5 minute read
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
RECOGNIZING PASSION, HARD WORK AND HORSEMANSHIP
INFLUENTIAL EQUINE ATHLETE
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Meet our new Membership Coordinator, Jessa Arnold
Are you involved personally or professionally with horses and how?
I am a registered Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator and am working towards finishing my coaching certification. My love for horses started a little later in life but turned quickly from a hobby to a passion.
Where did you grow up and how did you
come to work for the AEF? I was born in British Columbia and have been lucky enough to live all over Canada, finally choosing Calgary to call home. I knew when I saw the posting that my combined knowledge of nonprofit work as well my client service background would make me a great fit for the team and an asset for our members.
What do you do at AEF and in what circumstances would I reach out to you?
Anything membership related please reach out; I will always do whatever I can to help our members get the answers they need in a timely manner.
What do you want to accomplish working
with the AEF over the next year? I am looking forward to reaching out to new potential members and highlighting all the great things AEF has to offer.
If you could have one wish for the equine community in Alberta, what would it be
and why? My wish is to continue seeing different disciplines working together for the well-being of the horse and our community as a whole.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
During my spare time, you can find me barrel racing at a few local jackpots or trail riding in the mountains. Please do not hesitate to come say hi if you see me at any events; I love meeting fellow equestrians and members.
Alberta Bits is the Alberta Equestrian Federation’s official member magazine. It serves the equestrian community of horses and riders of all ages, interests, and involvements, as Alberta’s premier resource for education, information, and support.
THE ALBERTA EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION HAS BEEN INCORPORATED SINCE 1978
Alberta Bits magazine is mailed four times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) to all current AEF members and is made available at the office and special events attended by the AEF. Alberta Bits is distributed throughout Alberta with news and events on behalf of recreational, sport, breeds, and industry, and educational sectors of the Alberta horse industry. Alberta Bits is distributed to approximately 18,000 members: 9,000 households and businesses, an exclusive list of tack and equine establishments, and at events and trade shows annually. AEF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT Sandy Bell 403.700.7880 windhorseretreat@gmail.com PRESIDENT-ELECT Jason Edworthy 403.651.5678 jedworthy@spring-bank.ca SECRETARY TREASURER Nicolas Brown 587.988.3590 bruchev@gmail.com INDIVIDUAL Margot Anderson 403.861.8603 margotranderson@gmail.com INDIVIDUAL Mary Bell 519.830.7292 mary@manningtonequine.ca INDIVIDUAL Patrick Buffalo 780-312-0114 pbuffalo@daywalker.ca INDIVIDUAL Sharon Crawford 403-837-6205 sharonlcrawford@shaw.ca INDIVIDUAL Jasmine Deib 780-318-1012 jasminedeib@hotmail.com INDIVIDUAL Jennifer Dimopoulos 403-703-0544 jumperjunkie@gmail.com INDIVIDUAL Alison Douglas 403.431.7799 thealicat@shaw.ca INDIVIDUAL Jackie Sargent 780.719.6141 jackie.sargent@outlook.com INDIVIDUAL Brenda Spanier 403.932.2936 brendaspanier@gmail.com AEF STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sonia Dantu execdir@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 5
MEMBERSHIP Jessa Arnold membership@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 6
OFFICE COORDINATOR Norma Cnudde info@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 1
SPORT AND RECREATION MANAGER Karina Fernandes coaching@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 3
PROGRAM MANAGER Kenda Lubeck competitions@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 2
FINANCE Rita Bernard finance@albertaequestrian.com 403.253.4411 ext 7
OFFICE HOURS: 8:30AM TO 4:30PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, EXCEPT HOLIDAYS
ALBERTA BITS IS PUBLISHED BY WESTERN PERFORMANCE PUBLISHING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AEF FOR EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES CONTACT: ALBERTABITS@ALBERTAEQUESTRIAN.COM
MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Webster ART DIRECTOR Kendra Roberts
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Sonia Dantu • Monique Noble • Kenda Lubeck
CONTRIBUTORS Rob Bayerle Laureen James Monique Noble Rachel Matthews Guinness Book of World Records
ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Sally Bishop 403.815.1289 sallysuebishop@gmail.com
ADVERTISING SALES DEADLINES Fall 2022: September 9, 2022
FOR A MEDIA KIT AND/OR RATE CARD PLEASE CONTACT ALBERTABITS@ALBERTAEQUESTRIAN.COM All material is copyright 2022. Ideas and opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of the AEF. Alberta Bits reserves the right to accept and/or edit material submitted for publication. The AEF 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 result of the information contained in Alberta Bits, or arising therefrom, is the responsibility of the parties involved and not of the AEF. We welcome signed letters to the editor, but reserve the right to publish, edit for grammar, taste, and length. For reprint information, please contact execdir@albertaequestrian.com.
ALBERTA EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION
120, 251 Midpark Blvd SE Calgary, AB T2X 1S3 Toll Free: 1.877.463.6233 Phone: 403.253.4411 Fax: 403.252.5260 albertaequestrian.com
THE AEF GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM ALBERTA GOVERNMENT 3 MEET OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR 6 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 7 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 8 BITS & PIECES
A reader’s submission about a lifetime of loving horses 9 KID’S CORNER 10 A NEW ALBERTA EQUINE CAMPGROUND
Norm Spencer, the project lead of a new equestrian campground, answers all our questions about the recreational space set to open soon. 12 PLAN YOUR NEXT HORSE CAMPING TRIP
Expert trail rider Tania Miller divulges her best advice for an enjoyable camping experience with your horse. 14 MOTORISTS URGED TO ‘HOLD THEIR HORSES!’
Planning to ride the highways of Alberta this year? Here are some tips to ensure your safety. 16 HORSE KEEPING
Equine gastric ulcers can put the ultimate roadblock in your show plans this year. Here’s a nutritional look at how you can prevent them. 18 2021 AEF AWARD WINNERS
Unveiling the outstanding individuals of the year! 22 BREED PROFILE
Belgians have proven themselves time and time again as “gentle giants.” Here are more reasons why they have secured their place in people’s hearts. 26 TRAINER’S CORNER
Meet Hailey Trainer, an Alberta equestrian who is the only certified Downunder Horsemanship clinician in the province. 28 A GUIDE TO EQUESTRIAN VAULTING
Vaulting is the performance of gymnastic and dance-like movements to music on a moving horse. Yet, did you know that people have been performing acrobatic movements on the backs of moving horses for more than 2,000 years? 32 ASK ABOUT INSURANCE
Here are some suggestions for maintaining an optimistic view in the equine world in 2022.
SUMMER 2022
34 CLUB AND BUSINESS LISTINGS
NORM SPENCER
First ever recipient of the AEF President’s Award
O N T H E C O V E R :
Norm Spencer receives the President’s Award for his contributions to the equine community in Alberta. Photo courtesy of Sonia Dantu.
P U B L I C AT I O N S MA I L AG R E EME N T # 4 0 0 5 0 2 9 7
A GUIDE TO EQUINE VAULTING SUMMER CAMPING WITH YOUR HORSE!
EQUESTRIAN ROAD SAFETY
meet the BENEVOLENT BELGIAN plus PREVENTING GASTRIC ULCERS
