Horse Council BC - Notes from the Office

English Rider Evaluator Training Workshop

April 28th, Langley Sandman Signature Hotel

Participation in this workshop will train EC Certified coaches and instructors on how to use the Rider Level program, how to conduct the testing, what meets Standard and what will not. Training is classroom based with video and led by Maureen Walters and Diane Spencer who are experienced Rider Evaluators and Coach Developers.

Participants will receive USB drives with the testing materials. Lunch is not provided, bring your own or visit one of the areas close-by restaurants.

Bring pens, paper and laptops (not mandatory). There will be discussion and feedback for each of the levels.

Registration fee $78.75 (includes GST); register by April 20th, space is limited.

This workshop is open to all English EC Certified Coaches and Instructors. Licensing is not required to take this training. Coaches will receive 3 PD points for attendance.

Coaches must be EC Certified and Licensed to conduct Rider testing.

Register for this event on the HCBC Events Calendar https://hcbc. online/Calendar.

55+ Games

Planning is in full swing for the 2023 55+ Games. The Games are being hosted in Abbotsford, but the Equestrian Competition will be held at Maple Ridge Equi-Sports Centre August 22–26.

If you are 55 years or over, the 55+ Games equestrian competition is a fun, inviting, low key, social event, so we hope you will plan to attend. Disciplines to be included in the 2023 Games are:

• Dressage

• Western Dressage

• Arena Driving Trials

• Working Equitation and 2’3 Working Hunter

Mark your calendars, registration is now open! Read more or register here: https://55plusbcgames.org/register/.

HORSEPLAY PROGRAM

We want to encourage you to learn, practice good horsemanship and play! We have launched our Horseplay Program that allows members to record their horse activity whether that is watching a clinic, cleaning a stall or taking their horse on a trail. This is a FREE all-inclusive program for Horse Council BC members age 13 and up, and enters members into draws to win monthly, quarterly and yearly prizes. Prizes include gift cards from BC-based equestrian businesses!

Download the app by searching Horseplay on the App Store or Google Play to get started. Also available online at hcbc.ca if you don’t have access to a mobile device.

Officials Clinics

Driving Judges Clinic with Francois Bergeron

Driving Clinic is April 28-30 and the evaluator training is April 28

Calling all driving enthusiasts, you won’t want to miss this one! HCBC/EC Officials Driving Clinic with clinician François Bergeron. Join us for a weekend of driving education with two days of classroom learning and one day of practical live judging.

Clinic is open to all Carriage Driving enthusiasts.

For HCBC/EC Officials: Early bird special until April 1 $225.00, after that cost will be $250.00. Includes two days of classroom, one day of live practical judging, breakfast and lunch Friday and Saturday, Friday evening Welcome reception and Education night.

Auditors welcome at $60.00 per day or $150.00 for all three days. Anyone that applies as a new HCBC Driving official at the clinic will have their application and test fees waived.

Clinician: François Bergeron

About François: Francois lives in Ormstown, Québec where he has spent all of his life in the driving world. He has competed in Canada and USA in Pleasure and Combined Driving since 1985 and has driven in single, pair as well as tandem in competition.

Francois has also been very successful competing in Pleasure Driving and has won many championships in Canada and in the USA. He has been twice named as alternate on the Canadian Team for the World Single Horse Championship and in 2019 was North American Preliminary Champion with the American Driving Society.

In 1998, Francois became a member of the American Driving Society and a Driving Coach with Equestrian Canada. In 2003 he graduated as a Combined Driving Judge with the American Driving Society and has officiated at many competitions which has brought him to 13 states in the US and five provinces in Canada. Included in Francois’ impressive resume is recognition as a Senior Combined Driving Judge with American Driving Society, a Senior Combined Driving Judge with Equestrian Canada and a Large “R” Combined Driving Judge with USEF. In November 2021, Francois travelled to Poznan, Poland and graduated as a FEI 2*Combined Driving Judge. Francois loves to share his knowledge with people who share his passion with the sport of Driving and is excited to come to BC.

Register here: https://hcbc.online/EventReg

Gielen and More Bang For Your Buck conquer World Championship course in Butheeb

Photos by: Wendy Benns and Misha Green

Where completion is an enormous feat for horse and rider, 73-year-old Canadian Robert Gielen finished in 41st place in a field of 37 countries and 129 starting combinations at the 18th edition of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Endurance World Championships 2022 Butheeb held in the desert of Abu Dhabi (UAE) on February 25, 2023.

Aboard his own ‘More Bang For Your Buck’ (Doran x Forty Thieves), a 14-year-old Arabian gelding, who earns his nickname ‘Bang’, the Flesherton ON, native was one of two North Americans in the competition.

“This was a world championship, so every horse here was the top of their country,” said Gielen when asked about the experience. “That makes the competition so special. This was my 4th world’s event, and each venue has its challenges. Here it is the sand, imagine running a marathon at the beach. In North America our terrain is varied, and much more technical than here, so we must adapt to the course during the ride.”

The 160 km track, which was run over six loops, is set against a stunning backdrop, and world-class facilities at the Butheeb International Endurance Village.

Endurance was truly the name of the competition. “It is mind boggling to me how horses can adapt to what is asked of them. I am in awe of Bang’s athleticism,” said Gielen. “The goal for us was to complete the course, much like a clear round, and to decide when to push and when to back off, as illustrated by the completion rate of 43 riders out of 129 starters.”

The Canadians rode some of the track and finished just behind USA’s Cheryl van Deusen and JG General. Gilien leaves the desert with a sense of pride. “I came to conquer this particular course… mission accomplished! I’m very proud of my horse, who is the real athlete!”

Canada Wins Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida

By Jennifer Ward / Starting Gate Communications for Equestrian Canada

The Canadian Show Jumping Team won the $150,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by IDA Development, held on March 4 during the CSIO4* Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington FL. The win came as 10-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar of Perth ON, made his debut as the new Canadian Team Chef d’Equipe.

A total of 11 countries competed in the annual team event. Following the opening round of competition held in the afternoon, the top eight teams moved forward to compete under the lights in a second round of competition. The Canadian team comprised of Erynn Ballard, Mario Deslauriers, Tiffany Foster, and Beth Underhill were on a score of eight faults as the first round came to an end, as were Brazil and Ireland. Belgium sat at the top of the leaderboard with four faults.

The win marked Canada’s seventh victory in the Nations Cup in Wellington FL, since the team event was first held at the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2002. Finishing behind Canada in second place was Brazil with a total of 16 faults followed by Ireland, also on 16 faults but with a slower combined time. Mexico took fourth with 17 faults while the United States was fifth with 32 faults. Australia was sixth with 32 faults in a slower combined time, Great Britain seventh with 42 faults, and the early leaders, Belgium, failed to finish after both Jos Verlooy and Zoe Conter were eliminated at the wall at fence nine. Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela failed to make the cut for round two, which featured the top eight teams.

“These riders have been my teammates on numerous occasions in the past,” said Millar, 76, who retired from international competition in 2019. “They know me as a rider and now they know me as a chef. They were so easy to work with and so receptive to any ideas or suggestions. The word synergy comes to mind.”

“It was fun to see it from the other side,” concluded Millar. “For almost 50 years, I was one of the riders. I always appreciated the chefs and how much they cared and how much they supported us. Tonight, I feel part of this winning team and it’s a great feeling! I’m so proud to be the chef of our Canadian team. I always said that if I ever did it, I would only do it for Canada. I’ve been offered the position by other countries, but I always said I would only do it for Canada, if ever. And here we are.”

For more information, including full results, visit wellingtoninternational.com.