BC's Equine Lifestyle - Autumn/Winter 2016

The Official Member Magazine of Horse Council BC

Autumn/Winter 2016 www.hcbc.ca

BC’s

Equine Lifestyle

Equine Metabolic Syndrome: Cause & Prevention 2017 Zone AGM Dates, HCBC AGM Info & Equestrian Canada Convention

Keeping Current As A Coach!

!

E FRE

We protect what we love.

Insurance for horses and their people – it’s what we do.

Capri Insurance is the industry leader when it comes to insuring horses and their people.

We have a long-standing partnership with Horse Council British Columbia, and our team of consultants are always available to provide you with the expert risk management advice you need to best protect you and your horse.

Call our equine and agricultural insurance experts today for all your insurance needs: – Equi-Care – – Travel Medical (dedicated Travel Insurance contact: hcbctravel@capri.ca) – – Equine business liability for coaches, trainers, business operators – – Farm Property –

Equine risk management and insurance solutions.

1-800-670-1877 l agri@capri.ca l www.capri.ca

In This Issue

BC’s

Equine Lifestyle Fall/Winter 2016 is published biannually by HORSE COUNCIL BC 27336 Fraser Hwy., Aldergrove, BC V4W 3N5 T: 604-856-4304 | F: 604-856-4302 Toll Free: 1-800-345-8055 www.hcbc.ca

HORSE COUNCIL BC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LIZ SAUNDERS President 250-359-7293 CAROLYN FARRIS Treasurer 250-546-6083

SUSAN HARRISON VP Competition 250-416-0094 TERRE O’BRENNAN VP Recreation 604-940-6958

LISA MANDER Secretary 604-719-1989

ALLISON WARREN VP Membership & Marketing 604-512-4472

SUSAN THOMPSON VP Education 604-943-8155

LYNDA ATKINSON VP Industry 250-747-3700

STAFF

LISA LAYCOCK Executive Director administration@hcbc.ca ext.1008 KELLY COUGHLIN Senior Program Director Manager, Industry & Agriculture industry@hcbc.ca ext.1006 WENDY SEWELL Manager, Coaching & Education coaching@hcbc.ca ext.1004 ALI BUCHANAN Manager, Competition & Sport competition@hcbc.ca ext.1005 NANCY SPRATT Recreation Coordinator recreation@hcbc.ca ext.1009

4

President’s Message

NEWS 2017 Zone AGM Dates 2016 HCBC Award Nominations 2016 Scholarship Recipients Save the Date! HCBC AGM & Equestrian Canada Convention 7 A Name for HCBC’s Rescue Horse 7 Changes to Optional Insurance in 2017 8 Horse Day 2016 at The Fair at the PNE! 10 2016 Insurance Review 5 6 6 7

COACHES CORNER

JOCELYN ADAMS Membership Coordinator membership@hcbc.ca ext. 1002

20 Keeping Current as a Coach 22 Rider Levels

COMPETITION

SANDY UNDERWOOD Community & Sport Development development@hcbc.ca ext. 1010 AYNSLEY CAIRNS Marketing & Communications Coordinator communication@hcbc.ca ext.1003 LYNN WALLDEN Finance & Grants finance@hcbc.ca ext. 1007 LYNDA ECKSTEIN Reception reception@hcbc.ca ext. 1001

FOR A MEDIA KIT AND/OR RATE CARD PLEASE CONTACT COMMUNICATION@HCBC.CA. All material is copyright 2016.

All photographs that depict riders without helmets were taken in competition settings where helmets are not traditionally worn and all riders are over the age of 18. HCBC supports the wearing of approved helmets in all equestrian activity. Ideas and opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the idea or opinions of HCBC. BC’s Equine Lifestyles reserves the right to accept, and/or edit material submitted for publication. HCBC makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained therein, but assumes no liability in cases of error or changing conditions. Any business relations or other activities undertaken as a results of the information contained in BC’s Equine Lifestyles, or arising therefrom, is the responsibility of the parties involved and not of HCBC. We welcome signed letters to the editor, but reserve the right to publish, edit for grammar, taste and length. For reprint information please contact communication@ hcbc.ca.

23 2016 BC Summer Games in Abbotsford 24 Photos From the BC Summer Games!

FUNDING 10 Funding Available to HCBC Members, Clubs, & Affiliates 11 All About the BC Equestrian Trails Fund 12 Participation Grants

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 13 All About the BC Quarter Horse Association & Why You Should Join!

INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE 16 Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) 17 Body Condition Scoring for Horses 19 Ever Thought About Owning a Racehorse?

TRAILS & RECREATION 26 Q&A with the Okanagan Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of BC About The Cover: BC Summer Games athlete Montana Garrington, groom Riley Newman, and Hollywood Starlet pose for a photo during a break in competition.

Montana received a bronze medal in show jumping!

Photo ©BC Games

UPCOMING PUBLICATION DATES Spring/Summer 2017 | April 2017 Fall/Winter 2017 | October 2017 Horse Council BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

Photo credit: CTHS

www.hcbc.ca | 3

President’s Message Hello again equine enthusiasts!

Time to provide you with an update from the President’s point of view. I continue to be amazed at how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful Province that offers so many different activities for equine enthusiasts.

There is something horse related for everyone to take part in if they so desire and we seem to keep finding new ways to play with and enjoy our horses.

We are heading into my favourite time of year, Fall. I see some key indicators occurring…the horses are shedding their short summer coats; riders are rediscovering the bright, reflective safety vests to wear on the trail; the no trespassing/no hunting/private property signs are being checked and replaced where necessary; leaves are falling from the trees; we had our first frost the other morning and we are being inundated by stink bugs. All these signs mean it’s time for me to reflect on the past few months and let you know what Horse Council and I have been up to and what the future holds.

I hope you have all enjoyed summer. In my area (the West Kootenays) there were a lot of complaints about the lack of summer weather (mostly from non-horsey people) and indeed farmers did have some trouble putting up the first cut of hay. Thank goodness there is hay this year after last year’s disastrous season. However, I have heard that some hay is moldy because of the damp weather, so buyer beware and make sure your hay supply is clean and dry.

I suspect that recreational riders, competitors and equines have enjoyed the cooler mid-summer although August saw a return of hot, dry weather and the usual thunder storms that accompany this trend.

In the Kootenays such storms usually result in some lightning caused fires and this year was no exception. For a couple of days some of us were working with people whose properties were threatened by fire, luckily that was short lived and the rains came. Nature likes to keep us on our toes!

Meanwhile, the work at Horse Council continued through the summer, although I believe that most of the staff managed to fit in some well deserved vacation time. During the summer we welcomed two new staff members, Nancy Spratt is the Recreation Coordinator and Jocelyn Adams is the Membership Coordinator. Do say hi if you drop by the office at any time.

The competition department was busy with the Summer Games which were very successful, however many were disappointed that we had to cancel the Heritage Championships. With less than 50 entries we could not justify the costs involved and are now looking at other options for the future. There were plenty of opportunities for equine enthusiasts across the Province to attend a variety of events, clinics or enter or watch shows of all levels or just relax on the trail. There were also several high performance competitions such as the Nations Cup jumping at Thunderbird and more recently the first jumping qualifier in the country for the next World Equestrian Games. Thunderbird also hosted an FEI Dressage competition. Several BC Vaulters in various capacities were part of the Canadian “team” that attended the World 4 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

Vaulting Championships in France. An amazing experience from all accounts. All this topped off by the Rio Olympics and Paralympics for your viewing and cheering pleasure.

This year has reminded us of the importance of the health and welfare of our equines and how we need to be constantly vigilant to ensure their well being. In the spring a case of strangles was diagnosed in the lower mainland and bio-security measures were quickly initiated preventing the spread of the disease. More recently several cases of West Nile have been diagnosed in the Kootenays and just across the border in Washington and Idaho. The two diseases are quite different in nature-strangles requiring bio-security measures to prevent the spread between equines whereas horses and/or humans are the end host of West Nile which is carried by mosquitoes. This had vets busy vaccinating a lot of horses in a hurry. In this case social media worked well and horse owners and vets were sharing useful information (not misinformation) via Facebook.

BC vets and equine owners now have the “BC Equine Disease Surveillance & Report” for which the mission statement reads: To communicate the status of reportable and notifiable equine diseases in B.C. To also communicate the status of equine nonreportable and non-notifiable diseases at the discretion of equine veterinarians. This information is intended for veterinarians, horse owners and other stakeholders in the provincial equine industry. (http:// www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-andcrops/animal-health/reportable-notifiable-diseases/equine-diseasereport) Horse Council is pleased to announce that the 2017 Equestrian Canada Convention will be in Vancouver, April 7/8/9 2017. It has been over a decade since the Convention came to the west coast.

Horse Council is working with EC on the inclusion of science based educational sessions in a format similar to that of the HCBC Education Conferences.

As the Horse Council AGM and Spring Board meeting are held in April, we thought the EC Convention would provide an opportunity for HCBC members and the Board to attend both the Horse Council meeting and the EC Convention, therefore our spring meeting will occur on the evening of Friday April 7 at the Convention. The meeting will be open so anyone may attend. Please take this opportunity to come and meet the Horse Council Board. We will keep you up to date via the monthly e-news as more information becomes available ie. Convention packages, agendas, educational topics, etc.

As always…thanks to the Horse Council staff for your hard work and dedication to Horse Council.

Thanks also to you, the members, the Board and the Executive.

Without you we would not have a Horse Council with which to serve the equine community.

Liz Saunders HCBC President

NEWS

2017 Zone AGM Dates Get additional information about teleconference numbers or venue locations online at www.hcbc.ca

ZONE 1 KOOTENAYS

Due To Elect Position: West Kootenay - Liz Saunders Time: 10:00 Pacific Time / 11:00 Mountain Time Date: Sunday, February 5, 2017 Location: Teleconference - Phone numbers available online

ZONE 2 THOMPSON OKANAGAN Due To Elect Position: Dawn MacRae & Vacant Position Time: 10:00 AM Date: Saturday, February 4, 2017 Location: Teleconference - Phone numbers available online

ZONE 3 FRASER VALLEY

Due To Elect Position: Chris Pack Time: 2:00 PM Date: Sunday, February 5, 2017 Location: Thunderbird Show Park, in the Timberframe building

ZONE 4 FRASER RIVER

Due To Elect Position: Vacant Position Time: 7:00PM Date: Monday, February 6, 2017 Location: Greater Vancouver Regional District, Central Office 9146 Avalon Avenue, Burnaby

ZONE 5 VANCOUVER - SQUAMISH Due To Elect Position: Cheryl Dewson Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Teleconference - Phone numbers available online

ZONE 6 VANCOUVER ISLAND CENTRAL COAST

Due To Elect Position: Susan Harrison Time: 12:00 PM Date: Sunday, February 19, 2017 Location: Grantham Hall, 6040 Old Island Highway, Courtenay

ZONE 7 NORTH WEST

Due To Elect Position: Christine Hassell Time: 7:00 PM Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Location: Alpenhorn Bistro, 1261 Main Street, Smithers

ZONE 8 CARIBOO - NORTH EAST Due To Elect Position: Orville Smith & Vacant Position Time: 1:30 PM Date: Sunday, January 22, 2017 Location: Prince George - venue TBD

www.hcbc.ca | 5

2016 HCBC AWARDS DOES SOMEONE YOU KNOW DESERVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION? Nominations are being sought for the following prestigious awards.

Athlete of the Year-Senior

Athlete of the Year-Junior

Horse Industry Professional

Awarded to an adult member of HCBC who has shown outstanding athletic performance in a recognized equestrian discipline as part of a team or as an individual at either the provincial, national and/or international level(s) during the year.

Awarded to a Junior member of HCBC who has shown outstanding athletic performance in a recognized equestrian discipline as part of a team or as an individual at either the provincial, national and/or international level(s) during the year.

Presented to a professional individual or equine business that has provided over-and-above service or products to BC's equine community on a one-on-one basis or overall.

Coach Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, leadership, and mentoring skills in a coaching role overseeing a team(s) or individual(s) at any level in any recognized equestrian discipline during the year.

Bob James Volunteer Presented to an individual within BC’s equine community who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to their community and/or equestrian sport in any recognized discipline.

Horse Competitive & Non-Competitive Awarded to a born in BC horse that has achieved a high level of success in any sanctioned competition in a recognized discipline and also to any horse used in any form of non-competitive activity (i.e. trail horse, therapeutic, school horse, etc).

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE SHERMAN OLSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD!

Visit the HCBC website for further criteria for each award listed above.

www.hcbc.ca

2016 Scholarship Recipients The HCBC Scholarship program awards five $1000 scholarships to current HCBC members in good standing each year. The students that apply live all around the province, are BC graduates from grade 12 and are entering into accredited Colleges or University Study programs.

Each year we receive large amounts of applications to the scholarship program, making the decision to choose only 5 all the more difficult. Successful applicants must have a minimum B average on their high school transcripts, participation in equestrian events, volunteer experience at equestrian events within their community and proven leadership skills with an 6 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

emphasis on contribution to equestrian sport.

In 2016, Horse Council BC would like to congratulate the following 5 scholarship recipients:

Thea Rogak - Vancouver, BC Martina Stokes - Abbotsford, BC Shelby Kvywonos - Vernon, BC Maren Carmichael - Kelowna, BC Cassandra Penfold - New Hazelton, BC

NEWS

SAVE THE DATE! HCBC AGM & EC Convention

We are excited to host the Horse Council BC AGM at the same facility as the 2017 Equestrian Canada (EC) Convention, taking place April 6-9, 2017. Please join us for refreshments and the HCBC members’ meeting.

Horse Council Annual General Meeting Date: April 7, 2017 Time: 5:00 PM

M Cala eet mity !

Location: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre - 1088 Burrard St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9 2017 Equestrian Canada Convention Date: April 6-9, 2017 Location: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre - 1088 Burrard St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9 More details will be announced in the following weeks!

A Name for HCBC’s Rescue Horse

The votes are in and tallied! The horse rescue mannequin will be named...Calamity!

Thank you to all those who cast their vote! Jane Murray, who

originally suggested the name Calamity, will receive an HCBC Prize Pack full of goodies as well as a complimentary 2017 Individual HCBC Membership. Thanks for the suggestion Jane!

Changes To

Optional Insurance for 2017

For 2017, Horse Council BC has made changes to the optional insurance policies provided by Capri Insurance. These changes are: • •

•

The majority of optional insurance products have a new lower price for 2017.

The optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy has a new fracture benefit of $7500/$2500 (helmet/no helmet) up from $5000/$2500 in previous years. The cost for this policy has also lowered, even though the benefit has increased.

HCBC will no longer be offering the optional Members

Travel Insurance. While many members find value in this policy, it no longer reflects the specific wants of our overall membership base and external stressors such as the rising cost of claims and the US dollar (most claims originate in the US) have led to increased age restrictions and higher pricing over the last couple years by the insuring company.

If you have any questions or want to know more about these changes, please call us toll free at 1-800-345-8055 and we would be happy to help. For questions about the insurance coverage, please call Capri Insurance at 1-800-670-1877. www.hcbc.ca | 7

Y A D E S

R O H

Horse Day 2016

At The Fair At The PNE! Photo credit: Kevan Garecki

We had a terrific time at Horse Day at The Fair at the PNE this year! The barn was absolutely packed with horses and the arena was busy all day with riding demos, breed parades and PNE’s mini chuckwagons and draft horse show. We all showed Vancouver why horses are the best!

This year we had over 120 volunteers help make Horse Day the success that it was. Many clubs who joined us this Saturday were with us at the PNE last year and we had many new clubs excited to take part this time around as well. Everyone set up fantastic booths and highly decorated stalls and showcased their love of horses in a fun way. The riders were superb in demonstrating different styles of riding and how to have fun with horses. We loved seeing everyone having a great time!

In addition to the amazing booths, the stalls were filled with such an eclectic and diverse range of horses to interact with! Everything from Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses to Haflingers and Welsh Ponies. Even a Unicorn showed up, although he wasn’t in his stall much.

HCBC’s Horse Day Extravaganza was a colourful showcase of some of the exciting things you can do with horses. The Langley Riders Drill Team exploded into the arena as the opening act, putting on an exhilarating display of horse power, precision and finesse for the audience; BC Quarter Horse Association showed the impressive versatility of the Quarter Horse with both a reining and ranch riding display; Shawn Stone wowed the audience with the beauty and elegance of side saddle riding; Natalie Barre danced her way into the hearts of the audience with a spectacular demonstration of the traditional Spanish art of garrocha; and the BC Lower Mainland Pony Clubs teamed together to put on a jumping demonstration to give the audience an inside look at what jumping is all about.

The breed parades showed a variety of horses and ponies strutting their stuff for this informational trek through the arena.

There were Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, a Haflinger, a Standardbred, Welsh Ponies, and of course Hippo the 8 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

miniature horse, a graduate of Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Haven Society.

What was our favorite part of Horse Day? Being able to share the day with such a wonderful group of people and horses and introducing the public to such an amazing animal, of course!

The goal of Horse Day is to share the enjoyment of horses with the public and introduce newcomers to the beauty of favourite horse breeds and the fun of equestrian activities. This years’ Horse Day surpassed all our expectations for meeting those goals.

Horse Council BC would like to extend a heart-felt Thank You to all the volunteers and participants for putting on such a fantastic event. We couldn’t have done it without everyone! We’d also like to extend a huge Thank You to the PNE staff for making this day possible, especially Christie, Suzanna, and Alex for their amazing hard work and dedication.

NEWS

Thank You

To The PNE & All Of Our Horse Day 2016 Volunteers!

1st Mainland Donkey & Mule Club Academie Duello BC Lower Mainland Pony Clubs BC Quarter Horse Association Burnaby Horsemen’s Association Cheryl & SØren Larsen & Family Circle F Horse Rescue Society Crescent Stables Greater Vancouver Morgan Horse Association Langley Riders Drill Team Melody Pearson & Family Natalie Barre & Horseplay Your Way New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption & Rehabilitation Society North Shore Equestrian Otter Co-op Queen Margaret’s School Rayme McMahon & Marlis Blackmore Shawn Stone & Crew Story Book Ponies & the Eidsness Family Thomas Haney Secondary Equestrian Academy We hope to see you all again for Horse Day 2017!

www.hcbc.ca | 9

NEWS

2016 Insurance Review Thank you to everyone who took the time and completed HCBC’s 2016 insurance review survey. Your answers were invaluable to us and helped guide HCBC through the decision making process.

As a result of the Membership Insurance Survey and HCBC’s

internal Insurance Review, Horse Council BC has been able to respond to our members most vital concerns related to the insurance products available from our partner, Capri Insurance.

To read the full report and HCBC’s response, please visit our website at hcbc.ca.

Funding Available to HCBC members, Clubs, & Affiliates

Horse Council offers several different grant programs throughout the year.

Zone Grants

$1.00 from every membership is given to the zones for use in that zone. So far this year $21,390.00 is available throughout the province. The zone directors will consider applications from individuals, clubs and affiliates and base their decision on how a particular request helps the zone as well as the member applying. So far this year grants have been given to help with clinics, competitions, equipment and an I Love Horses contest in which the winners were awarded riding lessons with a certified coach. For more details about what’s happening in your zone contact your zone rep. Their contact information can be found on the HCBC website.

10 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

Core Grants

From January 1 through to April 15th Core Grant applications are accepted. Core grants are aimed at bigger projects and are open to club and affiliate members. This year $45,175.00 was split between 26 groups to be used for a variety of projects including facility upgrades, high level competition, equipment, and pilot programs. We are so excited to see so many worthwhile projects going ahead across the province.

Travel Assistance

High Performance Athlete Travel Assistance is open to individual members competing at a National or International Championships throughout the year. So far this year we have awarded 7 of these grants to hard working riders who all did well at their discipline or breed championships.

FUNDING

All About

the BC Equestrian Trails Fund

Since 2011, the BC Equestrian Trails Fund has provided over $156,000 to Horse Council BC member clubs and affiliates in support of construction and/or improvements to trails, trailheads and horse camping areas all over BC. In 2016, $30,000 was allocated by HCBC’s Board of Directors from the Fund, which is made up of membership dollars, plus individual and corporate donations from those committed to seeing BC’s vast network of horse-friendly trails maintained and increased. Working in cooperation with BC Parks; Recreation and Trails BC (a branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, groups such as the Back Country Horsemen of BC; Tabor Mountain Recreation Society; Squamish Valley Equestrian Society and others have completed a wide variety of well-executed projects that benefit all trail riders.

Clubs which have researched and planned specific projects are able to apply for funding, which may be used as seed money to attract additional funding from other sources. Deadline for submission of applications is April 15 of any given year, with guidelines and application documents available at hcbc.ca.

Eligible projects may include: • New trail construction

• • • • • •

Trail upgrades/improvements Bridge and water crossing construction and rehabilitation Signage Trail surveying and tracking Horse camp facilities Trailhead expansion and modernization

Building and strengthening relationships between local equestrian communities and land managers for the longterm stewardship of trails, trailheads and campgrounds is so important, as we go forward with growing populations, urban expansion and increasing traffic in our outdoor spaces. Horse Council BC is pleased to be able to provide support for this work.

To learn more about the shared vision for maintenance and enhancement of trails in BC, visit www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/ about/provincial-trails-strategy. There you’ll find the important document Trails Strategy for BC. If you would like to support the projects receiving funds from the BC Equestrian Trails Fund, consider helping through a donation to the Fund! You can find out more at hcbc.ca. It’s a fine way to make a real difference, for yourself and all your fellow riders.

www.hcbc.ca | 11

FUNDING

Participation Grants Did you know that as a Horse Council BC member club you can access funding for putting on clinics and other similar events?

The Participation Grant program was created to encourage clubs to hold events that attract new participants to horses, clubs, riding and Equestrian Sport. Athlete Development has been added as an additional focus for clubs holding clinics that offer athlete development and skill improvement for events such as BC Summer Games or specific discipline Equestrian Championships. Successful applications will be from HCBC Member Clubs holding events that are open to non-club members, increase participation and new membership for their club, as well as those for athlete development. HCBC will administer grants until the funding is exhausted each year.

Who can qualify?

• Grants are available to HCBC member clubs in good

standing who are organizing and running the event.

Clinics organized by individual HCBC members will not qualify.

Grant amounts

• $250.00 per event (two events per calendar year per club maximum) until funding is exhausted.

• Grant amounts may be based on geographic location

with clubs 200 km’s or more outside of the Lower Mainland receiving up to the maximum of $500.00 per clinic.

12 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

Event Scope and Considerations • • • • • • • •

Events directed primarily at rider development.

Events directed at recreational rider participation.

Grants requests for competitions will not qualify.

Events should be open to all youth and adult riders or participants.

“Horse training” clinics will not qualify (ie. colt starting clinic).

Grant money is given to subsidize clinic costs paid by the Club.

Participants must be HCBC members or become members due to their attendance at the event.

Grant funds must be applied for and approved before the event.

Application process

• Applications from HCBC member clubs will be accepted throughout the year. Once the application is approved HCBC will notify the club.

Clubs applying for grants over multiple years may be asked to show how the previous events have helped grow club membership and participation in Equestrian sport.

Application forms are available on www.hcbc.ca under membership/funding for HCBC members.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Meet the

BC Quarter Horse Association

The British Columbia Quarter Horse Association (BCQHA) is a provincial affiliate member of the America Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), which is the only registry in the world for Quarter Horses. This association was formed in the early 1950’s with the purpose of promoting and encouraging the development and improvement of the Quarter Horse breed.

Quarter Horses are one of the most versatile breeds in the world. Registered Quarter Horses can be found in jumping, dressage, trail riding, pony club, 4-H as well as the traditional western disciplines of reining, cattle penning, cutting and ranch work.

BCQHA promotes the Quarter Horse in British Columbia (BC) in a wide variety of ways. Quarter Horse owners are being supported and encouraged to show their horses at AQHA approved shows throughout BC. These shows include classes such as Western Pleasure, Halter, Showmanship,

Trail, Ranch Riding, English Hunter Under Saddle, Barrel Racing and Pole bending.

Exhibitors earn points towards BCQHA yearend awards, AQHA Incentive Fund awards and a long list of AQHA championship awards.

BCQHA supports the recreational rider by promoting AQHA trail rides, organizing informational/ horsemanship clinics and by awarding riders with the BC Ride/Drive program.

BCQHA was also very pleased to be a part of HCBC’s 2016 Horse Day at the PNE. Displays by our versatile Quarter Horses were well received. The volunteers manning the information booth had a great time interacting with the many visitors.

In 2016, the association was very proud to support two BC youth, who were part of the Canadian Youth World Cup team.

The team travelled to Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia to compete in the traditional show performance classes. The Canadian team was fourth out of thirteen countries from around the world.

Over the years, one of the highlights of the year has been the Lower Mainland Horseman’s Bazaar which provides a variety of educational clinics, shopping, stallion exhibitions and a time in the early spring to get together before the start of the summer season.

The association has embarked on a program to document and preserve the BC history of the Quarter Horse and their owners. This includes many breeders who raised foals in small and large numbers. Names such as Irwin, Farris, Reimer, and many others were recognized for raising a foal every year for at least 25 and up to 50 years. We also continue to recognize people such as NCHA Hall of Fame rider, Dave Batty and Remudas such as the Douglas Lake Cattle Company who www.hcbc.ca | 13

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

stood the AQHA Hall of Fame stallion, Peppy San. The association also recognizes the importance of accurate and timely information - a requirement of modern Quarter Horse owners in our busy lives today. To communicate more effectively we have a website, Facebook sites and now a monthly newsletter that is available to any horse enthusiast.

Our sites provide information on featured members, current horse disease/heath issues, upcoming events, BCQHA minutes, policies and program details.

For more information regarding the BCQHA please go to the website www.BCQHA.com Article and photos submitted by Gordon McEachen, President - BCQHA

14 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

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INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE

Equine Metabolic Syndrome

This article was written by Dr. Alex Wales of Panorama Veterinary Services and reprinted with permission.

Here are some things we do know about EMS: 1. Affected horses have either generalized obesity and/or abnormal fat deposits as described above.

2. Affected horses have elevated blood glucose and disturbances in insulin dynamics.

3. Affected horses have a predisposition toward laminitis.

Like type 2 diabetes in humans, EMS is on the rise in our horse population. The genetic markers for EMS have not been worked out but we do certainly see it in families. Of course we cannot change our horse’s genes, but the genes of succeeding generations could be improved upon by breeding away from parents showing a tendency toward EMS.

This picture illustrates the typical appearance of a horse with severe EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME (EMS). This is more than simply a “fat horse”. Yes, he is fat, but his obesity problem is complex. Of course obesity is always the result of intake of too many calories relative to the work being done to burn those calories, however, some horses have a genetic predisposition to deposit excess fat in certain places on their bodies. These places may include the crest of the neck, behind the shoulders, over the rump and in the area of the sheath or udder.

We do not completely understand this SYNDROME, but it is currently believed that it is not the obesity that causes the syndrome, but rather that metabolic abnormalities in the horse predispose it to developing the inappropriate fat deposits.

In many ways this syndrome is similar to TYPE 2 DIABETES in humans.

16 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

We do know that OBESITY does play a part in EMS, so we need to do all we can to help horses that are predisposed to the syndrome by NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME OBESE. It is no secret that the secret to success here is to AVOID EXCESSIVE CALORIES and EXERCISE your horses!

Does all this sound like the advice of some fitness guru? What makes it difficult for many to manage their horse’s weight is that most of us do not have time to provide adequate exercise.

This is compounded by the fact that often the feed is providing more calories than the horses can burn with their present level of work.

Horses have evolved to live on low quality roughage and to travel many miles each day to find feed and water. That is not anywhere close to today’s reality. Smart plant breeders have improved the food value in our hay and pasture to meet the needs of animals producing meat or milk. This highly nutritious hay or grass is simply too rich for most of our horses.

The diagnosis of EMS is often a clinical diagnosis, but affected horses may also be suffering from Cushings Disease, so a

INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE blood test is often used to confirm EMS and to see if the horse also has Cushings Disease.

Treatment is mostly aimed at weight reduction through calorie restriction and exercise. We sometimes recommend adding thyroid hormone to the diet to speed up the metabolic rate to aid in weight loss until a more healthy weight is achieved.

Those with laminitis will also need to be treated for laminitis at least in the short term until they get lower blood sugar and cortisol and more normal insulin dynamics.

If you have a horse that fits this picture, your veterinarian must help you with diagnostics and management recommendations, but it will be you that will need to have the resolve to help your horse lose weight so it can live as healthy a life as possible with this challenging disease.

Panorama Veterinary Services in Lake Country, BC is a family owned and operated full service companion animal hospital that includes both small animal and equine veterinary facilities. The small companion animal practice and offices are located in the town of Lake Country and the equine facility is located at Panorama Farms on an 11 acre site a short distance from the small animal clinic and offices. The facility includes an equine surgical suite, treatment area, indoor box stalls as well as smaller outdoor recovery pens and larger pastures used for various stages of horse health management and rehabilitation. We also offer full service mobile equine veterinary services to serve horses throughout the Okanagan directly on farm.

•

when assessing the BCS of pregnant mares in late gestation (the weight of the foal makes the flank area appear thinner and hormone changes make the tail head area appear flatter).

A thick winter coat can make a horse appear to be in better condition than it actually is. Palpation is essential to assess body condition.

Body condition scoring BCS: 1 - Poor

Is Your Horse Fat? Probably.

The best way to evaluate a horses weight and condition is with the universally recognized Body Condition Scoring system (BCS). The BCS is a numerical scale used to evaluate the amount of fat on a horse’s body. It was developed by Henneke et al. (1983) at Texas A&M University with the goal of creating a universal scale to assess horses body weight. It is a standardized system that can be used across all breeds without specialized equipment; condition is assessed visually and by palpation. Scores range from 1 to 9 with one being poor and nine being extremely fat. The average horse is healthiest with a body condition score between 4 and 6, which indicate that the horse has a proper balance of feed to exercise.

Extremely emaciated; no fatty tissue; vertebrae, ribs, tail head, and bones of withers, shoulder, and neck are visible.

BCS: 2 - Very Thin

Since it can be hard to see if your own horse is over or under weight, it is often helpful to have 2 or 3 friends who don’t see your horse everyday use the BCS system to objectively score your horse. The points of the horse you will look at closely when making an evaluation can be found in the graphic at the top of the next page.

Be aware of the following when evaluating BCS: • •

Emaciated; slight tissue cover over bones; vertebrae, ribs, tail head, and bones of withers, shoulder, and neck are visible.

Thoroughbred conformation naturally has more prominent withers and back; the conformation of ponies and draft breeds is naturally more fleshy.

The flank and tail head area may be less reliable sites www.hcbc.ca | 17

INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE

BCS: 3 - Thin

Slight crease down spine; ribs and tail head feel spongy; fat deposits along withers and neck and behind shoulders.

BCS: 7 - Fleshy

Slight fat cover over body; individual vertebrae and ribs no longer visibly discernible; withers, shoulders, and neck do not appear overly thin.

BCS: 4 - Moderately Thin

Crease down spine; ribs have fat filling between them; tail head spongy; fat deposits along withers and neck and behind shoulders.

BCS: 8 - Fat

Ridge of spine and outline of ribs are visible; tail head may or may not be visible depending on the breed; withers, shoulders, and neck do not appear overly thin.

BCS: 5 - Moderate

Apparent crease down spine; ribs difficult to feel; soft fat surrounding tail head; fat deposits along withers, behind shoulders, and on inner thighs; neck is large.

BCS: 9 - Extremely Fat

Spine and ribs cannot be seen however ribs can be felt; tail head is spongy; withers, shoulders, and neck are rounded and smooth.

BCS: 6 - Moderately Fleshy

Obvious crease down spine; patchy fat on ribs; bulging fat on tail head, withers, behind shoulders, and on neck; fat fills in flank and on inner thighs.

All Photographs used with permission or via CC license.

18 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

INDUSTRY & AGRICULTURE

Ever Thought About Owning a

Racehorse?

CTHS will be holding a free seminar on October 29th at 2:00pm at the CTHS office for anyone interested.

Please RSVP your attendance by October 26th.

Contact BJ at 1-604-534-0145, extension 301 E-mail: cthsbc@cthsbc.org.

If you are interested and can’t make the seminar CTHS would be happy to discuss your options at another time.

PUT YOURSELF IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Have you thought about owning a thoroughbred race horse but didn’t think you could afford it?

Were you unsure how to become involved because you don’t know any trainers?

Watching your thoroughbred horse race is exciting but watching one you raised is even more fulfilling. It can be overwhelming getting involved in any new venture unless you have experienced people to assist you.

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) would like to offer fellow members of Horse Council BC the opportunity to become thoroughbred race horse owners, breeders or both!

CTHS will be organising a racing syndicate for Horse Council BC members and friends as well as a breeding syndicate for those who want to race or sell their very own foals.

Last year 17 horses running at Hastings Park in Vancouver made over $50,000 with the top 3 of horses making over $100,000. 7 BC breeders made over $20,000 in breeder bonus money with the top breeder earning almost $58,000 for simply breeding good race horses.

JOIN NOW!

Photo Credit: Darren Lupul

Harness Your Horse Passion with a Race Horse That You Can Enjoy with Co-Workers, Friends or Family!

Own a share of a Harness Race Horse and be part of the 2016-2017 racing season action at Fraser Downs at Elements Casino, Cloverdale BC Your horse will . . . . . . always be glad to see you Your horse will . . . let you get hands-on involved Your horse will . . . . give you a thrill of a lifetime Don’t miss your chance to hang out in the Winners Circle!

Your $250/year Membership is all inclusive... we look after all the costs.

Maximum 200 members.

Contact HRBC for more details • www.harnessracingbc.com Email hrbcclub@telus.net • call 604-574-5558

www.hcbc.ca | 19

COACHES CORNER

Keeping Current As A Coach

For all Equestrian Canada (EC) Coaches and Instructors there is a set of requirements that must be kept up to date in order for the coach/instructor to remain current and in some instances, certified. Current status means that a certified coach/instructor has all of the requirements up to date and on file at the HCBC office.

The requirements regardless of discipline are: • • • • • •

Up to date Equestrian Canada Sport License appropriate to the level of certification Payment of EC Coaching Levy Up to date Horse Council BC membership Valid First Aid certificate Current Acceptable Criminal Record Search (renewed every 5 years) Professional Development points submitted (maintenance of certification)

A coach/instructor can be “certified” but not current. Only certified and current coaches/instructors can: • • •

•

Access discounted Coaching insurance Teach and test the Equestrian Canada Rider Development program Be listed on the Horse Council BC website as a current and certified coach with the ability to add more information about themselves and their business for the public to view Be able to apply for an International Trainers Passport

20 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

• • •

Receive news and updates specific to coaches from HCBC Advertise as an Equestrian Canada and NCCP Certified Coach Advertise in the EC Coaches Section of the HCBC forums

Certification maintenance follows a five-year cycle and uses a points-based tracking system that is built into the coaches NCCP Locker account. Within five years of your initial date of certification, you must obtain a minimum number of points by completing professional development (PD) activities. For many coaches this 5 year cycle began in 2016 when the transition happened. Other coaches and instructors who were certified using the new system will have their start date the year they were certified.

The minimum number of points required varies by certification: • • •

Instructor: 10 points Competition Coach/Competition Coach Specialist: 20 points High Performance 1 Coach: 30 points

Updating, now called Maintenance of Certification, has always been a requirement for current status. The new system is very much the same as the old system except that coaches and instructors now have 5 years to collect the points whereas the old system had a 3 year cycle to collect the same number of hours.

COACHES CORNER

Coaches Association of Canada Locker

With the 2016 Transition from the Levels Certifications (Coach 1, 2, 3) to the new certification designations (Competition Coach, Competition Coach Specialist and High Performance 1) the Coaches of Canada Locker plays a much larger role in determining the status of Coaches and Instructors.

Coach and Instructor PD points are kept track of by HCBC and entered on the Coaches Association of Canada (CAC) database called the “Locker”. HCBC is responsible for inputting all PD data for BC coaches and instructors into the Locker. The Locker is the best place to check and see what points you have accumulated, which Activity Category they have been entered in and which categories you have sent in the maximum number of allowed points. Go to www.coach.ca and log into your account using your National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) number. Coach 3’s and High Performance coaches should submit all of their PD to Equestrian Canada as their files are not managed by HCBC.

Sport License

Coaches and Instructors can purchase their Sport License using the Equestrian Canada online renewal system.

Competition Coaches, Competition Coach Specialists require a Gold Sport License and Instructors are required to purchase Silver Sport Licenses. Payment of the Coaching levy is also required. Make sure you purchase or renew your Sport License before April 1 to avoid paying a late fee. HCBC memberships can be purchased over the phone, in the office or online at www.hcbc.ca.

Check out the coaching section of www.hcbc.ca for copies of the Maintenance of Certification grid and report form. You can also contact coaching@hcbc.ca to obtain a copy or for more information.

Don’t forget that all coaches and instructors are required to complete the Making Ethical Decisions online assessment and the Making Headway Concussion training (both located at www.coach.ca).

Professional Development Report In order to ensure your NCCP certification maintenance is accurately tracked, Coaches should submit a Professional Development Report form to HCBC after each event you attend. It is vital that coaches and instructors submit these forms in a timely manner and not leave them for several months or even years.

Failure to submit the required points by the reporting deadline will result in the coach or instructor being required to be reevaluated, in other words they will lose their certification until they attend another evaluation. This is done automatically by the Coaches Association of Canada (CAC).

First Aid

To keep your First Aid up to date coaches and instructors will need to attend a First Aid refresher course each time their card expires. This is usually a two year cycle. Once a coach has done 3 “in person” first aid refresher courses they can renew their first aid (twice) at www.profirstaid.com, by completing the ProFirstAid Basic online course.

Criminal Record Search

To renew your Criminal Record Search, Equestrian Canada is now using a service called Sterling Back Check (sterlingbackcheck.ca/equestrian-canada-equestre) or go to your local RCMP Station and request one. Coaches and Instructors need to renew their Criminal Record Search every 5 years.

Dressage BC is a member driven organization, actively engaged in promoting and supporting dressage throughout the province.

As a member, you are eligible to participate in the “Ask the Experts” program and it’s free! Our “Ride-aTest” program allows you to upload a test and get an option from our licensed judges.

MEMBER DISCOUNTS • 20% off local Scott Hayes Grimshaw Photography Productions Clinics • 25% off EDUCATION 10% off at Bates Tack Shop VIDEOS at dtonline.com • 30% off PORTRAIT • Get in shape with 10% off sessions with Cara Infinity Personal Fitness!

Please visit our website www.dressagebc.ca Questions? Our e-mail is dressagebc@gmail.com

www.hcbc.ca | 21

COACHES CORNER

Rider Levels The Equestrian Canada (EC) Learn to Ride/Drive Program provides the opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn best practices for safe and enjoyable experiences handling, riding and/or driving horses.

The program was developed for those individuals who wish to learn safe horsemanship skills and practices to a National standard under the guidance of an EC Certified Coach or Instructor. The program provides riders with an attainable progression through skill levels with a clear pathway that encourages the rider to learn and enjoy the sport of riding.

The Rider/Driver programs are student paced and Coach led.

There is no maximum time to achieve the levels so the student can move forward at their own pace.

Participants of all ages and experience have the opportunity to choose the appropriate program for them. Both competitive and recreational riders can benefit from the program. The levels can be achieved for personal goal setting, measuring progress, preparation for Coaching and Instructor certification or as part of a lesson program.

The English and Western programs are also accepted for High School Students wanting to obtain credits towards graduation. The Equestrian Canada Instructor and Competition Coach Certification streams require the completion of some of the Rider levels as part of preparation for an Evaluation.

Once a level is completed, the rider is issued a certificate of completion and a badge.

The program is administered by the Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (HCBC) and features English, Western and Driving streams, all of which are led by EC Certified Coaches and Instructors.

The English Rider program consists of 10 levels, the Western Rider Program consists of 5 levels and the Learn to drive program consists of 12 levels.

22 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

The Fine Print

In order to be tested for any EC Rider/Driver level the rider must be a HCBC member at the time they are tested.

Equestrian Canada Sport Licenses are not required.

The testing coach must be certified and considered “current� by HCBC at the time they administer the exam to the student. Be sure to ask your coach if they are current, or check with coaching@hcbc.ca to confirm if the coach you intend to use is up to date with their coaching requirements. All testing coaches must have received the appropriate training before they can test riders.

Each level test is comprised of a written exam, a stable management exam and a riding exam. The written test can be done separately from the Riding phase, but it must be done in the presence of the testing coach. Written exams cannot be taken home or done open book.

The testing coach is responsible to send all of the paperwork for each exam completed, along with payment, in to the HCBC office. This should be done in a timely manner as soon as possible after the test has been completed.

A rider can enter the development programs at any level (with the exception of the Drive program). If the rider is completing the levels for High School credits, they must complete the written, riding and stable management components of the appropriate levels and cannot bypass the jumping component in the English levels. If a rider is looking to obtain Coach or Instructor certification they can bypass levels but must complete the written exam for all levels bypassed.

All of the manuals for the Rider Exams are available from the HCBC bookstore at the office or online through www.hcbc.ca.

While the manuals are updated periodically and mistakes fixed, the information in each edition remains essentially the same.

Riders do not need to purchase a new manual every time a revision is published. You can check with the HCBC office to see if the edition you have is still OK to use.

COMPETITION

2016 BC Summer Games in Abbotsford The 2016 BC Summer Games was a rollicking good time!

This was one of the best BC Summer Games Horse Council BC has ever had the pleasure of being a part of. Abbotsford was a terrific host city and all the volunteers made the four days of competition a truly once in a lifetime experience for all involved.

We wanted to take the time to say a big THANK YOU to all our coaches, officials, volunteers, and athletes who attended the games. You were all wonderful individuals to get to know and work with and really made us proud to be part of the Equestrian Team.

OVERALL ZONE TEAM RESULTS Gold – Zone 4 – Fraser River Silver – Zone 3 – Fraser Valley Bronze – Zone 6 – Vancouver Island-Central Coast For full results, please visit www.hcbc.ca

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016 MEDALS

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 MEDALS

SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2016 MEDALS

Show Jumping Gold – Sophie Den Hoed – Landen II Z Silver – Chanelle Peters - Lukas Bronze – Chloe Tryhane – Déjà vu

Show Jumping Gold – Jessica Kwak – Grey Matter Silver – Ashley McKissock – A Little Lucky Bronze – Petra Pinkerton - Finale

Show Jumping Gold – Ashley McKissock – A Little Lucky Silver – Petra Pinkerton - Finale Bronze – Montana Garrington – Hollywood Starlet

Dressage Gold – Natasha Holscher – Deo Volente Silver – Mairi Rathy – Ringo Star Bronze – Natasha Grapes - Winnington

Dressage Gold – Natasha Holscher – Deo Volente Silver – Mairi Rathy – Ringo Star Bronze – Michelle Hawthornthwaite Nobel

Dressage Gold – Natasha Holscher – Deo Volente Silver – Shaylene Hawkins - Shikita Bronze – Natasha Grapes - Winnington Vaultng Gold – Abigail Old - Buddy Silver – Emma Old - Buddy Bronze – Isabella Old - Buddy Para-Equestrian Gold – Danielle Benoit - Maestro Silver – Rachel Whitmore - Galaxy Bronze – Dylan Allan – Getting Out Of Dodge Bronze – Tyler Woolley – Island Queen

Vaultng Gold – Abigail Old - Buddy Silver – Isabella Old - Buddy Bronze – Indigo Bowick - Epona Para-Equestrian Gold – Rachel Whitmore - Galaxy Silver – Tyler Woolley – Island Queen Bronze – Danielle Benoit - Maestro

Vaultng Gold – Abigail Old - Buddy Silver – Kayleigh O’Hanley - Promise Bronze – Isabella Old - Buddy Para-Equestrian Gold – Danielle Benoit - Maestro Silver – Rachel Whitmore - Galaxy Bronze – Tyler Woolley – Island Queen www.hcbc.ca | 23

COMPETITION

BC Summer Games Photos from 2016!

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24 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

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1. Dressage rider Shaylene Hawkins and Shikita. 2. Jumper Sierra Hincks and Velocity. 3. Para-Equestrian Dylan Allan and Getting Out Of Dodge. 4. Jumpers Ashley McKissock on A Little Lucky and Sofie DenHoed on Landen II Z share a laugh outside the arena. 5. Vaulter Abigail Old on Buddy. 6. Jumper Chloe Tryhane and Déjà vu.

7. Jumper Petra Pinkerton and Finale. 8. Para-Equestrian Tyler Woolley and Island Queen. 9. The Old Sisters all took top honours with a gold, silver, and bronze medal. 10. Zone Team 6 get ready for the Opening Ceremonies. 11. Dressage rider Rachel Loif and Indy.

12. Saturday’s medal winners. All photos credit: BC Games www.hcbc.ca | 25

TRAILS & RECREATION

Q&A

with the

Okanagan Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of BC Horse Council BC caught up with the busy Okanagan Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of BC for news about their latest project!

to start and complete the project.

Because of the great support of our suppliers, volunteers and particularly the Ministry of Transportation, we came in well under budget, enabling us to move ahead with the final phase of the expansion – horse pens. The 10 steel horse pens will be installed in April of 2017.

What can members look forward to when they visit Little Trapping Horse Camp?

The Okanagan Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of BC, has recently completed a project at Trapping Creek Horse Trails – can you tell us a little about that project?

It all began with a vision.

The Trapping Creek Horse Trails, located on Trapping Creek Forest Service Road, off Hwy 33 between Kelowna and Rock Creek were registered with Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) in 2013. The popular Little Trapping Horse Camp soon proved to be too small to accommodate the many horse campers that were coming to camp and ride the area.

In 2015 an RSTBC issue pit toilet was installed in the Little Trapping Horse Camp by volunteers of BCHBC Okanagan Chapter sparking an ongoing discussion regarding expanding the camp to accommodate more horse camping units and be a nicer and safer place to camp. This discussion resulted in the Okanagan Chapter applying to RSTBC to do an expansion in 2016.

Did you receive local support from businesses, volunteers and equipment operators?

We had good support from businesses, HCBC, BCHBC, Volunteers, several with exceptional equipment operation skills, and from our equipment suppliers. In May 2016 we were able 26 | Equine Lifestyles Autumn/Winter 2016

Today horse camping enthusiasts enjoy camping in this park-like setting. Trees were strategically saved to provide shade to the campsites and add to the park-like ambience. This camp connects - by trail - to several other camps, and the miles and miles of lovely marked and mapped trails that offer a short ride of just a few miles, to a ride that will take you most of the day!

What advice would you give to an equestrian group wanting to tackle a trail/camp improvement project for the first time? Can you offer some tips?

Thinking of taking on a project in your area? Get to know your RSTBC representative. This person will be instrumental in what and how quickly you can accomplish your goal. Be well organized and able to clearly show in detail what your project entails and what the benefits of your project will be.

Seek funding and grant money where it may be available.

Identify synergies within your chapter, community and government and put them to work for you.

Congratulations to all the volunteers who worked on Little Trapping Horse Camp! Horse Council BC is proud to have been a part of the project through the BC Equestrian Trails Fund.

www.hcbc.ca | 27

SAVE THE DATE EQUESTRIAN CANADA CONVENTION Coming to Vancouver in April 2017 Mark your calendars! Join Equestrian Canada (EC), partnered with Horse Council British Columbia (HCBC), in beautiful downtown Vancouver, BC for the 2017 EC Convention.

You can expect four days of exceptional educational and equine information sessions by world-class speakers, demo riders, handson coaching and officials’ workshops.

WHAT: 2017 Equestrian Canada Convention WHEN: April 6-9, 2017 WHERE: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre For general questions, or to inquire about speaking or sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Éva Thouvenot Senior Manager, Marketing & Business Development ethouvenot@equestrian.ca 1-866-282-8395 x 203

Register soon at equestrian.ca