Canadian Horse Journal - SAMPLE - Winter 2021

HEALTH

CARING

FOR THE

By Equine Guelph With today’s medical advances, research, and improved management, horses are living longer and longer lives.

In the past, most horses were considered old when they reached their late teens.

These days, it’s not uncommon for horses to live into their late 20s or even into their 30s, allowing us to spend plenty of quality time with our elder equine friends.

Proper management is key to ensuring that the older horse is happy and comfortable throughout his golden years.

Routine Care Whether the aging horse has a decreased workload or is fully retired, a 12

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regular care schedule should be in place. In addition to giving him a daily check for any new or worsening problems such as cuts or lameness, make sure he stays well groomed and clean his hooves regularly. Maintain an allergen- and dust-free environment, especially for horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves). If the horse is housed indoors at night, rubber mats are a wonderful addition to any horse’s stall.

He’ll appreciate a softer surface to rest on, so stall bedding should be deep enough to be comfortable but not so deep that he has trouble rising. He should be regularly seen by both the veterinarian and farrier, whether or not he is still working.

Health Check Much like human seniors, elderly equines are often more susceptible to health problems.

Gut motility issues are more common in older horses and can lead to an increased risk of colic. Tumours and increased parasite load are among other issues in the senior’s gastrointestinal tract that can elevate the risk of colic.

Difficulty in chewing feed can result in undigested food entering the gut, leading to gas or impaction colic. Older horses also tend to have a reduced urge to drink, making inadequate intake of water an additional risk factor.

PHOTO: ISTOCK/SHASHA GOX WALKER

PHOTO: ADOBESTOCK/VPROTASTCHIK

Equine Elder

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PHOTO: ISTOCK/SASHA FOX WALTERS

Watch for melanomas and skin cancer, particularly in elder greys. Older horses are prone to disorders such as equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, formerly known as Equine Cushing’s disease.

Many older horses also suffer from pain due to arthritis. If possible, keep seniors moving around by extending their turnout time. Any discomfort or pain should be addressed by a veterinarian who can suggest treatment options.

It is important that seniors are kept current on vaccinations, and annual or biannual check-ups should be scheduled with your veterinarian. Prevention is always the best medicine.

Hoof Care

Senior hooves require extra attention and input from both veterinarian and farrier. Hooves need regular care, which helps minimize stress on the joints and hoof structures. The older or retired horse needs this care just as much as his working stablemate. The threat of

PHOTO: ISTOCK/EILEEN GROOME

PHOTO: ADOBESTOCK/VPROTASTCHIK

Stall mats and adequate bedding make the stall a restful place for your senior.

Hay stations should be spaced far enough apart to allow the senior to get his fair share.

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PHOTO: DREAMSTIME/WAVEBREAKMEDIALTD.

HEALTH

Your senior horse should be seen regularly by your veterinarian who can address health issues and help you develop an optimum nutritional plan.

A Nutrition Plan For Your Senior

Horse

Each horse is an individual and will have their own specific nutritional needs.

With that in mind, there are several categories into which seniors can be divided based on their nutritional needs.

on forage, or for those with dental problems that interfere with feeding.

Monitor body condition score and body weight with a weight tape every week to quickly catch any changes.

The Healthy Senior

The Overweight or Obese Senior

For the senior in good health and at an ideal weight that is still used for performance and/or reproduction, continue with your current nutrition plan as long as it’s balanced and meeting the horse’s needs. A good quality forage at 1.5 to 2.5 percent of body weight on a dry matter basis should be enough to keep your senior in good condition. Provide free access to water, salt, and a forage balancer.

Concentrate feed is only required for horses that are not maintaining weight 18

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For the senior that is overweight or obese but otherwise healthy, it is important to restore an ideal body condition.

Overweightness and obesity are associated with the development of unfavourable metabolic changes and increased disease risk. Start by scheduling a veterinary visit to rule out any underlying problem contributing to weight gain. Work with your veterinarian and/or an equine nutritionist to develop a weight loss plan,

By Equine Guelph which usually involves restricting feed intake (especially through pasture) and/or eliminating any concentrate feed the horse is receiving. A good quality forage balancer is essential when restricting feed intake.

Always provide unlimited access to water and salt.

Increase the horse’s physical activity by choosing a method that works best for your senior, such as in-hand, loose, or ridden. Be consistent. Consider splitting the exercise into several short sessions each day and introduce exercise gradually to avoid overwork.

Consider changes to your management techniques to increase physical activity and/or prevent boredom between feedings. Here are some ways to accomplish that:

• Hay nets and slow feeders can increase the time the horse spends foraging; • Provide frequent small meals; • Separate forage in different piles to encourage movement; • Provide a play ball or toy with a small handful of high-fibre pellets between feedings. This feed should be included as part of the horse’s calculated feed allowance according to the weight loss plan.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/OLGA I

This horse is difficult to keep weight on with a normal diet but is otherwise healthy. First, schedule a veterinary visit for nutritional advice and to rule out underlying issues such as parasite or dental problems.

Observe the herd hierarchy. Your senior may have lost dominance in the herd and may have less access to feed. In this case, provide alternative feeding arrangements.

Gradually increase the calories and nutrients in the horse’s diet. He should receive good quality forage at around 2.5 percent of body weight on a dry matter

A play ball is a fun way to create more activity for the overweight horse.

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Photo: Shutterstock Rolf Danenburg

PHOTO: DREAMSTIME/WAVEBREAKMEDIALTD.

The Senior That’s Losing Condition

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HEALTH

Your Horse’s

Dental Checkup

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Much more than just floating teeth!

PHOTO: ISTOCK/JAN OTTO

By Shelagh Niblock, PAS

Do you remember to get an annual dental exam for your horse? A dental check by your veterinarian involves floating, the process of filing a horse’s teeth to correct irregularites in the occlusal (biting) surfaces, as well as inspecting the teeth for any indication of a variety of other potential problems.

In addition to examining the teeth for abnormalities that might cause chewing and/or bitting issues, your vet will also be looking for signs of fractured or loose teeth, as well as signs of ulceration on the cheek mucosa, the tongue, or the gums (gingiva). Your vet will also check your horse’s breath to determine if there is odour indicative of problems such as rotting food trapped in the cheek teeth arcades or prurient or infected gum tissue. As horses get older, dental problems are more likely to occur, but younger horses may also be troubled with dentition issues for which timely treatment is essential to ensure their continued welfare.

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HEALTH

Sparky the Wonder Horse

A Vibrant Life

BEYOND

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Elisse Miki and Sparky, the 40-year-old wonder horse.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXA LINTON

By Alexa Linton, Equine Sports Therapist

Recently, I spent time with a horse named Sparky who is estimated to be over 40 years old.

Understandably, you may be visualizing a tottering shell of a being, held together by medication and hay cubes, but this could not be further from the truth. Sparky is a sound, vital, cheeky, engaged fellow and the leader of the pack, although his teeth no longer work well for chewing hay. Out of curiosity, I studied his lifestyle, diet, way of being, and exercise routine with hopes of gleaning some insight to help me support my more “mature” equine clients as well as my own mare Diva, who turned 22 years old this past May. 28

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It’s a curious (and sad) thing in the horse industry that generally by age 20 a horse is considered too old to be “valuable” or “useful.” Watching Diva and the miracle that is Sparky, I’m convinced that, given the right support, many horses can thrive into their 20s, especially if we’re “playing the long game.”

What do I mean by playing the long game? Very often, horses are ridden and worked hard in their younger years and worked when they are too young. In addition, they’re fed for short-term performance rather than long-term wellbeing and kept in environments that place undue stress on their systems over extended periods of time. These factors slowly wear away at the health and function of their bodies and minds. My sincere hope is that more of us will begin

to support our horses in ways that allow them to live the longest and healthiest lives possible, and we will do this by riding, feeding, and providing the living environments that allow them to thrive in the long term. We will make choices for them that prioritize longevity over fast results, performance, and convenience.

Let’s take a closer look at Sparky. Being a bit of a wonder horse, his vitality and longevity will always be somewhat of a mystery to me. We can definitely chalk some of it up to genetics (those Appaloosas!) and mindset, but there are other elements we can all learn from. First, Sparky was incredibly lucky to find his forever home with equine therapist Elisse Miki of Equilibria Therapeutics, who specializes in rehab for elder horses — the photo above shows how much they enjoy each other’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXA LINTON

The author and her 22-year-old mare Diva.

company. Miki prioritizes Sparky’s mind and body health using groundwork and clicker training to add fun, with strength building and flexibility exercises including work with the pedestal, poles, and other obstacles. She also takes him on hand walks three or four times a week and gears his nutrition program towards his needs as an elder. He lives outside 24/7 with his herd of six, three of whom are also over 20 years of age, in a Paddock Paradise track system (www.PaddockParadise.net) with numerous haynet feed stations providing forage, trees and sheltered areas, varied footing, obstacles and enrichment areas, as well as plenty of social engagement.

Similarly, Diva lives with her herd (my other mare Raven), has 24/7 access to forage, enrichment areas including obstacles and varied terrain, and I am

currently in the process of building a track system. When we ride or do groundwork we start slowly and take a good while to warm up with 10 to 15 minutes of walk, then some easy lateral work and small amounts of trot to lubricate her joints and help her relax and find her rhythm. I notice that her topline is dropping as she ages so I do rehab exercises with her two or three times per week, including bowing, tail oscillations, belly lifts, in-hand lateral work or pole work, and under-saddle work with her strength and core integrity in mind. At 22, Diva is more capable under saddle than she has ever been, and I focus on building strength, stamina, and skills while keeping things fun and interesting.

It is my wish that she will live forever, but more realistically I’m hoping for age 30.

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HORSEMANSHIP

Becoming a

Horseman

By Tania Millen

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What Does it Mean Today?

PHOTO: CARDINAL RANCH

Diquita Cardinal says she is mentored by “a lot of old cowboys.”

PHOTO: DENNY EMERSON COLLECTION

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or generations, riders and horse lovers have been enthralled by the mystique of horsemen (and women), but many struggle to define what a “horseman” actually is. Is a horseman someone with a laundry list of skills such as starting young horses, nailing on shoes, being knowledgeable about horse care, and having the ability to train horses to the highest levels? Or is a horseman someone who lives in the moment, has mastered their emotions, and understands a horse’s mind? Perhaps a horseman embraces all of these attributes; perhaps none.

Xenophon’s writings On Horsemanship, are often considered the beginning of modern horsemanship. He was a Greek pupil of Socrates who lived circa 400 B.C. and wrote what is possibly the first definition of a horseman, stating:

Supposing a man has shown some skill in purchasing his horses and can rear them into strong and serviceable animals; supposing further he can handle them in the right way, not only in the training for war, but in exercises with a view to display [show]; or lastly, in the stress of actual battle. What is there to prevent such a man from making every horse he owns of far more value in the end than when he bought it, with the further outlook that, unless some power higher than human interpose, he will become the owner of a celebrated stable, and himself celebrated for his skill in horsemanship.

This description was a lofty ideal at the time. But in the past 2,400 years, as our understanding of horses and horse welfare has evolved, our definition of horsemen has changed, too.

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Unsung HEROES

By Tania Millen

High performance riders often attribute their success to a team of committed supporters and professionals who help them achieve their best while keeping their horse’s best interest at heart. But successful teams aren’t simply a collection of farriers, grooms, owners, saddle fitters, sponsors, sports psychologists, and veterinarians.

According to three top-level Canadian riders — amateur jumper rider Stephanie Valdes, 2020 Paralympian dressage rider 40

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Winona Hartvikson, and veteran threeday eventing Olympian Kyle Carter — there’s a lot more to it.

Of the three riders, Carter has been at the top of his sport the longest and has reflected a lot on how teamwork contributes to success in equestrian sport.

Originally from Alberta and now based in Florida, Carter has three-day evented internationally for more than 20 years, riding at the 1999 Pan-American Games, earning a team silver medal at the 2007

Pan-American Games, riding at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and earning another team silver medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He says, “The reality is that no one can claim to be self-made; we all rely on someone for something. The number of people that you depend on in [three-day-eventing] is huge.”

He says riders have to find trustworthy, loyal, reliable, skilled people to look after non-riding details so that riders can concentrate on their riding. “That allows

How Teamwork Makes the High Performance Dream Work

you to be successful because you’re not distracted,” he says. “The more you take on, the less time you have to devote to your specific skill set. If you surround yourself with people who are exceptional in their roles, it takes the pressure off having to oversee those pieces.”

He continues, “If you think you’re going to oversee everything, every aspect of what’s going on… then you’re going to be overwhelmed. You’re never going to have the time to be truly successful. You

PHOTO: SHANNON BRINKMAN, COURTESY OF EQUESTRIAN CANADA

— KYLE CARTER

PHOTO: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Kyle Carter competing on Gaillard Lancer at the 2020 Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida.

“The reality is that no one can claim to be self-made; we all rely on someone for something. The number of people that you depend on in three-day-eventing is huge.”

Kyle Carter on Madison Park helped Canada’s eventing team secure the silver medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

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HORSEMANSHIP

Teaching Children to Ride

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PHOTO: NIKKI ALVIN-SMITH

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/GORILLA IMAGES

By Nikki Alvin-Smith

First lessons should be taught individually with the pony led at walk and then at trot, and the lesson should end on a high note with the child eager to learn more.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/GORILLA IMAGES

T

eaching children to ride is extremely rewarding. Their enthusiasm, open hearts, and keen attitude to learn make children good students. Their fondness of ponies is a joy to behold. Most children are quite fearless when it comes to riding and it is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure that safety comes first and their exuberance to ride is carefully channeled. For the nervous rider, much patience is needed and allowing a child to sit on a pony and be led can work wonders for their self-confidence.

The instructor should talk to the parent to learn about the nature of the child in general, their attitude toward animals and horses in particular, and prior riding experiences including any negative or positive events. It is also wise to ask the parent (out of the child’s hearing) if there are any physical or mental challenges for the child, and to have some idea of the child’s physique including height. The child’s age, mental maturity, and experience in other sports are also helpful to know. For example, if they participate in gymnastics or ballet, this would indicate that they have some semblance of balance and are also used to following instructions and being taught. Can they ride a bicycle? Obviously, this also requires balance and would demonstrate that the child has already mastered some of the skill sets needed for riding.

While children of any age can sit on a pony and be led about, it is generally not beneficial to attempt to teach them to ride until they are five or six years old. At this age, children have had time for their limbs to develop, can understand instructions, and have developed a good level of mental focus.

It is extremely important to match the child to the pony.

All beginners should ride a kind lesson pony that does not exhibit vices, is safe and nicely forward and is not stubborn or pushy.

Yes, a pony like that can be hard to find!

Grooming is an important part of every lesson.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/SCIGELVA

PHOTO: NIKKI ALVIN-SMITH

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/GORILLA IMAGES

Riding should always be done in proper safety attire and the importance of safety should be part of every lesson.

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HEALTH

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/CHRISTIAN MUELLER

Solving Pony

Every time you interact with your pony you are teaching him something either good or bad.

By Nikki Alvin-Smith Sadly, ponies get a lot of bad press.

Even so, their reputation as being lazy, stubborn, and difficult to train, plus their seemingly inherent displays of poor behaviour, have less to do with their innate nature and more to do with a lack of training.

It is true that the ancestry of most pony breeds chronicles their capacity to endure harsh conditions and generally be able to take care of themselves, so a bit of attitude might be part of the equation.

A pony’s reluctance to willingly adhere to our wishes and accept our leadership is perhaps an intrinsic wish to enjoy the freedom that living in lands rough and wild provided their ancestors. However, their domestication, whether it was for use as pit ponies in the coal mines or as the pretty show ponies we see in the ring today, documents the fact that ponies can be adapted and trained into valuable assets across the world.

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Problems commonly encountered with ponies usually exist because, unlike their horse counterpart, their diminutive size makes them less likely to carry an educated rider during their early training, and more likely to receive training later in life when they have become set in their ways.

Their status as “pets” almost ensures that the expectation for their level of compliance exceeds their level of understanding of the task at hand. Consistent training is even harder to accomplish with the limited mental focus and physical abilities of their usual pint-sized young equestrian partners. A lack of small riders who are good enough to keep the pony consistently and correctly schooled exacerbates the problem.

Herd hierarchy is a fundamental factor in how a pony behaves around others, whether horse or human. If you are keen to enjoy a happy relationship with the

pony, it is essential to establish yourself as the herd leader by always requiring the pony to acquiesce to your requests. You are teaching the pony something every time you interact with him, so even a stable visit means you must insist that the pony move where and when you want him to. For example, whenever you enter the stall, insist the pony back up and give you space before petting him, feeding hay, or haltering him for turnout. And very importantly, be consistent and ensure that anyone else who works around the pony does the same thing.

Let’s address some key issues that pony owners are likely to need to navigate. Please remember that safety must come first when working with a pony.

Do not allow young children to be left alone or to work alone with any pony.

No pony is totally trustworthy, and speaking as a parent of three children including twins, neither are children!

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/IRINA ORLOVA

Problems

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/CHRISTIAN MUELLER

If the pony is biting and nipping, hand-feeding treats could be the root of the cause.

The Crocodile Pony

Biting is the most aggressive action any equine can exhibit and arises for a myriad of reasons. Very often, the habit develops from playfulness or boredom that other pony herd members have not curtailed by earnest reciprocation. Unfortunately, smacking the pony on the nose is not going to remedy the issue, but may cause him to become head shy.

A major cause of biting or nipping is hand-feeding treats to the pony; if doing so is part of your daily routine you should stop immediately. It is especially important that children be told not to randomly reward ponies seeking attention by feeding them carrots or other treats.

Instead, give verbal rewards or soft pats on the neck but only when the pony has actually followed through with obedience to a request on cue.

Address any areas of housekeeping that may encourage the biting behaviour by inducing boredom. Plenty of turn out, hopefully with other ponies, donkeys, or horses that are more dominant than the individual in question plus plenty of work and productive daily activities can thwart boredom.

Ensure that the pony is not in pain, or being mishandled in any way, or being defensive due to bullying by other animals.

Most pony breeds evolved in harsh conditions where survival depended on them being tough, clever and independent, and this could explain some of the traits we see in them today.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/RONENVIEF

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/IRINA ORLOVA

First and foremost, ensure that “bad habits” are not in fact symptoms of discomfort or pain by scanning the pony’s body for hot spots, injuries, or hoof abscesses every time you groom.

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Take Home Message

While ponies may look like little horses, in fact they are much more t han that. The benefits of riding a wellschooled pony that correctly fits the rider help children progress quickly in their riding education when done under keen direction.

Apple-bobbing gymkhanas, agility classes, and many hours of road and trail

riding all fueled a deep passion for everything equine in my career, and hopefully the right pony can do the same for your child. In fact, my equestrian training began with donkeys, then ponies, and then horses. But that’s a story for another day! b > Nikki Alvin-Smith is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 90.

PHOTO: ISTOCK/RASULOVS

with reins and the bit — teach the pony to rein back. You can then progress to work from the saddle. Start at halt and take the pony’s head to the left, asking the pony to yield in that direction, then repeat to the right side. Once the pony understands this, the same exercise can be undertaken at the walk. Always require the pony to yield at the poll before allowing him to walk forward after mounting. Start as you mean to continue.

As a dressage clinician, I often advise students to take the pony’s head in counter flexion at the trot in order to address a stiff back or the equine’s resistance to yielding at the poll. The leg aids are reversed — when trotting to the left, the pony’s head will be at 45 degrees toward the outside of the arena or to the right, with a soft, giving rein aid.

The rider’s right leg will tap lightly on the girth and the rider’s left leg will be placed behind the girth. Make several strides in counter flexion and then a few strides straight, and repeat. Then reverse everything to work on the other rein. This is a very good method to teach a green horse to work toward the bit and aptly addresses the issue of a hard-mouth, pushing through the leg, bolting, and other issues such as spooking that may arise in nervous horses.

Quarter Horses In Common These four Canadian youth all share a passion for Quarter Horses, but what they enjoy doing with their horses, couldn’t be any different!

Scan the QR Code to read the editorial on CQHA.ca

Daniel, Alberta

Kaidyn, Nova Scotia

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/ISOBEL FISHER

Brianna, Alberta

www.cqha.com We are the Canadian affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), and representative of the largest breed population within the Canadian herd.

The CQHA exists to address issues of concern to Canadian owners of American Quarter Horses; to be a communications vehicle for and with Canadian AQHA members; and to promote and market Canadian-bred and/or Canadian-owned American Quarter Horses, both globally and domestically.

Cody, Ontario WINTER 2021

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PHOTO: THE DONKEY SANCTUARY OF CANADA

While most of the donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada reside on the main farm in Puslinch, ON, approximately 60 donkeys, like Jayne here, reside on foster farms across Canada. The DSC Foster Farm Program is hugely important to their ability to maintain free space at the main farm for new emergent cases. Jayne lived without care for almost 20 years before coming to the sanctuary malnourished, with matted fur covered in burrs, and hooves growing up into her legs. After her rehabilitation, our Foster Farm Program has allowed her to live a life with a family again.

Equine Rescues, Sanctuaries, and Shelters Part of the solution for a commitment to equine welfare in Canada

PHOTO: THE DONKEY SANCTUARY OF CANADA

By Shelagh Niblock, PAS The philosophy of our modern day society is often described as impermanence. Instant gratification through acquisition of “things” is a common theme in life for many, and accompanying this is the reality that things which are no longer useful are readily disposed of. Much to the chagrin of animal lovers, this is also a reality for many of the animals we keep in our lives. For example, the breeding and selling of exotic crossbred dogs with names created by combining the breeds of the parents is becoming common, and all too often these offspring end up abandoned or in shelters because they didn’t turn out as expected or desired.

The horse industry in North America has come under scrutiny in recent years for the same problem: indiscriminate breeding practices are producing horses that have no future. In addition to the “backyard breeders” we have many breeders of horses with excellent pedigrees, but the foals produced are intended for a market where they won’t all be successful participants. We accept this in our industry because it is a way to get the superior horse that amazes everyone with his or her performance. However, many find it easy to avoid thinking about the horses bred in the hope that they too would be superior performance horses, but turned out unable to fulfill expectations.

Then there are horses that can no longer do their jobs due to old age or injury, or unsound horses, or horses with behavioural issues. Many can and will find new careers in other disciplines. The off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) is very desirable for stadium jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing because these horses are athletic, excellent value, and lend themselves well to the amateur or professional rider. The schoolmaster no longer sound enough to continue a career as an upper-level performance horse may be functionally sound enough to be completely comfortable as a Pony Club horse for the young aspiring rider.

So, what do we do with the unwanted horse? In reality, some of these horses have no viable future and the kindest thing for the owner to do is put them down. Not all horse owners feel the same way about what needs to be done to ensure the unwanted horse does not suffer unduly, and so we see horses ending up at auctions, sometimes in questionable states of health, most likely headed to an abattoir. The slaughter

of a horse at an abattoir could be a humane end to life or more humane than starvation or abandonment, but as we all know this subject is fraught with emotions. There are regulations and practices surrounding the transport and slaughter of horses about which the jury is out as to whether or not they effectively ensure equine welfare.

Suffice it to say that if Canadian horse owners want to feel comfortable about the fate of horses at an abattoir, more dialogue is needed about the transport and handling of horses intended for human consumption overseas.

Fiverr AM, a six-year-old mare, raced 64 times and made career earnings of $30,000. Retired from racing in October 2020, she was adopted in November of 2020 to a loving family who gave her a few months off to bond and settle in her new home, and has since been started under saddle.

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Historically, horses were utilized as beasts of burden for transportation and agriculture. The idea of the unwanted horse was never an issue. Unwanted horses “went to the glue factory” and horse rescues were an unfamiliar concept. Since the end of World War II, the use of horses declined as mechanization took over in agriculture and transportation. The use of horses for sport and pleasure increased and, as the middle class became more affluent, more of us engaged in the use of horses for pleasure. The idea of a horse as a family pet became firmly embedded in our culture, as did the concept of the horse as a sentient being deserving of a good life right up until the end.

For many of us, horses ceased to be just livestock. As a concept, horse rescues and shelters began to develop and with the huge explosion of social media they have become even more common.

The term “rescue” is actually a misnomer in that it doesn’t really describe the activities of most of the groups who attempt to ensure equine welfare by providing interim or final shelter for horses. A better term to describe what these groups provide would be shelter. In fact, for numerous groups the goal is to “rehab Catch 21, a big 2014 gelding, had eight starts before retiring from the track. He was adopted from New Stride in December 2018 and is learning to be an eventer.

and rehome” horses by accepting horses relinquished to them, assessing them, and then facilitating their path into new careers.

There are other facilities which offer “sanctuary or retirement” for horses or other equids. Again, the horse is either relinquished to the facility by the owner, or sometimes “rescued” from auctions or situations where the animal is clearly experiencing significant neglect. There are still other groups offering a combination of the above by accepting surrendered or rescued animals that have fallen on hard times, and attempting to rehab and rehome those that do have a future. All rehab and sanctuary organizations occasionally must make the difficult decision to euthanize a horse that is in pain or distress and cannot be helped.

Are Horse Shelter Facilities Governed by Rules?

PHOTOS: NEW STRIDE THOROUGHBRED ADOPTION SOCIETY

Horse Rescues, Sanctuaries, and Shelters

The shelter facilities that are in existence may or may not be registered charities and may or may not be certified as to the standards of equine welfare groups. There are competent charitable horse shelter organizations in existence in Canada not registered as non-profits and not accredited by any group or organization. The local horse community generally forms an opinion on their reputation, good or bad, quite quickly. However, certification by an equine welfare organization or registration as a charitable non-profit group with government agencies is a good indication the organization is reputable and will follow minimum equine welfare standards. Organizations run as registered, nonprofit charities also offer tax deductible receipts for donations of funds or payment in-kind, where services are provided to the group free or at reduced charge with the understanding that a tax receipt for the value of the service will be issued. Groups registered as charitable non-profits must have a board of directors, have an annual general meeting, file a tax return, have their financial

PHOTOS: NEW STRIDE THOROUGHBRED ADOPTION SOCIETY

Frank van Veggel of Victoria, BC, with three of the four Thoroughbreds he has adopted from New Stride and retrained for polo. L-R: Authority Taken, a 2012 mare, had 16 starts and was adopted May 2017. Awesome Honey, a 2009 mare, was unraced and adopted January 2015. Sakura, a 2013 mare, had 19 starts and was adopted June 2018.

In winter 2020 Frank adopted Bakstar, a 2018 filly who trained but didn’t race.

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Celebration of Horses

PHOTO CONTEST

Album of Winners

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STABLE STORK Beautiful Babies of 2021

WINNER Jazzy Causing Some Turbulences!

“We aptly named this filly Severe Turbulence,” says Evelyn Sabraw of Acme, AB. “The first time she was out on pasture she raced so hard my heart almost stopped!

Severe Turbulence aka Jazz is a Standardbred who will hopefully cause some turbulences at the racetrack one day!”

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Welcome to the 30th edition of our Celebration of Horses Photo Contest, Canada’s longest running equine photo contest. The popularity of this contest continues to grow every year, and once again entries flooded in from across Canada and the United States.

Thank you to everyone who shared their special images and horsey stories with us.

This year’s primary sponsor is ThinLine Canada, and we sincerely appreciate their generosity in donating the grand prizes in the six main categories.

The Quarter Horse category is kindly sponsored by the Canadian Quarter Horse Association, and the Professional division is sponsored by Horse Community Journals Inc., publishers of this magazine.

Now… we are pleased to present the Winners and Runners-Up in all eight categories.

1ST RUNNER-UP

Seeing Double “Mother and son are replicas of each other. A sign of good genetics!” says Marilyn Vander Wekken of Picture Butte, AB. Mom is Miss Abigail, a 2011 black blagdon Gypsy mare.

2ND RUNNER-UP

Check Out My Coat Two Appy foals and an APHA foal at 3Winds Ranch in Keremeos, BC. “These three are always playing around or grooming. These babies are just beyond exceptional in our eyes,” says Amber Bond.

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CANADIAN HORSE JOURNAL

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CANADA’S NATIONAL HORSE MAGAZINE CELEBRATING ALL BREEDS & DISCIPLINES FOR 30 YEARS.

MY HORSE b MY PASSION b MY MAGAZINE

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YOU’LL GET: • Canada’s leading source for horse health and the latest veterinary research • Expert training advice and management tips • Award-winning content from top industry journalists PHOTO: ISTOCK/CATNAP72

• 6 BIG Bimonthly issues per year • Both print and digital editions • Canada’s Equine Guide (Special January industry edition)

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