2021 AEF AWARD WINNERS

2021 WINNERS

The Annual Provincial Awards honour outstanding deserving members’ achievements, who stand out and have made a positive impact within Alberta’s equine community.

Please help us congratulate these hard-working individuals, facilities, athletes, and horses who went above and beyond in 2021 to make the equestrian community a truly special place.

All nominations were submitted by peers.

San Badger’s Last Owner Sue-Anne Wearmouth

“Tess is a beautiful 20 year old sorrel quarter horse mare who is Sue-Anne’s willing partner in every situation. In years past Tess and Sue-Anne have competed in cattle penning, cowboy challenge, equitation, polo and ranch rodeos. Tess has been ridden Western, English, sidesaddle and has also been an excellent trail riding companion all over Alberta and in BC. However, in 2021 Tess began to tackle her most important job: to take care of her owner as she has a progressive lung disease. Tess understands the changes in her partner and is providing support as required. Tess now carries saddle bags with two portable oxygen containers. They are clunky and awkward in saddle bags and Tess carries them with grace and ease. Tess carried the oxygen on numerous trails rides, a few ranch rodeos and during the completion of Sue-Anne’s level 8 horsemanship test. Tess and Sue-Anne competed with the Cowgirl Cattle Company (CCC) ranch rodeo team and came in third at the Cochrane Ladies Ranch Rodeo! On a trail ride, Sue-Anne had a tack malfunction and was able to easily finish the trail ride without a bridle, using only the reins around Tess’s neck.

Tess’s amazing attitude has ensured Sue-Anne is able to safely continue riding and show people that it is possible to continue her horsemanship in the face of adversity.”

Outstanding Stable/Facility

Eagle Hill Equine and Kim Baerg

“Eagle Hill Equine is run by Kim Baerg and her daughter Samantha Dewitt. You will not find a better run facility anywhere. Kim and Sam go the extra mile to earn your trust by providing the best care there is. They have developed Eagle Hill Equine into the premier boarding, breeding and clinic facility in Alberta, through hard work and dedication to their clients.”

Outstanding Equine Support Personnel

Rachel Friesen

Rachel is a genuinely happy person, making her approachable and easy to ask questions or to lend a hand. She has a gentle way with the horses and they all seem to respect and love her. As do the dogs, chickens, cats, and sometimes even the cows. She has taken on the role of substitute coach when required, paints jumps, sets courses, rakes, sweeps, and is truly a Jackie-of-all-trades. She rides up to six horses a day and still makes time to chat with clients. She keeps the school-string well behaved and responsive, makes sure they’re warm in the winter and bug sprayed in the summer. She encourages all the riders, from beginner to advanced, celebrates their wins, and mourns their losses. She’s a sounding board for both horse and human ailments, offering suggestions or just an ear.

Outstanding Volunteer

Senga Swain

As with many clubs, the membership ebbs and flows over time. Senga is encouraging, welcoming, and willing to work alongside the various board members and volunteers as they come and go. She provides insight and consistency regardless of circumstances. Not only does she hold the position of president, she also heads up the social committee, the cook shack, is the recording secretary, and shows up to every grounds clean-up day. She is willing to pick up the microphone and announce if nobody else is available. She will step into the arena and judge a horse show or trail challenge event if need be. She checks timers, diffuses disputes, holds horses, explains rules and events, buys prizes, arranges sponsorships, and showers encouragement on all of the participants, regardless of their level of accomplishment. She treats everyone with respect and kindness. And who even knows the extent of the work she does behind closed doors!?!?

Sydney Usipiuk

While at horse shows, Sydney is the picture of sportsmanship. She is always at the ring to cheer on her teammates, is quick with encouragement and kindness, and is around all day, every day to facilitate a positive team dynamic. Sydney is the first person to offer help to anyone and everyone on the team from walking horses to offering moral support for her fellow teammates. Even when she suffers personal setbacks, she takes them in stride, never blaming or focusing on the negative, only on where improvements can be made. Anyone who sees Sydney interact with her horse can tell that she takes great pride in every aspect of the sport and all it entails. She is committed to all practice and competition schedules, she has not missed a horse show or lesson this year, while maintaining employment and cross training in the gym to ensure she can keep up with her athletic partner. However, Sydney does not limit herself to the riding component of horse ownership. Sydney never hires a groom: from mucking out stalls to cleaning her own tack she is a hands on horse owner both at the barn and at horse shows. Moreover, Sydney takes great pride in her horse’s turnout: from conditioned/polished hooves to perfect grooming, her horse looks ready to compete on a daily basis. It’s no wonder she has recently obtained her FEI passport.

Sportsmanship Excellence

Cyndie Crook

Cyndie is a dedicated, top competitor in the driving community. She takes her competitions very serious. You will find her out in the dressage ring, the cones course, and marathon course numerous times throughout the weekend. BUT, she will ALWAYS take the time to help anyone out who desires her opinion and expertise. This does not matter if you are competing with her or if you just want tips, she is always willing to help a fellow competitor out. On top of that, she will be the first to congratulate you and even go further out of her way to see how you are making out. You could not ask for a better person than Cyndie.

Outstanding Instructor/Coach

Wendy Martin

We – Kelly, Angel, and Erin – wish to nominate our coach, Wendy Martin. Wendy conducts herself with assurance and clarity, dresses the part for western showmanship and is punctual. With her lesson plans in hand, Wendy is very organized and articulates each point/maneuver clearly. With safety being at the top of the agenda, we always look forward to an impactful, fun-filled and very educational lesson. Wendy keeps us up-to-date with the most current information, supplying us with additional handouts, websites, and supplemental exercises. She also encourages us to source out our own reputable resources. In delivering her lessons, Wendy is creative, respectful, and accommodating. Much effort is put into setting up a safe, yet challenging and stimulating lesson. Outside of lesson times, if riders require additional help, Wendy is very accommodating, making herself and any additional resources readily available. She is always respectful and actively listens to any questions or concerns, taking into account our varied backgrounds. She is so positive and encouraging in our abilities, giving us the confidence to do our very best.

Above and Beyond Excellence

Tina Watkins

As the president of the DeWinton Pony Club, Tina tirelessly volunteers her time in planning and running workshops and shows that go far above and beyond the basic expectations. She is a tremendous source of expertise in all matters equestrian and she generously shares that knowledge with the community at large. She encourages both new young riders and experienced adults alike to continue learning best practices for both stable management and riding, providing significant contribution to benefit the industry, riders, and horses alike. Tina is held in the highest regard by her peers in the equine community and works hard to pull this community together to help educate the up and coming young rider community. Tina has been a teacher of bodywork for over a decade and has owned and operated her company InHand Equine Therapy for the last 25 years, working in soft tissue modalities. She has also done free online workshops for AEF from In-Hand Equine Therapy. Tina embodies excellence and teamwork, and goes far above and beyond.

First Ever - President’s Award

Norm Spencer

Norm has been involved with horses since he was seven years old when he lived on BC’s Sunshine Coast and had friends with horses. Over the years, he connected with fellow horse lovers through the Canadian Pacific Railway and had outdoor enthusiast friends. He eventually moved out to the country and lived his dream with his own horses. Currently Norm lives on an acreage near Lethbridge with his donkeys, mountain horses, and two cats. His ranch and farm related friends help him continue to develop his passion.

Norm has been riding on extended pack trips in the Rocky Mountains for over 30 years. He recalls two instances as true life lessons. “Once we got snowed in by a blizzard at about 7,000 feet altitude on a hunting trip. My big bay knew the trail and was able to lead us out over the course of two days. In places, the snow was up to his neck, with -32 degree temperatures.”

Another time he and a friend rode at Ya Ha Tinda on a long weekend. They came over Peter’s Pass and ran into snow. “I have never been so cold in my life, but we met up with another camp and made it out alright.”

Norm has dedicated much of his time to the equine community. Over the years, he has held positions assisting many advisory boards to enhance and benefit the equine community. He has worked with the Alberta Government on master trail plans and, most recently, on the Castle Provincial Park. He was able to bring a lot of value to this project because of his equestrian knowledge base and vision for equine-specific facilities.

Norm is a long-term supporter of the AEF and serves on the AEF Recreation Committee. He led the work of the committee on the South Syncline Equestrian Campground in Castle Provincial Park. This important new facility will open in June 2022 and will be available to benefit all Alberta equestrians.

“The AEF President’s Award is our way of recognizing Norm’s extraordinary contribution,” says Jason Edworthy, AEF President Elect. “We thank Norm wholeheartedly for his time and effort to bring people together and do hands-on work to design, establish, and maintain trails and equestrian campgrounds.”

Norm expresses his appreciation as the recipient of the very first AEF President’s Award: “This award was unexpected, humbling, and makes me feel very honoured. I was just doing my job and living my dream. The success that came from this was, and still is, more than enough for me.”