PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Message from President, Sandy Bell

If you’re reading this magazine, you may already know what the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) does in Alberta. You’re part of our AEF community and know that:

The AEF is much more than insurance.

I don’t mean to downplay the excellent value of the insurance benefits that come with a basic AEF membership, or of adding on additional coverage. It’s insurance for some peace of mind regarding you, your horse, and others. It’s complicated enough riding, driving, owning, or caring for horses, and there’s no price on peace of mind for doing all that.

Like many others, my first exposure to the AEF was to buy a membership because a coach said I needed it for a horse show. But I want to remind us of everything else that the AEF does for our members and for Alberta equines and equestrians.

We support you with funding.

For our members, we offer a wide variety of financial opportunities. Individual members can apply for scholarships or bursaries, or funding to attend events or pursue professional development. Members who are clubs and businesses can apply for funding for events and professional development.

Other non-member funding includes qualified groups developing equine trails in Alberta through awards from our Trail Supporter Program. Certified coaches are supported through our Pump Up Your Levels Program and Canter Away Current. As well, emergency disasterrelated funding, which is open to all Albertans, is something the AEF intends to continue in the future.

We offer unique programs and specialized resources.

The services and information AEF offers to our community are too extensive to go into here, but know that the variety is quite amazing. You can learn to ride and drive, then track your progress to earn prizes for hours logged. From rookie riders to long-term equestrian development, from online education to in-person clinics, there’s something for every member.

Our very own Wild Rose Competition Program is designed to encourage the development of equines and equestrians in safe and affordable environments. It’s meant for grassroots athletes at the provincial level to test and expand their

President Sandy Bell and Lagsi, learning together last summer.

skills, and to grow into higher levels of competition if they wish.

Can you help us spread the word that the AEF is much more than insurance?

As you get out and about in your equestrian activities this summer, please share the news about the AEF. Tell your family and friends about the many good reasons why an AEF membership is valuable. Our AEF community needs and appreciates your help.

The better our community understands what we’re about, the stronger we are in support of our equines and equestrians. And that’s why we’re all here – you, me, and the rest of us – we share a passion for our horses, donkeys, and mules.

Have fun this summer! Be safe, stay well, and see you in the fall. AB

New AEF Board Members

The AEF Board of Directors and staff are pleased to welcome new directors Patrick Buffalo, Sharon Crawford, Jasmine Deib, and Jennifer Dimopoulos, who were elected at the Annual General Meeting on March 17, 2022.

AEF’s membership is extremely broad and, as the industry grows, having board members with a variety of professional expertise will assist our organization in continually working toward the goal of growing the Alberta equine community. On behalf of the AEF and membership, welcome to the AEF Board of Directors; we look forward to working with you.

AEF extends our sincere appreciation and best wishes to outgoing board members: Tiara Chambers, Robert Simpson, and Mazlie Cole. Your gift of time and your dedication to serve the AEF and its membership is appreciated and cherished; we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.