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AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW

Veterinarians are trusted professionals that, beyond the task of managing the health issues of your horse, are valuable resources to critically assess the horse’s physical capacity.

As we experience the waning threat of COVID-19 and its nagging variants, the world order seems to be increasingly in chaos. These are interesting times indeed.

Ever the optimists, we are now seeing an increase in activity which would indicate a positive return to horse sport activity across the country, and it seems that just about everyone is excited to be able to move about freely and enjoy their horses.

Riders are moving forward with plans to increase activity, competitions are up and running everywhere, and for those not inclined to compete, opportunities to spend countless hours in the tack are finally back. That is great news! With this uptake in activity, we hope everyone is taking full advantage of their trusted allies to make sure that whatever the plan is, it is done safely – and soundly.

Here is the best (and shortest) risk management plan to adopt for 2022 to make THIS year the best.

1) If you have not already had the horse examined by a vet this year for teeth, vaccinations, and general wellness – PLEASE do so. Veterinarians are trusted professionals and, beyond the task of managing the health issues of your horse, are a valuable resource to critically assess the physical capacity of the horse to get from where you are now to where you want to go. It goes without saying that if your plans are not aligned with the ability of your horse, bad things are more likely to happen.

2) Talk to your credentialed coach/trainer and commit to short, mid, and long term plans that you both can refer to on your journey this year. Aspirations, incremental performance goals, down time, fitness (yours and your horse), and plan “B” are all important elements.

3) Make sure that your insurance coverages are in order. You have already taken an important step in equine risk management by being a member of the Alberta Equestrian Federation. By now, you know that membership benefits include a comprehensive insurance program to protect you and your horse if something goes wrong. Beyond the included products in your membership, we can cover the horse, your trailer, your farm, your truck... anything and everything that is involved in your lifestyle with horses. Call us anytime for more information.

As this year unfolds, remember that a whole team of dedicated people are there to help you along the way: the AEF, your veterinarian (and farrier), your coach/trainer and of course, the equine team at CapriCMW who are always available to provide experienced resources for you to draw from.

Have a great season!

Sincerely,

Michael A. (Mike) King, Partner

Michael (Mike) King, CAIB, R.I.B.

Mike King is a partner at CapriCMW Insurance and the program lead for the PTSO programs across Canada. For more information, please call the Agri department at CapriCMW Insurance, 1-800-670-1877 or agri@capricmw.ca