIEC Athlete Declaration Form 36 CIEC - Calling All Equine Canada Certified Coaches!

COACHES CORNER 37 National Coaching Committee Updates 38 Upcoming Events 39 Quest For Gold: Ontario Athlete Assistance Program ASK DR. BOB 40 Identifying Mushrooms In Your Pasture ASK BFL 43 Overview Of The Automatic And Optional Insurance Programs For OEF Members

LEGAL LOWDOWN 48 Horse Syndications And Co-Ownership Agreements SPECIAL FEATURE 50 Head Injury Part 2: Assessing The Damage 52 Hosting A Safe Horse Show 54 Understanding The Equine Medication Control Program 56 Helping Horses In Distress ON THE TRAIL 59 Trail Program Goes National 59 Meeting A Horse On the Trail 59 Best Practices for Horses on the Trails BREED & DISCIPLINE UPDATE 60 Fun Abounds For Young Arabian Enthusiasts 60 Gypsy Vanners Set To Dazzle In 2013 Demos Across Ontario 63 Small Breeders Enjoy Big Success With Their Sport Horses 63 Dreams Come True At Paso Fino Grand National Show And Expo 2012 64 More Excitement On The Way For Belgian Horse Owners 64 Come Out And See What Cutting Horses Have To Offer 64 Morgan Horse Owners Look Forward To An Exciting Year Ahead 67 Another Exciting Season Ahead For Ontario Reiners 67 Events Celebrate The Versatility Of The Quarter Horse 67 New Executive Director For THJA 68 Tricounty Carriage Association Celebrates 30 Years 68 Woodbine Pros Show Pony Clubbers The Ropes During Track Tour 70 Celebrate The Icelandic Horse At The Spring Farm Weekend 70 Driving Associations Join Forces To Offer New Show Circuit 71 Designing Cones Obstacle Courses 71 Mounted Games Offer Safe And Supportive Environment For All Riders 71 Go The Distance In 2013 By Trying A New Riding Sport EQUINE GUELPH 73 Spring 2013

NUTRITION 46 Feeding In Spring: Increased Exercise And Warmer Weather Front Cover Photo Credit: Dave Landry Photography

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President’s Message My first few months as the President of the Ontario Equestrian Federation have been very exciting and have come with quite a learning curve. I have received tremendous support from fellow board members and provincial members alike and, for that, I thank you.

Term Equestrian Development and how the OEF can help fund our developing athletes. The first projects are built around the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships and the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships. The Equine Canada Equine Medication Control program will be delivered through the OEF board of directors in Ontario and plans for OEF Toronto Horse Day are underway.

The Equine Canada Annual Convention in Ottawa was a whirlwind of activity for all involved. There were back-toback meetings, as well as meetings that overlapped, as I took on my new role as the OEF president. During the conference, I also wrapped up my responsibilities as Equine Canada English Committee chair and National Coaching Committee chair. I attended Provinces Council and the AGM for the first time, met with many representatives from across Canada and presented coaching awards at the gala. It was great fun to see all the horse people together; all we needed were horses!!

I hope that the winter season has been a good one for all who stayed in Canada, as well as for those lucky ones who went south. I enjoyed both a trip to a southern horse show and some wonderful Canadian skiing. I look forward to riding outdoors again and competing in Canada this spring. It will be exciting to see in person the new developments at the Caledon Equestrian Park that are being made in preparation to host the Pan-Am Games.

As the winter season comes to an end, the members of the OEF board of directors are planning for the upcoming warm weather. A new committee has been formed to look at Long-

All the best in 2013!

Grant Field, President

Executive Director’s Message This issue of WHOA! is literally bursting at the seams with information, which I hope you find enjoyable, as well as helpful. I am particularly excited about the Equestrian Icon feature on Dinnie Greenway. While I have only had the privilege of meeting Ms. Greenway once, it was truly memorable.

A few years ago, some friends and I were having a “girls’ night out” on a Saturday night at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

A friend had given us box seats and we were having a wonderful time. While we were waiting for the show to begin, an attractive lady with perfectly coiffed hair and wearing a floor-length gold brocade gown sat down behind us.

As the six of us were chatting, this lady somehow became included in our conversation. She was laughing and telling us stories of her Royal experiences and, as the conversation continued, snippets of her accomplishments became apparent. In the most unassuming way she mentioned showing at the Royal in 1927 and winning the first FEI Jumper class at the Royal in 1949.

We were all riveted by her stories; she had this manner that was in no way proud or boastful, just matter of fact. After some time

4 | WHOA! Spring 2013

she said, “Oh there is my husband now.” She presented her hand and said, “By the way I am Dinnie. So lovely to have spoken to you.” And with that, she hopped up with the energy of a woman half her age and went off to her own seats. After she left, my friends and I just looked at each other and said, “There goes the last of the true ladies.”

I think it is important to note that Dinnie showed at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair during a time when women weren’t taken seriously on the international equestrian stage, or in anything professionally for that matter. Women such as Dinnie Greenway helped pave the way for women in this country and created opportunities for future generations. As a woman and a mother of two daughters, I thank her and others like her.

In the years since I met her, I have heard others speak glowingly of Dinnie and talk about what an asset she has been to the horse industry in Canada. I am thrilled that we are able to tell her story and provide this tribute to her innumerable contributions. She is a fascinating and incredible woman and a true equestrian icon.

Dianne Graham, Executive Director

News

Strong Rides By Canadians At 2013 World Dressage Masters

By Shelley Higgins, MacMillan Photography & Media Services

Ontario’s top riders made their province proud in the sunny south at the 2013 World Dressage Masters in West Palm Beach, Florida, which took place from Jan. 24-26.

Competition in the World Dressage Masters was by invitation and consisted of two divisions: a CDI3* and a CDI5* with 100,000 Euros in prize money offered in the five-star division. The top two qualified (must have completed two CDI3* classes) riders from the CDI3* World Dressage Masters Qualifier on the Thursday of the event, who did not already have a horse in the CDI5*event, moved on to compete in the five-star Grand Prix on Friday.

Sweden had a good show with Patrik Kittel, riding Watermill Scandic H B C, taking the top ribbon in the Grand Prix CDI5* on Friday and Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven riding Don Auriello finishing second. On Saturday night in the 70,000 Euro Grand Prix Freestyle, the two Swedes switched places with Vilhemlson-Silfven taking home the top share of the purse.

The Canadian riders at the World Dressage Masters included David Marcus of Campbellville, ON. with his 2012 Olympic horse Chrevi’s Capital; Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON. with her Olympic horse D Niro; Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON. with Devon L, and Cheryl Meisner of Blandford, NS. with two horses, Tango and Paganini.

Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital had a lovely ride in Friday’s Nürnberger Grand Prix CDI5* class to score 70.660% and move on to the Saturday night main event, the Exquis CDI5* Freestyle with 70,000 Euros up for grabs. They took sixth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 70.750% and were the top placing

New OEF Council Members The OEF is pleased to introduce NEW 2013 Council members: INDUSTRY Daventry Equine Appraisers Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd. T&T Farrier Services Tremblay Equine Massage Therapy HORSE FACILITIES Bronte Creek Equestrian Sport Ltd. Charleston Lake Riding School Northern Lights Equine TROtt - Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa Carleton Windy Hill Farm 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.

Canadians at the World Dressage Masters.

Brooks and D Niro just got better and better as the competition went along. They scored 66.362% in the CDI5* Grand Prix on Friday for an 11th place finish and went on to compete in the Grand Prix Special CDI5* on Saturday afternoon where they took third with a score of 66.833% Renowned dressage judge Stephen Clarke of Great Britain (also a judge at the London Olympics), who sat at E, rewarded their Grand Prix Special ride with a 70.417%.

Diane Creech on Devon L had some bobbles in Friday’s CDI5* Grand Prix and they scored 65.319% to move on to the Saturday afternoon CDI5* Grand Prix Special. They entered the ring as first out in the class and began a very nice test before stopping. Creech spoke with one of the judges and it was determined that she was riding the 2012 Special test created for the London Games, which was not the correct test.

The World Dressage Masters is an international series founded in 2008 that attracts some of the world’s top dressage riders.

Visit the news section of our website, www.horse.on.ca for more coverage of the World Dressage Masters.

OEF Associations Council Update By the time this issue of WHOA! arrives in your mailbox, the most recent meeting of the Associations’ Advisory Council will have taken place.

Catherine Raso of CMR Consulting was scheduled to return and continue the discussions of board governance. The agenda also included updates on the base funding application process for this coming year, the OSPCA Horse Rescue Program, the OEF Fair Program and details for Toronto Horse Day, which takes place June 1, 2013.

As a reminder, the 2013 association renewals are due. Please be sure to contact the OEF office if your association has any changes in your listed contacts so we can update our records.

If anyone has any suggestions for future speakers and topics for discussion, please let us know. The next meeting date will be announced.

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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.

OPERATIONS

STAFF • Anne-Marie Payette has joined the membership department and will be covering the balance of a current maternity leave.

GRANTS/FUNDING

MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE & SPORT BASE FUNDING • The OEF has been assigned a new sport consultant who has been with the ministry for a number of years; we will be working closely with her to improve the position of equestrian as a sport, as well as our funding opportunities.

RECREATION FUNDING • The OEF will once again be accepting applications through the Recreation Funding Program in 2013. Information and applications are available on the website. Projects should be focused on trail development or improvement, safety, legacy, equine health and welfare and/or education.

OEF YOUTH BURSARY • The 2013 youth bursary recipients have been selected (please see page 15 for the list of recipients). The 2014 application will be available online July 1, 2013 and in the summer issue of WHOA! QUEST FOR GOLD • Four athletes have been selected to receive Ontario cards under the 2012-2013 Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program. The athletes were selected using the sport specific selection criteria developed by the Ontario Equestrian Federation, approved by its board of directors and applied by (the) selection committee. Please see page 39 for a list of athletes.

MEMBER SERVICES/BENEFITS RETAIL

Ontario Federation of Agriculture and TSC • The "OFA Member Days at TSC" spring event will run from March 22 to April 4. The shopping event will include a variety of items that are specially priced for OFA and OEF members. A copy of the spring catalogue is enclosed in this issue of WHOA! and available on the OEF website.

TICKET DISCOUNTS • Can-Am All Breeds Emporium is offering members 13 per cent off general admission • The All About Pets Show/Ontario's Mane Event is offering members 25 per cent off general admission.

PROGRAMS

HORSE FACILITIES COUNCIL

• To date, 11 new stables have joined the OEF Horse Facilities Council.

• Organizing logistics to host focus groups beginning later this spring. A total of 56 survey respondents expressed interest in participating to discuss the following topics: Accreditation, best practices, standards, communication, member benefits.

FIRST SAFE STRIDES • The OEF participated in the Ontario Association of Agricultural

Societies Convention at the Royal York Hotel on Feb. 15 in three different areas of the convention: main trade show, a one-hour seminar focusing on running a successful horse show and the mini agricultural trade show promoting equine education at fairs.

• Working with Equine Guelph to create a tangible presentation kit that can be used at fairs to educate children about horses.

Aiming to offer a pilot program in 2013 to a select number of fairs and launch the program in its entirety in 2014.

• Working towards creating resources to help fairs run safe and successful horse shows.

COMPETITIONS

CANADIAN INTERPROVINCIAL EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (CIEC) • Alberta Equestrian Federation is hosting the 2013 CIEC at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping in Calgary, AB and the Okotoks Agricultural Society in Okotoks, AB. • The OEF is currently accepting coach and rider application forms.

PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS CLINIC • The OEF is offering a provincial Hunter/Jumper judging clinic on March 18-19 at the OEF office with clinician Evie Frisque.

EQUINE MEDICATION CONTROL PROGRAM

DRUG TESTING • Allan Ehrlick, member of the National Equine Medication Control Committee, and Catherine Barker, OEF administrator, attended the National Equine Medication Control Committee meeting held in Toronto on Jan. 19-20. It was a productive meeting reviewing statistics from across the country, including the number of competitions tested at each level and discipline, total samples drawn, frequency of allowable medications found in samples, an update on processes from the lab conducting the testing, a review of the positive test cases in 2012 and discussions and recommendations for the program for the coming year.

WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA

EQUESTRIAN SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS

• The OEF placed third in the category of Best Use of Social Media in North America in the PagePlay Equestrian Social Media Awards. The USEF placed first and Horse.com placed second.

NEW BLOG • Canadian Show Jumper, judge and clinician Kim Kirton will be contributing regularly to her blog tilted, “Kirton Call”. Kim will use the blog to share her knowledge, experiences and anecdotes here and abroad.

EVENTS

OEF Representatives attended the following events in winter 2013: • Canadian International Farm Show • Ontario Association Agricultural Societies Convention OEF will be present at the following upcoming events: • All About Pets Show/Ontario’s Mane Event • Can-Am All Breeds Equine Emporium • National Women’s Show – Ottawa • Toronto Horse Day

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News

Ontario Equestrians Honoured With National Awards

Ontario equestrians were among those celebrated during the annual Equine Canada Awards Gala, held on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 at the Delta Ottawa City Centre. These national awards are intended to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact in the Canadian equestrian industry.

SPONSOR OF THE YEAR – BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM (CANADA) LTD

Photo credit: Betty Cooper

THE EQUESTRIAN OF THE YEAR IAN MILLAR

Photo credit: Cealy Tetley

Michael Toner and Jennifer Verhulst-Loch of Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. accept the Sponsor of the Year Award from Equine Canada president Michael Gallagher (centre).

Ian Millar, shown here riding Star Power at the 2012 London Olympics, was named Equestrian of the Year at the Equine Canada Awards Gala.

Ian Millar of Perth, ON. was named the Equine Canada Equestrian of the Year, receiving the Doctor George Jacobsen Trophy, which is presented annually to the equestrian who has demonstrated superior sportsmanship, dedication and the pursuit of excellence in equestrian competition for the current year.

Known as “Captain Canada,” Millar made his Olympic debut in 1972 and has been named to every Canadian Olympic Team since.

The 2012 London Olympic Games were a record-setting event for Millar as he became the first Olympian in history to participate in a world record 10 Olympic Games, finishing in ninth place in the overall standings as Canada’s top Show Jumping rider. In 2008, Millar was also a member of Canada’s silver medal winning team.

In addition to his Olympic glory, Millar was also the first rider to win back-to-back FEI World Cup Finals with his legendary mount, Big Ben. He has also won nine medals, including two individual gold medals in nine Pan American Games. He has won the Canadian Show Jumping Championship title 10 times, and is the two-time winner of the CN International $1 Million Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters.’

Not only is Millar one of Canada’s most accomplished equestrians, his vision and business acumen spans the entire sport as a top trainer, elite coach, mentor, leader, role model, breeder and builder, which has resulted in his success and domination of the sport of show jumping for more than 40 years.

10 | WHOA! Spring 2013

The recipient for the 2012 Equine Canada Sponsor of the Year was Boehringer Ingelheim, which is designated as the “preferred vaccine supplier of Equine Canada and the Canadian Equestrian Team.” The company has demonstrated continued commitment to supporting Equine Canada and its interests.

A family-owned company based in Ingelheim, Germany with a strong Canadian presence in Burlington, ON., Boehringer Ingelheim has a long history of developing and manufacturing industry leading animal health vaccines.

“Thank you so much, Equine Canada, for giving Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. the opportunity to partner with their elite Canadian athletes as well as the rest of the membership across Canada,” said Jennifer Verhulst-Loch, Equine Product Manager/Key Account Manager of Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. “We are proud that this partnership is part of our ongoing commitment to the equine industry in Canada.”

CANADIAN BRED HORSE OF THE YEAR NIKKIE AND JIM LISHMAN OF CANTERBROOKE FARMS The Canadian Bred Horse of the Year Award is presented to the breeder or owner of a horse who has raised the profile of Canadianbred horses with exceptional competition results. To be eligible, the horse must be foaled in Canada and registered with any of Equine Canada’s member breed associations. The award is also eligible to an outstanding sire whose offspring have accumulated national and international victories.

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News Nikki and Jim Lishman of Canterbrooke Farms in Burlington, ON. bred a lovely young colt to the exacting standards of the criteria of this award. Born as Simply Ahorn in 2001, sired by the legendary Dutch Warmblood stallion Ahorn out of Simply Irresistible, a German-bred mare, the young colt demonstrated his big attitude and ability right away.

Brought along slowly to nurture his talent, Canadian Show Jumper Erynn Ballard took over the ride and almost immediately the pair started to earn top national results in 2009.

In 2010, Nick Skelton purchased Simply Ahorn (renamed Belmont) for Mrs. B Widdowson and U.S. Olympian Laura Kraut was awarded the ride. The pair quickly developed together and, following their first full season of international competition in 2012, Belmont (Simply Ahorn) was internationally ranked 388th on the FEI/WBFSH list out of 4,000 horses.

“Strength, agility and conformation – all the things a breeder looks for, but one thing we cannot see or predict is heart,” said Nikki Lishmans. “Heart is nurtured and protected and will only grow as far as one will allow. Heart has allowed Simply Ahorn, now known as Belmont, to be the horse he is today and the horse he is still going to be.”

Nearctic. His dam, Natalma, was by Native Dancer. The following year at the yearling sales held at Windfields in Toronto, Northern Dancer didn’t find a buyer willing to pay his reserve price of $25,000, so he joined the Windfields Farm racing stable.

In his two years of racing at the ages of two and three, Northern Dancer won 14 of his 18 races and never finished worse than third, winning prestigious races such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.

After the Belmont, Northern Dancer won Canada’s Queen’s Plate by seven and a half lengths before retiring to stud. He was named North America’s champion three-year-old colt of 1964 and Canadian Horse of the Year.

Northern Dancer’s success continued as a sire where he left an indelible mark on Thoroughbred breeding throughout the industry and the world.

“The racing world first took notice when his son, Nijinsky II, won classic races in England and Ireland in 1970, becoming the first English triple crown winner since 1935,” said Tom Cosgrove, co-chair, of the Thoroughbred nomination, election and legends committees at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

“Northern Dancer’s sire line remains dominant and can be found in the winners of every major stakes race held around the globe.”

HORSE OF THE YEAR – NORTHERN ENDURANCE AWARDS DANCER YOUNG AT HEART - Nancy Beacon

Nancy Beacon of Flesherton, ON. was the recipient of the Young at Heart Award, which is presented to the Endurance Canada member who has shown a dedication to helping and supporting youth to become more involved in the sport. Recognizing the value of bringing juniors up through the ranks, Beacon has sponsored many young people throughout the decades. She provides welltrained horses and a wealth of training information, as well as trailering, crewing and friendship.

YOUTH APPRECIATION AWARDS - Dessia Miller and Colette Hutten

Youth Appreciation Awards are presented to individuals willing to sponsor juniors at rides, mentor and educate youth at rides and support young riders by assisting with trailering, crewing, loaning horses, etc.

Photo credit: Betty Cooper

Dessia Miller of Berwick, ON. has been a coach and mentor for many years. Miller introduces youth to the sport by giving them riding lessons and teaching them about trail riding and endurance.

She always offers her horses to youth for events, gives them opportunities to ride and helps them achieve their goals.

Colette Hutten of Chersterville, ON. has supported her daughter, Lee, financially and emotionally throughout her endurance career.

She has always been there during good times and bad, through smiles and disagreements, through good weather and bad.

Bernard McCormick accepts the Hickstead Trophy, presented to the Equine Canada Horse of the year, on behalf of the Taylor and Mappin families.

COACHING AWARDS

Northern Dancer, a Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th century, was named as the winner of the Equine Canada Horse of the Year.

At the 2013 Equine Canada Awards Gala, certified coaches were recognized in two categories: the Equine Canada ProChaps National Coaching Certification Program Awards and Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Excellence Awards.

Foaled in 1961, Northern Dancer was a small bay colt sired by

The Equine Canada ProChaps National Coaching Certification

12 | WHOA! Spring 2013

News Program Awards are for those coaches and instructors who exemplify the National Coaching Program and set an example promoting rider education through the national Learn to Ride/ Drive programs. Nominations were submitted to the provincial sport organizations, which made the final selections on behalf of Equine Canada.

Photo credit: Betty Cooper

EQUINE CANADA PROCHAPS NATIONAL COACHING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AWARDS RECIPIENTS FROM ONTARIO: Para-Equestrian and Therapeutic Riding: Sian Fernandez Thomas, Ottawa, ON. Hilary Webb, Hamilton, ON. English Level 1/Competition Coach: Theresa Rondeau, Guelph, ON. English Level 2/ Coach Specialist: Robin-Lynn Brent, Metcalfe, ON. Western Level 2: Andrea Veldhuyzen, Norwood, ON.

Jean Larivee, president of awards sponsor ProChaps, along with Ontario Equestrian Federation president Grant Field present Mary Ruth Moore with the Coaching Excellence Award for Coaching Education.

Level 3/High Performance: Susan Ziereisen, Dressage, Carp, ON.

These awards are peer nominated from among the coaching leadership team. The recipients have dedicated hundreds of hours of their personal time, and their contributions have been pivotal to creating the world-class Equine Canada coaching programs.

THE EQUINE CANADA PROCHAPS EQUINE CANADA COACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDS RECIPIENTS FROM ONTARIO: COACHING EDUCATION – Mary-Ruth Moore of Bowmanville, ON. has been a leader in developing training material and programs in the Competition Coach Specialist program, particularly with her involvement in pilot clinics.

Ontario Equestrian Federation president Grant Field presents Danielle Yaghdjian with the Coaching Excellence Award for the English Coaching Program.

Photo credit: Betty Cooper

The Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Excellence Awards were also presented at the gala. These awards reward leaders in the coaching program who have gone over and above in their contributions to building and promoting the national programs for rider and coach education and development.

ENGLISH COACHING PROGRAM – Danielle Yaghdjian of Claremont, ON. received the award for her leadership and extensive involvement in developing training materials for the Competition Coach Specialist program.

Congratulations to Ontario’s award recipients on their outstanding achievements!

Photo credit: Betty Cooper

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION – ONTARIO – Gillian Ross-Erasmi of Burlington, ON. was recognized for her leadership in initiating training and pilot events to build the coaching program.

Ontario Equestrian Federation president Grant Field presents Gillian Ross-Erasmi the Coaching Excellence Award for Program Administration.

www.horse.on.ca | 13

News Membership Requirements For Competition The OEF is pleased to welcome new and renewing members! We appreciate your support and hope you take advantage of all the great benefits your membership has to offer.

For those members getting ready for the upcoming competition season, here are some important reminders: • If you have already purchased your OEF membership, but have yet to purchase your OHJA, THJA and/or OHTA membership please keep in mind that you can no longer do so online. You must submit an application to the OEF office for processing.

• EC Sport Licenses and Passports must be purchased through Equine Canada.

• The OHJA, THJA and OHTA membership forms can be found online in the membership section under additional memberships.

• March 1st – OHTA late fee of $20 begins for all renewing members (new memberships are exempt)

• March 31st – OHJA late fee of $20 begins for 2013 all renewing members Mem ber (new memberships are exempt) • April 30th – THJA late fee of $5 plus HST begins for all renewing members (new memberships are exempt) Please note that the OEF staff cannot accept memberships over the telephone. Please allow sufficient time for processing.

Call the OEF membership department if you have any questions about the memberships required for competition. The following competition chart is also a great reference.

Bronze Sport License Bronze Sport License Bronze Sport License Bronze Sport License Bronze Sport License

* Please remember to purchase your Canadian Eventing membership with your Equine Canada Sport License ** THJA is only required for Bronze competitions held at Trillium shows Other discipline/breed association memberships may be required.

14 | WHOA! Spring 2013

ON EQUTARIO FEDEESTRIA RATI N ON

News

2013 OEF Youth Bursary Recipients The Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) is proud to offer a minimum of five bursaries of $1,000 to junior members annually to help them achieve their equestrian goals. The recipients are awarded the bursaries based on their current involvement with horses and their future goals, as well as letters of recommendation from their respective coaches. Family resources and academic achievements are also considered. The bursaries can be used towards riding lessons, clinics, competition fees, continuing education or other activities that will assist the recipients in reaching their equestrian objectives in 2013. The OEF Youth Committee would like to commend all of the bursary applicants on their exceptional applications and announce that eight bursaries have been awarded. Congratulations to the 2013 bursary recipients!

MELISSA BAYER Melissa Bayer plays an integral role on her family’s farm in Smiths Falls, ON. The 17-yearold has been a member of the Pony Club for 11 years, achieving her B2 level. She has competed nationally in Pony Club Quiz competitions, placing in the top three. Dressage is Bayer’s favourite discipline and she shows her Friesian sport horse, Jisk, at Second Level. They were named champion in Freestyle at the Silver Championships and were also champion in Junior Second Level. Bayer volunteers her time with the Lanark County Therapeutic Riding Program and assists wherever needed with Pony Club. She plans on putting her youth bursary funds towards becoming a certified instructor and also wants to compete in the FEI Junior Rider Dressage classes.

JUSTINA REINHART Kitchener resident Justina Reinhart was bitten by the riding bug at the tender age of six years old.

As she grew older and logged more time in the saddle, she gained experience and eventually got a horse of her own. Unfortunately, she discovered her horse had a chronic hoof issue and could no longer be ridden. After investing time and money into her beloved Dominic, she got him serviceably sound for light work and found him a permanent retirement home. The 16-year-old is now leasing a Canadian sport horse mare named Sumi and hopes to return to the Trillium circuit this season. Reinhart intends to use her youth bursary funds to help pay for competition feeds so she can fulfill her dream of showing.

ANGELICA BRISSON Angelica Brisson of Haileybury, ON. has been riding for the past eight years and currently has her Rider Level 4 in the Equine Canada Learn to Ride program. She has had the opportunity to ride a variety of horses and ponies over the years, which she has shown at local horse shows. She has her D2 level with the Canadian Pony Club and hopes to use her youth bursary funds to lease a pony for the Prince Philip Games. The funds will also help offset travel costs associated with travelling from her home in northern Ontario to attend clinics. 14-year-old plans on testing for her Rider Level 5 and Pony Club C level.

JESSICA RITCHIE Jessica Ritchie of Paris, ON. credits her love of horses to her grandfather and the yearling Morgan he bought when she was five years old. As horse and rider grew, they took lessons and joined 4H, as well as Pony Club. She eventually purchased her own horse, Flirt, which she took lessons on. However, the mare developed health issues last spring that took a financial toll on Ritchie and sidelined her riding.

The 17-year-old hopes to use her youth bursary funds to continue to care for her horse and begin taking riding lessons again to reach her goal of showing on the Trillium level.

SAMANTHA FRANCO Seventeen-year-old Samantha Franco of Newmarket, ON. has watched her passion for horses go from doodling pictures as a child to becoming an accomplished rider. After many years of riding school horses, part-boards and leases, she gained the skills to transform her own horse, a Thoroughbred named Teddy, from a spooky, tricky ride into a brave competitor currently showing the 1.0m Jumpers. Franco dreams of becoming an equine veterinarian and intends to use her youth bursary funds to assist with her tuition when she goes to university this fall.

ESZTER SIMON Eszter Simon of Ottawa, ON. got hooked on horses during a week-long riding camp when she was 10 years old. She came back for several weeks each year for the next three years and the rest, as they say, is history. From there she progressed to weekly riding lessons and has part-leased a horse for the past several years. Simon plans on using her youth bursary funds to try for her Rider Level 6 in the Equine Canada Learn to Ride program and to pursue certification as an instructor. The funds will also allow the 16-year-old, who is an Honour Society Award recipient, to continue to part-lease her current equine partner.

ISABELLE GATHIER Isabelle Gauthier of New Liskeard, ON. began taking riding lessons seven years ago. Since then, the 15-year-old has competed and placed in many shows and has obtained her English Rider Level 6 in the Equine Canada Learn to Ride program. She is currently training two horses through natural horsemanship and looks forward to competing with them this summer.

When she’s not riding, Gauthier volunteers her time with a local therapeutic riding centre.

Gauthier plans on using her youth bursary funds to further her natural horsemanship knowledge. She also wants to advance through the levels of the Equine Canada Learn to Ride program and perhaps pursue her instructor certification.

ALICIA VANCASTEREN Sixteen-year-old Alicia Vancasteren of Minesing, ON. began riding at the age of 12 and has been taking weekly lessons ever since, competing every summer at the North Simcoe Challenge Series. Last summer, she competed at her first Ontario Horse Trials Association Eventing show and hopes to compete this year at the Entry or Pre-Training Level. When she’s not riding, Vancasteren can be found helping with just about everything at Seven Summits Equestrian Center. Despite her busy schedule, she still manages to maintain a 92 per cent average at Barrie North Collegiate.

Vancasteren wants to use her youth bursary funds to improve her riding through private riding lessons and clinics. The bursary will also assist her with the costs of the upcoming show season. www.horse.on.ca | 15

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. within 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 Award will only be presented to those who are most deserving.

To receive a copy of the nomination form or for more information please contact Catherine Barker at c.barker@horse.on.ca or 1-877-441-7112 ext. 23.

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Member Spotlight

After preparing herself for the complications that could arise from having Norman’s eye removed, including possible training and behavioural issues, Young took the risk. While his recovery and the six months of training that followed wasn’t without its challenges, Young says the experience has made them a stronger, more connected pair.

“He really shows me what he’s comfortable with. He’s been a really patient trainer,” Young says. “And I think because of his disability I’ve become a better rider because I’m listening to him and I’m not trying to force him to do stuff. We work as a team.”

Last summer they competed in their first schooling show, taking home first place in both their classes.

“A lot of people don’t realize that he’s missing an eye,” Young says. “They see him and because he has such a strong, sweet personality, people just don’t realize that he’s disabled. He doesn’t know he is.”

Victory is sweet for any rider, but it was particularly sweet for Young who had gone through so much with a horse that put so much trust in her. Inspired, she decided to write a children’s book about their tale.

“I thought his story was interesting, just from his background and what has happened to him since his racing career. And then I was thinking about kids,” she says. “Kids have these issues, as well – not fitting in, or feeling different or not feeling good about themselves.”

One-Eyed Horse Inspires Kids Book

By Melissa Kosowan

Heather Young knows first hand what it’s like to face a seemingly insurmountable challenge and overcome it with perseverance and a good friend who believes in you. Inspired to share that moral with others, she recently wrote a children’s book about her one-eyed horse, Norman, and the struggles and triumphs they have experienced together.

Two years ago, the Toronto resident fell in love with the offthe-track Thoroughbred at Heaven Can Wait Equine Rescue in Cameron, ON. It was love at first sight for Young who had recently picked up her childhood passion again after more than 20 years out of the saddle.

“I’m not sure how I found Heaven Can Wait, but I went up there for their barbecue fundraiser to buy a helmet and that’s where I fell in love with Norman. He came over to the fence and that was it.”

But less than a year after becoming Norman’s proud owner, the gelding developed an abscess in his eye, destroying his cornea. Young was left with a difficult choice to make when vets determined the eye couldn’t be saved – humanely euthanize her beloved horse or have his eye removed.

“I made the commitment. I don’t think of my animals as disposable . . . it’s another living, breathing being,” says Young, who consulted with experts who reassured her that there was hope. “Through sickness and in health, there was no way I was ever going to give up on him.”

18 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Based on their experiences, Norman was released late last year and tells the story of Prudence and her horse, Norman. They are a great riding team until an eye infection threatens Norman’s vision.

Told he would no longer be able to jump, Norman is fearful of losing Prudence. Determined to persevere, Norman goes out in the field to practice jumping every day, only to fall each time. But with a little hard work and a friend who believes in him, Norman proves that any obstacle can be overcome.

“It shows that even if you have a disability or something different it doesn’t mean that you can’t do things,” Young says. “As long as you have someone who believes in you and has your back, you can come through it. I just started writing and it just kind of came out.”

As a nod to Norman’s racing past and the organization that ultimately brought Norman and Young together, part of the proceeds from book sales are going to Heaven Can Wait Equine Rescue and LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, which re-homes former race horses.

So what’s next for Norman and his devoted owner? According to Young, they want to start working on jumping again, which fell to the wayside after Norman’s surgery. There are also plans in the works for more children’s books that deal with other challenges Norman has overcome, such as moving to a new home and dealing with bullies. Young believes these subjects will resonate with children who have experienced similar things in their own lives.

“I want them to know that they aren’t alone,” says Young.

“Everyone has their challenges and it’s how you face the challenges that makes the difference.”

For more information about the book, including where to get a copy, visit www.normanthebook.com.

Watch for Norman and Young at OEF Toronto Horse Day on Saturday, June 1 at the Horse Palace, Exhibition Place. |

Member Spotlight

ICON Dorinda Greenway

A Lifetime Devoted To Horses

By Melissa Kosowan

Photo Credit: Jackie McManus

There are few people who have accomplished as much, touched as many lives and made as many contributions to equestrian sport in Canada as Dorinda Greenway, better known as Dinnie to those who have had the pleasure of meeting her.

An accomplished rider and a true horseperson, she has never been afraid to roll up her sleeves and do the less glamorous tasks associated with the sport.

But more than that, she is a mentor, a community builder and a quintessential Dinnie Greenway and her equine partner, lady of her time, well Randule, enjoy Hunting together. versed in the arts, music, dance and all of the other social skills required to rub shoulders with the wealthy, famous, powerful and even noble. And, at 92 years of age, she is also living history.

Visiting her farm in London, ON. is like stepping back in time. And when this spritely woman, her nails polished and a string of pearls around her neck, tells you that she still enjoys going Hunting on her 25-year-old horse, Randule, you can’t help but wonder if the spring-fed well in the basement of her aging farm house doesn’t flow with the fountain of youth. While the city has grown up around her parcel of paradise, the property sits tucked away from the hustle and bustle of it all, just as it has for well over a century.

Looking out over the bank barn, which has been designated as a heritage site, it’s easy to imagine Greenway as a youngster, eagerly tending to the mounts in her care after hours of homework and piano practice. Her parents set strict rules that her studies and chores had to be finished before she could indulge in her passion – riding.

“We rode almost every night but we still had our music lessons to do and our studies and we weren’t allowed to get behind in school. In fact, the punishment when we were little if we didn’t do something was not to be able to ride,” she says with a laugh, noting that shows could also be used as leverage, even if the 20 | WHOA! Spring 2013

entries were already paid. “And I did the dirty work, too. The bridles had to be checked when I was finished riding and the bits had to be dipped and wiped. The girth had to be sponged.”

Greenway grew up in an avid equestrian family that loved Hunting above all other equestrian pursuits. Greenway was already out on the hunt field while still in her mother’s womb and she earned her colours in the London Hunt by the time she was eight years old.

Her brother, George, is also an accomplished rider.

Her parents, Judge George Arthur Porte Brickenden and Catherine (McCormick) Brickenden, were active in the London Hunt scene and bred Canadian sport horses. Their breeding program centred on producing big, sound, sensible horses that could carry a rider safely over the hunt field without becoming injured.

“They wanted something that could perform and stay healthy and they wanted them big because we were a big family – we were all very tall – and they wanted them safe,” she says. “We weren’t as interested in looks to begin with. We wanted them sound and sensible so we started with a top Clyde that we bred to Thoroughbreds.”

Those same horses that were bred to hunt and hunted regularly also brought home trophies and ribbons in the show ring.

“Her father was a terrific contributor to everything. He was a great guy,” says Tom Gayford, who competed at the 1952 and 1960 Olympics as a member of the Canadian Eventing Team before he became a member of the Show Jumping Team that won gold at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. “Dinnie has carried on the breeding. She is a great competitor and a great sports lady.

She was always game.”

While countless champions were made at the Brickenden stables, one of the most successful was a mare by the name of Ranee Doe that won the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup at the Royal as a threeyear-old. She went on to take Norman Elder to an individual silver medal in the Pan-American Three-Day Event in 1967 when she was on loan to Canada’s Equestrian Team. His brother, Jimmy Elder, rode Greenway’s horse, Raffles IV, at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and at the 1978 World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Regardez was his spare in Montreal.

“The family is the foundation of today’s sport horses. That’s what they did; they bred the first sport horses,” says Olympic gold medalist Jimmy Elder, who led Canada's Equestrian Team to

Member Spotlight

“obedience” instead because the discipline was foreign and not readily accepted here at that time.

In 1950, she took part in shaping the course of junior riders on the world stage when she was asked to select a dozen Pony Club riders from Canada and from the United States to compete at the first junior international jumping competition in Mexico, the precursor to competitions that continue to this day. Black and white photos hang on the wall of her farmhouse showing kids getting off an airplane in Mexico, smiling from ear to ear.

While riders today take for granted the FEI rules that govern equestrian sport around the world, it wasn’t always that way and Greenway played an integral role in bringing them to Canada.

In 1953, Dinnie Greenway and Raffles II won the first International Dressage Exhibition held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

numerous victories from the 1950s to the 1980s “They are one of the foundation families, if not the foundation family, of the horse show world.”

Greenway got her start showing at country fairs and made her first appearance at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 1927, not long after the coliseum at the Horse Palace had been built.

“Equitation and Pony Saddle Horse – those were the only two classes for junior riders at the Royal,” says Greenway, who showed Saddlebreds at that time.

Over two decades later, she would help introduce the junior division when she was asked to find ponies and riders to provide competition in a new hunter pony class that had come to the Royal with the English international jumping team.

“I’m famous, or infamous, for starting the junior division at the Royal. It wasn’t enough to just have equitation and saddle ponies,” she says. “It meant kids were able to show and there were hunter ponies, jumper ponies, junior jumping, junior working hunter and junior everything – it was the start of the junior division.”

Fuelling the desire for jumping was the Pony Club, which Greenway was introduced to when she attended boarding school in England. That time abroad, along with encouragement from her father, inspired her to start the London Pony Club in 1948 with the assistance of Adele and Dick Rockwell, who founded the Eglinton Pony Club.

Although Federation Equestre Internationale had been around since the early 1920s and had 18 nations as members by 1946, Canada wasn’t one of them, despite the fact that international teams competed at the Royal Horse Show.

“International teams would not come back if we didn’t have FEI rules,” she recalls. “I said, ‘We need the international teams – it makes the Royal, it makes Madison Square Gardens. We have to have the international teams so therefore we have to have FEI rules.’”

However, Major-General C.C. Mann, the chairman of the Royal Horse Show Administrative Committee and a director of the Canadian Horse Shows Association, which was founded to bring general uniformity to Canadian horse shows, faced opposition.

With backing from Major L.J. McGuinness and Greenway, he put the issue to a vote of members in 1949 at a meeting that started promptly after a luncheon being held at the Royal. With many of opponents absent from the vote, FEI rules were adopted.

“We excused ourselves before the dessert and went to the meeting and I moved and Mann seconded,” she recalls.

“Everybody voted and we got the FEI rules. We had schemed this ahead of time. We knew they wouldn’t leave the luncheon so while they were having dessert, we put in FEI rules. It was simple as that. From then on, the teams kept coming.”

While FEI rules wouldn’t become general at the Royal Horse

“I tried it in England and my father kept saying, ‘You know, youngsters aren’t hunting anymore. They are all old grey beards.’

He said, ‘Why don’t you get some local kids and do something about it.”

By this time, horses became obsolete on farms and were no longer used for transportation – even the army had been mechanized.

“There was no one teaching riding then,” she says. “There were very few people of old families that still had horses. So any of us who did loaned our horses and we got these kids together and they loved it.”

What started with 17 young horse enthusiasts who showed up the day the London Pony Club was founded soon grew to over 100 in just two years. Greenway laughs explaining the Three-Day Pony Club format, recalling how she had to refer to Dressage as

Dinnie Greenway rides Sidesaddle during a horse show at the Grand Palais in Paris, France in 1936.

www.horse.on.ca | 21

Member Spotlight

in ‘49 it was still military and there were no women on the international teams and very, very few women in the jumper rings,” says Elder, who witnessed the performance. “So it was a very extraordinary event that happened at that particular time, plus it was a Canadian horse at our major show – an international show – against military teams that were very, very strong.”

Over coffee, served in china depicting horses and hounds, she tells stories of competing in hallowed venues like Madison Square Gardens in the United States. She shares memories of her international show career, which took her across the border to the U.S., as well as to Mexico, England and France.

Shown here in 1954 at the London Hunt Horse Show are Kelly Hall-Holland, Dee Hall-Holland, Greg Hall-Holland, Dinnie (Hall Holland) Greenway, William Hall-Holland, Judge Arthur Brickenden, Catherine Brickenden and George Brickenden.

Show until 1950, a special jumping competition was held there in 1949, with the president of Mexico donating a trophy for the winner. The event was the first in Canada to be held under FEI rules and it was also the first open jumping competition in the country that saw civilians go head-to-head with members of international teams, which were traditionally military based.

Needless to say, the class drew great spectator interest. Used to seeing triple bars, water jumps, stone walls, single poles with wings at previous Royal Horse Shows, the assortment of brightly coloured jumps in the ring created a buzz.

“People were used to just four around the outside and one down the middle. So 18 jumps was really quite amazing,” Greenway says. “You had to memorize the course and your horse had to be able to turn quickly and collect himself and jump off his hocks. It took a much more developed horse. You couldn’t just turn them lose and hope for the best.”

With the coliseum filled with spectators dressed in their finest, Greenway and Roger II were one of the last pairs to go up against top riders from Canada, Ireland, Chile and the United States.

“Roger had the first clean – the only clean,” Greenway says.

“Nobody else had been winning and Roger had been winning, so there was this hush and then this roar of applause. He was only a farm horse, after all.”

Greenway was one of only two women riding in the class. She laughs remembering how many of the men she showed against didn’t take female riders seriously.

“I thought it was silly,” she says. “They were amazed and they attributed it to all to the horse, which is quite okay because he was a good horse.”

Cheers from the audience filled the coliseum as General Humberto Mariles of Mexico presented Greenway with a large bronze trophy, which features a Mexican cowboy on horseback roping a long-horned steer.

“It was an unbelievable upset for a woman, because back then 22 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Trophies and silver platters, including her coveted President of Mexico trophy, fill every nook and cranny of her home. A silver platter from 1953 rests on the coffee table of her sitting room where a portrait of her father in his red hunt coat hangs from behind a heavy frame. That was the year Greenway won the first International Dressage Exhibition at the on Raffles II, the horse her mother hunted Sidesaddle.

“Dressage wasn’t considered a spectator sport and so we started at about seven in the morning and the crew was cleaning up from the night before and every now then one of the young people would find that a Dixie cup, when you stamp on it, goes off like a rifle – it makes a wonderful noise,” Greenway recalls. “So this was going on and the horse from the states that was supposed to win it and was going to give a demonstration that night went absolutely berserk when these crashes went off, but my horse, the only difference it made is that he put his ears up and looked a little more animated.”

Greenway learned Dressage at the famous Saumur riding school during her time studying history and language at Sorbonne in Paris in 1936. Although not yet established in Canada, learning the discipline gave Greenway an edge with her Hunting and Show Jumping horses by teaching them collection. It also ensured the horses her mother rode sidesaddle on the hunt field were well balanced.

“I got a very interested in Dressage because by this time mother had polio and it was most important that her horses were well balanced,” Greenway says. “That was Dressage – balancing horses. And we had always done it up to a point because you couldn’t get those saddle horses to perform properly if they weren’t balanced.”

In addition to making a name for herself as a competitor, Greenway also distinguished herself from centre ring. Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French, she was in demand as an international judge. For 45 years she judged a multitude of different disciplines and events.

“If I put a horse up I’d remember him,” she says. “I didn’t remember who had owned him, but I’d remember the horse and years later if they were on the team, I’d be thrilled. I had done something right!”

While she demonstrated her competency as a judge time and time again, Greenway faced even more gender discrimination than she did as a rider.

“I made a point of not being tired or thirsty or wanting anything,” she says with a laugh. “Because I am a woman and I had to prove that I was strong.”

Member Spotlight

Greenway’s contributions and accomplishments don’t end with equestrian pursuits. She’s also very active in her community. For the past 20 years she has been a driver for Meals on Wheels, she takes part in a fitness class several times a week through the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, which studies the effects of physical activity in older adults, and she is a long-time supporter of the arts – a love she got from her mother, who was a successful playwright. In fact, Greenway is still actively involved in presenting the Brickenden Awards for Theatrical Excellence, which is named after her mother, who was instrumental in nurturing the London theatre scene in the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s.

She also annually presents the Dinnie Greenway Award, which is awarded to a McCormick Home staff member who demonstrates commitment to the mission, vision and values and seeks professional development that will enhance the quality of care he or she is able to deliver to residents and clients. Greenway’s great-grandfather, Thomas McCormick, built the McCormick Home, a not-for-profit, long-term care facility that has served the London area for more than 100 years.

Greenway has also been part of numerous committees over the years, including chairing the 1976 Olympic Dressage Committee.

She has served on the board of the National Ballet of Canada,

the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the Western Fair, University of Guelph and Partners in Research in London, a registered charity to help Canadians understand the significance, accomplishments and promise of biomedical research in advancing health and medicine. She also lobbied for the establishment of the University of Western Ontario Women’s Athletic Alumni, which recognizes and rewards female athletes.

Despite her busy schedule, Greenway always manages to find time for family. She loves to talk about her children, Graham and Dee and Kelly, who inherited her love of horses. All three are accomplished riders, particularly Kelly, who was a successful international rider and a member of Canada’s national equestrian team. Greenway’s grandchildren and step-grandchildren are also taking up the sport, much to her delight.

So, the question most people ask when they hear of her many accolades and activities is how she does it all, especially at the grand age of 92. According to Greenway, she doesn’t have the secret for longevity, unless of course the secret has four legs and loves to jump.

“Riding keeps me healthy,” she says. “I give the riding a lot of credit – and the hunting is fun and keeps your reflexes sharp.” |

Kelly Hall-Holland followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a successful international rider. Here she is shown jumping Regardez at a Grand Prix competition.

Dinnie Greenway and her daughter Kelly Hall-Holland enjoy Hunting together.

As a young girl, Dinnie Greenway showed her family’s Saddlebreds.

www.horse.on.ca | 23

Therapeutic Spotlight

Horses Heal At Ottawa's Tranquil Acres

Tucked away on a forested parcel of land outside of the Ottawa city centre, Tranquil Acres lives up to its name and provides a secure, relaxed setting for people with varying social, emotional and mental health needs who want to experience the transformative powers of horses.

“People feel very safe here on the property and they find it very tranquil,” says Ryan Theriault, who founded Tranquil Acres in 2011. “We want people to feel that they can be themselves.”

The 10-acre property has three mental health professionals on staff and is home to seven horses that work with clients who range in age from four years old to over 90 years of age.

“I wanted to make sure we had different colours, different genders and different sizes,” says Theriault. “All horses have been rescued in one way, shape or form. They were all horses that needed to be re-homed.”

The core services at Tranquil Acres include a variety of bilingual equine assisted therapy programs and workshops, which are recognized by some health insurance providers. One of the programs offered is Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning, which utilizes activities with horses to help participants better understand themselves. Also offered is Equine Facilitated Experiential Psychotherapy sessions, which guide participants through thoughts, feelings and behaviours stemming from particular issues. For instance, depression, grief, trauma, anger, anxiety, abuse, neglect, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder,

24 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Therapeutic Spotlight

addiction and eating disorders all impact how people experience themselves and their environment.

“We see a lot of people who refuse any kind of mental health treatment. They come to the farm and it’s less threatening than being in four enclosed walls and sitting on a couch and talking about an issue that is going on,” says Theriault. “Sometimes a client can be standing with a horse for a half an hour talking about issues or just standing there beside the horse and having the moral support of the horse and it will calm them down.”

As prey animals, horses are hyper vigilant towards their environment which, according to Theriault, translates into their ability to sense the emotions and energy hidden in nonverbal communication. As a result, horses can help people identify and explore feelings that were previously unknown or unacknowledged.

While some people are initially sceptical of the healing power of horses, they soon become believers, says Theriault. The proof, he says, is in the transformations he witnesses every day. He uses the example of a 12-year-old boy with a brain injury who has been coming to Tranquil Acres for just under a year.

“When he started he did not touch any horses and he only wanted to work with one horse in particular. He would brush it, but only brush it certain spots and he would only touch the horse with a brush,” explains Theriault. “Within six months he would touch the horse with his hand on the horse’s face and also on its neck.”

The boy, who didn’t handle change well and never liked going anywhere, soon looked forward to his time at the barn.

For those looking to develop personally or professionally, Tranquil Acres offers a variety of different workshops aimed at helping participants discover hidden talents, strengths and skills. Personal and professional growth and development sessions are offered on an individual basis or in group settings and allow participants to focus on their own objectives. For instance, a participant might be trying to find work-life balance, they could be searching for their path in life after graduating from school or even dealing with physical issues such as trying to lose weight.

Last fall, Tranquil Acres also introduced a program for seniors called Minis for Seniors, which is designed to facilitate physical, mental, emotional and social well-being amongst seniors.

Theriault customizes both on and off-site programs that give participants the opportunity interact with the stable’s resident Miniature Horses.

“The ones who can walk, we may ask them to lead the minis through an obstacle course. The ones who are in wheelchairs, we can have them hold the lead line and push the wheelchair,” says Theriault. “They feel very important, it brings back memories of their childhood and it gives them a good chuckle as well.”

Theriault hopes to begin expanding the programs at Tranquil Acres to include at-risk youth and adults with mental health issues. He also intends to continue to develop new workshops.

“I always had a vision that I wanted to have a ranch or horse facility and work with people or help people,” he says. “It’s rewarding to see the difference that it makes in an individual’s life.” |

EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPY

BY DIANE

“He talks a lot about the experience at the farm and he has a picture of myself and the horse and him,” says Theriault. “He knows a lot about Shola – her stall number, which lead rope is hers. He knows which lead rope she is supposed to have and a lot of times clients will change the lead ropes and he’ll dig everywhere to ensure she has the correct lead rope.”

To help the boy learn to accept and deal with change, Theriault began introducing new horses into the arena during his sessions.

“He doesn’t do well with new people, so that’s why we brought the new horses in for him to interact with – to ease him into interacting with new people in society,” says Theriault. “So he’s starting to be a bit more open with new people in his life.”

DIANE BARROW, C.E.M.T. 406 - 249 MAJOR MACKENZIE DR. E. RICHMOND HILL, ON L4C 9M8

905 884 8799

DIANE@YORKREGIONHORSEMASSAGE.COM

CERTIFIED EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPIST SERVING YORK REGION SPORTS MASSAGE FOR A HAPPIER HORSE

www.horse.on.ca | 25

Around The Barn

Photo credit: Shawn Hamilton, CLiX Photography

Standards Form The Foundation Of The Horse Facilities Program

by Pam Coburn

Thank you to all 2,663 of our members who were able to complete our survey and share your thoughts and questions about the Ontario Equestrian Federation’s Horse Facilities Program.

We heard loudly and clearly that people want to know more about this program. In our first installment in this series we explained that the fundamental purpose of the program is to work toward establishing professional standards and practices within the industry while also supporting the industry with marketing and direct, tangible benefits.

Let’s begin by talking about horse facility standards. There are a wide range of opinions within the industry concerning the establishment of standards, regulation and government oversight.

In 1999, a broad discussion began when a young girl died on a trail ride. Public questions arose as to whether or not there should be more regulation, what those regulations should be, etc.

In response, a number of municipalities passed local bylaws requiring horse riding establishments (predominantly riding schools) to obtain a license. The Province of Ontario passed Bill 12, The Horse Riding Safety Act, which requires the use of helmets, safety stirrups and boots with a heel. A full copy of the act can be found on our website at http://horse.on.ca/programs/ safety/ At present there are few legislated standards directly overseeing the operation of horse facilities beyond The Horse Riding Safety Act (Bill 12) and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. In our view, the agreement to abide by a set of horse facility standards represents a healthy evolution of the industry – the willingness of barn owners to publicly commit to ensuring that their facility holds insurance; that horses are kept in accordance

26 | WHOA! Spring 2013

with the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council’s Recommended Code of Practice for the care and Handling of Farm Animals – Horses; and that the facility meets a collection of basic standards to ensure that care is taken for the safety of horses and riders.

You’ll find a complete list of the standards on pages 6 and 7 of the Horse Facilities Program membership application package, which is available in the memberships section of the OEF website under Membership > Membership Type > Stable.

The Horse Facilities membership program is intended to cover all types of horse facilities (private boarding, commercial boarding, riding schools, etc.) so all of the standards won’t apply to every facility. Further, as part of our efforts to update this program, and within the context of member consultation with focus groups derived from our survey, we will begin to review, amend and improve the standards. These standards should be a living document that can improve and change with our industry, through consultation with our membership.

One of the goals of the OEF is to increase and improve awareness and access to our sport. We have begun distributing our new publication A Guide for New Riders and are participating in more trade shows this year than ever before. We will be looking for ways to assist horse facilities across the province that wish to participate in this year’s Annual Horse Day on Saturday, June 1 by holding open houses and barn tours.

The Horse Facilities Program standards are a way for our industry to show the public our commitment to safety, to help them understand their responsibility for safety and to share with others the fun and rewards that horseback riding offers. It is our goal to bring more people into equestrian activities with this message.

If you have thoughts about our Horse Facilities Program, we would love to hear from you! E-mail p.coburn@horse.on.ca. |

Around The Barn

Equine Real Estate: Not Just A Rural Property

by Michael Stuart Webb

In the world of equine real estate, size does matter! As a general rule, and in order to maintain optimal health, each horse requires a minimum of five acres to roam and forage. When doing the math, keep in mind that pastures also require maintenance and must be “rested” periodically to maintain optimal condition and to mitigate the spread of diseases and parasites transmitted through manure.

Proper shelter is another key consideration to maintaining good health. Stalls should be large enough to allow for movement, and the barn should be adequately ventilated without being drafty. Notwithstanding the obvious reasons for keeping your horse’s stalls clean, proper ventilation will ensure there is fresh air for your horses to breathe, minimizing the risk of COPD, an irreversible and chronic respiratory condition that can be difficult and expensive to manage.

While you may rejoice and romanticize about the beautifully restored Victorian home you’ve discovered nestled amidst the stand of red maples, your horse may be less appreciative. The wilted leaves of the red maple contain gallic acid and can have catastrophic health consequences for your horses. Further, the leaves, nuts and wood of the Black Walnut causes laminitis in horses, the effects of which can be seen in a little as 20 minutes after exposure. The list of plants toxic to horses is extensive, but others to be mindful of are bristly foxtail, wild mustard, field horsetail, bracken fern, milkweed, burdock, tall buttercup, yew (in even the smallest dose will, in most cases, result in heart failure), alsike clover, buckwheat, and St. John’s wort, as well as exotics like Rhododendron. Be aware of these plants when viewing properties and factor their removal into your budget if they are present.

When combing the countryside for your new piece of paradise, be sure that the well can produce an adequate supply of potable water. On any given day, each horse can consume as much as 40 liters, or more, of water. Be sure there is sufficient supply for your family and enough to keep your horses properly hydrated. In order to mitigate any threat of contamination, ensure that the well is an appropriate distance from the paddocks and your manure pile.

The barn should also have a water supply and electrical service, with an outlet that is close to the stock tanks; Canadian winters are cold and you may need to use an emersion heater in the stock tanks to prevent freezing during the winter months.

Photo credit: Nancy Little

Horse owners know just how much we invest into keeping our equine partners healthy. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and, in the case of horse husbandry, this cliché couldn’t be any closer to the truth. With this in mind, there are certain things you should be conscious of when seeking out a property to house your horses.

Consider hay storage. Years ago, storing hay in the barn with the animals was commonplace. Today we know better and have learned that doing so is not in the best interests of our horses.

Hay is dusty and, when inhaled, these small dust and mold particles can result in respiratory infections and COPD. Improperly stored hay is also a fire hazard! Damp hay can also spontaneously combust, which is another reason to look for a separate storage building for hay.

Paddock fencing will also require careful inspection, noting both material and its condition. Wire fencing can pose a threat to the safety of your horses and should be replaced immediately. Not all fencing types are created equally, and while some alternatives may be more costly initially (flex-fencing and PVC), they are more durable and maintenance free, saving you significant expense long term. Depending on the fencing materials, repairs and maintenance can be costly and should be factored into your budget. Remember, fencing is the only thing keeping your horses safe from the dangers beyond, such as traffic.

Overwhelmed? Don’t be! Partner with a realtor who understands and appreciates the special needs of horses. You wouldn’t go to a plumber to rotate your tires and nor should you seek real estate counsel from a practitioner who doesn’t possess the appropriate knowledge to properly assess equine real estate. | Michael Stuart Webb is a member of the Ontario and Canadian Real Estate Associations, as well as a member of multiple real estate boards. An equine enthusiast, he grew up in horse country and now owns his own ranch. Michael sits on the board of directors for Canter ON Equines, a not-for-profit horse rescue organization, and is also a student of equine studies at the University of Guelph.

www.horse.on.ca | 27

Safety First

Photo Courtesy Of: Greenhawk Harness & Equestrian Supplies

Learn To Lunge Safely And Effectively

By Barbara Newlands

When I was asked to write about lunging, I said, “Sure!” But then I thought, “Really? Isn’t there already enough written about the subject?” Well there certainly is. But then I remembered when I was starting out that one single article on a subject never led to my complete understanding of the topic. I loved reading different perspectives on the same subject. Each time I learned a little more. So here is my perspective on lunging.

I have seen many ways of lunging many horses: using tack/not using tack, standing still/moving, using boots/no boots, lunge line/ free lunging, side reins/no side reins, halter/cavesson and the list goes on.

I have seen horses working a beautifully shaped circle with impeccable rhythm, wearing only a halter, with the handler’s arm is lifted over his head on each circle because he doesn’t turn at all – all while eating a sandwich!

I’ve also seen horses outfitted with tack, side reins and boots and with two lunge lines, worked not only in circles, but all over the arena, performing all movements required when ridden. This is perhaps considered “long lining,” but much of the technique is similar to lunging.

There are also other methods in between these two extremes.

Unfortunately, I’ve also seen horses and handlers get in trouble.

So what is best? The answer to this question lies in asking more questions.

Are the horse and his handler safe, mentally and physically? What 28 | WHOA! Spring 2013

is the purpose of lunging? Which equipment suits the purpose?

What are the ages, experience and temperaments of the horse and the handler? What is the size and conformation of the horse?

Where will the horse be lunged?

Basically, lunging asks a horse to move in a circle around a handler, who is in or near the centre of the circle. It sounds simple enough and it can be done very simply, or it can be elevated to an art form. Safety is always first. When a handler is learning to lunge, a coach and an experienced horse is necessary. If the horse does not know how to lunge, then the handler must have experience.

When would a horse be lunged?

Lunging gives controlled exercise for a horse with an overabundance of energy before being ridden, or after a layup.

An untrained horse learns what he is to do under saddle before he has to contend with the rider’s weight and figure out the aids.

A rider can learn position and balance while being lunged without having to also think about controlling the horse. Lunging is used by vets to determine lameness and for pre-purchase examinations.

Where would one lunge a horse?

The lunge area must have appropriate footing to prevent slipping and provide a cushioning effect for the feet and legs of the horse.

It should not be so deep as to put strain on the joints. Traveling on a circle is more stressful than in a straight line. Using an enclosed space is essential to safety, something I was reminded of when an otherwise lazy new horse showed me he was quite capable of popping the lunge line out of my hand at the side closest to the gate of the arena.

Safety First

A fence or wall gives the handler a visual point of reference for the accuracy of the circle shape and size. The green horse will also use them for guidance. These spaces can include a round pen, outdoor/indoor riding arena, paddock and corner of a field.

Lunging in an open space is obviously possible, but the handler needs to be experienced. Where there’s a choice, pick a safe enclosure.

How is a horse lunged?

With the explosion of “natural horsemanship” over the last few years, what was previously known by only the best horsemen is now widely accepted knowledge – horses understand and use body language expertly. This is what the handler must also understand and use as the basis of control. The handler learns to be in a position relative to the horse that allows the horse to move in the desired direction.

In the beginning, a position opposite the horse’s hip may be necessary to move the horse forward. The horse sees the handler more behind than beside it and responds by moving ahead. This can be accentuated by voice clicks, movement of a lunge whip towards the horse’s hocks and/or taking two or three steps closer to the horse’s hindquarter.

Alternately, a position opposite the shoulder or neck can be seen by the horse as being a block to forward motion, so can be used to help slow or stop the horse. When horse and handler understand each other, a position opposite the horse’s girth area can be maintained, as long as the horse stays between the boundaries of the lunge line coming from his head, and the lunge whip towards his hindquarter. To the onlooker, it looks much like a triangle or even better, a slice of pie!

Voice commands are also implemented. They vary from discipline to discipline. English tends to use more words than Western. The word for each gait is spoken. A warning word or sound may be used before the word for the gait. A repetitive sound may be used to help the horse with the rhythm. Western people usually use a “cluck” for move forward, at walk and jog, and a “kiss” for lope.

Both generally use “Whoa” for stop. Both disciplines employ a louder, quicker voice to move a horse forward, or ask for an upward transition (e.g. walk to jog/trot); and a softer, slower voice to slow a horse, or ask for a downward transition (e.g. jog/trot to walk).

Is size of the circle important?

Very! Consideration needs to be given to the size and experience of the horse, the gait to be used, and if there is a rider on the horse, as centrifugal force plays a role. Larger, rather than smaller is usually best. A 60 foot diameter is average. The horse and rider can balance laterally and there is less stress on the horse’s joints.

However, carefully guiding an excited horse onto a small circle to maintain control or stop him is definitely a useful skill!

Equipment considerations There is so much equipment that can be put on a horse! I prefer to use as little as possible. Make sure there is a good reason to use it. The best lunge lines are thick and not slippery. Gloves should be worn. Protective leg boots or bandages on at least the front legs of the horse always make good sense. English, more so than Western, tend to use boots on the hind ankles. Check your

horse to see if the hind legs travel close together at the ankles.

A workout intended as exercise for a calm horse would probably need only a snug, yet comfortably fitted halter. If the horse is to be ridden after, the saddle and bridle could be worn. Putting the bridle under the halter is more comfortable and the halter is easily removed for riding. The throat latch of the bridle is used to keep the reins up out of the way of the horse’s legs. The reins are also attached to the saddle for safety.

For improving a horse’s training, use of hindquarters, lateral balance, or when a rider is mounted (English), side reins can be attached between the saddle or a surcingle (usually English) and either the bridle or a lunging cavesson (again usually English).

Side reins can present problems. They should be put on after the horse is warmed up. If adjusted too tightly, a green horse will be confused, scared and back away or possibly flip over in an attempt to escape. Too loose and they have no purpose and bounce on the horse’s mouth. They should be detached for change of direction or when mounting a rider. Start at a length that puts the horse in a natural, and therefore comfortable, position and shorten in small increments. They should encourage the horse to improve his way of going in a way that doesn’t produce reliance on them.

Only a knowledgeable, experienced handler should use side reins without supervision.

These are the most common pieces of equipment used, but there are more. If you think you need something else, first ask yourself these questions: Am I in a hurry? Am I trying to make the horse perform a job he’s not really suited for? Do I understand the possible negative effects of the equipment?

While lunging, maintain a calm attitude to encourage the horse to do the same. Nothing is more counterproductive than projecting emotions like aggression, excitement or anger. Be patient with the horse and yourself when mistakes are made. Taking the time to observe what the horse’s responses actually are – not what we assume they are – is so important to successful lunging. Is the horse moving on before being told to because he “won’t stand still?” Or is it really, “Oops, I didn’t mean to move the whip towards him yet?” Or, “I should have taught him about standing still first.”

At its best, lunging can do wonders for a green horse, a finished horse, a convalescing horse or a rider. At its worst it can do the opposite. Get the best advice you can. Watch lots of people lunge and have people watch you. Having someone video you is also useful. Start with horses that can teach you, practice and enjoy the process. | Barbara Newlands graduated from the Equine Studies program at Humber College and worked on staff there as assistant manager and as an instructor. In addition to showing Western at AQHA and Saddle Club shows and English at Trillium and A shows, Newlands also has experience with Timed Events, Reining, Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Driving, Saddle Seat, Natural Horsemanship and Eventing. She has operated a trail riding facility, boarding stable and Western/English lesson programs, coached at horse shows and started and trained horses for Western, English and Driving.

Newlands is currently a Coach 2 in Western and English, a Master Evaluator for Western and is on the Equine Canada National Western Coaching Committee. www.horse.on.ca | 29

Mane Events

2013 COMPETITIONS EQUINE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - DRESSAGE Competition Name North Gower Dressage Days #1

Start Date 05/05/2013

End Date 05/05/2013

EQUINE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - HUNTER/JUMPER

University of Windsor OUEA Show UOIT/Trent OUEA Show OUEA Finals

Location Spiritwood Farm

Contact Email or Website spiritwoodfarm.ncf.ca

03/03/2013 03/03/2013 03/23/2013

03/03/2013 03/03/2013 03/23/2013

Raynham Stables Homestead Hills Equestrian Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA)

www.ouea.ca www.ouea.ca www.ouea.ca

03/02/2013 04/06/2013 05/25/2013 06/29/2013 08/03/2013 09/07/2013 10/26/2013 11/30/2013

03/03/2013 04/07/2013 05/26/2013 06/30/213 08/04/2013 09/08/2013 10/27/2013 12/01/2013

Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA)

www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca www.rcra.ca

03/08/2013 03/15/2013 05/11/2013 06/08/2013 06/29/2013

03/10/2013 03/17/2013 05/12/2013 06/09/2013 06/29/2013

Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA)) Fiddler's Green Stables Fiddler's Green Stables KDM Equestrian Services/Caerlon Farms

www.jokershillhorseshows.com www.jokershillhorseshows.com www.fiddlersgreenstables.com www.fiddlersgreenstables.com www.freewebs.com/kdmeques

QSLB Evergreen Farm Silver/Gold Competition 06/01/2013 Rainbow Ridge Ranch Gold 06/08/2013 Blue Star Silver Dressage #1 06/15/2013 Equivents Summer Classic 06/22/2013 Dressage at the Park 07/20/2013 Blue Star Silver Dressage #2 08/17/2013 QSLB Doornekamp Farm Silver/Gold Competition 08/17/2013

06/01/2013 06/09/2013 06/15/2013 06/23/2013 07/21/2013 08/17/2013 08/17/2013

Evergreen Farm Rainbow Ridge Ranch Blue Star Farm Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Nepean National Equestrian Park (NNEP) Blue Star Farm Doornekamp Farm

www.qslb.ca www.rainbowridgeranch.ca www.bluestarfarm.com www.equivents.com www.dressageatthepark.com www.bluestarfarm.com www.qslb.ca

03/08/2013 03/15/2013 04/20/2013 04/26/2013 05/03/2013 05/11/2013 06/08/2013 07/26/203

03/10/2013 03/17/2013 04/20/2013 04/28/2013 05/05/2013 05/12/2013 06/09/2013 07/28/2013

Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Highland Green Stable Fiddler's Green Stables Fiddler's Green Stables Parish Ridge Stables

www.jokershillhorseshows.com www.jokershillhorseshows.com www.centralwestzone.com www.centralwestzone.com www.highlandgreenstable.com www.fiddlersgreenstables.com www.fiddlersgreenstables.com www.centralwestzone.com

Kawartha Spring Classic 1 05/03/2013 Kawartha Spring Classic 2 05/05/2013 Centaur Spring Gold Dressage Show 05/12/2013 CDI3*/Y/J Canada Classic 05/16/2013 Cornerstone Spring Into Dressage 05/31/2013 QSLB Evergreen Farm Silver/Gold Competition 06/01/2013 Rainbow Ridge Ranch Gold 06/08/2013 CDI3*/J/Y International Classic 06/14/2013 Equivents Summer Classic 06/22/2013 Cornerstone Summer Festival 07/12/2013 Spirit of Excellence 07/20/013 Dressage at the Park 07/20/2013 Centaur Summer Gold Dressage Show 08/04/2013 Cornerstone Summer Classic 08/09/2013 QSLB Doornekamp Farm Silver/Gold Competition 08/17/2013 National Youth Championships 08/30/2013 Ontario Dressage Championships 08/30/2013

05/04/2013 05/05/2013 05/12/2013 05/19/2013 06/02/2013 06/01/2013 06/09/2013 06/16/2013 06/23/2013 07/14/2013 07/21/2013 07/21/2013 08/04/2013 08/11/2013 08/17/2013 09/01/2013 09/01/2013

Saddlewood Equestrian Centre Saddlewood Equestrian Centre Centaur Riding School Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Evergreen Farm Rainbow Ridge Ranch Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Y Not Farms and Equestrian Center Nepean National Equestrian Park (NNEP) Centaur Riding School Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Doornekamp Farm Saddlewood Equestrian Centre Saddlewood Equestrian Centre

www.klda.ca www.klda.ca www.centaurridingschool.com www.equivents.com www.cornerstonefarms.com www.qslb.ca www.rainbowridgeranch.ca www.equivents.com www.equivents.com www.cornerstonefarms.com www.ynotfarms.ca www.dressageatthepark.com www.centaurridingschool.com www.cornerstonefarms.com www.qslb.ca cedarlane_ec@yahoo.ca cedarlane_ec@yahoo.ca

08/30/2013

09/02/2013

SVAHA

www.seawayvalleyarab.com

06/15/2013

06/16/2013

Wit's End Farm

www.witsendhorsetrials.ca

05/07/2013 05/13/2013 05/14/2013 05/22/2013 05/29/2013 06/04/2013 06/11/2013 06/19/2013 06/19/2013

05/12/2013 05/26/2013 05/19/2013 05/26/2013 06/02/2013 06/09/2013 06/16/2013 06/23/2013 06/23/2013

Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Angelstone Angelstone Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Essa Agriplex Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave)

www.equiman.com http://4seasonshorseshows.com www.equiman.com www.angelstone.co www.angelstone.co www.equiman.com www.equiman.com www.cornerstonefarms.com www.equiman.com

BRONZE DRESSAGE RCRA Snowflake 3 RCRA Springtime 1 RCRA Springtime 2 RCRA Sunshine 1 RCRA Sunshine 2 RCRA Sunshine 3 RCRA Halloweenfest RCRA Snowflake 1

BRONZE HUNTER/JUMPER

Joker's Hill Winter Trillium 2A Joker's Hill Winter Trillium 2B Fiddler's Green Stables Bronze Horse Show Fiddler's Green Stables Bronze Horse Show KDM Canada Day Classic

SILVER DRESSAGE

SILVER HUNTER/JUMPER

Joker's Hill Winter Trillium 2A Joker's Hill Winter Trillium 2B Hamilton Hunt Trillium Jumper Show Hamilton Hunt Trillium Hunter Show Highland Green Stable Trillium Show Fiddler's Green Stables Bronze Horse Show Fiddler's Green Stables Bronze Horse Show Parish Ridge Stables Trillium Show

GOLD DRESSAGE

GOLD ENDURANCE

Stormont Endurance Ride

GOLD EVENTING Wits End Horse Trials

GOLD HUNTER/JUMPER

Classic @ Palgrave Phase 1 Springfest Hunter/Jumper Caledon National Angelstone Spring Phase 1 CSI2* Angelstone Spring Phase 2 CSI1* Classic @ Palgrave Phase 2 Summer Classic Cornerstone Premiere 1 Classic @ Palgrave Phase 3

30 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Mane Events

GOLD HUNTER/JUMPER CONT'D

Competition Name Classic @ Palgrave Phase 4 Cornerstone Premiere 2 Cedar Run Classic Cornerstone July I Orangeville Show Jumping Tournament Phase I Cedar Run Tournament Cornerstone July II Cedar Run Summer Festival Equestrian Festival Summer Festival Ottawa National Orangeville Classic Ottawa International Launch @ Angelstone Cedar Run Blue Mountains Celebration Week 1 Orangeville International Angelstone National Phase I Cornerstone Encore I Cornerstone Encore II Angelstone National Phase II Angelstone National Phase III Autumn Classic Canadian Show Jumping Tournament Angelstone International Show Jumping Tournament RCRA Fall Classic

PLATINUM DRESSAGE

CDI3*/Y/J Canada Classic CDI3*/J/Y International Classic

PLATINUM HUNTER/JUMPER Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Start Date 06/26/2013 06/26/2013 07/03/2013 07/10/2013 07/10/2013 07/10/2013 07/17/2013 07/17/2013 07/23/2013 07/30/2013 07/31/2013 08/07/2013 08/07/2013 08/07/2013 08/14/2013 08/21/2013 08/21/2013 08/28/2013 08/28/2013 09/04/2013 09/12/2013 09/18/2013

End Date 06/30/2013 06/30/2013 07/07/2013 07/14/2013 07/14/2013 07/14/2013 07/21/2013 07/21/2013 07/28/2013 08/04/2013 08/04/2013 08/11/2013 08/11/2013 08/11/2013 08/18/2013 08/25/2013 08/25/2013 09/01/2013 09/01/2013 09/08/2013 09/15/2013 09/22/2013

Location Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Essa Agriplex Cedar Run Horse Park Essa Agriplex Orangeville Agricultural Centre Cedar Run Horse Park Essa Agriplex Cedar Run Horse Park Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Nepean National Equestrian Park (NNEP) Orangeville Agricultural Centre Angelstone Cedar Run Horse Park Orangeville Agricultural Centre Angelstone Essa Agriplex Essa Agriplex Angelstone Angelstone Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave) Caledon Equestrian Park (Palgrave)

Contact Email or Website www.equiman.com www.cornerstonefarms.com www.cedarrun.ca www.cornerstonefarms.com www.hayesco.ca www.cedarrun.ca www.cornerstonefarms.com www.cedarrun.ca www.equiman.com www.equiman.com www.angelstone.co www.hayesco.ca www.angelstone.co www.cedarrun.com www.hayesco.ca www.angelstone.co www.cornerstonefarms.com www.cornerstonefarms.com www.angelstone.com www.angelstone.com www.equiman.com www.equiman.com

09/25/2013 10/11/2013

09/29/2013 10/13/2013

Angelstone Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA)

www.angelstone.com www.rcra.ca

05/16/2013 06/14/2013

05/19/2013 06/16/2013

Iron Horse Equestrian Complex Iron Horse Equestrian Complex

www.equivents.com www.equivents.com

11/01/2013

11/10/2013

Exhibition Place, Ricoh Coliseum

www.royalfair.org

www.horse.on.ca | 31

Mane Events

Horse Day Toronto

Mark Your Calendars For Toronto Horse Day

For the fifth year in a row, equine enthusiasts of all ages will have the opportunity to see horses up close and learn about riding during the Ontario Equestrian Federation’s Toronto Horse Day, taking place June 1, 2013 at the Horse Palace at Exhibition Place.

Horse enthusiasts can learn about horse care, explore interactive exhibits and displays, watch live riding demonstrations, meet the Toronto Police Services Mounted Unit and talk to visiting clubs and associations about different horse breeds and riding disciplines.

There will be arts and crafts for the kids, as well as a variety of activities that are sure to keep the whole family entertained.

The OEF has also invited a number of special guests to this year’s event, including Norman, the one-eyed Thoroughbred who inspired a children’s book named in his honour. To read more about Norman, see the Member Spotlight on page 18 in this issue of WHOA!

Host your own Horse Day on June 1, 2013!

The OEF encourages everyone to host an event on June 1, 2013 to celebrate horses and to educate communities about horses and equestrian activity in Ontario. Whether you are hosting an open house at your barn, inviting people to a horse show or simply bringing your friend to your riding lesson everyone can get involved and celebrate horses on June 1, 2013.

Please let us know if you are planning a Horse Day event in your community by contacting b.hall@horse.on.ca The OEF website will list all Ontario Horse Day events and will provide information and support to help ensure you run a successful event.

For more information about OEF Toronto Horse Day, visit www.horse.on.ca.

Photo Credit: Epona Photography by Laurie Haughton

National Women's Show Mark your calendars for the National Women’s Show in Ottawa, taking place April 13-14 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

The show features over 250 exhibits with everything from food and wine sampling, fashion shows, free makeovers, health, wellness and beauty secrets, cooking demos, home renovation advice and travel ideas. Celebrity guests, including Peter Bergman of The Young and the Restless, will also be on hand.

Be sure to stop by to see Ontario Equestrian Federation, which will be there to showcase the benefits of riding to the more than 20,000 women who attend.

“It’s going to be a great weekend,” says Dianne Graham, the executive director of the OEF. “We hope to see some of our members there and we look forward to introducing the world of horses to even more people.”

32 | WHOA! Spring 2013

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www.horse.on.ca | 33

Mane Events

Ontario Seeks Riders And Coaches For Interprovincial Show The date of the third-annual Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships has been set and the Ontario Equestrian Federation is currently recruiting riders to represent the province from Sept. 13-15 in Alberta.

Recognized as a pilot project, the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships is a collaborative event between the national and provincial sport organizations governing equestrian competition. A multi-discipline competition represented

by Jumping, Dressage and Reining, it is a key event in the development of the next generation of national, international and world champions.

Athlete declaration forms for the 2013 event are now being accepted for each of the discipline teams, which will have a maximum of two junior and two senior riders. Athlete declaration forms and qualifying class results must be submitted to the OEF

by July 29.

The OEF is also looking for Equine Canada certified coaches.

One coach for each of the three disciplines represented at the competition is needed to prepare the team before and during

competition. As well, one of the discipline coaches will also be named Chef d’Equipe for Team Ontario. Application forms for coaches must be submitted to the OEF by May 17.

Athlete declaration forms and discipline coach application forms can be found in this issue of WHOA! or online at the OEF website at www.horse.on.ca The 2013 CIEC will be hosted by the Alberta Equestrian Federation and will run concurrently with the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Medal Finals. The Dressage and Jumping events will take place at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping venue in Calgary, AB. and the Reining competition will be held indoors at the Okotoks Agricultural Society in Okotoks, AB. This year’s event aims to build on the 2012 show, which saw nine provincial/territorial sport organizations represented, including Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

For more information, visit the official site of the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships at www.cec-en.ca.

PICTURE YOURSELF HERE IN 2013!

34 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships

September 13-15, 2013 ~ Calgary & Okotoks, Alberta

ATHLETE DECLARATION FORM QUALIFIER INFORMATION DRESSAGE: • Must be a CADORA-Ontario member in good standing • Minimum 58% score • Scores are to be submitted from 3 different tests, from 3 different judges at 3 different 2013 competitions; all scores must be from the same level of competition (all bronze, or silver or gold) • EC First Level Test 2 and 3 • Riders must not have competed above Second Level in 2013 JUMPER: • Competed in 1.10 meters • Results from shows in 2013 will be converted to points to help choose team members • Results from 5 EC Bronze, Silver or Gold Competitions • Results must include number of competitors in class, faults incurred and placing • Riders must not have competed above 1.20 meters in 2013 REINING: • Three (3) scores from 2013 to count with at least one score of 68 • Scores must come from 3 ORHA or EC approved competitions • Senior Riders whose names appear on the NRHA 2013 ineligibility lists as a Limited Non-Pro or Rookie Pro are not eligible to compete

TEAM ONTARIO NOMINATION:

(One form per horse/rider combination to a maximum of three horses) Rider Name: _______________________________ Phone: _________________________ E-mail address: _____________________________________________________________ Rider’s OEF #: _______________________ Rider’s Birth Date: _____________________ Horse’s Name: _____________________________________________________________ Horse Owner: ______________________________ Owner’s OEF#: _________________ Coach Name: ______________________________________________________________ Junior Riders - Name of Chaperone: __________________________________________ Discipline: (please circle one) Dressage Jumping Reining

GENERAL INFORMATION - Declaration/Team RESTRICTIONS • Stallions may be shown by Senior riders only. Exception - Junior "A" riders may ride manageable stallions in jumper classes only.

• Junior riders are considered athletes born in 1995 or later • Rider may not compete at the CIEC if they have competed at the NAJYRC in 2013 DECLARATION INFORMATION • Riders may acquire points on more than one declared horse, but each will be considered separately • Rider must submit qualifying class results to OEF by July 29, 2013 TEAM INFORMATION Team Ontario - 2 Junior & 2 Senior riders in each discipline (dressage, jumping and reining) • Junior riders are considered athletes born in 1995 or later • Riders may hold only one position on the team • Team members must be OEF members and hold a minimum of an EC Bronze Sport License

DECLARATION FORM & CLASS RESULTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE OEF BY JULY 29TH **OFFICIAL CLASS RESULTS FROM COMPETITIONS MUST BE INCLUDED!** I do hereby declare that my horse and I are eligible to participate in the 2013 Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships and do wish to have our points tabulated for Team Ontario Selection for the discipline of ____________________________________________.

I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for {travel, accommodation and other associated expenses} as a Team Ontario member participating in the 2013 Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships. I further acknowledge that the OEF may subsidize my expenses in the form of: entry fees, stabling fees, team event tickets and in any other way the OEF is financially able.

Athlete's Name: ___________________________________ Print Athlete’s Name

Signature: _____________________________________ Date:________________

(Parent/Guardian signature - if athlete is under the age of 18)

Ontario Equestrian Federation, 1 West Pearce St, Suite 2013, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3K3 p: 905-709-6545 or 1-877-441-7112 ext. 15 f: 1-877-547-9531 e: a.homan@horse.on.ca w: www.horse.on.ca

www.horse.on.ca | 35

Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships

September 13-15, 2013 ~ Calgary & Okotoks, Alberta

CALLING ALL EQUINE CANADA CERTIFIED COACHES! As the OEF prepares to send a team to the 2013 Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships (CIEC) in Alberta we are calling out to all Equine Canada certified coaches! This year will be the second edition of the C.I.E.C. and the first time it will be held outside Quebec. The OEF is seeking three coaches for the competition. One coach for each of the three disciplines represented at the CIEC; Dressage, Jumper and Reining. As well, one of the discipline coaches will be named as Chef d’Equipe for Team Ontario. The team discipline coaches will play a critical role in the preparation of the team before and during the competition.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be a current Equine Canada certified coach • Must be a member in good standing of the OEF and EC

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES • • • • • • • • •

Being aware, understand and follow Equine Canada’s Code of Ethics and Conduct Ensure that all members of your team are aware of, follow and understand the E.C. Code of Ethics and Conduct Act as the head coach for your discipline athletes during the competition Be responsible for the personal conduct of your athletes regarding attitude, integrity and adherence to the rules Handle all protocol on behalf of the discipline team and all disciplinary actions as required Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat Show respect and courtesy to other coaches and athletes Attend coaches meetings at the competition and relay all pertinent information to athletes Instruct athletes as to various requirements placed upon them including but not limited to - time schedules for meals, training hours/warm-up, competition, team meetings, receptions, departure times, wake-up times • Prepare and attend pre-competition training with the team at the competition grounds • Assist Chef d’Equipe in assuring appropriate and acceptable conduct, presentation of and the rapport of the total OEF delegation

Duties may change as we progress towards this event. There will be at least two OEF representatives and a Chef d’Equipe at the event working with the team to ensure the best possible experience for all involved. We will all work together to achieve this goal! The Ontario Equestrian Federation will be covering the costs of sending the selected discipline coaches to Alberta.

If you are interested in applying for the position of discipline coach please submit the following information via mail, email or fax by May 17th, 2013 - Attn: Angelique Homan. Selected coaches will be contacted by phone/email on or before May 31st, 2013.

REQUIRED INFORMATION • • • • • •

Name, Address and Contact Information Discipline to be considered for (Dressage, Jumper or Reining) OEF and EC Number Coaching Credentials Brief Overview of Coaching Experience Names of three professional or personal references

Ontario Equestrian Federation, 1 West Pearce St. Suite 201, Richmond Hill, ON. L4B 3K3 p: 905-709-6545 or 1-877-441-7112 ext. 15 f: 1-877-547-9531 e: a.homan@horse.on.ca w: www.horse.on.ca 36 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Coaches Corner

National Coaching Committee Updates NEW PROGRAMS ARE IN THE WORKS It is an exciting time for coaching in Canada. Last year was a busy year for the coaching program and 2013 is looking to be just as busy, perhaps even busier.

As you will see in the discipline reports below, so much has been happening at the national level. The volunteers on these committees have put in countless hours to build a program we can be proud of.

Please be sure to visit the events page on the OEF website for professional development opportunities. These workshops/clinics have a lot to offer to both those who are certified and those who are working towards becoming certified.

certification process. Its conditional approval will hopefully be upgraded in 2013. All interested candidates should contact Equine Canada or Grant Field, chair of the OEF Coaching Committee.

Congratulations to Jill Barker of Nova Scotia who is the new chair of the national English Coaching Committee, and to Trish Mrakawa of Alberta, representing Jump Canada, who is the new chair of the National Coaching Committee comprised of the chairs of all national discipline committees.

WESTERN COACHING

ENGLISH COACHING

After a long four days of collaborating ideas and thoughts at the Equine Canada Annual Convention coaching meetings, a great deal of effort has gone into the upcoming instructor stream. The purpose is to create a more advanced program for instructors to follow without having to take students to competitions. This will be beneficial to the long-term development of equestrian athletes.

The English coaching program in Canada is progressing well in its development. The updated English Learn to Ride program is expected to launch in the spring of 2013. The revised manuals will soon be available through the Equine Canada online store.

Some of the revisions to the program include new flat tests and jumping courses.

As technology is leading us all to computers and electronic communications, most of our documents with regards to coaching will soon be available online. Video references will eventually be available to help candidates with developing their education towards a successful evaluation.

The national English Coaching Committee will be developing more opportunities for the Instructor of Beginners certification program over the next two years.

The Competition Coach certification program is active with evaluations taking place and new coaches getting their certification.

Currently, the Competition Coach Specialist certification program is under conditional approval with the Coaching Association of Canada, but will be submitted for final approval in 2013. Any interested candidates for Competition Coach Specialist should forward applications to the OEF. The Equine Canada High Performance Coach (HP1) certification program will be looking for more candidates to enter the

The National Western Coaching Committee is excited to see the new Western Competition Coach at the conditional approval stage with the Coaching Association of Canada. The OEF is now able to offer evaluations to interested candidates. The next level, the Competition Coach Specialist, will continue to be developed this year.

The National Western Coaching Committee is also pleased to introduce Andrea Veldhuyzen, a Master Evaluator of Instructor of Beginners, as the new Western coaching chair of Ontario. Wendy Johnson is the new chair of Western coaching for Canada and brings years of experience and knowledge as a coach, competitor and master evaluator to our team.

www.horse.on.ca | 37

Coaches Corner

SADDLE SEAT The Saddle Seat coaching program is growing! In addition to the Instructor of Beginner certification that has been available, there will also be Competition Coach certification and a Learn To Ride program by the fall of 2013.

The Learn To Ride program will consist of six levels of riding, from beginner to World Cup. Any Saddle Seat rider may request to be tested and certificates will be awarded for each level. The Saddle Seat Rider Level program has several goals: to develop a consistent and recognizable standard of riding across Canada, to reward riders for their competency, to be a prerequisite for the Instructor of Beginners and the Competition Coach certification programs and to be part of the selection criteria for Canada’s World Cup of Saddle Seat Equitation teams.

The Saddle Seat Competition Coach program will be piloted in late spring, then submitted to the Coaching Association of Canada for final context approval, after which the program will be available across Canada.

The Saddle Seat Competition Coach is a coach who is capable of teaching riders the basic knowledge and skills for Saddle Seat competition, both on the rail and in a pattern. Coach candidates must be 18 years of age as of Jan. 1 of the current year.

A video is currently being prepared to provide correct technical information about Saddle Seat equitation, as well as providing a visual description of the requirements for each of the Rider Levels.

Information packages for the Rider Levels and the Competition Coach will be available from the OEF in the summer of 2013.

Also on the national scene, a group has been formed to create Saddle Seat Canada, a not-for-profit organization that will oversee Saddle Seat riding in Canada, including the promotion and development of Canada’s teams for the World Cup of Saddle Seat equitation. Currently in the very beginning stages, the group will welcome new members who will work with the current members to fulfill their vision. The Ontario contact is Mary Ruth Moore, mrmoore2784@yahoo.com.

CARRIAGE DRIVING The Instructor of Beginner for Drive has received conditional approval from the Coaching Association of Canada. This means that we can start to move forward for those interested in Driving certification. In Ontario, we have planned an instructor training clinic on March 24 at Beaverwood Farm in Erin, ON. This will be the first step of many in building the program and will offer an opportunity for anyone interested in the program to see what it is all about.

ENDURANCE The process of developing these programs is very detailed and time consuming. The National Endurance Committee has been working hard on the development of an instructor certification for their discipline and will continue to do so in 2013. Check the OEF events page for information clinics in summer/fall 2013! | 38 | WHOA! Spring 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS MARCH 17 – English Competition Coach Mentoring Workshop – Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, ON. 24 – Drive Instructor workshop – Erin, ON. 24 – English Instructor Mentoring workshop – Ottawa, ON. APRIL 6 – English Instructor Evaluation – Kemptville, ON. 7 – Western Instructor Evaluation – Kemptville, ON. 7 – English Instructor Mentoring workshop – Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, ON. 7 – English Competition Coach Mentoring workshop – Oakhurst Farm, Ottawa, ON. 13-14 – NCCP/EC Equestrian Theory – Reach Huron – Clinton, ON. 14 – NCCP/EC Managing an Equestrian Sport Program and Training Mental Skills for Equestrian Sport – OEF Office, Richmond Hill, ON. 15 – NCCP/EC Managing Equestrian High Performance Sport (part A) – OEF Office, Richmond Hill, ON. 19 – English Instructor evaluation –Foxcroft, Burlington, ON. 20-21 – NCCP/EC Equestrian Theory – Kenora, ON. 20 – English Instructor of Beginner Evaluation – Knowlton Ridge, Powassan, ON. 21 – English Competition Coach Evaluation – Knowlton Ridge, Powassan, ON. 21 – Western Instructor Mentoring Workshop – Lyn, ON. 22 – St. John’s Ambulance Emergency First Aid – Richmond Hill, ON. 22 – NCCP/EC Managing Equestrian High Performance Sport (Part B) – OEF Office, Richmond Hill, ON. 28 – NCCP/EC Dressage Specialist training workshop – OEF Office, Richmond Hill, ON. MAY 5 – English Competition Coach Evaluation – Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, ON. 12 – English Learn to Ride Workshop – Port Perry, ON. 19 – English Instructor Evaluation – Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, ON. 26 – Western Instructor Evaluation – Lyn, ON. JUNE 3 – Competition Coach Evaluation – Oakhurst Farm, Ottawa, ON. 26-27 – St. John Standard First Aid – Richmond Hill, ON.

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.

The OEF would like to congratulate all Quest for Gold recipients and thanks the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport for their continued support of this instrumental training program.

SABLE GIESLER Sable Giesler is an accomplished Eventer who had a successful season in 2012 on her horse, Evil Munchkin. From January to April they competed in Florida at the Intermediate level and managed to bring home a fifth place finish and two sixth place finishes. In April, they ended their season in Florida with a fourth place finish in their first two-star competition.

Eighteen-year-old Giesler rode at the North America Junior & Young Rider Championships at the Young Rider level on Evil Munchkin and was a member of the bronze winning team for Canada. The Powassan, ON. resident also placed fifth at the OHTA Championships in the Open Intermediate division, in which she was the only junior competitor. Geisler continues to compete on Hietorie Tango, owned by Gord Cardwell, and has high hopes for the horse. Giesler will be attending Hartpury College where she will be working towards a bachelor of science while gaining international riding experience.

JACQUELINE STEFFENS In addition to earning top grades at school, Harriston, ON. resident Jacqueline Steffens is an accomplished rider. For three consecutive years – 2010-2012 – Steffens has received the OHJA Leading Junior Rider Award for the junior rider in Ontario with the highest overall standing in the High Junior Amateur (1.40m) division. She was also the overall OHJA division champion in the Junior Amateur 1.40m division in 2011 and 2012, winning the zone championship by a margin of almost twice as many total points. At only 18 years of age, Steffens successfully competes in the Young Horse Jumper Development series. Steffens also competed successfully in the Jump Canada Talent Squad series in 2011 and 2012 with two horses and was in second place overall for most of the 2012 season, despite being the youngest competitor in the series. Steffens also competed in the North America Junior & Young Rider Championships in 2011 and 2012 and was the only Canadian junior rider to advance to the finals in 2012, where she placed 15th overall. Steffens is also a recipient of the John Madden Award.

Photo Credit: Cealey Tetley

Photo Credit: Amy Masterson

MUHAMMED ITANI Caledon, ON. resident Muhammed Itani is a Windsor native who started riding at the age of three.

As a child, he rode and trained green ponies, working his way up to the provincial Trillium circuit where he showed successfully for two years. Under the tutelage of Erynn Ballard, Itani made the move to the national level. In this first full year of national competition, Itani worked his way through the Large Ponies, to the Junior Hunters, Equitation and the 1.10m Jumpers, qualifying for the Jump Canada finals with a horse that had never shown on the A circuit. Over the following winter, Itani trained with Hyde Moffatt to prepare for the 2011 summer season. He once again qualified for the equitation finals at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and moved up to the 1.30m Jumpers. Under Moffatt’s guidance, he showed in Ontario at the national level for the 2012 season in the 1.40m High Amateur Jumpers and the Jump Canada Talent Squad (1.45m) where he has enjoyed success. The 20-year-old is pursuing a degree in management economics and finance at the University of Guelph.

He plans on continuing to compete at higher levels through Ontario at the national level and hopes to represent Ontario and Canada on the Senior Young Riders team (1.50m) in 2013.

Photo Credit: Nathalie Lawson

ERIN MACDONALD Barrie, ON. resident Erin MacDonald began riding at the age of five and later competed in the Hunter show ring before starting her career in Eventing in 2004. Riding a leased horse, she progressed through the levels, showing from Entry to Training.

Eager to move up to the next level, MacDonald purchased a 13-yearold Thoroughbred named Barb’ Eric. They competed at their first CCI* and won numerous events at the Preliminary level, including being named OHTA Preliminary Division Reserve Champions. In 2007, when it was time to look for a younger prospect, MacDonald acquired an 18-hand Canadian Sport Horse named Toby. They have gone on to win events in both Canada and the U.S. in the Intermediate level and recently placed ninth individually and were part of the bronze medal winning Ontario/Quebec team at the 2012 North America Junior & Young Rider Championships. MacDonald also competes on a 10-year-old Hanoverian named Java, who she rode to a fourth place finish at a CIC** event in 2012. MacDonald is aiming to move both horses up to the Advanced level to qualify for a three-star event in 2013, with the goal of competing in her first four-star in the next few years.

The 21-year-old is currently taking courses at the University of Guelph through correspondence and is working towards a diploma in equine studies.

www.horse.on.ca | 39

Ask Dr. Bob

Hebeloma crustuliniforme (presumptive identification) were present in pastures last year.

Dr. Bob,

Mushrooms are the reproductive part or fruiting body of some fungi. There are many other fungi growing in/on pasture. It is just easier to notice mushrooms. Mushrooms, saprophytic fungi and endophytic fungi will be briefly reviewed. The growth of various fungi including mushrooms is dependent on weather conditions, time of year, exposure to sunlight and presence of the appropriate substrate. Substrate refers to the organic material that fungi live on and prefer. The one common feature of all fungi is that they must obtain their nutrition from pre-existing organic molecules referred to in general terms as substrate. The substrate can be a log, manure or a plant leaf. Fungi obtain their nutrients from substrate and therefore from their host in a positive, neutral, or negative relationship or impact. These interactions or relationships can be referred to as symbiotic (mutually beneficial), pathogenic (negative impact), and/or saprophytic (living off dead or decaying material). Many of the fungi, including mushrooms, produce an array of chemicals. Humans and horses can suffer severe consequences when these fungi and their associated chemicals are eaten either accidentally or purposefully.

Mushrooms Mushrooms appear at various times of the year on decaying organic matter. They can grow on the ground or on fence posts and tree stumps present in the pasture. The type of pasture (open pasture versus wooded), fertility of the field and frequency of cultivation determine whether mushrooms and fungi can be found in the pasture. Wetter cool conditions with the presence of suitable substrate will favour different fungi and mushrooms.

Meadow mushrooms (Agaricus campestris are white on top and pink below) and shaggy manes (Coprinus comatus are conical bell shaped) are the most common mushrooms seen in our area.

They are both classified as edible. Puff balls are occasionally found along the fence line, along with the occasional bracket fungi growing on fallen trees.

To my surprise, the mushrooms that we saw last year on our pastures appear to be Hebeloma crustuliniforme (presumptive identification) which is poisonous. I had expected that they were meadow mushrooms (Agaricus spp.). However, I was wrong and this emphasizes that you must be able to differentiate the edible mushrooms from the poisonous ones. Those of greatest concern include; Amanita spp. (e.g., Destroying Angel – Amanita bisporigera), Galerina autumnalis and the lethal or deadly webcaps (Cortinarius rubellus (formerly also known as C. speciosissimus) and the Fool’s webcap, C. Orellanus).

40 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Photo Credit: Barry Murdoch

We have seen mushrooms in our pastures. Is there a concern? Will horses eat them? Are there different mushrooms and fungi that will make horses sick?

Puffball mushroom (Calvatia spp.).

Bracket fungi (Ischnoderma growing on a hardwood log.

resinosum)

If you are not sure as to the identity of a mushroom then refer to one of the references listed in the following chart and consult an expert as to the definitive identification. A mushroom may be listed in a reference as an edible mushroom but experts indicate that there is considerable variation in people’s sensitivity when eating mushrooms. References rarely indicate as to the sensitivity of horses to these mushrooms. The greatest danger to horses will be when they are pastured in bush lots or where fallen logs occur.

Amanita spp. early and later growth.

Mature horses normally wouldn’t be expected to eat mushrooms if there is plenty to eat in the pasture. Foals potentially could nibble at them out of curiosity. If you see mushrooms in the pasture you can keep horses off that pasture for the period that the mushrooms are present or eliminate the mushrooms by selective cutting.

Saprophytic and Parasitic Fungi Horses are exposed on a daily basis to less recognizable fungi on the hay and grain they eat, the bedding they sleep on and in the air they breathe. Pasture grasses, hay, grain, straw and stubble

Ask Dr. Bob HOST PLANT

FUNGI

CLINICAL CONDITION

Alfalfa

Spring black stem (Phoma medicaginis)

Unkown Ø Commonly found on stems of alfalfa and leads to high mold counts on conventional mold tests

White and Red Clover

Black patch (Rhizotonia leguminicola) Infects the upper surface leaves.

Slobbers (slaframine poisoning) Ø Causes excessive slobbering in horses on pasture or on hay

Alsike Clover

Sooty Blotch (Cymadothea trifolii) Infects the under surface of leaves.

Alsike clover poisoning causing Ø Photosensitization in all livestock Ø Liver failure Ø Nervous and digestive disorders

Bluegrass

Ergot (Claviceps spp.)

Infects seed heads and creates mycelium body called sclerotia

Ergot alkaloid toxicity Ø Similar to fescue toxicity Ø In pregnant mares causes difficult births (dystocia) and dead foals

Fusarium spp.

Seen as pinkish to dark discoloration of grain or straw

Mycotoxins produced include: Ø Aflatoxin, T-2 toxin, Deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin or DON), Zearalenone, Fumonisin Ø Maximum tolerable levels in feed are published

Ryegrass Cereal (fall) rye

Corn (ears, grain) Wheat (grain and straw)

Straw

Orchard Grass

Stachybotrys spp.

Associated with sick building syndrome or illness from ingestion

Mycotoxin causes Ø Stomatitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pancytopenia and neurological disorders in animals following ingestion of contaminated hay

Rust (Puccinia spp.)

Powdery dust on leaves of orchard grass on pasture

Reddish brown powder on leaves Ø Possible airborne allergen

can all support the growth of various fungi and these fungi obtain their nutrition from these plants. Many fungi are plant pathogens and have a negative impact on the host plant and can be visible on the living plants. The table above provides an overview of some of the fungi that are found on cultivated plants with some of the clinical conditions or comments noted.

Endophytic Fungi Endophytic fungi can only be seen microscopically. They live all or part of their life cycle within a plant without causing apparent disease. They obtain their nutrients through either parasitic or mutualistic interactions with their plant hosts. Neotyphodium spp. is the best known of these endophytes and is present in a mutualistic relationship with tall fescue. The fungus receives nutrients from the host. In return, it gives the host properties in which the host can resist drought and chemical protection from grazers such as aphids. It completes its entire life cycle within the plant and is passed on from generation to generation in the seed.

It produces an array of chemicals called ergot alkaloids. Ergovaline is the chemical analysed to predict the danger of fescue toxicity in hay and pasture. Infected fescue should never be fed to mares in their last month of gestation. Mares consuming fescue infected with this fungus and its ergot alkaloids will have prolonged gestation lengths (greater than 340 days), dystocia and dead foals. Claviceps spp., which is better known as ergot poisoning,

Rust (Puccinia spp.) appears as brownish red dust particles on orchard grass.

Sooty Blotch (Cymadothea trifolii) on the underside of a leaf.

contains a similar array of ergot alkaloids as Neotyphodium spp.

Both can cause a difficult birth in pregnant mares.

In summary, the number of cases where horses were observed to have eaten mushrooms is low. However horses come in contact with non-mushroom producing fungi daily. These fungi are extremely important and our understanding of the issues associated with them is in its infancy. If you want to read more on these topics go to my website www.horsenewsandviews.com and view the two fact sheets and the PowerPoint presentation. | Fact sheets: Ergot Alkaloid (ergopeptine) Toxicity in Horse Hay and Pasture Slobbers or Slaframine Poisoning of Horses PowerPoint Presentation: The Equine Practitioner’s Guide to Plant Poisonings Reference: 1. Agaricus campestris. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Agaricus_campestris , Accessed Jan 13, 2013.

2. Barron G. Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada.

Edmonton, Alberta: Lone Pine, 1999.

3. Destroying angel. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Destroying_angel Accessed Jan 13, 2013.

4. Phillips R. Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America.

Buffalo NY: Firefly Books, 2005.

5. Lethal webcaps. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Lethal_webcaps Accessed Jan 30, 2013.

Dr. Bob Wright has authored more than 150 fact sheets, information sheets and scientific publications. He also created the monthly Horse News and Views column where more than 450 “snippets” provided advice to horse owners. The topics of these writings were based on the many investigations he has been involved in. Much of this information can be read on www.horsenewsandviews.com www.horse.on.ca | 41

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Ask BFL

Could you please give me an overview of the automatic and optional insurance coverages provided through my OEF membership? When do I need to purchase additional insurance coverage?

Effective Jan.1, 2013 (Sept. 1, 2012 for extended), the insurance benefits for all members of the Ontario Equestrian Federation are provided by BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. The member insurance program is divided into two coverage parts: automatic and optional.

Automatic Coverage Included With Your Membership All members are protected with $5,000,000 personal liability insurance that applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, anywhere in the world. This coverage will respond to actions brought against the member as a result of third party bodily injury or property damage caused by his non-commercial use of a horse he owns, rents, leases or borrows, subject to the policy terms and conditions. Here are some examples of incidents for which this liability coverage would respond: 1. The OEF member is riding on a public trail when her horse spooks and knocks over an oncoming cyclist. The cyclist is injured and the bicycle is severely damaged.

2. The OEF member is unloading his horse from a trailer at a horse show. The horse gets loose and onto the road where it causes a car accident.

3. A friend of the OEF member falls and injures herself when riding the member’s horse.

4. The OEF member owns a horse and leases it to a third party for non-commercial use, such as for show or pleasure. The horse causes an incident and the owner is sued.

The OEF member liability insurance also includes incidental Stableman’s Liability with a limit of $10,000 per horse ($100,000 aggregate). This coverage protects the member for his noncommercial care, custody and control of horses owned by others.

Some examples of situations where the OEF member may have horses belonging to others in their care, custody and control include: 1. A neighbour suffers damage to his barn, so the OEF member provides emergency stabling for the neighbour’s horses while repairs are being done.

2. The OEF member is taking her horse to a show and offers to trailer her friend’s horse to the same show. The friend helps cover expenses by paying for a tank of gas.

Remember, Stableman’s Liability insurance is not first party mortality insurance. It protects the member if he is negligent and causes injury or death to a horse he does not own while it is in his care, custody and control.

The member liability insurance program is intended to cover noncommercial use of horses only. It does not provide insurance for any of the following equestrian activities performed by the member: • • • • • •

Coaching / Riding instruction Trail rides, pony rides or hay / sleigh rides to the general public Rental of horses for any reason Breeding or Training horses other than those owned / leased by the member Trailering or Boarding horses for compensation Other professional services, such as farriers, veterinarians, massage therapists, equine dentists, chiropractors, judges, course designers, stewards, or even professional grooms.

The above activities require the protection of a Commercial General Liability policy. If you are not sure if your membership insurance will cover a given situation, please contact our office at OEF@BFLCANADA.ca or call us toll free at 1-800-668-5901.

Your OEF membership also includes $30,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance for members under the age of 91 years. This insurance is a first party coverage that will respond if the member suffers an injury as a result of a horse related incident. Coverage includes a lump sum benefit that is payable for specific injuries, as well as reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses ranging from rehabilitation to ambulance services.

Fracture and dislocation benefits are doubled when the member is wearing protective headgear intended for equestrian use at the time of the injury.

Remember, your 2013 insurance benefits described above are not in effect unless you have purchased your membership. Don’t delay! Each year, you must renew your membership before Jan. 1 to ensure continuous coverage.

OPTIONAL COVERAGE THAT MAY BE PURCHASED IN ADDITIONAL TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP In addition to the above automatic benefits, the following is a summary of the optional insurance coverages available to OEF members. Please feel free to contact our office at www.horse.on.ca | 43

Ask BFL

OEF@BFLCANADA.ca or call 1-800-668-5901 if you have questions on whether these optional insurance coverages are right for you.

•

•

•

$10,000 Horse Mortality Insurance (Specified Perils) provides you with basic coverage on horses you own against death or humane destruction due to fire, lightning, collision with or overturning of a transporting conveyance and other perils detailed in the policy. The limit can be applied to multiple horses, but the total limit of insurance per year is $10,000, regardless of the number or value of horses you own. $2,500 Emergency Life Saving Surgery Endorsement covers emergency, life-saving surgical procedures under a general anaesthetic, including colic and fracture repair. You may purchase this coverage only as an extension to the Horse Mortality insurance described above – you cannot buy it without also purchasing the Horse Mortality coverage. The limit can be applied to multiple horses/procedures, but the total limit of insurance per year is $2,500 regardless of the number of horses you own or procedures that are done. As with most medical/surgical coverages, this insurance does not apply to conditions existing at the time of insurance purchase. $2,500 Tack and Horse Equipment Insurance – Did you know that if you keep your tack at the barn, your homeowners insurance policy may not respond to a claim for loss or

44 | WHOA! Spring 2013

damage if it is kept outside your residence for more than 30 days? The OEF member coverage ensures you have protection, no matter where you keep your tack.

•

$50,000 additional AD&D coverage – Members under the age of 75 years can supplement their $30,000 automatic benefit with an additional $50,000 limit.

•

$1,000,000 Out-Of-Province Travel Medical Insurance – If you are travelling outside Ontario, you need insurance for medical expenses not covered by your provincial health insurance plan. Our policy covers members under 71 years of age for any number of trips up to 30 days in length. If you require coverage for a trip longer than 30 days, simply contact our office prior to your departure to purchase an extension.

If you have a potential claim under any of your coverages, please contact BFL immediately at OEF@BFLCANADA.ca or 1-800-6685901.

Our goal is to answer any insurance or risk management questions you may have, so please do not hesitate to send your questions to OEF@BFLCANADA.ca. If your question is chosen for publication in Ask BFL, we will send you a BFL bootjack!

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.

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Nutrition

Feeding In Spring: Increased Exercise And Warmer Weather

By Kalina Rutledge, Bachelor of Bio Resource Management - Equine

Melting snow, warmer temperatures, longer days. As Canadian equestrians, we welcome spring with open arms as we begin to ride outside again and shed our layers of thick coats, gloves and boots. However, spring also brings new nutritional demands for our equine partners.

Many horses have a much lower work load during the winter when they are not focusing on the show season. For many owners, the main goal during cold winter months is to keep their horse in good body condition. The energy it takes a horse to stay warm outside during a typical winter day can actually equate to the same amount of calories used during one hour of riding.

Many people ride less in winter therefore the calories their horses consume per day are focused more on keeping them warm, without creating excess attitude. Diets high in fibre and fat help horses come through winter with a good body condition while maintaining a calm demeanor.

However, as temperatures rise and the horse uses fewer calories to stay warm, energy needs change. The calorie needs must also be based on the exercise level of the horse which often increases as the show season approaches. You may also find your horse needs a new calorie type in order to have the energy to keep up with its increasing work load. Instead of a high fat and fibre diet that kept them in good weight during winter with a calm attitude, they may now require more starch in order to have the energy level you desire as you work towards an increased fitness level.

Photo credit: Kalina Rutledge

Starch is stored in muscles in the form of glycogen. Energy or fuel for muscles during exercise can be derived in three different ways. First, glucose can be taken directly from the bloodstream, which is the fastest form of energy. Second, glycogen can be brought out of storage from the muscle and converted to glucose.

Third, fat can be used, but this is the slowest form of energy and it requires a more long-term endurance activity to be efficient.

46 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Depending on the activity that you do with your horse, you may need different types of calories in order to provide them with the fuel they need. If you do long trail rides or any endurance type activity, a fat and fibre diet may still be sufficient for your horse.

If you start training for jumping or barrel racing or a discipline that requires fast spurts of energy, your horse may require more starch in their diet. That way, it will have a store of glycogen ready for faster activities and also be able to replenish those muscle stores of glycogen for your next ride.

As your horse begins to work harder and now that you have decided what type of calorie it requires to do its job properly, you need to make sure it has the spark required to make that fuel burn. That spark is vitamins and minerals. A lot of people think that if their horse looks okay on the outside, it does not need any vitamins and minerals in addition to its regular feed.

The outside appearance is only one small aspect of what is going

Nutrition on in your horse’s body. Vitamins and minerals ensure bones build and stay strong to support a horse’s massive body as it lands a jump, they help muscles to properly contract and relax as powerful hindquarters dig and push while spinning a barrel and they make sure nerves are firing at full speed as a Thoroughbred blasts from the starting gate. Equilizer is a product that ensures your horse has all the essential vitamins and minerals it requires for its day-to-day function. It is perfect for horses not receiving the recommended amount of a fortified feed per day and also works alone for easy keeping horses.

Aside from physical performance, vitamins and minerals also ensure your horse’s immune system is functioning at optimum level, which is necessary as it is being stressed through physical work, trailering and show jitters. A supplement like Horse Plus, which contains a broad spectrum of B vitamins as well as added antioxidants vitamins C and E, will help with the stresses that show season puts on your horse. This combination of vitamins ensures proper red blood cell formation, energy production and counteracts the stress that intense exercise is placing on your horse’s body. The optimum performance that you are hoping for from your equine athlete is not possible without the proper balance of vitamins and minerals.

Show day brings with it a number of stresses and dehydration is an important one that many people overlook. Multiple factors that you may not consider can add up, contributing to dehydration in your horse. For those horse owners lucky enough to have pasture, spring is when you are transitioning your horse from a winter of eating dry hay to now grazing on pasture. If you then head to a show for the weekend and your horse is suddenly switched back to hay you may run into problems. It is important to keep in mind that hay is about 10 per cent moisture while grass is over 70 per cent moisture.

To put this into perspective, if your horse went to eating just hay it would have to drink two five-gallon buckets of water to equal the

same moisture level as if it were to eat grass instead. Also keep in mind that those two buckets are needed before your horse has even started working and sweating, which requires even more water. The low moisture level of hay, combined with the fact that a horse is less likely to drink unfamiliar water at a show, combined with water lost from sweating during performance and trailering, is a recipe for impaction colic. Hydration will be the key to preventing any problems.

Pure salt or sodium chloride is your basic electrolyte and it’s the cheapest you will find. Salt licks are often not enough to ensure that your horse has adequate salt intake because they are designed for cows with rough tongues and the ability to salivate at all times. Horses, however, only salivate when eating. Loose salt added to your horse’s feed is the best way to ensure that your horse will drink. At a show, if your horse is refusing to drink you can even go as far as mixing salt with water or apple sauce and syringing it into its mouth. As long as your horse always has free choice access to water, you cannot go wrong by adding loose salt to its feed.

Spring brings with it a lot of positive things for horse owners as the weather warms up and show season is on the horizon.

However, it also brings changes. It is important to keep in mind how the new season and activities can create changes that may not seem obvious to you at first, but can have a bigger impact on your horse. The new season brings with it a new opportunity for you to re-evaluate the basics of your horse’s diet to ensure it has everything it requires to take on new activities. Everything from calorie type to a proper balance of vitamins and minerals to hydration will play an essential role in your horse’s performance.

If all those bases are covered, your horse will be better equipped to do its job for you. | Kalina Rutledge is an Equine Sales Representative at Agribrands Purina Canada. Visit Purina’s website at www.agripurina.ca

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Legal Lowdown

Horse Syndications And Co-ownership Agreements

By Catherine Willson, B.A. LL.B.

If you want to race a Quarter Horse, why not do it with friends?

The purchase, training, and racing of a good quality Quarter Horse, for instance, can be expensive. It is advantageous to share the cost among a few friends; you can all share the fun.

Multiple ownership can take many forms from a simple contract between two friends for the purchase of a horse, to limited partnerships, corporations, trusts, joint ventures and a variety of other vehicles. Each has its own special rules and the choice of vehicle should be carefully considered before any money is expended on the venture.

CO-OWNERSHIP AGREEMENTS At its simplest level, a multiple ownership agreement could be a co-ownership agreement between two or more friends to purchase a horse, train it, race it, and eventually, with luck, sell the horse at a profit. Each of the friends may contribute a portion of the purchase price. One may contribute the training and horse expertise in lieu of funds towards the purchase. Whatever the arrangement, there are some basic points that should be observed to make the venture a successful one: 1. Put the agreement in writing. This should be done immediately on the purchase of the horse. There is no sense making up the rules after the arguments have started.

2. The agreement should specifically indicate what each owner is expected to contribute. It should indicate who will pay for the upkeep of the horse, training, racing, and all the other details inherent in training and racing Quarter Horses.

3. The agreement should contain a “dispute resolution” clause, i.e. if the owners cannot agree on an issue, there should be some mechanism to break the stalemate. As an example, if one owner is contributing the horse expertise, that owner could be given the final say on issues dealing with the health and training of the horse. As another example, a trusted advisor or mediator could be chosen by the owners to mediate the dispute or decide the issue.

48 | WHOA! Spring 2013

4. Make sure the agreement contains an escape clause. If one owner wants out, there should be a buy out clause allowing the other owners to purchase that partner’s share of the horse at an agreed price. The agreement should also make clear the events that will trigger a sale of the horse. Many disagreements arise because one owner wants the horse sold and the others do not. As the value of a horse can fluctuate wildly due to injury or success, the timing of a sale is very important.

5. Discuss the transaction with a financial planner. The coowners of a horse have an undivided percentage interest in the animal. If the owners are participating in the venture to make a profit, there are tax planning issues that should be considered to allow for a maximum return on the investment.

6. When drafting the agreement, look ahead, plan for foreseeable events or problems and, where possible, have the agreement reviewed by a lawyer with experience in this area. The cliché, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies as much in law as it does in medicine.

No matter how simple or small the purchase, I cannot stress enough the importance of putting down some basic guidelines for the relationship between the co-owners on paper. Without this, a disagreement between co-owners regarding the maintenance or sale of the horse may quickly deteriorate and the resulting dispute could harm the position of all parties involved as well as end friendships, increase cost and precipitate court action.

CORPORATIONS The corporation is another vehicle used to purchase higher quality expensive horses or to undertake more serious horse ventures. It is a creature created by law and has special properties that make its use beneficial.

Legally, a corporation is treated like a person. It can own property, buy and sell, and must submit regular tax returns. The debts of the corporation are its own. Creditors must claim against the corporation for monies owing to them by the corporation.

Creditors cannot go behind the corporation to claim against the people who control it (with some limited exceptions). This characteristic of limited liability makes the corporation a popular choice for money making ventures, especially where the risks are high and the investors want to protect their other assets from possible claims by creditors.

A corporation is treated differently than an individual from an income tax perspective. Income earned by a corporation is taxed at the corporate level, which is lower than the tax on most

Legal Lowdown

individuals. Shareholders have the option of removing money from the corporation in the form of dividends, which are taxable at a special rate, or leaving profits in the corporation for use in other money making enterprises.

To protect yourself from this situation, maintain an active role in the partnership. If you sit back and trust others to run the business, you may end up paying when the creditors come knocking.

Another benefit to the corporation is its longevity. Companies never die if properly maintained. If the horse venture is to be a long-term investment, such as the set up of a breeding or racing stable, it makes sense to use a vehicle that will continue to exist as the various partners in the venture pass away.

A limited partnership consists of one or more partners who act as general partners and many more partners who act as limited partners. A limited partner is only liable for the debts of a limited partnership to the extent of the monies provided by that limited partner to the partnership. A limited partner must not take a controlling interest in the partnership.

A disadvantage caused by the separate nature of a corporation is that, for income tax purposes, the income earned by a corporation cannot be sheltered by losses incurred by the shareholders personally. Similarly, the losses incurred by the corporation cannot be flowed through to the shareholders and offset against other income earned by the shareholders. Income tax considerations such as these have led to the use of other vehicles for syndications such as the limited partnership.

HORSE SYNDICATIONS There is no magic to the term “horse syndication.” It refers to a transaction that can take the legal form of a corporation, partnership, or other vehicle. Key to the concept is that it involves investors coming together to perform a particular venture, whether it be the purchase of a race horse, stallion, or horse operation, with a view to making a profit on the investment. It is a business.

PARTNERSHIPS Partnerships, including limited partnerships, usually consist of a number of investors that come together to perform a specific business venture. When two or more people carry on a business together with a view to making a profit, they have formed a partnership. Each partner has some degree of personal involvement and control. Each partner is entitled to a share of the profits and is liable for a share of any loss.

In most syndications, the role of the investors is relatively passive.

There may be one managing partner or experienced horseperson who takes on the management and control of the horse operation.

The reasons vary why people enter into these syndications. Often it provides a mechanism whereby people who could not afford to participate in the horse business may do so. Often, there is some tax advantage to participation in a syndicate.

There are two main advantages to using a partnership, the first being its ease of formation and dissolution. It is recommended that the names and addresses of the partners and the name under which trade is carried on be registered with the appropriate government agency. Filing fees are low. Dissolution of the partnership takes place when one partner gives notice of dissolution or, where the partnership has been created for a fixed term, at the end of the fixed term.

Multiple co-ownerships, in any form, make available to many of us the joy of owning and watching a good horse perform and succeed. There are also the perks of ownership such as passes to the clubhouse or box seats, entry into the training areas or stables and, of course, hobnobbing with the rich and horsey. It also helps the sport to succeed – the more quality horses introduced into the sport in Canada, the better the action. With care and if Revenue Canada cooperates, we should see more of these cooperative efforts in Canada in the future. |

The second advantage is its flexible management structure. The relationship between the partners is contractual. The partners can draw up an agreement between themselves dealing with the management of the partnership, distribution of profits, liabilities and anything else they feel is important. As such, the partnership can be organized to accommodate a variety of business arrangements. Syndications are a form of partnership.

Catherine Willson is a partner at Willson Lewis LLP in Toronto (www.willsonlewis.com). This information deals with complex matters and may not apply to particular facts and circumstances.

The information reflects laws and practices that are subject to change. For these reasons, this information should not be relied on as a substitute for specialized professional advice in connection with any particular matter.

Income and loss flow through the partnership to the individual partners and are shared between the partners equally, or in accordance with their partnership agreement. The income or loss must be included in the partners’ personal annual tax filings.

Every partner is jointly and severally liable with the other partners for all debts and obligations of the partnership incurred while a partner. Further, partners are jointly and severally liable in respect of any wrongful acts or omissions by any partner acting for the partnership and for the misapplication of any money or property received for, or in the custody of, the partnership.

To be “severally liable” means that a partner can be sued independently for the whole amount of the loss. That partner would then have to go after the other partners to recover whatever contribution they were supposed to make under the partnership agreement.

1183 King Street West, Suite 1183, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3C5 Tel: 416-534-9504 • Fax: 416-534-9503 Toll Free 866-258-2848 www.willsonlewis.com E-mail: clewis@willsonlewis.com

Litigation Lawyers Practising in: Equine Law - Family Law Construction Law - Employment Law Wrongful Dismissal - Tax Disputes Civil Litigation - Commercial Litigation Estate Problems - Property Disputes Contracts - Collections

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E-mail: cwillson@willsonlewis.com

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Equine Law including: Boarding & Breeding Agreements Syndications Tax Issues Negligence Sales Agreements Disputes & Litigation Veterinary Negligence

www.horse.on.ca | 49

Special Feature

Head Injury Part 2: Assessing The Damage

By Nora Cullen, MD, MSc, FRCPC and Gregory O’Shanick, MD

In this second article in the series, we continue to explore the effects of head trauma that can occur in equestrian activities and how to recognize problems due to concussions. We know that a concussion occurs when there is a direct or indirect force to the head causing a disturbance in brain function. Concussion is also referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury. It is also known that up to 15 per cent of patients diagnosed with a concussion may have persistent and disabling problems. The Canadian Medical Association has recommended that information on the signs and symptoms of concussion be provided to athletes, coaches and trainers. While this has been encouraged in school-related sports, the need for this same awareness among horse enthusiasts is also important.

include multiple blows to the head, particularly if they are within a short period of time. A prolonged loss of consciousness for more than one minute signifies a worse injury. Seizures are also an indication that brain damage might be more severe. A child or adolescent is at higher risk for persistent brain injury. Those with previous difficulties of migraine, depression or other mental health disorders and learning disabilities or sleep disorders may have a more difficult time recovering. Those with high risk activity and a dangerous style of play or an interest in contact and collision activities will likely have a worse recovery.

After falling off a horse or being kicked in the head, the rider should be assessed for symptoms of concussion. This includes watching for physical problems such as headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, seeing stars or lights, balance problems, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, ringing in the ears, drowsiness, or fatigue. If someone is acting oddly or overly emotional, a concussion should be suspected as behavioural changes can be the only differences noted. Irritability, depression and anxiety can occur and may be prolonged. The individual who has taken a blow to the head can experience changes in their thinking such as slowed thinking, feeling in a fog or dazed, difficulty with concentration or difficulty remembering things that have just occurred or around the time of the concussion.

Those who have had a concussion, and a responsible family member, should be told by their health care provider to seek immediate medical care in case of fainting or blacking out, drowsiness or being unable to be woken up. Likewise, a constant severe headache is a signal to get medical assistance. Vomiting more than twice may be an indication that pressure is building up in the brain. People who have had a blow to the head and are having trouble remembering new information, recognizing people or places should be assessed immediately. Likewise, if they are acting strange or saying things that don't make sense, they should be seen in an emergency department. Any time a person is unable to move a part of his or her body with weakness or clumsiness, medical advice should be sought. This includes blurred vision, slurring of speech or loss of balance. Lastly, fluid leaking from the ear or the nose is a concerning sign that warrants a medical assessment.

Symptoms that might indicate a potentially more serious injury

For the first 48 hours after injury, patients should be monitored

50 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Special Feature

for warning signs. Strenuous activity, both physical and mental should be avoided and they should be woken up every four hours.

They should be advised not to drive until they can concentrate properly. Alcohol or drugs, including sleeping pills, should not be taken during this time. Horseback riding should not resume until the physician has cleared them for riding.

A commonly used tool for assessments of concussion is called the SCAT2 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool). In a series of questions on a scale of zero to six, people who have been hit in the head are asked how they feel on a number of questions related to the above noted symptoms. If they answer yes to any of the questions, they should be sent to an emergency department immediately for further examination by a physician.

In all situations, those who have had a concussion should be removed from the area where there are horses and have a medical evaluation to rule out more serious injury to the brain.

When in doubt, go to a physician immediately.

To safely resume equestrian activity, the following stepwise activity stages are strongly recommended: 1. No activity (no equestrian or potential contact activities should be undertaken; time off from school or work is needed to permit brain recovery to occur) 2. Rest until asymptomatic (sleep as much as necessary and avoid excessive mental stimulation, e.g. No video games, texting, computers, to allow the brain to recover at its own pace) 3. Light aerobic exercise (e.g., riders can walk, light jogging,

stretches, etc) 4. Sport specific training (e.g., balance/core stability exercises; walking the jump course) 5. No contact drills (riding in a training ring or round pen as the sole rider in the ring under the supervision of a trainer or another responsible rider. HELMET MANDATORY) 6. Full contact drills (riding on an open course with a “buddy.”

HELMET MANDATORY) 7. Gameplay (return to active competition with HELMET MANDATORY) The bottom line? Concussion is a common and often under recognized mild traumatic brain injury which can lead to serious long-term problems if not managed carefully. The basis of treatment is rest until patients are completely without symptoms and followed by a stepwise return to riding activity. Prevention begins with education and appropriate follow-up makes recovery more likely. | 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. www.horse.on.ca | 51

Special Feature

Hosting A Safe Horse Show

By Stephanie Rutherford, First Safe Strides Program Administrator and Angelique Homan, Competitions Administrator

Horse trailers pull in one after another, classes are filled to capacity, spectators line the sides of the show arena and you have glorious weather for a perfect horse show. That’s the dream of every horse show organizer. But hosting a successful horse show depends on several important factors – facilities, staffing and risk management strategies.

Adequate facilities are crucial to the success of a horse show and they are critical to attracting and maintaining exhibitors. It is recommended that all competition rings be fully enclosed with highly visible temporary or permanent fencing, including a solid, visible gate. Fencing types that are not recommended for use are rope, tape, electric (all forms), snow fence, chain link, and paige wire. Wood panel, plastic panel, wide PVC piping (greater than five inches) metal tubing, gate panels, or other solidly built visible fencing is best. The base of the show ring, or the “footing,” should be level, free of hazards such as washouts and large stones, and have a consistent texture and depth throughout.

Ideally, in addition to the show ring, the warm-up area should also be fully enclosed and be separate from the show ring. If a warm-up area is not available, it is recommended that time be scheduled to allow competitors to warm-up in the show ring.

Flag warm-up jumps and educate the participants on direction of traffic travel to avoid potential collisions.

If you have jumping equipment, all jumps should have plastic jump cups with plastic pins. Avoid using rotted or warped wood for standards and poles, which can splinter on impact.

Gates and flower boxes should be designed to ensure gaps in the material are smaller than two inches or larger than six inches to prevent a hoof from becoming entrapped. Planks should always be set on the flat side of plastic cups.

Photo credit: Carrie Clarke Scott

The safety of your horse show also extends to its parking area, which should be organized in advance. Reserve parking spaces for larger trailers and consider asking a volunteer to direct parking lot traffic on show day. If the regular parking lot is not large enough, select an empty and suitable paddock or field for parking. Keep trailer parking away from nearby roads to provide a safer environment for motorists, horses and exhibitors. If parking beside the show arena is the only option, create a barrier between trailer parking and the ring to ensure horses waiting to compete aren’t distracting exhibitors showing in the ring.

52 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Staffing and volunteer selections can also impact the success of your show. Quality volunteers need to be recruited as they are the workforce of a horse show. Be sure to provide support so volunteers know they are an invaluable part of the horse show and recognize them for their efforts.

When it comes to hiring judges and course designers, it is crucial that they are experienced and respected in the classes

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Special Feature

you are offering at the show. Hiring quality judges and course designers reflects positively on the show, as well the show organizers. Judges should control the safety of the show arena, including how the classes are run. Ask for a written contract to be signed by the officials as it will ensure a personal/financial commitment, show their accreditation information and create a backup of contact information in case of an emergency.

Remember to print off the contract and have it on hand on show day!

Interested in hosting an OEF Equestrian Skills Development Show? These horse shows are approved and sanctioned by the Ontario Equestrian Federation at the schooling level and are the perfect place for horse and rider to gain show ring experience.

While the Ontario Equestrian Federation encourages all horse shows to be sanctioned, it is important to note that unsanctioned competitions are permitted to use OEF provincial level Hunter/Jumper judges and course designers.

Unsanctioned shows can also use Equine Canada Breed, Western and General Performance judges. Horse shows are encouraged to use accredited officials (OEF or EC) to ensure the safety of their riders and drivers and for fairness in the judging process. Competitions sanctioned by the Ontario Equestrian Federation or Equine Canada must use current, accredited OEF or EC officials, as applicable. A list of OEF provincial officials can be found at horse.on.ca/competitions/ provincial-officials/

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• •

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Sanctioning is available for Hunter, Jumper and Dressage shows ESD shows are a provincial level of sanctioning, falling just beneath the EC Bronze level of competition Competitors and show managers only require OEF memberships Applications are available online at www.horse.on.ca or by calling the OEF office at 1-877-441-7112 |

COMMON HORSE SHOW OVERSIGHTS 1. Judges are not experienced in the classes they are asked to evaluate.

The solution: shows should hire judges that hold cards or are accredited in the classes offered.

2. Class descriptions and rules are not clearly defined in print and available for riders/drivers, spectators, judge(s) The last critical step to hosting a successful horse show is risk and the announcer to know and understand. management planning, which takes a proactive approach on The solution: update your prize book or fair book to all aspects of the horse show: staffing, facilities, equipment include these descriptions and rules. and exhibitors. Industry standards require personal liability insurance from all riders, drivers, owners and officials. It’s 3. Spectators and riders crowd the in-gate. It draws horses also a good idea to check that the facility has coverage for being shown towards the exit, slows down the ability hosting a show or that the group you represent has coverage to get exhibitors in and out of the ring, and can cause a for the facility where the show is operating. Another standard potential collision if a horse rushes through the gate. practice at all horse shows is to have a medic or first aid trained The solution: physically define a “no-horse/no-people” representative present on the show grounds at all times. For zone around the in-gate and use your announcer to the equine athlete, plan to have a veterinarian “on call” in the educate everyone to clear this area when not entering or event of an emergency and ensure this contact information is exiting arena. available in the show office for quick reference.

4. Show ring fencing and gates are aging or inappropriate.

The solution: use your OEF membership to receive a At shows that offer classes over fences, it is essential to five per cent discount at System Fencing, which also ensure the course is designed with the level of horses and has a rental division that offers special pricing to fairs riders in mind. It should be altered depending on the size of and horse show facilities. Alternatively, explore different the show ring, type of footing, weather conditions and level of types of fencing, budget and invest in having a safe horses and riders. There are anticipatory measures that can be facility for hosting events and daily equestrian activities. assessed by the show organizer and judge as well. Jumps do not need to be set at the height advertised if it is determined 5. Jump cups are used improperly with plank rails. it does not suit the exhibitors entered in the classes. If the The solution: ensure that jump cups are turned to the show organizer and/or judge notice that riders are struggling flat/shallow side up when using planks in a jump. over particular fences, be proactive and change the course 6. Jump cups are used with metal pins. and perhaps offer the initial riders a re-ride.

The solution: replace with plastic pins.

There are thousands of factors involved in planning a 7. Jump courses are discouraging to riders due to the horse show. By identifying and focusing on key areas for direction/angle of jumps causing rider falls. improvement, we can continue to host successful horse The solution: seek expert advice by an accredited shows and strengthen the industry so it will continue to thrive Course Designer to ensure rider and horse safety and for upcoming generations of horse enthusiasts. success.

54 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Special Feature of gold shows annually. FEI divisions at platinum competitions are also tested, according to FEI rules.

Photo credit: Shawn Hamilton, CLiX Photography

Ontario has four drug technicians attending shows. The attending technician is responsible for selecting horses or ponies for testing, as well as collecting and shipping samples.

Horses and ponies are selected at random for testing throughout the competition at the technician’s discretion.

They can be tested more than once at a competition and are eligible for testing while on the grounds, even if they have withdrawn from the event.

Understanding The Equine Medication Control Program As show season ramps up, there’s something every owner and rider needs to know before their horse goes through the in-gate – drug testing rules and the current list of permitted medications.

All horses and ponies competing in nationally sanctioned shows are subject to random drug testing in accordance with the Equine Medication Control Rules, which are intended to promote clean sport to ensure an equal playing field for participants, encourage horsemanship and protect the welfare of horses and ponies. It also accommodates legitimate therapy without inadvertently incurring an “adverse analytical finding,” more commonly referred to as a positive drug test.

Since the mid-1970s, Canada has had an active medication control program. In the early days, the program was not centralized and each province administered its own testing.

In 2010, to assist Equine Canada and enable it to build the infrastructure necessary to assume the administration of the program, the Ontario Equestrian Federation volunteered to administer the program across the country. The result was a new national program, created by the Equine Canada Equine Medication Control Committee, which ushered in a single, comprehensive testing standard for equestrian sport in Canada.

There is a provision for emergency medication in the event that a horse or pony suffers an acute illness or injury and requires immediate treatment with a prohibited drug. Certain conditions must be met, including withdrawing the horse or pony from competition for at least 24 hours following administration of a drug, which must be administered by a veterinarian. An Emergency Medication Report must also be filed with the show steward, although it is not an automatic defense should the horse or pony undergo drug testing and test positive. If a drug is detected in the system of the horse or pony, the matter will be investigated with consideration given to the nature of the illness or injury, the treatment administered, the Emergency Medication Report on file and the drug detected in the sample.

Once a horse or pony is selected, the technician will escort it to a holding stall where a sample will be collected. A urine sample is preferred, although a blood sample may be obtained if a urine sample can’t be collected and a vet is present to draw blood. An adult responsible for the horse or pony must be present during the test and sign off on the sample. Any refusal to submit a horse or pony for testing constitutes a violation of the Equine Medications Rules and is subject to penalties.

The sample, which is sealed, numbered and secured in a locked box, is then sent to Maxxam Analytics in British Columbia, a forensic toxicology laboratory that is inspected and monitored by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency. Equine Canada is mandated to use this lab, which is the only lab in Canada approved to analyze Equine Canada samples. Samples are only identified by a number; no identifying information is provided.

Only those with positive tests will be contacted. Guidelines outlined by Equine Canada's Equine Medication Control Committee determine the nature and category of the offense.

Depending on the offense, the person responsible for the horse or pony in question may have the option of accepting a suspension and paying a fine, or going to a hearing.

So who decides which substances are permitted? The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, the federal agency responsible for the regulation of pari-mutuel betting at race tracks, operates an Equine Drug Control Surveillance Program to keep prohibited drugs and medicines off the track. Equine Canada has adopted its schedule of drugs from the agency, making exceptions for some permitted medications allowed at Equine Canada sanctioned competitions.

It’s important to stay up-to-date on permitted medications. A complete list can be found on the Equine Canada website at In Ontario, the program continues to be administered by www.equinecanada.ca. Remember, if it’s not on the list of the OEF in accordance with Equine Canada rules. The OEF permitted medications, it is a prohibited substance. Everyone is responsible for hiring drug technicians to obtain samples, involved in showing a horse or pony, including the rider and assigns those technicians to competitions identified by owner (and the parent or guardian if either are under the age a selection committee and is accountable for the funds of 18 as of Jan. 1 of the competition year), needs to know collected. Across the country, the target is to test 30 per cent what the animal is being fed and administered, the guidelines of bronze shows, 40 per cent of silver shows and 70 per cent for use of permitted medications and withdrawal times.| www.horse.on.ca | 55

Special Feature

Helping Horses In Distress

By Tracy Lapping, Animal Cruelty Agent, Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Sudbury Branch

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responds to thousands of animal cruelty related complaints annually. We strive to educate owners and custodians of animals.

When we find an animal in a state of distress, we work with animal owners or custodians to relieve the identified distress.

there are processes that we are mandated by our legislation to follow. Certainly, the O.S.P.C.A. Act is there to protect the animals, but it is also there to provide necessary guidelines about how animals are to be protected in order to ensure that it is done legally and effectively.

According to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, “Distress means the state of being in need of proper care, water, food or shelter, or being injured, sick or in pain or suffering or being abused or subject to undue or unnecessary hardship, privation or neglect.” O.S.P.C.A. ACT, 2009, c.33, Shed.9, s.9.

Undertaking an animal cruelty investigation can take days to weeks to complete and may involve various steps. The first step when an animal is found to be in distress involves investigators attempting to relieve the identified distress by means of an “O.S.P.C.A. Order.” This document is used to specifically identify and recommend steps/methods to relieve the distress of the animal.

Forming part of the Ontario S.P.C.A. Act, we also have the Ontario S.P.C.A. Standards of Care, which outlines the basic needs legally required for all animals. Of course, for each species there are variances on how to provide the required care for them.

However, the basic necessities are the same for all animals. Basic requirements include, but are not limited to, appropriate shelter, access to food and water, medical care and a safe environment.

When concerns involve horses in your community, you need to contact your local S.P.C.A. or police services to inform them of your concerns. For some people, calling to report concerns can be stressful if they know the people and/or don’t “want to cause any trouble.” However, if people do not report concerns of animal neglect or cruelty to those who can help address it, those animals face remaining in a state of distress indefinitely and unnecessarily.

When someone calls to report a concern, unless they agree to the release of their name, their information is confidential and cannot be legally released, unless court ordered. Although we accept information anonymously, leaving contact information makes it easier for an investigator to follow up with any missing information and/or to confirm information, which in turn helps the animals in question.

It is also important that callers ensure the information they provide is accurate. Having the exact address is vital, especially in rural communities. Knowing where the animals are housed on the property is also helpful when reporting observations. Reporting concerns on behalf of a friend who is too nervous to call can create obstacles for investigators with respect to the accuracy of details. It is far better for the investigator to speak to the actual witness of the distress than to receive hearsay evidence.

At the Ontario S.P.C.A. we understand that animal cruelty or neglect is an emotional issue that is upsetting. However, the public needs to understand that during the course of an investigation 56 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Depending on the situation, a veterinarian may attend with an investigator in order to assist in determining what is needed to alleviate the distress of the animal. Timelines are then set out that allow the owner to attempt to relieve the distress. This is typically always our first step, since the owner or custodian may not be aware of proper horse care requirements. Our primary role, above enforcement, is to educate people. We all started somewhere with horse care and ownership and having a mentor to assist is crucial. However, not all horse owners or caregivers have had such an opportunity.

When attempted relief of distress fails through education and O.S.P.C.A. Orders, the situation may lead to the removal of the horses. This may come from an owner’s non-compliance of Ontario S.P.C.A. Orders. More commonly, it results when an Ontario S.P.C.A. search warrant is executed and a veterinarian is utilized to assist with the observations made about the level of distress those animals are experiencing. Not only are the observations of the O.S.P.C.A. investigator taken into consideration, but also those of a qualified veterinarian. If a veterinarian advises that appropriate care cannot be provided on-site, the O.S.P.C.A. may then remove the animals for their protection and to relieve their distress.

Once the distress of the horses is relieved via proper care and veterinary supervision, an owner is given the opportunity to have the animals returned to their care upon them paying for all costs related to the removal and associated animal care. If the owner fails to compensate the O.S.P.C.A. for these costs, the horses are forfeited to the O.S.P.C.A. and then placed up for adoption. In these instances, the society needs to find loving, caring homes for them.

Horse cases, as you can imagine, take a heavy financial toll on the Ontario S.P.C.A., which is a non-profit organization. What is

Special Feature

commonly not known is that the Ontario S.P.C.A. is not a government funded agency. We operate primarily on donations from the public, which is greatly appreciated.

Generally, neglect cases that require horses to be removed result in animal cruelty charges to the owners or custodians. In a recent case, criminal charges resulted in the owner being convicted of all charges, receiving a 10-year ban of ownership of horses, probation and a requirement to pay back the costs of providing care of the horses to the O.S.P.C.A. The society was involved in an investigation this past year where several horses had to be removed.

These sweet animals were found without food, water or shelter and in need of medical care.

Cruelty charges also resulted as these horses were found in a grave state of distress. The horses have since been relieved of their distress and are now healthy enough to find homes with loving owners.

If you find yourself concerned for horses, or any other animal, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We will look into the concerns you have. Don’t assume that nothing is being done for the horses because they have not been removed. Keep in mind that Ontario S.P.C.A. investigators have guidelines to follow and so do animal owners.

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is legislation that speaks to the responsibility of animal owners and the community at large towards the care of all animals. We at the Ontario S.P.C.A. strive to the best of our ability to ensure that all animals are free from distress.

If you are interested in donating to and/or in helping with the direct care of horses please contact or visit your local S.P.C.A. If interested in direct horse care, please provide your local S.P.C.A. with a resume or letter outlining your experience and any ways you want to help. The society accepts help with boarding, shipping and/or socialization.

If you have any questions, please contact your local S.P.C.A. for more information or please call 1.888.ONT.SPCA. |

Tracy Lapping of the Ontario SPCA spends time with her horse, Tia.

www.horse.on.ca | 57

experience the bond of membership 22,000 Horse enthusiasts know that the oef adds value to their equestrian lifestyle.

The OEF welcomes our new

*

Photo credit: www.capphotographic.com

58 | WHOA! Spring 2013

That’s because 22,000 horse enthusiasts are OEF Members who reap the benefits of belonging to one of Canada’s largest equine communities. From services and information to benefits not found anywhere else, the OEF represents individual members from all sectors of the horse industry. For professionals, amateurs, competitors and recreational enthusiasts of all ages and disciplines, the OEF is committed to horse welfare and provides support to the vast majority of individuals, associations and organizations.

Every Member receives industry-leading insurance coverage and many other benefits like optional insurance programs and fantastic discounts. And only members are eligible to participate in riding and driving programs, receive a free quarterly newsletter and enjoy insider updates on equine events and news.

The OEF complements your equestrian lifestyle. We invite you to join your fellow horse enthusiasts today.

Suite 201 – 1 West Pearce Street, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3K3 Toll-free: 1-877-441-7112, Email: horse@horse.on.ca, Web: www.horse.on.ca

On The Trail

Trail Program Goes National Equine Canada has just signed a formal agreement to bring Québec à cheval’s new equestrian tourism program, which encompasses a four-colour reference manual and a multi-level training program to teach trail riding, leading and guiding, to the English Canadian market.

“We’re very excited to bring this extensive and much needed program to market,” states Jack de Wit, chair of Equine Canada’s recreation division. “Trail riding is one of Canada’s most popular recreational activities on horseback, and this program ensures trainers, outfitters, and riders have the best tools to ensure sound horsemanship, safety and fun on the trail.”

Photo credit: Shawn Hamilton, CLiX Photography

Meeting A Horse On the Trail USE THE THREE C'S 1. courtesy 2. communication 3. common sense •

Make your presence known from a distance by calmly addressing the rider.

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Please pass slowly on the left after the rider acknowledged your presence.

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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.

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If you are unsure of what to do in any situation concerning a horse, please ask the rider before taking any action.

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We all share the trails, so lets work together in harmony to ensure safe and enjoyable trails.

Québec à cheval is widely known in the province of Quebec for its extensive expertise in recreational riding and driving education and training programs. Executive director Julie Villeneuve, together with program coordinator Audrey Lapointe, are working with Equine Canada’s recreation and coaching divisions to coordinate the delivery of the new program across Canada through provincial equestrian federations, coaches and outfitters.

Best Practices for Horses on the Trails

The program and manual are currently in production and should be available to trail riding enthusiasts just prior to the summer.

2.

“This program teaches beginner riders how to ride on the trail from the very beginning,” adds Jack de Wit. “We understand there are a great many people wanting to only trail ride – they want to be outdoors and one with a horse, exploring all the scenic beauty our country has to offer.”

This program satisfies that desire and, at the same time, allows participants to build on their horsemanship and trail skills as they choose, module by module. If you dream of leading an overnight ride or a multi-day excursion, this program will be fully adaptable.

More information about the program, as well as how to purchase the over 200-page fully illustrated manual, will be available shortly.

Courtesy of the Ontario Trail Riders Association, www.otra.ca

1.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

You and you horse should have suitable riding attire – hunter orange from waist up all year, boots with a heel, helmet, well fitting 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.

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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. www.horse.on.ca | 59

Breed & Discipline Updates

Fun Abounds For Young Arabian Enthusiasts Submitted by Jane Whitwell, Arabian Horse Association of Eastern Canada

Fun, friendship and horses – a potent combination for anyone, especially for a child.

AHAEC’s annual spring Youth Retreat offers a great opportunity for our young enthusiasts to learn more about horses from some of the best clinicians. This year, Muskoka Trails Riding Academy in Kilworthy, ON. will be the location for the clinics and seminars on the weekend of April 27-28. With stabling available on site, attendees are encouraged to bring their own horse for horsemanship, showmanship and grooming.

However, there will be horses available to borrow or they can participate without a horse. Lindsey Knight, assistant trainer at Trowbridge’s Ltd. in Connecticut, is the clinician for horsemanship and will assist each participant. David Freedman of Freedman Harness and Saddlery will also be on hand. Additional seminars on equine massage, grooming and show preparation are scheduled with more to be confirmed. Added this year will be age specific activities on the Saturday afternoon for children three to six years old.

Shows offer a wide variety of classes specifically for youth including Showmanship, Equitation, Amateur, Walk-Trot, Lead Line, Stick Horse, Over Fences, as well as Dressage and Sport Horse. The AHAEC Pro-Am show on May 11 at QuarDream in Mt. Forest, ON. provides a relaxed environment our youth and amateurs appreciate.

The weekend of June 1-2 is the Summer Sizzler, a multi-breed show with Arabians, Half-Arabians, Morgans and Saddlebreds at Western Fair District Agriplex in London, ON. Renowned equine judges and instructors Cecile Hetzel Dunn and Gayle Lampe will officiate.

The Region 18 Last Chance and Eastern Canadian Breeders Show will be held July 18 in London with Jeremy Harper adjudicating. The Region 18 Championships on July 19-20 will be judged by Van Jacobsen and concludes this exciting weekend of Arabian horse competition.

The AHAEC Fall Festival on Sept. 29-29 will again be a multi-breed show at the London facility and will be judged by Karen Homer-Brown. Added to the Arabian, Half-Arabian, Morgan and Saddlebred schedule of classes will be the Ontario Provincial Saddle Seat Equitation Championships.

Photo credit: Phyllis Pecile

The Arabian Horse Association of Eastern Canada (AHAEC) understands the importance of youth members and young equine enthusiasts and hosts many activities throughout the year to keep them active. From meetings, fundraisers and volunteer work to horse shows, competitive trail rides to social events, there is something to interest a child of any age!

Solstice Pecile rides her Arabian mare, Glorious Sons IA, at a trail ride.

Milestone Stables in Campbellville, ON. offers a number of shows for Arabians and sport horses, starting with their Spring Show on May 4-5, followed on June 22 with the Sport Horse Show and the Region 18 Dressage & Sport Horse Championships on June 23.

The Arabian horse promotion booth at the OEF Spirit of the Horse Exhibit at The Royal offers a chance for our young members to participate in the ring demonstrations with their horse or as a booth volunteer.

AHAEC offers annual scholarships to recognize those youth members who contribute significantly to the association and to their local community while achieving academic success.

Youth members conduct their own meetings to plan their activities and to elect their executive committee. This year their president is Claire Linley, vice-president is Aysha Tryon and Chelsey Beyer is secretary.

With many diverse opportunities available to become involved and stay active with their Arabian horses, 2013 already looks to be an exciting year for all of AHAEC’s youth members. Join the conversation and follow us on Facebook or visit www.ahaec.on.ca.

Gypsy Vanners Set To Dazzle In 2013 Demos Across Ontario Submitted by the Canadian Gypsy Vanner Horse Club

As busy and eventful as last year was for Gypsy Vanners in Ontario, 2013 promises even more activity and opportunities for the breed.

Owners and breeders are looking forward to sharing the magic and mystery of the Gypsy Vanner throughout 2013.

The Canadian Gypsy Vanner Horse Club (CGVHC ) kicked off the year at its annual meeting on Jan. 26 with two seminars. Shannon Hanley of Deerfields Stables in Palgrave, with horses Bo and Pal, presented methods for training a horse to jump. Ron Chauvin of Circle Four Ranch in Erin, with Vincenzio Bellini, demonstrated essential elements of horsemanship.

There will be ample opportunity to see this beautiful, gentle and colourful breed in 2013, starting with the Can-Am All Breeds Emporium from March 28-31 at the new Orangeville Event Centre.

From May 25-26, the breed will be represented at the All About Horses event in Lindsay at the LEX and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will wrap things up in November.

Perhaps most exciting will be the second Vanner Fair from Sept.

21-22, also at the Orangeville Event Centre. Given the spectacular success of the inaugural Vanner Fair in 2011, this year is sure to be the finest showcase for the breed to date, blending education with display, competition with entertainment, vendors and crafts. New this year will be an Elite Sales Auction showcasing only horses with high evaluation scores. To ensure potential purchasers are informed on breed standards, equestrian professional Wayne Hipsley will offer a buyers education clinic in advance of the auction.

60 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Ron Chauvin and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Vincenzio Bellini, demonstrate essential horsemanship methods for attendees at the 2013 CGVHC annual meeting on Jan. 26 at Deerfields Stables in Palgrave.

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Breed & Discipline Updates Small Breeders Enjoy Big Success With Their Sport Horses Submitted by Tracy Hanes, Canadian Sport Horse Association

Even small breeders can produce a top horse, as Danielle Gregoire and her husband Ed Stewart of Richmond, ON. can attest.

The couple, who own and operate Four Leaf Farms, have racked up an impressive number of wins on the line with their 2009 Canadian Sport Horse filly, Aritzia. Since the plain bay filly claimed the 2009 National Foal Championship, she has earned multiple breed show championships and the title of Grand Champion Canadian Sport Horse at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 2009, 2010 and 2012. She capped that off by winning the Governor General’s Cup at the Royal last November, considered the top prize for Canadian-bred three-year-olds.

Photo credit: photosbybailini.com

And Aritzia’s younger sister, All She Wrote, is following in her footsteps.

All She Wrote was Reserve Champion to Aritzia’s Grand Champion at the CSH Breeders Show at the Royal. Both fillies are by the Hanoverian stallion Abke (based in Europe) out of an imported Hanoverian mare, Licorne (by Lemon Park).

Having a quality mare is the first step in creating a potential winner, according to Gregoire. When they started their small sport horse breeding program, she and her husband soon realized they needed a better broodmare so purchased Licorne, who was in foal to Rotspon and had a filly, Rumtanzen, in 2006.

The couple did extensive research into sport horse breeding and talked to a few prominent breeders in the United States, including Judy Yancey of Yancey Farms in Florida, who is also a frozen semen dealer.

“We wanted to choose a stallion (for Licorne) that wasn’t really well known and didn’t have hundreds of babies on the ground,” explains Gregoire.

Five years ago, they bred Licorne to Abke, resulting in Aritzia.

“She came out pretty perfect,” says Gregoire. “She looked like a little horse. I called Ronnie Davidson when she was three weeks old and asked him to come look at her. He said he didn’t want to see her until she was three months, but he came anyway.”

Davidson, a veteran handler who has handled many Governor General’s Cup winners, agreed that the filly was something special and his advice was invaluable in helping Gregoire develop Aritzia into a winning show horse.

“We found the cross (with Abke) to be phenomenal,” says Gregoire.

Veteran handler Ronnie Davidson shows Aritizia at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Cup Qualifier at RCRA in Newmarket.

Licorne was bred back to Abke and Licorne’s Rotspon daughter, Rumtanzen, was also bred to Abke, resulting in two fillies born in 2012, All She Wrote and Ask Me Anything.

Sadly, All She Wrote was to be the last of Four Leafs’ Licorne-Abke offspring. The beloved mare, known as Lady, died the day after All She’s Wrote’s birth in April 2012.

With Aritzia about to begin her career under saddle, it seems All She Wrote is destined to continue her big sister’s winning ways on the line and bring more accolades to her owners.

Gregoire says it’s very possible for small breeders to produce top quality horses and show ring winners.

“Don’t be afraid to ask more experienced breeders for their opinions or for their answers to questions, no matter how trivial they may seem,” she says. “Their feedback can be invaluable.”

Dreams Come True At Paso Fino Grand National Show And Expo 2012 Submitted by Emma Peirson, Central Canada Paso Fino Association

The Paso Fino Grand National Show was something I worked towards for so many years, dreaming that I would one day compete there. That dream finally came true in October 2012.

The time leading up to nationals was filled with both excitement and nerves. I had a lot of ideas of what I thought the show was going to be like and all the different people that I was going to meet. Sometimes it felt like the time was never going to come to pack up the horses and go, but the day finally came and the long drive to Kentucky began.

After what felt like forever, we arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park and everything just became that much more real. Seeing all the horse trailers there and all the people – I think that’s when it hit me that I made it here and my dream was coming true. We spent a week down there and my class, Fino Youth 13-15, was the first night of the show. Walking into that arena was an experience like no other. I have never shown in something that large before and with all those people watching.

The nerves kicked in when it came time for my class. I was scared but I had faith in Mercenario deLa Libertad, the horse I was riding. I just took a deep breath and went for it. Once I got into the arena and lap one was over I started to have fun and was not scared as much. We came in fifth and, thanks to Camilla Willings, the owner of Mercenario deLa Libertad and my coach, it was an amazing experience.

I hope to get the chance to return there next year.

Emma Pierson showed Mercenario deLa Libertad to a fifth place finish at the Paso Fino Grand National Show.

www.horse.on.ca | 63

Breed & Discipline Updates

More Excitement On The Way For Belgian Horse Owners Submitted by the Canadian Belgian Horse Association

When a filly that reputable Belgian breeder Stewart Crabb had entered into a sale became injured prior to the event, the Stittsville, ON. resident consigned a filly by the name of Maple Creek Queen II instead to avoid disappointing the sale committee and buyers, even though she wasn’t ready for presentation at sale time.

9 p.m. Admission to the pull is $10. The equipment sale takes place Saturday, March 23 at 9:30 a.m. with the horse sale to follow at 12:30 p.m. For further details visit www.ontariobelgians.ca or call secretary Shannon Lindquist at 705-887-3350.

With a keen eye for seeing a Belgian with potential, Keith Garner of Highland View Belgians of Embro, ON. purchased Maple Creek Queen II at the 2010 Ontario Belgian Horse Association Sale for $750.

The proud new owners have since turned down a generous offer from an interested buyer.

Photo credit: Lynn Cassels-Caldwell

At the North American Belgian Championship VII, held in Brandon MB in July 2012, it was Maple Creek Queen II who was in the lead of the Highland View six-horse hitch of mares. Garner also entered her in the All-Canadian competition and again Maple Creek Queen II made everyone proud by being named the Reserve All-Canadian Three-Year-Old Mare.

The story and investment is not over since Maple Creek Queen II is due to foal in February to the Belgian stallion Rymar Beware of Fire.

Ontario Belgian Horse Association president Laurel Sowden of Port Dover, ON. invites everyone to come out to the 60th Annual Ontario Belgian Horse Association Pull & Sale taking place March 22-23 at the Orangeville fairgrounds.

The pull takes place on Friday, March 22, with the Light Weight Horse Pull starting at 7 p.m. and the Heavy Horse Pull starting at

Come Out And See What Cutting Horses Have To Offer Submitted by the Ontario Cutting Horse Association

The Ontario Cutting Horse Association (OCHA) has been promoting the sport of cutting in Ontario for more than 40 years. It is a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting the breeding, training and showing of the cutting horse. The OCHA is an affiliate of the National Cutting Horse Association.

On the ranch, a cutting horse is used to bring a cow out of the herd and to hold the cow away from the herd. In the arena, the cutting horse is judged on its ability to move quietly through the herd and bring a few head of cattle out to the middle of the arena. When one cow is held out from the herd, the rider puts down the rein hand and lets the horse work the cow on its own. The judges look for how well the horse controls the cow, eye appeal, degree of difficulty, time worked on each cow, and amount of courage shown by the horse, among other things. The movements of the cutting horse have been compared to a dance.

If you would like to come see cutting horses in action, come out to the following shows: May 4: NCHA clinic, Minshall Farm, Hillsburgh, ON. May 5: OCHA show, Minshall Farm, Hillsburgh, ON. May 18-19: OCHA show, Walker Farms, Richmond, ON. June 1-2: NCHA/AQHA days, Minshall Farm, Hillsburgh, ON. July 6-7: OCHA show, McCann Farm, Campbellford, ON. Aug. 17-18: OCHA show, Stetzl Farm, Aylmer, ON. Aug. 30-31: OCHA show, Paris Fair, Paris, ON. Sept. 28-29: OCHA show, Van Boekel Farm, Norwich, ON. Please check out the OCHA website at www.ontariocuttinghorseassociation.com for updates on show information and for maps to the above locations.

Morgan Owners Look Forward To An Exciting Year Ahead Submitted by the Ontario Morgan Horse Club

It’s the beginning of 2013 – a new year and a new start!

The Ontario Morgan Horse Club (OMHC) would like to thank its board members who served and “retired” in 2012. They include: Janet Phillips – Past President Amanda Belloso - Secretary Mary Freeman – Director Val Reeson – Director

Photo credit: Nancy Dickerman

They did a great job for their organization and deserve a thank you for everything they have done over the years: The OMHC would also like to take this opportunity to introduce the new 20132014 board: Genevieve Kendell-Hayes – President Amanda McKill – Treasurer Christi Nye – Secretary Sherri Wilson – Past President Greg Reeves – Director Sheila McNaughton – Director David Kavanagh – Director Chris Monteith – Director Brenda Casteels – Director Lisa Kavanagh - Director

Chris Monteith with her gelding, Brogan Kiri, at the CNE.

64 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Plans are underway for the Ontario Morgan Horse Championship Classic to be held at RCRA in Newmarket from July 20-21. This show is packed with versatility fun, and of course, some incredibly beautiful Morgans and part-Morgans!

Finding The Right Stable Shouldn’t Be Like Looking For A Needle In A Haystack!

Riding stables affiliated with the Ontario Equestrian Federation have committed to safety standards and best business practices. Browse the Ontario Equestrian Federation website to find one near you.

www.horse.on.ca Ontario Equestrian Federation 1 West Pearce St, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3K3 905-709-6545 ext 26 1-877-441-7112 p.coburn@horse.on.ca

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Breed & Discipline Updates Another Exciting Season Ahead For Ontario Reiners Submitted by the Ontario Reining Horse Association

The Ontario Reining Horse Association (ORHA) had a fabulous 2012 season, with member Dan Fletcher taking NRHA Prime Time Non Pro World Champion and Tim Stanton earning NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 2 Reserve Champion.

Photo credit: DW Equine Photography

A number of members also placed in the NRHA Top Ten, including Heather Vaughn, Dany Tremblay, Darby Mailhot and Lindsay Hayes, with Taylor Mariani also making the top 15.

The recipient of this year’s prestigious Brian Heaton Memorial Award was first vice-president Mike Munroe, in recognition of his years of dedication to the association.

Dan Fletcher on Wimpys Tinseltown.

John and Sharon Fletcher were nominated by the ORHA for a 2012 OEF People Make A Difference Award – they are great ambassadors for the discipline of Western Reining and are worthy candidates for this award. They were also named in the NRHA top 20 owners list for 2012.

UPCOMING EVENTS: March 28-31: All About Pets Show, International Centre, Mississauga May 4-5: Prepare for the Reiny Season Clinic, Judges Clinic & Scribes Clinic, Rustic Meadows, Hillsburgh, ON. Contact Joanne Milton 519-855-6865 or info@rusticmeadows.com May 11-12: Spring Thaw, Waterford, ON. Contact Fletchers’ Horseworld at 519-443-7333 johnfletcher@kwic.com **Affiliate qualifier both days May 25-26: Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, ON. Contact Gary Yaghdjian at gary.yaghdjian@live.ca **Affiliate qualifier both days June 15-16: Reining at Palgrave, Palgrave, ON. Contact Gary Yaghdjian at gary.yaghdjian@live.ca **Affiliate qualifier both days.

July 6-7: Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, ON. Contact Gary Yaghdjian at gary.yaghdjian@live.ca **Affiliate qualifier both days.

July 13-14: Spirit Of Excellence Derby ,CRI & Young Riders, Meaford, ON. Contact Ron Lubinski at 519-538-0510 or ynotfarms@ynotfarms.ca July 26-28: Canadian Reining Classic, Waterford, ON. Contact Fletchers’ Horseworld at 519-443-7333 or johnfletcher@kwic.com **Affiliate qualifier both days.

The full 2013 show calendar is posted on the ORHA website at www.orha.on.ca. All riders are encouraged to come out and try the great sport of reining and meet friendly and supportive ORHA members.

For more information, please e-mail president@orha.on.ca.

Events Celebrate The Versatility Of The Quarter Horse Submitted by the Ontario Quarter Horse Association

The Holiday Inn Guelph was the location of the Ontario Quarter Horse Association (OQHA) Annual General Meeting and the 2012 Year End Awards Banquet.

The weekend started off with the OQHA annual general meeting at 10:30 a.m. with almost 50 in attendance. It was nice to see a number of new faces coming on the OQHA board for 2013. The awards banquet was also well attended with over 165 members enjoying a wonderful buffet dinner.

Year-end award recipients were presented with their awards by our two queen contestants, Paige Hoskins and Kerri-Lyn Webb.

The awards table was very impressive with a number of trophies, headstalls, spurs, show halters, buckles, spur straps, jackets, hay bags, horse sheets, stall bags and fuel gift cards. Everyone should all be proud of their accomplishments in 2012!

2013 OQHA Executive President – Shawna Crawford: crawfordqh@gmail.com or 613-913-7262 1st Vice-President – Shari Irwin: shari_irwin@hotmail.com 2nd Vice-President – Pete Hammer: hbindustrial@rogers.com Past President – Jamie Simpson :richlandshowhorses@sympatico.ca For a list of the full 2013 board of directors, visit www.oqha.on.ca OQHA Queen Crowned: Congratulations to Miss Kerrie-Lynn Webb on being crowned the Ontario Quarter Horse Queen for 2013! OQHA unveiled a new queen contest format this year with the contest being held in conjunction with the year-end awards banquet and annual general meeting. The new format was very well received and there were two very talented young ladies who competed for the title.

OQHA would like to congratulate Paige Hoskins on being runner up and winning the written portion of the contest.

Upcoming Events: Can-Am 2013 – OQHA will have a booth at the upcoming Can-Am All Breeds Equine Emporium being held in Orangeville from March 28-31. Be sure to drop by the OQHA booth and watch for the versatile Quarter Horse in the Parade of Breeds throughout the weekend!

Show Dates: Our show season is fast approaching. For a complete list of Ontario AQHA approved shows, and events, visit www.oqha.on.ca May Show Dates: May 4-5: Area 2 Spring Kick Off – Ancaster Fairgrounds, Ancaster May 11-12: Area 1 Spring Round Up – Ilderton Fairgrounds, Ilderton

May 17-20: Area 3 Spring Classic – Orangeville Fairgrounds, Orangeville May 23-26: Eastern Ontario Spring Fling – Carp Fairgrounds, Carp Novice Shows: If you are new to the Quarter Horse industry or just want to try your hand at showing at the AQHA level, the Novice shows are for you. There are three AQHA approved All Novice Shows in Ontario. For more information, contact Shawna Crawford at crawfordqh@gmail.com or 613-913-7262.

July 19: OQHA All Novice Youth and Amateur – Ilderton Fairgrounds, Ilderton July 31: E Eastern Ontario All Novice Youth and Amateur – Carp Fairgrounds, Carp Aug. 9: Area 3 All Novice Youth and Amateur – Orangeville Fairgrounds, Orangeville

New Executive Director For THJA Submitted by the Trillium Hunter Jumper Association

Happy Spring to all of our members! The Trillium Hunter Jumper Association (THJA) is off to a great start this year.

The association has hired a new executive director and set up a permanent office in Uxbridge. You can reach Martha Worts at 416-460-9178 with any Trillium questions you may have. The hope is that this alleviates any inconsistencies in information between the zones and throughout the organization. Also, to help improve communication, the THJA is now on twitter @trilliumchamps and on Facebook.

You may have noticed that the division specs for the 2013 Trillium Championships have already been posted to the THJA website.

Please consult these specs to ensure that you are eligible for the divisions in which you wish to show. There have been some changes to the program this year. This year’s host zone for the championship show will be Georgian Bay. We cannot wait to hear their plans in March at the AGM! Also of interest is that the THJA has accepted bids from any facility interested in hosting the 2014 championship show. A decision on the facility will be made and announced by April 30, 2013.

Finally, remember to get your THJA memberships early! You are not eligible to collect points until the rider and owner have a valid THJA membership. The THJA office is now actively monitoring this from a master list. Looking forward to a great 2013! www.horse.on.ca | 67

Breed & Discipline Updates

Tricounty Carriage Association Celebrates 30 Years Submitted by Jean McLean, Tricounty Carriage Association

The show season kicks off on June 9, with a pleasure driving show at Orchard Park Stables. This year, on top of the usual events, a gambler’s choice obstacle course, concours d’elegance and a ride and drive class will be run. Audrey Bostwick, an ADS approved pleasure judge from Pennsylvania, will be our official for the day. Prior to the show, TCCA will be running a three day driving clinic with PJ Crowley, an experienced driver and trainer as the clinician.

On July 27, the club will be holding a carriage driving show as part of the Eastern Canadian Pony Breeders Show. This show is to be held at Iron Horse Equestrian Centre in Burlington, ON. Morris Kerr is our judge and Jim MacKay is the ringmaster. In addition to two cones courses and the usual pleasure driving classes, we have also added a carriage dog driving class and a costume class. Overnight stabling is available.

In September, (date to be finalized) a Traditional Day of Driving show will be held. A Red Light/Green Light class will be held at all three shows. This class allows juniors to act as a navigator and answer questions about driving at select areas along the course. This class gives juniors an introduction to driving and teaches them some of the basics about driving. All entry fees and ribbons are given to the red light/green light competitors.

Cynthia Zalewski and her horse Katia stop at a check point during a Red Light/Green Light competition.

The Tricounty Carriage Association (TCCA) had its annual general meeting on Jan. 19, 2013 and presented the TCCA High Point ribbon for 2012 to Cynthia Zalewski, with Kilby Brunner DeForest taking home Reserve Champion.

The club’s social drive committee has been very busy over the winter setting down the guidelines for the social drives and recruiting farm owners to host drives. Volunteers were trained for these drives at the clinic on March 2. Plans for a social drive have been finalized for Oct.6 at Westfield Heritage Village and more drives will be added to our calendar as we get closer to the start of the season.

Members of TCCA are looking forward to this 30th anniversary year and are thankful to the many volunteers and sponsors who make the season possible.

Woodbine Pros Show Pony Clubbers The Ropes During Track Tour Submitted by Penny Sundstrom McLaren, Western Ontario Region Pony Club

Imagine meeting Canada’s top racing Thoroughbreds and their trainers in their stalls at the crack of dawn – and then returning to cheer for them in the races that same afternoon!

That’s how “up close and personal” 90 Pony Club members from across Canada got to the action at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto this past Thanksgiving weekend. A week later, Woodbine would host the $1.5 million Pattison Canadian International, accounting for the extra care that weekend of the 1.5 mile outer grass track at Woodbine – one of two concentric Thoroughbred tracks at the raceway.

Club, a volunteer-run organization with 180 branches across Canada.

Quiz focuses on testing knowledge of horsemanship. Competitors ages 13- 25 qualify for Nationals by being top in their regions. Results, event details, and links to clubs across Canada can be found at www.canadianponyclub.org.

“My uncle owned a horse that came in second to Northern Dancer,” commented one of the Pony Clubbers from a B.C. club. “Boy, was that ever the wrong year to own a really high performance threeyear-old,” she added, referring to the sweeping success in 1964 of Canada’s most famous Thoroughbred, Northern Dancer, whose many victories heralded Canada’s heyday in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

The trip to Woodbine was one of several activities organized for visiting competitors at Pony Club’s 25th Annual National Quiz Championships. “Quiz” is the only un-mounted discipline in Pony

68 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Photo credit: Danielle Kelton

Facilitating the unforgettable tours of Woodbine’s barns was Tom Cosgrove, Woodbine’s archivist and historian (and former director of racing), and Michelle Rainford, one of Woodbine’s female jockeys (and Pony Club Level B2 alumna). In 10 small groups, Cosgrove and nine enthusiastic Woodbine trainers and representatives gave the youth a taste of “the life,” including first-hand anecdotes about how 1,500 people employed at Woodbine combine to bring the magic of Thoroughbred racing to the Toronto area. Many of Pony Club’s young equestrians endeavour to be the next generation of horse industry workers and professionals.

Canadian Pony Club 2012 Quiz Competitors view Thoroughbreds in the paddock prior to the start of the race.

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Breed & Discipline Updates

Celebrate The Icelandic Horse At The Spring Farm Weekend Submitted by the Ontario Icelandic Horse Association

The Ontario Icelandic Horse Association (OIHA) will be holding a double celebration at Celtic Roots Equestrian near Penetanguishene, ON. on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 to showcase this ancient, compact and athletic horse breed.

Icelandic Horse owners and riders will gather at the farm to participate in events and activities that celebrate the beloved ‘Icy,’ a breed that wins hearts wherever it goes. Saturday’s events, which include a joint Celtic Roots Equestrian/OIHA charity ride for the OSPCA, will be held in celebration of the OEF’s annual Toronto Horse Day taking place that day.

Throughout the weekend, Celtic Roots Equestrian and members of the OIHA will be introducing visitors to the Icelandic Horse, riding at the farm and surrounding area and helping to raise funds for horse rescue and welfare in Ontario.

Photo credit: Wendy Horas

The award-winning owners/operators of Celtic Roots Equestrian are Mary Ann and Rob McLaughlin. The farm and stable, with full equestrian facilities, rest on 300 acres of stunning escarpment land with riding trails through forests and fields. The Simcoe County Trail system is a 2.5-kilometer ride from the farm.

People who are interested in visiting the farm and watching the Icelandic breed in action during our 2013 OIHA Spring Farm Weekend are welcome to stop by. Directions to the farm can be found at www.celticrootsequestrian.ca

Sydney Horas, riding Densari, leads several relatives visiting from Germany on a trail ride aboard Icelandic Horses.

For further information about the weekend events, contact Jane Hamilton, member of the OIHA Board of Directors: janehamilton@ rogers.com. Come out and meet the “Icys!”

Driving Associations Join Forces To Offer New Show Circuit Submitted by the Central Ontario Pleasure Driving Association & Central Ontario Combined Driving Association

With spring fast approaching, the Central Ontario Pleasure Driving Association (COPDA) and Central Ontario Combined Driving Association (OCDA) are very excited to offer a wonderful show schedule for Ontario carriage drivers! Both clubs have joined forces to create a show circuit that will allow both Pleasure and Combined Drivers the ability to learn and develop their skills on regular bases.

Not only has a great show circuit been planned, a big investment has been made to offer the best judges from all over North America to allow our drivers an opportunity to show in front of judges with experience at national and world championships.

• May 25: OCDA Indoor Driving Trial – Rae Fischer’s Farm, Listowel, ON. Contact Janis Promaine (519) 942-4318 • June 1: OCDA Dressage & Cones – Orangeville Fairgrounds, Orangeville, ON. Contact Jeff Kohler (705)733-8161 • June 2: COPDA Pleasure Driving Show – Orangeville Fairgrounds, Orangeville, ON. Contact Jeff Kohler (705)7338161 • July 21: OCDA Horse Driving Trial – Glencameron Farm, Limehouse, ON. Contact Janis Promaine (519) 942-4318 • Aug. 25: OCDA Horse Driving Trial – Glencameron Farm, Limehouse, ON. Contact Janis Promaine (519) 942-4318 • Sept. 14: OCDA Dressage & Cones – Orangeville Fairgrounds, Orangeville, ON. Contact Jeff Kohler (705)733-8161 • Sept. 15: COPDA Pleasure Driving Show – Orangeville Fairgrounds, Orangeville, ON. Contact Jeff Kohler (705)7338161 • Oct. 26: OCDA/COPDA Halloween AGM Banquet – Palgrave, ON. Contact Jeff Kohler (705)733-8161 70 | WHOA! Spring 2013

Breed & Discipline Updates Designing Cones Obstacle Courses

Submitted by Margaret Monnelly, Eastern Ontario Pleasure Driving Society

Cones obstacle classes are currently an important component of any Pleasure Driving show or Combined Driving event, as they are fun to drive and spectator friendly.

Types of Cones Courses There are seven different types of cones obstacle classes, some based on speed such as timed obstacles, others emphasizing precision like progressive obstacles.

Drivers compete individually through a series of numbered obstacles placed in a Dressage-size arena. Their merit points are easily calculated on the number of obstacles that are driven without knocking down the tennis ball balanced on each cone.

Considerations The designer will draw the courses on paper during the weeks preceding a show, taking into account the level of driving experience among the expected drivers, the competition divisions and space and personnel available.

Due to the variety of carriages used in Pleasure Driving shows, timebased obstacles should be set at a common clearance of 80 inches to accommodate wide variations in wheel track measurements. In Pleasure Driving shows, when the entries are large and many drivers are experienced, the measurements will follow the rule book suggestions.

Obstacles based on precision driving require specific measurements for each carriage wheel track, which involves a change of cones measurement for each competitor.

Each obstacle in a prescribed course must be numbered clearly and consecutively, marked red on the right and white on the left.

Design Once the show information is assembled, the design can begin. Good cones course design can be based on the elements of Dressage tests.

Without the basics of Driven Dressage in place, it will be difficult to drive obstacles correctly in competition. The ability to be smooth and accurate is in the Dressage driving and has a direct bearing on the results of the cones competition. Drivers should be able to see the next pair of cones in a circle or a route that would be taken in a Dressage test.

Ideally, the event has an arena that is 80 metres long and 40 metres wide. The course can be built around the basic components of the obstacles – a circle, deviation, serpentine or zigzag. With careful attention to spacing and measurement, all these elements can be used to design a driveable cones course.

Safety is an issue in cones course design so the obstacles have to be set sufficiently apart that drivers can make safe turns.

Finally, the course is ready for testing. There can be 10 obstacles, including a 25 to 30-metre circle, a zigzag and a deviation.

As a tactile person, I always like to drive my courses before sending them to the show organizer. Inevitably, one finds details that need alteration.

Following a short review, a more challenging course may emerge from the original plan. In my area, I have had the good fortune to be able to use a Driving Dressage arena for my field tests.

Mounted Games Offer Safe And Supportive Environment For All Riders Submitted by Mounted Games Across Canada

It’s that time of year when plans are being made for the upcoming season and we look toward shedding the fat and fur that has accumulated over the past few months.

provided insight into the science and practical concerns around equine environmental stewardship in an engaging presentation entitled “Caring for your Horse and Farm.”

The executive committee for Mounted Games Across Canada has begun its work, preparing for the season ahead. There are always opportunities for all riders to compete locally and internationally.

There are trail rides and barbecues in the forecast this season, hosted by member families.

Competitions for pairs of riders will be held on May 19, July 21, Aug. 11 and Sept. 22. There will be a team competition (four or five riders) on June 23. Once again, competitions will be held at the Grand River Raceway in Elora, ON. One of the first events this year was an educational seminar held on Jan. 27 and conducted by Mark Eastman, a professional agronomist and engineer with the Credit Valley Conservation Authority. Eastman

Games skills workshops will be offered, led by riders who have competed internationally, including the world championships. Another educational workshop is being developed for later in the season.

Mounted Games Across Canada is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for riders of all ages and abilities to learn and enjoy the sport of mounted games. As always, everyone is welcome to participate at all events. Watch for announcements at www.mgac.ca.

Go The Distance In 2013 By Trying A New Riding Sport Submitted by the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association

So you are interested in distance riding, but where do you start? We recommend you try a training ride!

Training rides typically consist of two or three short loops (five to seven miles each) for a total of 12 to 15 miles (19-24 kilometres).

Many horses who are being regularly ridden are already fit enough to complete this distance at a moderate pace. So assess your horse’s fitness and your own to see how much additional work you need to do.

A simple rule of thumb is that your horse should be regularly covering the mileage in a week that you are expecting from them in a day of competition. So if you are aiming for a 12-mile training ride, your horse should be covering 12 miles a week under saddle. At least half of that should be at a trot and/or canter. You can break that up however you like. For example, you could do two rides of three-miles during the week and a six to eight-mile ride on the weekend.

To get a sense of how far you are riding, you need to know your

average speed. You can estimate or you can test yourself against a measured distance: a one mile stretch of quiet road, or a section of trail that you have measured with a bicycle or ATV. Horse gaits vary considerably from horse to horse, but generally speaking, if you walk for half an hour and trot for half an hour with no stopping, you are going to cover somewhere around five miles. But almost all riders overestimate the distance travelled – by a very considerable amount.

At some point, you can test yourself with a GPS device of some kind.

Even if you just borrow one for a single ride, it will keep you honest!

In winter, if you have a lot of snow, walking can be good for fitness, within reason of course. Don’t ask your horse to wade through chest deep drifts. If they are struggling, it’s too deep, but working to get through it, so long as they are able to move smoothly without lunging forward, is a good workout.

To find out about training rides, or for more information on conditioning, visit the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association (OCTRA) website at www.octra.on.ca. Lots of articles and mentors are available to help new riders reach their distance goals. www.horse.on.ca | 71

Dressage Symposium Dressage Olympian Ashley Holzer &

FEI Judge Lorraine MacDonald

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Equine Guelph Update

Spring 2013

Equine Guelph Declares 2013 the Year of Colic Prevention!

Equine Guelph is combating the number one killer of horses (other than old age!) with a new eWorkshop on colic prevention, March 11 to 24.

This affordable online short course is designed to help horse owners understand colic and take preventative measures by following good stable management practices. At a cost of only $75 plus HST, this eWorkshop could translate into thousands of dollars of savings by helping horse owners avoid the nightmare of colic.

calculate colic risk and provide useful feedback on management practices.

As part of the Colic Prevention Program, Equine Guelph is also launching its latest FREE online health care tool, the “Colic Risk Rater,” which will assess and

Equine Guelph celebrates 10 years of supporting Equine Welfare through Educational Programs and Research

Every month in 2013, Equine Guelph will be providing a practical colic prevention tip in Equine Guelph’s E-News, which will be capped off with the release of a Colic Prevention Tips poster in December.

Photo: Dave Landry

Equine Guelph’s Colic Prevention eWorkshop will cover topics that will help horse care In addition to a New Colic Prevention eWorkshop givers reduce colic in Equine Guelph introduces a helpful horse owner horses by identifying tool, the “Colic Risk Rater”. risk factors, understanding different types of colic, detecting early signs and Continued on page 2 symptoms, assessing their management plans and developing preventative strategies.

Upon completion of the Colic Prevention eWorkshop, participants are eligible to receive a certificate from Equine Guelph.

This two-week online course also qualifies for Equine Canada coaches updating credits.

helping horses for life

INSIDE

Since its inception in 2003, Equine Guelph has been dedicated to the health and well-being of horses. Thanks to your tremendous support and the commitment and input from equine industry groups over the years – six online globally acclaimed educational programs have expanded to 22, including the latest Equine Welfare Certificate.

As you read through this exciting 10th volume of our newsletter, we encourage you to learn more about how Equine Guelph is helping the horse industry and how you can contribute to future programs.

Volume 10, Number 1

Investigating Gut Function .......................................2 Two Stage Weaning Research . .................................3 Health Flash ...........................................................4 Behaviour and Safety Program..................................5 Equine Guelph Healthcare tools ................................6

EQUINE RESEARCH UPDATE

Investigating Gut Function to Prevent Disease OVC researcher, Dr. Scott Weese continues to delve into the identification and categorization of the microflora residing in the horses gut using the relatively recent technology of ‘next generation sequencing.’ Dr. Weese and many other researchers are very interested in understanding what are considered ‘normal and abnormal’ intestinal microflora. Weese explains, “This will be the key to unlocking the mysteries of the intestinal tract - one of the most dense, dynamic and complex bacterial populations of any environment on the planet.”

a critical role in digestion. Increasingly, effects on other areas such as immune function, inflammation and weight gain are being identified. Disruption of the intestinal microflora most notably occurs with colitis (severe diarrhea), but may also result in some types of colic, laminitis, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic diseases and allergic disorders. Understanding how gut flora interact could prove useful in prevention of common conditions such as gas colic. No wonder researchers are so interested in ‘who is living in your horse’s house’.

Intestinal tract microflora plays a critical role in health and disease. Microflora helps prevent disease caused by numerous potentially harmful bacteria that are regularly ingested and plays

Ongoing studies are using ‘next generation sequencing’ to assess previously unculturable bacteria. Researchers are studying the differences in microflora between horses in order to determine what ‘normal’ looks like. ‘Next generation’ technology allows for the sorting of huge components of DNA (between 70 - 100,000 in one fecal sample). Weese explains, "We are trying to sort out what goes on, what bugs are present, how they interact, how they change and how we can potentially change them for use in future prevention methods." Links between gut function and a healthy immune system are also being studied at the OVC by researchers: Dr. Luis Arroyo (C. difficile), Dr. Henri Staempfli (Colitis) and Dr. Mario Costa (working with Dr. Weese on Microbiology of the equine intestinal flora).

Photo: Gayle Ecker

Dr. Scott Weese is investigating ‘who’ is living in the horse’s gut to find ways to improve health.

Continued from page 1

Year of Colic Prevention!

Equine Guelph would like to thank everyone who participated last fall in Equine Guelph’s Canada-wide colic survey. "Understanding the horse owners' experiences with colic has assisted Equine Guelph in developing a Colic Prevention Program tailored to the industry’s needs,” says Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph.

In addition to funding from Alltech and Standardbred Canada, 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. Partners include: Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Society of Ontario, Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners, Ontario Equestrian Federation, Ontario Harness Horse Association and the Ontario Veterinary College.

For more information about how to reduce the risk of Colic using Equine Guelph's Colic Prevention Program, visit EquineGuelph.ca/eworkshops/colic.php Story By – Jackie Bellamy 2 Equine Guelph

Story By – Jackie Bellamy Scan here to view Report on Research Video - Dr. Scott Weese or go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgPAO5ElqWA&list=PL9ACE18F9180735B1&index=8

Colic Research Announced Exciting new research using capsule endoscopy (CE) is being conducted by OVC researcher, Dr. Jeff Thomason and graduate student, Diane Gibbard. In capsule endoscopy, a small capsule with a built-in camera is ‘swallowed’ and takes images as it travels through the gut. CE would allow veterinarians to see inside the horse’s digestive tract and could aid in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases in chronic cases of colic.

Gibbard, who is also the project manager of Equine Guelph’s Colic Prevention program says, “As a horse owner, I am all too aware of the impact of colic. My horse, Twink, has been enduring colic episodes for the last three years.” Gibbard is hopeful that combining colic research with educating horse owners on colic prevention will reduce the number of horses that battle colic.

Top 3 Colic Risk Factors

1) High grain, low forage diets 2) Sudden changes in diet/routine 3) Limited turnout/stall confinement

New ‘Colic Risk Rater’ coming soon at ww.EquineGuelph.ca

EQUINE RESEARCH UPDATE

Two Stage Weaning Research Preliminary Results are Positive!

“When and how to wean is a decision that requires a great deal of thought,” says researcher Dr. Katrina Merkies (Kemptville, APS). The traditional method of weaning by suddenly removing a foal physically from the mare can prove stressful to both, and resultant frantic behavior can lead to injuries.

control group mares wore shams which matched the same harnessing equipment as the two-stage mares but still allowed foals access to the udder for suckling.

With a solid background in reproduction and a desire to improve welfare in horses, Merkies and her team spent the fall of 2011 collecting data on a two-stage weaning process which may reduce more than just stress. Previous studies (Waters et al. 2002) have observed a link between artificial weaning techniques and the development of abnormal behaviours (8 – 12 months later) such as wood-chewing.

Merkies believes the gradual two-stage weaning system will prove less stressful than abrupt methods.

1) Be thoughtful as to timing for weaning.

2) Gradual weaning methods are less stressful than abrupt ones.

In phase one of the project, the two-stage mares wore udder covers which disallows suckling and starts the gradual weaning process before physical separation. The

Top Two Helpful Weaning Tips:

In the second phase of the project, all the mares were physically separated into a paddock within auditory range but out of visual sight of the foals. Mares and foals in the two-stage group (using udder covers) showed positive preliminary results with observations of less locomotion and less vocalization. An earlier behavioural study (2009) conducted by Merkies and

Photo: Severine Parois

Two-stage weaning may improve welfare in horses by reducing stress.

Dr. Derek Haley (who acts as an advisor in this current study) recorded 9.6 times less aggression and 18% more eating observed in two-stage foals.

The next step in Merkies research will be analyzing the physiological data, gathered using GPS tracking systems and Triaxial accelerometers (HOBOs).

These instruments measured the actual distances travelled (how far and how fast) and whether the horses were standing or lying down. Heart rate and cortisol levels will also be examined from data they collected using heart rate monitors and from fecal samples.

“Part of the excitement of this project has been in the doing,” explains Merkies as she gives credit to her staff for being reactive, flexible and creative. An initial challenge emerged when a foal turned off its GPS unit.

One of the interns sourced hard cases from a dentist to resolve the issue. Merkies continues, “What sounds easy in the office can prove interesting in the field.” Foals will be foals and a close watch was needed to keep them from eating each other’s colour coded tags which determined who was who!

Other challenges came from particularly persistent foals who worked away at moving the udder covers to gain access to be able to nurse. A new design which has been used in two-stage cattle weaning is in the works.

The new barrier involves the foal using a halter with flap fitted over noseband with soft rubber spikes, allowing access to grass but not the udder.

When the next phase of the project is complete, Merkies predicts heart rates will be lower for the two-stage group than control, and that the two-stage horses will exhibit: less locomotion, more lying down behaviour and lower fecal cortisol – all indicating a reduction in distress. Funding for this research project is provided by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Story By – Jackie Bellamy Equine Guelph 3

UPDATE ON EQUINE GUELPH'S WORK

Sign up for your FREE Health Flash Equine Guelph is pleased to announce the introduction of Health Flash – a program of four seasonal health reminders to help busy horse owners keep on top of changes affecting their horses during the year. The program will also provide special alerts in case of disease outbreaks and comes complete with interactive games to test your seasonal savvy.

Your horse changes with the seasons — stay current on seasonal issues and health alerts with Health Flash.

"Health Flash will be a valuable tool to any horse owner as it provides very concise information to help keep on top of seasonal issues. Health Flash has the potential to have a positive economic impact on the industry as a whole as 'healthy horses' translate into a 'healthy industry’," says

University of Guelph researcher, Dr. Kim McGurrin.

In addition to funding from Vétoquinol Canada and Merck Canada, 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. Other partners include the Canadian Animal Health Institute and the Ontario Veterinary College.

Sign up at www.EquineGuelph.ca to receive Health Flash.

EquiMania! – Another Record Year

Bring EquiMania! to your Event – Contact eq4kids@uoguelph.ca

Equine Guelph’s interactive youth education attraction wrapped up 2012 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair this past November with a record number of volunteers. “The popularity of EquiMania! just continues to grow,” says school teacher and repeat volunteer, Marg Murray. “It has the perfect recipe for learning using engaging activities to deliver important safety messages.”

Thanks to generous continued support from Kubota Canada, Ontario Equestrian Federation, SSG Gloves, System Fencing and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, Equine Guelph is looking forward to another busy year of touring.

The next stop for EquiMania! will be at the All Equine Show, March 15 - 17, at Western Fairgrounds in London, Ontario.

Photo: Sharon Grose

Volunteer Marg Murray delivers safety tips and prizes to participants of the EquiMania! Explorer activity.

Equine Guelph’s New Equine Welfare Course — What Students Are Saying: “The Equine Welfare course was structured with the right balance between readings, assignments and expertly facilitated discussions amongst classmates with incredible and diverse backgrounds. This format enabled me to gain a tremendous appreciation for the many drivers of the equine welfare issues that manifest in today’s society. Like so many of my classmates, this course has been instrumental in motivating me to help improve the welfare of our treasured equine companions.”

Sandra Waters, MEM / Evanston, IL. To sign up for next offering of Equine Welfare starting May 13, 2013, go to: www.equinewelfarecertificate.ca or contact the Centre for Open Learning and Educational Support at 519 767-5000.

4 Equine Guelph

UPDATE ON EQUINE GUELPH'S WORK

You’re invited to celebrate 10 years of equine welfare!

Equine Guelph is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2013, and we invite you to help us continue to grow by making a special gift this year to our welfare education programs.

“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. We could not have achieved this milestone without your support,” says Gayle Ecker, director, Equine Guelph.

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: www.equineguelph.ca (online gifts receive an immediate e-receipt) Mail: Equine Guelph, c/o Alumni House, University of Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 (cheques payable to University of Guelph/Equine Guelph)

Horse Behaviour & Safety Program is Launched Equine Guelph is pleased to announce a second offering of its Horse Behaviour and Safety eWorkshop, April 1 – 14, 2013.

This two-week, online course is designed for horse people who would like to learn more about the best practices for handling horses safely.

To register for the next offering of Equine Guelph's new Horse Behaviour and Safety eWorkshop ($75 plus HST) or to learn more about the “train the trainer” kits, please contact Susan Raymond at slraymon@uoguelph.ca or go to: http://www.equineguelph.ca/eworkshops/behaviour_safety.php

"The popularity of Equine Guelph's new Horse Behaviour and Safety eWorkshop was established quickly as the first offering sold out within two hours of announcement," exclaims Equine Guelph's director, Gayle Ecker. "We are pleased that horse people are interested in educating themselves about 'why' horses behave the way they do and how that translates into becoming better handlers.”

Ten sections will be covered: the horse in the wild – a herd and flight animal, the modern day horse, how horses see, how horses hear, horse herd behaviour – how horses interact with each other, horse handling/approaching a horse, rider/helmet safety, trailer loading safety basics, safety around the barn and paddocks and fire safety.

Upon completion of this course, participants are eligible to receive a certificate from Equine Guelph. This eWorkshop also qualifies for Equine Canada coaches updating credits. Coaches should also stay tuned as a “train the trainer” kit is also under development and scheduled for release late this spring.

Funding for this program has been generously provided by Canadian Agricultural Safety Association through the Growing Forward Program and partners: Equine Hippique Canada, Kubota Canada, SSG Riding Gloves, Saddle Up SAFELY, System Fencing, UK Ag Equine University of Kentucky, UK Healthcare, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services AND all equestrian federations across Canada.

Equine Guelph offers the opportunity to learn safe horsemanship through understanding behaviour.

Equine Guelph 5

UPDATE ON EQUINE GUELPH’S WORK

EVENTS Mark your March 11 - 24 Colic eWorkshop March 15 - 17 EquiMania! at All Equine Show March 28 – 31 EquiMania! at Can-Am Equine All Breeds Emporium

2012 EquiMania! Photo contest winner: Ava Sytsma

April 1 – 14 Behaviour and Safety eWorkshop

calendar!

April 6 Equine Guelph Presents, “Report on Research” April 20 & 21 Equine Anatomy Wet labs May 13 – August 4 Equine Guelph’s Online Courses (Summer Offerings) Anyone wishing to excerpt Equine Guelph should contact: Jackie Bellamy, ext 54205 horses@uoguelph.ca

Because Your Horses’ Welfare is a Top Priority Equine Guelph offers FREE Healthcare Tools

Best Practices to help with your prevention plans.

Stay up to date and review your current healthcare regime with our FREE interactive checklists, videos, calculators, quiz’s and games: Tool

Description

Investment provided by

Horse Health Check

17 ways to assess general health in under two minutes.

Vaccination Equi-Planner

Learn how geography, age, intended use and travel schedule affect your vaccination plans.

Biosecurity Risk Calculator

Infectious disease control involves more than just an annual vet visit. Learn what steps your barn can take with this customized questionnaire.

Journey Through Look inside an inflamed joint and learn the causes The Joints and early warning signs for equine arthritis.

Lameness Lab

Video series will sharpen your eye for early detection.

Colic Risk Rater

Complete a customized questionnaire on performance pressures, pasture, feed, turn out time.

Tips for reducing the risks of a run in with colic and best management practices will be suggested based on your answers.

TANDARDBRED CANADA

Equine Guelph makes healthcare easy with its FREE online tools.

Go to www.EquineGuelph.ca and check out our interactive, educational tools created for horse owners.

educating horsepeople

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

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Award-winning writers and industry experts cover a wide range of topics including horse health, training, careers with horses, lifestyle, practical tips, industry issues and major events.

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