Respiratory Support – Using the Best Matters
Researched and Proven as an aid in controlling Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) and Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)1. Recommended in the American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine Consensus Statement on Respiratory Disease2 . References: [1] Nogradi N, Couetil LL, Messick J, Stochelski MA, Burgess JA. Evaluation of an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Containing Feed Supplement in the Management of Horses with Chronic Lower Airway Inflammatory Diseases. J Vet Intern Med 2015; 29:299-306. [2] Couetil LL, Cardwell J.M, Gerber V, Lavoie J.-P, Leguillette R, Richard E.A. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses. ACVIM Consensus Statement J of Vet Intern Med 2016; 30:503-515 p. 508-510. Check with your veterinarian or Arenus on how Aleira can help your horse effectively cope with respiratory and immune challenges. See how Aleira can help you to reduce or eliminate pharmaceutical interventions.
Not all Omega 3’s are the same; use the only Researched and Recommended 1500mg Purified DHA formulation. Talk to your veterinarian today to see how Aleira can help your horse effectively cope with respiratory and immune challenges. Experience the improved performance and recovery that Aleira brings to your horse.
• Cushioned isolator improves ride comfort for animals and passengers
• Offset pin dampens vertical chucking and fore-aft motion during starts and stops
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16
Queen’s
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had a love of horses and enthusiasm for riding that inspired riders everywhere.
Whether training a youngster or a grand prix horse, Gray believes the basics are always the same.
Horses teach us that we can accomplish amazing things by relinquishing control and accepting uncertainty.
32
The foundation of skills and knowledge gained during their Pony Club years has helped many of Canada’s top riders succeed.
ON
26
It’s worth perfecting this skill. Focused and purposeful lunging is an excellent horse-training tool.
“Ghost” (aka Tater) is the winner of the Winter Scenes category in our Celebration of Horses Photo Contest (see page 56).
PHOTO: DARLENE SHANTZ
42 Canada’s Wild Horses: An Uncertain Future
Their existence stirs our imagination, but without protection our wild horses may not be here forever.
50 Crossing Mongolia for Charity
Five Canadian riders participated in this 84-day, 3,640-kilometre expedition to raise money for the Veloo Foundation.
56 Celebration of Horses Photo Contest
Presenting the Album of Winners from our 31st Annual Contest.
You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.
When Dorothy Brooke, the wife of a British army major general, arrived in Egypt in 1930, she became aware of the fate of thousands of former war horses that had faithfully served the British army during World War I. Born in the United Kingdom, these horses were shipped overseas to serve in the war and had not returned home. Those that survived were now living a life of crippling hardship as working horses on the streets of Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt. She decided to do whatever was necessary to ease their suffering.
Old Bill, the first ex-war horse she found, had once served in Palestine. Now the old chestnut bearing an army brand was emaciated with swollen, trembling legs, and she found hundreds more in similar condition. She went to work exposing their plight, setting up the Old War Horse Campaign of Rescue, and began fundraising to buy the horses and relieve their suffering.
In a letter to The Morning Post newspaper (now known as The Daily Telegraph) in 1931, she wrote:
Out here, in Egypt, there are still many hundreds of old Army horses sold of necessity at the cessation of the War. They are all over twenty years of age by now, and to say that the majority of them have fallen on hard times is to express it very mildly. Those sold at the end of the war have sunk to a very low rate of value indeed: they are past ‘good work’ and the majority of them drag out wretched days of toil in the ownership of masters too poor to feed them — too inured to hardship themselves to appreciate, in the faintest degree, the sufferings of animals in their hands.
These old horses were, many of them, born and bred in the green fields of England — how many years since they have seen a field, heard a stream of water, or a kind word in English?
Many are blind — all are skeletons.
If those who truly love horses...will send contributions to help in giving a merciful end to our poor old war heroes, we shall be extremely grateful.
A fund is being raised to buy up these old horses. As most of them are the sole means of a precarious livelihood to their owners, adequate compensation must, of necessity, be given in each case. An animal out here, who would be considered far too old and decrepit to be
worked in England, will have before him several years of ceaseless toil.”
Her campaign appealed to British horse lovers who donated generously to help end the suffering of these horses. She purchased 5,000 former war horses within three years, finding many in such poor health that they had to be humanely euthanized. In 1934, she founded the Old War Horse Memorial Hospital in Cairo, and Brooke Hospital for Animals was born.
Now an international equine charity based in the United Kingdom, and rebranded in 2016 to Brooke — Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, it is the largest equine charity in the world. Their website describes them as “an international charity that protects and improves the lives of horses, donkeys, and mules which give people in the developing world the opportunity to work their way out of poverty.”
The welfare of working equines around the world is crucial to keeping families out of extreme poverty, yet these animals are frequently overlooked. Brooke sees immense problems including extreme poverty, lack of animal husbandry knowledge, and cultural practices that inflict harm to animals. Yet a suffering animal unable to work puts a family at risk of increased poverty and possible starvation.
Today Brooke reaches over 1.6 million working horses, donkeys and mules, and works toward the vision of “a world in which working horses donkeys and mules are free from suffering and have a life worth living.” In 13 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America their efforts assist the 600 million people whose lives are supported by working equines.
For more information, please visit > www.thebrooke.org
As we celebrate the coming holiday season, remember the charities that need your support to help them make a difference in the lives of the people and animals around the world who are less fortunate than ourselves. Brooke is just one such charity. Holidays are traditionally a time of giving so if you can help, find a charity you are passionate about, and lend your support to help make the lives of people and animals a little brighter.
Your Horse b Your Passion b Your Magazine
Published by Horse Community Journals Inc. Volume 23 • Issue 2
Winter 2022 Issue (November/December) of Canadian Horse Journal
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Do you need money for a clinic or competition? Do you want to attend free webinars and equine programs? How about insurance to help pay for damage done by your horse? Or connections with like-minded horsey folk?
If you said yes to any of these, then buy a membership in your equestrian provincial/territorial sports organization (PTSO). Every organization is different, but they all provide great benefits to members.
Funding is one example.
“Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) has tons of funding for individual members to participate in a clinic or an event or to take a Rookie Riders clinic or buy a Western helmet,” says Sonia Dantu, Executive Director of the AEF. “We have scholarships, bursaries, and club funding. We provide a lot of funding for trail development province-wide. Plus, we have over 100 business members who offer discounts to members.”
Horse Council British Columbia (HCBC) offers similar funding options, such as for athlete assistance, trails projects, regional clubs, educational grants, and travel assistance to individuals.
Ontario Equestrian (OE) members can access comparable programs plus a youth bursary. “It provides funding for members who are still in high school to continue to grow within the sport,” says Brandon Hall, OE Director of Marketing & Communications.
PTSOs also provide educational opportunities.
“Your provincial organization can help you find the right person to take lessons from. Somebody that’s a certified and credentialed coach,” says Dantu.
OE offers a Ticket to Ride program where people who are new to horse sports receive a free ticket to take a learn-togroom session or an assessment ride at an accredited facility.
In September 2022, HCBC launched a free Horse Play program which replaces their Ride and Drive program and encourages riders to record the hours they spend
with their horse.
PTSOs also offer P’tit Trot and Rookie Riders programs for young children. Plus, long term athlete development is supported by funding, coaching, and programming for riders working towards upper-level competition.
And there’s more.
PTSOs provide free webinars on road safety, first aid, nutrition, parasites, hoof care, horse camping, and other topics. They subsidize the cost of Equine Guelph courses for their members on topics such as equine business, senior horse care, gut health, horse welfare, sickness prevention, youth safety, injury prevention, rescue, and emergencies. OE members receive 15 percent off Equine Guelph online short courses. Some PTSOs mail a free magazine to their members.
Then there’s insurance.
Each member automatically gets two insurance policies.
1.
“This policy covers the member against legal actions made against them because of something their horse does,” says Mike King, National practice leader and partner at CapriCMW Insurance. “When liability claims occur, they can be quite serious.”
Common claims include damaging property at a boarding facility; horses getting loose and causing car accidents; a friend riding someone else’s horse, falling off, and getting hurt; someone getting kicked at a horse show; and a horse injuring another horse in a paddock. This insurance can save members from paying legal and settlement costs out of their own pocket.
This insurance protects the member if they’re seriously injured — or worse — as a result of an interaction with a horse. This is important because horses are unpredictable, especially for those new to them. The Principal Sum Limit is $40,000 (increased for 2023) plus there are additional coverage options.
Your PTSOs draw the equine community together, too.
PTSOs are the recognized organizations for horse use in every region. They
address issues that affect the whole equine community.
“By joining their PTSO, members can find coaches, facilities, educational opportunities, and a place to be in common company — regardless of discipline, interest, or participation level,” says King.
There are thousands of people in every province who are involved with horses. By coming together, the broader horse community — and every PTSO member — has a voice. There is power in numbers and as society changes, everyone’s voice is needed to ensure that horse sport remains accessible and accepted by Canadian society.
Join your PTSO and take advantage of their benefits. The low cost of annual membership will not only save you money but will help the horse industry have a strong voice now and into the future.
Your PTSOs:
• Horse Council BC > www.hcbc.ca
• Alberta Equestrian Federation > www.albertaequestrian.com
• Saskatchewan Horse Federation > www.saskhorse.ca
• Manitoba Horse Council > www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca
• Ontario Equestrian > www.ontarioequestrian.ca
• Cheval Quebec > www.cheval.quebec
• New Brunswick Equestrian Association > www.nbea.ca
• Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation > www.horsenovascotia.ca
• Prince Edward Island Horse Council > www.islandhorsecouncil.ca
• Newfoundland and Labrador Equestrian Association > www.equestriannl.ca
• Equine Association of Yukon > www.equineyukon.weebly.com www.CapriCMW.ca
It used to be thought that using tools was one of the things that set humans apart from the animal kingdom. However, it is now known that some animal species use tools. Reports include
The most frequent use of a tool was by horses using sticks to scrape hay into reach.
chimps using sticks to reach food, sea otters using stones to break open shellfish, and even elephants deactivating an electric fence by dropping rocks on it.
What about horses? German zoologist and behaviour researcher Konstanze Krüger and coworkers conducted an investigation into “unusual” behaviour in horses.
The topic did not lend itself to conventional methods. Instead, they collected reports and video records of unusual behaviour using a dedicated website. They also searched online for videos showing equids using tools.
Analysing 635 reports including 1014 behaviours, they found 20 cases of tool use, 13 of which they termed “unambiguous,” in that it was clear that the behaviour was not trained, caused by reduced welfare, incidental, or accidental.
Their findings are published in the journal Animals
They report that “the most frequent tool use, with seven examples, was for foraging; for example, equids using sticks to scrape hay into reach. There were four cases of tool use for social purposes, such as horses using brushes to groom others, just one case of tool use for escape in which a horse threw a halter
when it wished to be turned out, and one case of tool use for comfort in which a horse scratched his abdomen with a stick.”
They then assessed the effect of management conditions on tool use and whether the animals used tools alone or socially involving other equids or humans.
They report that management restrictions were associated with tool use in 12 of the 13 cases — such as the use of sticks to scrape hay within reach when feed was restricted.
“Furthermore, 8 of the 13 cases involved other equids or humans, such as horses using brushes to groom others. There was just one case of tool use for comfort, and in this instance there were no management restrictions.”
They conclude: “Equids therefore can develop tool use, especially when management conditions are restricted, but it is a rare occurrence.” b Published with the kind permission of Mark Andrews, Equine Science Update.
Riding a horse is a hobby for some; others consider it competitive sport; but more importantly, it’s a way of life. It’s a passion that surrounds you, striving for excellence with perfect form and style. WeCover riding arenas combine the strength of steel trusses with the natural light of a fabric roof and are built to enhance your indoor riding experience while custom designed to fit your estate’s outdoor elegance.
Be on the lookout for the three most common skin cancers afflicting horses and contact your veterinarian promptly if you find suspicious lumps or bumps.
Skin cancer is the most prevalent type of equine cancer, accounting for up to 80 percent of all cancers reported.
Sarcoids are the most frequently diagnosed type, with squamous-cell carcinoma the next most prevalent, followed by melanoma.
Learning about these cancers and what to watch for will allow you to closely monitor your horse and seek veterinary advice promptly if you notice something that looks abnormal. While skin cancer poses a health risk for our beloved horses, many cancers are treatable, and early diagnosis will improve the horse’s quality of life and chance of survival.
The most common equine cancer, sarcoid tumours account for approximately 40 percent of all equine cancers. They can occur in any breed and at any age, typically developing in horses three to six years old. Sarcoids can be found anywhere on the body, often on the head, near the genitals, and on the underside of the abdomen. They may also form at sites of previous injury or scarring. Although nonmalignant, these tumours can spread aggressively, occurring as single or multiple lesions ranging from small and wart-like to large, ulcerated, fibrous growths that can impact quality of life. Bovine papillomavirus is believed to be involved in the development of sarcoid tumours, although its precise role is not known.
are the most frequently recognized equine tumour.
The Merck Veterinary Manual describes the six recognized clinical varieties:
OCCULT — flat, gray, hairless, and persistent, often somewhat circular;
VERRUCOSE — well-defined or large, illdefined areas with a gray, scabby, or warty appearance that may contain small, solid nodules, and possible surface ulcerations;
NODULAR — multiple, discrete, solid nodules of variable size that may ulcerate and bleed;
FIBROBLASTIC — fleshy masses with either a thin pedicle (stalk) or wide, flat base that commonly bleeds easily and has a wet, bloody surface;
MIXED — variable mixtures of two or more types;
MALEVOLENT — an extremely rare but rapidly growing tumor that spreads extensively through the skin with infiltrating extension to underlying tissue.
Treatment options vary depending on the size, location, and type of sarcoid. New lesions should be treated promptly, as larger sarcoids are more difficult to treat. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy (often topical), radiotherapy, laser surgery, or a combination of therapies.
Due to the risk of recurrence, continue to monitor the horse diligently after treatment. Once a horse has developed a sarcoid it will be prone to developing more in the future.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin tumour in horses, typically affecting nonpigmented, poorly-haired areas near mucous membranes such as around the eyes, lips, nose, anus, and external genitalia, especially the penis sheath. Usually appearing as raised, irregular masses, this is an invasive, often slow-growing
cancer that can later spread internally.
Squamous cell carcinoma is most commonly diagnosed in horses 12 years of age and older. A genetic risk factor for ocular squamous cell carcinoma has been identified in Haflinger, Belgian, and potentially Rocky Mountain Horse breeds. The penile form is most often found in older geldings; hence, regular sheath inspection is important to identify and treat lesions.
Risk of squamous cell carcinoma can be reduced by simply providing shade as this cancer is frequently related to sun exposure, especially in horses with white or partially white hair coats.
Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, or a combination of therapies. Survival is dependent upon size and malignancy of the tumour before treatment. Recurrence rate of squamous cell carcinoma is high, and these horses should be monitored vigilantly after treatment.
A tumour of dark-pigmented skin, most melanomas in horses are found in those with gray coats where the hair turns gray or white with age. It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of grey horses over 15 years of age will have melanomas, which typically appear as rounded black nodules of varying size under the dock of the tail, in genital areas, and on the head around the mouth and eyelids. Melanomas are more common in Lipizzaners, Arabians, and Percherons, and in non-gray horses these tumours can be more dangerous.
Melanomas may begin small and slow-growing, but over time can increase in number and size. Most are benign but as time goes on they can become malignant and metastasize to other sites, resulting in systemic complications.
These tumours are removed through surgery, with laser treatment or cryotherapy (freezing). Removal is much easier when melanomas are small. The outcome is excellent if tumours are benign. A canine melanoma vaccine is showing promise as treatment for equine melanoma. b
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA/CAROLDERMOID Perianal gray horse melanoma of a 23-yearold Andalusian mix mare. Small rounded melanoma nodules at the lip and corner of the mouth.Princess Elizabeth, future Queen Elizabeth II, riding her pony in Windsor Great Park. She rode her first pony at age three at the private riding school at Buckingham Palace, and kept riding well into her 90s.
PHOTO: ALAMY/CLASSIC IMAGE
QQueen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022 having been the longest serving monarch in British history. In the short time since, much has changed. Her son, Prince Charles, has become King Charles III. Canada’s Royal Anthem is now God Save the King. Eventually, the King may replace the Queen’s visage on Canadian coins. But for the horse world, the Queen’s unceasing passion for horses will remain a lasting legacy.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a true horsewoman and a fervent advocate of equestrian sports throughout her life and reign,” said International Equestrian Federation (FEI) President Ingmar De Vos in a tribute to the late monarch. “Her passion and understanding of horses were remarkable.”
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne following an unusual series of events. Her father, King George VI, only became king when his older brother, Edward, abdicated the throne to marry his twice-divorced American socialite lover. King George VI didn’t have any sons, so upon his death in 1952, his first daughter, Elizabeth, became Queen when she was just 25. Her passion for horses was already well established.
At age three, Her Royal Highness was plunked on a pony at Buckingham Palace’s private riding school. At four, she started riding a Shetland pony named Peggy that her grandfather, King George V, gave her and her sister, Margaret. She developed her riding skills while hacking around Windsor Castle. As an impressionable teen, Her Majesty’s father (the King) took her to see the royal racehorses training during World War II. The Queen later recalled patting them in their stables and said, “I’d never felt the satin softness of a Thoroughbred before.”
As a 21-year-old princess in 1947, the Queen attended the annual Trooping the Colour (a ceremonial military parade) on horseback and continued to do so until age 60 in 1986. Ultimately, the Queen rode well into her 90s, which enthralled and inspired Canadian riders — particularly women in the latter years of their own lives.
The Queen was highly regarded in many parts of the horse world.
“The Queen was a very good horsewoman,” says Lyn Cook, a former groom for international three-day eventing riders who were based at Gatcombe Park in England in the 1990s. “She had an affinity for horses.”
Cook was fortunate to hack one of the Queen’s horses around Balmoral Estate in Scotland one day, when its regular groom was busy, and is acquainted with the Royal family.
“Horses have played a big part in the royal family for generations,” says Cook. “All of the UK’s kings and queens have had horses in one way or another.”
The Queen embraced this royal history and became passionate about breeding and investing in horses and horse sports. “She’s an out-and-out horse addict,” said Lucy Higginson, former editor of Horse and Hound magazine, Britain’s oldest equestrian publication.
One of the Queen’s passions was racehorses, and she bred many winning steeplechase and flat racing horses at the Royal Stud — a breeding facility in Sandringham, England which she inherited from her father King George VI.
Her Majesty’s horses won over 1,800 races including four of the five oldest and most important British Classic horse races: the Oaks, the One Thousand Guineas, the
PHOTO: ALAMY/COUNTRY QUEENA consummate horsewoman, Queen Elizabeth’s influence extended to her family, many of whom are accomplished riders.
Saint Leger, and the Two Thousand Guineas. But she never owned a Derby winner, albeit not for lack of breeding, training, or running some of the best horses. In 1954 and 1957, the Queen was the champion flat racing owner in Britain.
One of the Queen’s outstanding racehorses was Estimate, who won the Gold Cup at Ascot racecourse in 2013. It was the first time a reigning monarch had owned the winner in 207 years and to commemorate the feat, a life-size statue of Estimate was commissioned. It now graces the entrance to the royal family’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England.
The Queen’s commitment to racing didn’t go unnoticed. In 2021, she was inducted into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame to recognize her contributions to racing as an owner and breeder. Upon the Queen’s death, the Royal Stud was passed to King Charles III, who ran his first horse in the royal silks on September 29, 2022.
“The loss of Her late Majesty was keenly felt within the racing and breeding industries given her lifelong passion for the sport, and so we are naturally thrilled to see that the horses previously owned by her will race on in the ownership of His Majesty King Charles III,” said British Horseracing Authority Chair Joe Saumarez Smith on September 27, 2022 in a statement online. “Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II left an indelible mark on our sport and her legacy will continue to be felt, not only through the horses that will continue to run in the name of King Charles III, but also those she bred who are yet to be seen on the racecourse in the years to come.”
The Queen was instrumental in other areas of the horse world, too.
She was integral to the conservation of Cleveland Bay horses, which originated as a multi-purpose farm, coach, and road horse in the Cleveland district of Yorkshire, England. Interestingly, they were originally known as Chapmen’s (travelling salesmen’s) Horses and were once common mounts of the British royal family. But by 1960, only six purebred Cleveland Bay stallions remained alive. Her Majesty’s grandfather had bred Cleveland Bays, so the Queen stepped up to help conserve the breed. In 1961, she purchased a pure Cleveland Bay colt named Mulgrave Supreme and stood him at stud. This sparked demand for Cleveland Bays, which now number about 1,000 horses worldwide.
The Queen also bred Fell ponies — one of five native English pony breeds —
The bay Thoroughbred, Sultan, was given to the Queen by the President of Pakistan in 1959. Windsor Castle is in the background of this photo taken on May 18, 1961. PHOTO: ALAMY/SMITH ARCHIVE PHOTO: ALAMY/COUNTRY QUEENwhich
named with a Balmoral prefix. Fells originated in northern England and were used as pack animals in the 1800s lead-mining industry. The Queen was the patron of the Fell Pony Society for 40 years and helped give the breed exposure by riding them herself.
The Queen bred Highland ponies at Balmoral Estate, too. Originally bred to work on small Scottish farms, they’re now used as workhorses or for jumping and trail riding due to their quiet nature and stamina. The Queen’s breeding operation has helped stabilize the numbers of Highland ponies worldwide.
She also bred Shetland ponies and was patron of the British Horse Society, the Highland Pony Society, the Shire Horse Society, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
In recognition of her expansive support for horse sport in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries the Queen received the first FEI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
That support was ongoing. Every year, the Queen hosted the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle. It’s the largest outdoor premier show in the
United Kingdom and is known worldwide for both its entertainment and horse sport excellence. There are public displays by The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry, and The Musical Drive of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, plus
international-level show jumping, driving, endurance, and showing. She was often seen attending the show, congratulating winners, and supporting family who were competing.
As a fitting tribute to the Queen’s love of horses, part of her 2022 Platinum Jubilee Celebration included an
equestrian-themed Gallop Through History. Split into four acts, the spectacle told the story of the Queen’s reign using over 1,000 performers and 500 horses.
The Queen’s horsey influence extended to her family, too.
“Horses play a big part in the whole family, and I think a lot of that stems from the Queen,” says Cook. “They’re all very competent and capable riders.”
His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen’s husband who passed away in 2021 at age 99, was also a strong advocate for horse sport. He was president of the FEI for 22 years and won the World Championship gold medal for driving in 1980. Prince Philip also donated the original Prince Philip Cup to the British Pony Club in the 1950s. Canada’s Prince Philip Cup was named by permission of His Highness and is awarded annually to the best Pony Club Prince Philip Cup Games team in the country.
“King Charles is also a very good horseman,” says Cook. The King played polo for 40 years before retiring in his late 50s; in his younger years, he was steeplechasing. His sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were keen polo players, too. Queen Camilla was an excellent rider as well, foxhunting into her late 50s.
Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, was a well-known threeday eventing rider. She won the European Eventing Championships at age 21, rode at Badminton and Burghley, was on the British eventing team for five years, won silver medals at the 1975 World Championships, and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The Princess Royal has been a patron of the Riding for the Disabled Association since 1971, and from 1986 to 1994 she was the FEI President.
“The Princess Royal still rides and has horses at home,” says Cook. Zara Tindall (nee Phillips) — the Princess Royal’s daughter — is a world-class three-day eventing rider.
“Zara is still riding professionally at top level and has a good string of horses,” says Cook. “She’s a big part of the British threeday eventing team.”
Tindall won gold medals at the 2005 European Eventing Championships, individual gold and team silver medals at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, and a team silver medal for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
The Queen’s granddaughter, Lady Louise MountbattenWindsor, has been bitten by the carriage driving bug and in 2021, inherited her grandfather (Prince Philip’s) driving ponies and carriage.
Queen Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years and 214 days — the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female sovereign in history. She was Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 Commonwealth realms, including Canada.
“Horses and horse sport are very much part of Commonwealth culture and that comes from the royal family,” says Cook.
The monarchy is represented in Canada at the federal level by Canada’s current Governor General, Ms. Mary Simon, while lieutenant governors represent the King in each Canadian province. But the monarch’s influence in the horse world is perhaps better known.
The Queen’s Plate, a 1.25 mile (two kilometre) horse race held at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario every summer, is the longest continuously run stakes race in North America. It began in 1860, offering “a plate to the value of 50 guineas.” (A guinea
Zara Tindall, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, competing for Great Britain on High Kingdom during the cross-country phase of the Three-Day Eventing during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Queen Elizabeth galloping a horse named Surprise on Ascot racecourse in June 1961. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA/LAZY PHOTOGRAPHY
was a coin containing one-quarter of an ounce of gold, and was worth one pound and one shilling, or £1.05). The purse is now $1 million Canadian dollars and a gold cup; however, every year Buckingham Palace sends 50 guineas to the owner of the winning horse. Woodbine Racetrack has yet to confirm whether the race will be renamed the King’s Plate.
One of the Queen’s best-known connections to Canada was the mare Burmese. In 1969 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) gave the Queen a Saskatchewan-born black police service mare named Burmese, which she rode sidesaddle during The Trooping the Colour for 18 consecutive years. A bronze statue of the Queen riding Burmese is located in Regina, Saskatchewan.
In keeping with the Queen’s strong Canadian connections, Equestrian Canada stated: “Her Majesty’s lifelong passion for and love of horses will forever be admired by our equestrian community.”
That was evident at the Queen’s funeral, where four RCMP officers preceded the Queen’s coffin riding Canadian horses that had previously been gifted to the Queen. They were named Darby, George, Elizabeth, and Sir John. Elizabeth had been given to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and was named after the Queen Mother. RCMP Cpl. Justine Rogawski, who rode Elizabeth, said that she considered the opportunity a “great honour.”
The Queen’s extensive involvement with horses has nurtured
The Queen receiving Police Service Horse Burmese from Commissioner Malcolm Lindsay and S/Sgt. Ralph Cave (Riding Master for the RCMP Musical Ride).
Riding Burmese during The Trooping the Colour ceremony in London. The Queen rode Burmese at every Trooping the Colour ceremony for 18 years. The ceremony has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for more than 260 years.
US President Ronald Reagan riding Centennial, with Queen Elizabeth II riding Burmese, during the president’s visit to Windsor Castle, June 8, 1982
PHOTO: RCMP HISTORICAL COLLECTION, RCMP VETERANS ASSOCIATION
PHOTO: WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION
many corners of the horse world. Her enthusiasm for riding at all ages and life stages has inspired everyday riders in Britain, Canada, and elsewhere. Although the Queen has passed away, her legacy — a passion for horses — lives on. b
> Tania Millen is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
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PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA/DARYL MITCHELL U of G – OpenEdBecause your horses deserve the best.U of G – OpenEd
Because your horses deserve the best.The statue of Queen Elizabeth II against the backdrop of Regina’s skyline and Wascana Lake. The statue is located on the grounds of the Saskatchewan Legislature in Wascana Park.
Intermediare I and is a high-demand coach.
“I’m still in the sport because I love horses, training, and educating,” says Gray.
By Tania MillenOn September 23, 2022, the Canadian Eventing Development Foundation hosted a one-day dressage symposium with Peter Gray at Alborak Stable, west of Calgary, Alberta.
Gray is a Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) 5* judge who was part of the ground jury at the 2022 Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy. That means he was one of three dressage judges whose marks produced Michael Jung’s stunning 18.8 dressage score on FischerChipmunk FRH — the second-best dressage score in eventing world championship history.
“In Western Canada, it’s challenging to access upper-level instructors,” says Laurie Sutherland, the main organizer for the symposium. “But Peter has been to Alberta before and has a very strong grassroots philosophy.”
Along with Gray’s first-hand knowledge of what it takes to score exceptional dressage marks today, he competed in threeday eventing for Bermuda and Canada at three Olympic Games, two Worlds Championships, and a Pan-American Games. He also coached the Canadian Three-Day Eventing team from 1996 to 2000. Now focussed on dressage, he competes at
The purpose of the symposium was to provide top notch education, plus fundraise for Alberta’s Young Riders’ eventing team to attend the 2022 Young Riders Eventing Championships in Tryon, North Carolina in November.
There were four demonstration riders in the symposium, each with 45-minute time slots, plus a test rider which Gray judged live. Riders presented a young dressage horse, preliminary event horse, second/third level horse, fourth level horse, and a grand prix horse.
About 80 auditors attended the evening event. They were also invited to attend Gray’s two-day clinic following the symposium.
“It was a good opportunity to get expertise from an FEI level judge,” says Julia Vysniauskas. She was a demonstration rider with her six-year-old Hanoverian mare, ButterBlume by Belissimo M, has ridden Grand Prix dressage, and owns Kestrel Ridge Farm in Calgary, Alberta.
“He’s so kind and [his work] makes the horses happy,” says Becky Staden, a demonstration rider who events at preliminary level with an eight-year-old warmblood mare.
Keeping horses happy in their work was one of three main points that Gray emphasized throughout the symposium.
Dressage is far more challenging than you think it is.PHOTO: SONJA SHANK
“The rider has to create a partnership with the horse,” says Gray. “We have to create a positive, happy, rewarding environment every time we get on and have a training session.”
He also believes that tack plays a part, saying, “Every horse should go in a loose ring snaffle and a plain cavesson — at least that should be the goal.”
But freedom, fluency, and harmony are the main goals.
“You can’t rush past what the horse can give you,” he says. “It’s better to upgrade a year too late than a day too early.”
Vysniauskas found Gray helpful. “He helped me be a bit more flowy with ButterBlume and remember that everything doesn’t have to happen at once,” she says.
“Positive reinforcement is not used enough,” says Gray. “We need to be very clear with our horses when they are doing things correctly, by rewarding.”
Gray believes that intense training should only be a small portion of the horse’s work every day.
“Most riders go into the work too quickly,” Gray says. “Horses need time. Your warmup is a building block to your peak performance.”
“Do short intervals of good quality work, then take a break,” he says. “Let your horse absorb the information and think about what you just did.”
One of Gray’s main messages was that regardless of whether riders are training a young horse or a grand prix horse, the same things are paramount: developing a quality walk, trot, and canter; relaxation; suppleness; and responsiveness.
“The most common training and test errors are horses behind the vertical and having restricted gaits,” Gray says. “We’re supposed to be enhancing the quality of the gaits every day, not taking away from them.”
“I have three goals in the warmup regardless of whether you’re showing or training: one, relax your horse; two, get him supple (bending left and right); and three, have him responding to the aids,” he says.
Gary worked on this with every demonstration rider, including Colleen Church McDowall and her confirmed grand
prix horse Zero Gravity. As with other demonstration riders, Gray asked McDowall to lower the horse’s neck to relax his back while shifting between a working trot and slower trot. It was a simple ask but challenging for a horse used to shifting between a toe-flicking medium trot and slow-motion passage.
“The in-between stuff has to be fundamentally correct — loose, relaxed, freedom of gaits — then we throw in a few tricks: flying changes, pirouettes,” Gray says.
Gray also happily shared wisdom from the judge’s perspective.
“Even though we’re judging a specific movement, the first mark the judge pulls out of the sky is for the quality of the gait,” says Gray. “From there, the mark will go up or down.”
For example, the judge’s mark for shoulder-in will initially depend on the quality of the trot. But that number may move up or down depending on the correctness of the actual movement.
“A clean flying change is a seven,” says Gray. “Anything beyond that depends on the quality of the canter.”
“Michael Jung is an example of where the horse’s gaits are only a seven, but his marks are higher because the horse is in the correct frame, has regularity in the trot, the positioning in each movement never changes, and his transitions are like butter melting,” says Gray.
When asked to reflect on his experience at the World Championships, Gray says that it was a great privilege to be invited to judge. He also says that it’s reasonable for North American event riders to be competitive against Europeans; however, they need to become more like high performance athletes.
“All of our riders are trying to run a business and teach and give clinics and sell horses to afford to do the sport,” he says.
Those activities are required when riders don’t have financial backing, sponsorship, and high-quality horses. But they reduce the time riders spend training and managing equine athletes — imperative for those trying to reach the upper echelons. It’s a difficult quandary that provides a window into the top levels of horse sport that few will experience.
However, that was a side note to Gray’s most important message: no matter whether you’re training a young horse or a grand prix horse, it all comes down to basics — and they’re always the same. b
> Tania Millen is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
FEI 5* judge Peter Gray presented the one-day dressage symposium at Alborak Stable near Calgary, Alberta, which attracted 80 auditors. Gray emphasized his training philosophy and the importance of creating a partnership with the horse, and shared what it takes to achieve exceptional dressage marks.
Leaving the lunge line in the tack room seems logical when time is of the essence. Skipping extra steps is compatible with our instant society. For many riders, lunging seems like an unnecessary step, an awkward feeling of having less control than just getting on and “riding the bugs out.” For others, lunging is just plain boring. A misbehaving horse on the lunge is embarrassing at a horse show and a menace to others sharing the arena. And isn’t lunging stressful for the horse’s legs?
I feel very strongly about the positive effects of lunging, both for the horse and for the rider. It’s worth pushing through the awkwardness and perfecting the skill!
I’ve learned so much about horses by watching them — from the paddock fence, or the horse show rail, or the view from the saddle. I’ve watched countless horses revolving around me on a lunge line. I’ve learned to “read horse” by studying the subtleties of body language and facial expression, noting signs of tension, distraction, and relaxation.
Surprisingly, many capable riders don’t “read horse” well — they’ve skipped the groundwork necessary to pick up the subtleties of horse language. I’ve noted
a key distinction between riding and horsemanship: having a good grasp of ground control. “Horsemen” have welltimed pressure and release. They read a horse’s inclinations and movements and are readable in return.
For me, lunging has tuned my eye through comparing the movement of hundreds of assorted horses, evaluating strengths and weaknesses in their ways of going. Like a teller who handles countless “sound” bills is quick to detect a counterfeit, by studying the profile of a lot of sound horses, even a subtle lameness will be noted by the rider who lunges. Such minor unsoundness may be missed under saddle.
More than a chance to blow off steam, lunging is an extension of your training. In fact, research and experience attest
that letting a horse rip around and “get it out of his system” is counterproductive and, because he’s a prey animal, it only winds him up like a top.
Lunging has kept me safe! I won’t climb aboard a horse that’s distracted, resistant to pressure, or way too fresh. In short, I want him to be mentally ready to answer “yes” to my every request by the time I mount up. Otherwise, I’m setting the horse up to ignore my signals like a mother who tries to talk to her teen about his exam study plans at Wonderland. Allowing a horse to ignore your cues is teaching your horse to ignore your cues.
Done correctly, lunging teaches a green horse to organize and balance himself at all gaits and in transitions, without the added factor of a rider. The horse learns to slip, not blast, into upward transitions. He discovers that opting for the inside lead takes less effort than the outside lead and that cross-cantering feels really awkward.
The horse learns to keep his attention tethered to the hub of the wheel: the lunger. Through the lunging process, I confirm my role as decision maker. The horse follows my
initiative and responds to my body language. The onus is on me to be readable and fair.
Lunging is a useful tool in a new environment to test the horse’s attentiveness before climbing aboard. Even though the horse is experiencing sensory overload in a new situation, lunging helps him remember those skills he’s familiar with, just like we practiced at home.
Reestablishing the building blocks in your training foundation at the start of a session is like a circle check before driving your truck and trailer. Are all systems working well before we take it on the road? These include voice commands and yielding to pressure — the language we use on the ground extends to the conversation under saddle. We speak the same language at home as at a horse show. Skipping training steps inevitably leads to stepping backwards in the process — it’s false economy.
Think of your positioning like a pie slice — your horse at the base of the triangle and you, in neutral position,
at the point (FIGURE 1). Your lunge line and lunge whip form the two sides of the triangle, with the tip of your whip lowered. Move sideways, slightly behind your horse and elevate your whip arm to send him forward. Slide sideways, toward his shoulder to direct him straight for a few strides, enlarging the circle. This tends to slow the horse as well. If you slide too far in front of his shoulder, however, he may turn around on you.
OUT OF CONTROL The horse is oblivious to the person on the other end of the line and whirls around at his pace of choice (typically whinnying). What’s more, the horse cuts in toward the lunger. In a herd, more dominant horses move those less so. The less dominant horse defers his space and peace reigns. This language of pressure and release will make sense to your horse. When you move towards his shoulder and point your whip, make sure he steps away from you, widening the circle. Resist stepping back from the horse
FIGURE 1
to keep your lunge line taut – move him away from you. When you step and gesture your whip toward his hind end, you should expect him to accelerate promptly. Done well, lunging becomes like a dance.
I like a horse to remain perpendicular to me when he stops. Turning in from the rim of the circle, toward me, is contrary to the defer-your-space theme of our ground training. Your horse’s ears should always be tuned in to you, checking in for your measured voice signals and gestures.
Lunging is more than simply exercise or a way to wear a horse down without thought to any training. Instead, ask your horse lots of questions in your lunging conversation to keep him connected to you. Will you move away from me? Will you lengthen your stride? Will you slow down? Change your location and shift your circle around the perimeter of the ring.
COMPLEX DIALOGUE Like The Boy Who Cried Wolf, chattering desensitizes your horse to your voice and as a result,
he won’t respond when you really mean it. Keep your commands simple. Horses understand tone more than the words themselves. The commands I use are fairly universal — a cluck means move or accelerate; “whoa” signals a complete and immediate stop; kiss is for canter; and a long “aahh” sound (as in waaaaaalk or traahht) signals a downward transition. Any voice commands my horse disregards will be followed up with my whip (for upward transitions) or pressure from my lunge line (for downward transitions).
Use the exact same commands you’ll use under saddle. If saying “trot on” won’t fit your riding program, don’t use it on the ground.
CONSTANT NAGGING If lunging becomes an aerobic activity for you as much as for your horse, you’re working too hard. If it dawns on you that if you stop working, your horse stops moving, it’s time to expect your horse to take more responsibility. Selfcarriage is when the horse maintains his rhythm, pace, and line by himself without you holding him there. I aim to use my whip thoughtfully — no threatening or stagecoach cracking. If my horse ignores my cluck and whip gesture, I promptly cast the lash toward him to flick him with the tassel — a bit like fly fishing, I guess. Enough to wake him up, but not to flee.
TUG OF WAR When it’s hard to discern who’s lunging whom, lunging becomes a tug-of-war. The lunge line should always be soft between the horse and the lunger. I insist that the horse find his own balance and not pull on me. Lightness to my hand on the lunge translates to lightness to my rein aids.
Using a rope halter (FIGURE 2) or lunging cavesson (FIGURE 3) provides more control and focused pressure if needed. Lunging with a plain halter invites the horse to lug on pressure or even head out of the circle on a tangent. A human is no match for a 1000-pound animal on a beeline for the gate. An experienced lunger builds a rapport through lunging. Her hand communicates a thoughtful and timely “resist and release.” For such a handler, using a chain over the nose (FIGURE 4) can afford more motivation for fine-tuned communication. The horse feels no pressure as long as he stays within the perimeter of the circle. Training systems vary — some horsemen thread the line through the bit and over the poll, clipping to the opposite side (FIGURE 5). Because I build toward side reins, connected to the bit, I opt to attach the line elsewhere to avoid conflicting signals.
PLAYING My horses can save their bucking for the paddock. As prey animals, the faster a horse’s legs go, the faster his heart beats and adrenaline pumps. Expressing the flight response makes a hot horse even hotter.
Keep a lid on a fresh horse. I keep to a trot until he’s composed and never let him initiate the canter. In addition to winding a horse up, ripping around on a circle causes strain on his joints.
FISHTAILING The root of cross-cantering and breaking gait is allowing the haunches to drift offline. I keep a horse aligned by lunging in a series of straight lines instead of a true circle. Using side reins helps to keep his train cars on the track. A horse in alignment also has
weight distributed evenly on all legs. As I see it, lunging itself isn’t stressful for the horse’s legs, but unbalanced lunging is. An added bonus for the lunger — walking on your own octagon shape helps thwart the dizziness of spinning on your heel.
Focused and purposeful lunging is a great horse-training tool, helping to keep you safe and your horse, sound! b
> Lindsay Grice is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
• Do secure your reins or remove them altogether. Twist and thread reins through the throatlatch, buckle or tie to the saddle. Whichever method you use, ensure your horse could never step through them if he lowered his head and got lively with his front feet.
• Do limit vocabulary. Multiple voice commands for the same request confuses the horse.
• Do use a lunge whip with a long lash. If you’re unable to reach the horse to follow up your command to accelerate, he’ll become dull to your aids.
• Do alternate start directions. Though it’s not necessary to lunge both directions, avoid the common default of launching only to the left.
• Do alternate locations. Shift your circle around in the ring, moving according to your body language.
• Don’t lead a horse forward with side reins attached. Opposing forces invite confusion. Send the horse forward into the contact from behind with your whip.
• Don’t let your horse make unauthorized decisions, such as trotting, cantering, or turning, in without being asked.
• Don’t let the horse run and buck. Keep a lid on the energy level.
• Don’t canter until your horse is calm.
• Don’t wrap the lunge line around your hand, which could cause the line to tighten around your hand if the horse bolts or spooks. Rather, loop the excess lunge line back and forth across your hand accordion-style, so it’s easy to lengthen and shorten, and hold it in your whip hand.
others, which is, of course, an impossible task.
No?
That doesn’t surprise me.
Losing control is one of the most prevalent fears we experience as humans.
At the root of this fear is the belief that if we are not able to control the present and the future, something terrible will happen. Those of us with a high need for certainty and control can live in a near constant state of stress. The stress stems from attempting to predict and control the future to protect themselves and
As riders, we grapple with control more tangibly than most. Anyone who has been on a bolting or panicking horse has come face-to-face with this difficult reality: We do not have 100 percent control over our horses.
This can be a difficult reality to accept. Often, after a traumatic experience such as a bolt or a bad fall, part of our coping mechanism is to do everything we can to feel more in control in the saddle. Ironically, however, an over-focus on control while riding can steer things in an unhelpful, possibly dangerous, direction. This article will talk you through some mental strategies to develop a healthier
relationship with control. Implementing these strategies will support you to develop confidence, manage nerves and fear, and help you create a stronger and more positive relationship with your horse.
In a famous study, researchers presented participants with two choices. Option one was to go into a room and receive a small electric shock (slightly painful but not harmful) and then go home. For the second option they would stay in another room for an unknown length of time and that something would happen, but they wouldn’t know ahead of time what that thing was. Which would
Do you enjoy feeling out of control?
you choose? Most people chose the electric shock, which gives us some insight into how humans feel about uncertainty: We do NOT like it!
In general, we prefer the known negative (in this case, getting an electric shock) to the unknown.
This is because when faced with the unknown, our brain usually jumps to the worst-case-scenario due to our natural negativity bias. However, this tendency can severely limit our thinking. In the study, most people assumed option two would be worse than option one, but the few participants who chose option two were simply given a cup of coffee and sent on their way after 10 minutes. When faced with the unknown we subconsciously assume uncertainty means danger, but this isn’t true.
Uncertainty simply means possibility. When we don’t know what is going to happen, that means there is an amazing range of possible outcomes from terrible to wonderful and everything in between. If you don’t know how high your horse can jump yet, then he may not get as far as you hope, or he might surpass what you currently imagine is possible. Facing the uncertainty of the future can be scary if we believe we need certainty to be okay. It is only through accepting that we can never be truly certain about the future and recognising that we can thrive without certainty — and in fact we have been doing this our entire lives — that we can start to be free of our fear of losing control.
Form a realistic understanding of what you control and what you do not.
Most individuals who have an unhealthy relationship with control sit on the extreme ends of the control spectrum, which ranges from zero control to absolute control. On the zero control end, they decide that one cannot control anything in life and accepting that is the only way to be okay. Those on the absolute control end decide that one must control everything to be okay. Neither extreme works very well, because reality sits somewhere in the middle. Yes, we can’t control a lot of the things in our lives. But, instead of letting that overwhelm you, the most helpful thing is to recognise that the short list of things we do fully control is powerful.
What if we became exceptionally good at putting our focus and energy into this short list instead of getting constantly distracted by the things we can’t control?
When we control the controllables we can have an amazing amount of positive influence over the quality of our rides, and our lives.
Here is a list of things we DO NOT control, but which often distract us:
• The weather;
• The thoughts and opinions of the people watching us ride;
• The decisions and actions of other riders sharing the arena;
• Our horse’s reactions and decisions;
• How this moment will impact our future possibilities;
• Past events and experiences.
Here are the things we DO control that we benefit from focusing on while riding:
• Our thinking. Think about what you want to have happen instead of what you don’t want to have happen. I want to ride a balanced trot through the corner, instead of I don’t want my horse to spook at the jumps in the corner;
• Our beliefs. Choose to focus on all the evidence you have that demonstrates you are a good, capable rider. Choose to back yourself and be your own biggest cheerleader;
• Our reactions. Choose to react with curiosity instead of emotion. I wonder why that didn’t work? Instead of, Oh no, that was so embarrassing;
• Our focus. Choose to look for the calmness of the present moment by focusing on the task at hand. Notice when you’re getting distracted by the stories your brain produces and return to the present moment.
Choose an Internal Locus of Control instead of an External Locus of Control
Having an internal locus of control means deciding that you are the biggest driving influence in the outcomes of your life. From this perspective you believe that no matter what happens to you, you will ultimately be able to influence the outcome through your own actions and reactions. This belief is empowering and promotes responsibility and accountability.
In contrast, an external locus of
control comes from believing that the events of your life are more powerful than your choices. From this perspective you believe that it doesn’t matter what you do or how you react, larger forces such as luck or fate will ultimately control the outcomes of your life. This belief can create hopelessness and even a victim mentality where we believe everything is against us.
A rider with an internal locus of control is realistic and understands that she only controls a small list of things. Critically, she believes the things she does control are the most important and influential factors shaping her experience and results. Interestingly, research shows that people with an internal locus of control are happier and much more satisfied with their lives than people with an external locus of control. There is a lot to gain from taking on this perspective.
Because horse sport carries a real physical risk, it’s important to realise that striving for total control is not the best way to keep ourselves safe. This approach only leaves us increasingly tense and anxious as we inevitably do not achieve the total control we seek.
Tension and anxiety then influence the horse and make unwanted behaviour more likely. Counterintuitively, we are safest on a horse when we accept that we do not and cannot have complete control. We instead direct our energy into the things we do control, such as our state of mind and reactions, which then positively influence the horse and our ability to handle unexpected behaviour.
Any time we mount a horse we choose to put ourselves in a situation where we do not have 100 percent control over the outcomes. Yet we continue to ride horses because, as riders, we know that if we can surrender our need for absolute control and trust in ourselves and the horse, the joy and growth we get from the experience is 100 percent worth it. In this way riding is an interesting metaphor for life. It takes courage to get on the back of a horse, just as it takes courage to keep living fully in the face of an uncertain future. Ultimately, I believe that this is one of the biggest lessons horses teach us: You can still accomplish amazing things in the absence of complete control. It is only through accepting uncertainty and relinquishing control that we can create room for possibility in our riding and in our lives. b
> Annika McGivern is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
Uncertainty simply means possibility.
Contrary to what the name may imply, Pony Club isn’t just for little kids on ponies. Pony Club is an international volunteer-based organization that originated in Britain and came to Canada in the 1930s. The Canadian Pony Club alumni Wall of Fame reads like a “who’s who” of Canadian equestrians: Ian Millar, Beth Underhill, Chelan Kozak, Christilot Boylen, Dana Cooke, Danny Foster, Gina
Smith, Jim Henry, Jimmy Elder, Joni Lynn Peters, Karen Brain, Leslie Reid, Liz Ashton, Lorraine Stubbs, Lynn Larsen, Rebecca Howard, Rob Stevenson, Sandra Donnelly, Tik Maynard, and many more. Some of those alumni still compete at top level; some no longer ride. But they all struggled through a series of written, stable management, and riding tests, then put those skills and
knowledge to use to become some of Canada’s best riders.
“From a very young age, Pony Club impressed on me the importance of properly caring for an animal — down to the nitty gritty details,” says Jill Irving, who won a team gold medal for Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games and was a travelling reserve for Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic dressage team. “It was
Alberta North Pony Club members at the 2022 National Rally.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY BROUWER
PHOTO: ©CEALY TETLEYWWW.TETLEYPHOTO.COM
Jill Irving, riding Degas 12, was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian Dressage Team at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
PHOTOS:
JILL IRVING COLLECTION
ingrained in us that there’s as much to looking after horses as there is to riding. They’re not machines, they’re animals and they have feelings. They have good days and bad days.”
Irving became a member of the Sudbury Pony Club in Ontario after her father brought home a pony, which they kept in their backyard.
“I was about six years old and we didn’t have a clue what we were doing,” she says. Irving and her sister started attending Pony Club at the local riding school to learn how to care for their new pony.
About 40 years ago, large cities and small towns had different qualities of horses and coaches, but because Pony Club was standardized, Irving says, “It was one system that we all followed. In
my day, Pony Club was available in very small communities. It didn’t matter whether you were from Sudbury, Toronto, Vancouver, Lethbridge, or any small town.
“For a young kid coming from a smaller community, it was wonderful,” says Irving. “It prepared us for the big leagues. It gave me a great horsemanship foundation which emphasized the importance of horse care, plus instilled values of hard work, volunteerism, and giving back.”
Pony Club started in Great Britain in 1929 and came to Canada in 1934. The first Canadian branch was started by the Eglinton Hunt Club in Toronto, Ontario. Today there are about 180 local branches in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Each branch is run by volunteers — parents, grandparents, or former Pony Clubbers.
“One of Pony Club’s core values is education,” says Brad Holub, who volunteers as the National Chair for Canadian Pony Club. “We establish an incredible foundation of horsemanship for Pony Clubbers to work from and have very high standards and expectations around caring for horses and how members conduct themselves.”
Exceptional horse care and everyday hard work are attributes that Brian Morton says have helped him get to where he is today. He’s the resident rider at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta and credits Pony Club for giving him a solid start in the horse industry.
“Working with horses was a childhood dream,” says Brian Morton, who has jumped for Canada on three senior Nations’ Cup teams.
“I started riding when I was six and shortly thereafter, it was pretty clear that this was going to be the major thing in my life. Riding was the only career I ever seriously considered. Pony Club was a big part of my education to be ready to do that and do it well.”
Like Irving, Morton started Pony Club at age six or seven. He was a member of Vancouver Pony Club and completed all the levels, passing “A” level at age 19. After graduating from Pony Club in his late teens, Morton started to specialize in show jumping. Following ten years of operating a training and teaching business with Mark Laskin, plus another four years on his own, Morton got the job developing and competing Spruce Meadows’ horses.
“There are about 60 horses,” says
FOR A
Do your feet hurt or fall asleep while riding? Do your ankles, knees, or hips ache when you’re in the saddle?
Canadian Pony Club is hoping to reconnect with former members who are still in the industry to help bring the organization forward.
Morton. “I ride between five and ten horses a day. Plus, I have a hand in the breeding program, help develop young horses, and do a little bit of teaching.
“Pony Club gave me a really good education in conformation, soundness, nutrition, veterinary care, lunging, horse care — the stable management side of things,” says Morton. “I recognized what an asset [a Pony Club education] was going to be for my future in the horse industry.”
Almost 20 years later, he still draws on that knowledge.
“When vets start talking about the anatomy of the lower leg and they’re not slowing down to put it in layman’s terms — they’re giving you the full scientific explanation — I understand that,” says Morton. “That’s a direct result of my Pony Club education.”
Although Irving couldn’t complete the riding portion of her “A” test due to a lame horse, she has similar reflections.
“I learned to provide a very high standard of care for horses at a very young age and I think my standards today are very high,” she says. “I’ve seen other riders that haven’t been through Pony Club and I think some of them are lacking in that way.”
Karl Slezak had a slightly different Pony Club journey from Irving and Morton, but also continues to use knowledge gained from his years in the organization. Slezak just returned from riding on Canada’s Three-Day Eventing team at the 2022 World Championships in Italy, 25 years after he started eventing in southern Ontario at age 15. He became a member of Albion Pony Club in Ontario at age 16 and zoomed up the levels to complete his “A” test.
“The knowledge and attention to detail [that Pony Club provided] has made it easier to manage horses at the upper levels of three-day eventing,” says Slezak. “It helps us keep the horses
New Forest Ponies are intelligent, friendly and very easy to train. They have horse-like gaits and are sturdy enough to carry adults, even in competition, but narrow enough for children to learn to ride properly.
Pony Club is one of the few affordable ways that horse-crazy kids of non-horsey parents can enter an increasingly expensive sport that can be difficult for outsiders to navigate. Pony Club’s motto is Loyalty, Character, Sportsmanship and the volunteer organization aims to develop strong riders; safe, knowledgeable equestrians; and upstanding citizens. As society becomes distanced from horses, Pony Club promotes a culture of long-term effort and hard work, both of which are necessary to achieve success in the horse world.
There are almost 180 Pony Club branches (individual clubs) in eight Canadian provinces. Children, youth and young adults aged five through 25 can participate. Those age 21 and up can participate in the Horse Masters program. Branches are run by volunteer parents, grandparents and former Pony Clubbers.
Pony Club branches may offer riding lessons, stable management lessons (practical and theory), Prince Philip Cup Games (team gymkhanas), tetrathlon (ride, run, swim, shoot), quiz (non-mounted theory and prac tical competitions), rally (a three-day event), and show jumping, and dressage competitions. Exceptional pony clubbers can apply for international teams to compete
and facing page).
against other countries in these events, too.
Members can also choose to test their knowledge against national standards from “D” level (the lowest) to “A” (the highest). There are both stable management and riding streams so that members can test at higher levels without exceptional riding skills. The organization is run by volunteers and teen members often teach younger children.
Pony Club standards are recognized worldwide and achieving the full “A” level is a significant accomplishment. It requires in-depth equine knowledge, practical stable management skills for managing a professional barn, ability to teach lessons and lunge young horses, plus dressage and 1.2-metre show jumping skills.
Pony Club graduates are known to be knowledgeable and competent equestrians and are in demand as riders, trainers, coaches, grooms, and stable managers worldwide. Many have developed careers in the international horse industry, working and riding at the top levels of horse sport. b
sound and competing.”
But all three riders say there’s more to Pony Club than horse-y education.
“There’s a lot of traveling you can do with Pony Club that I think is great for exposure,” says Slezak.
“We did a lot of really fun things as a group,” says Irving. “We went to the Mohawk Rally [similar to today’s horse trials], which was outside of Toronto at the Mohawk Raceway. It was a really big deal. I remember meeting kids from all over Ontario when I was 12 or 13 years old. It was my window into travel and meeting other kids that did what I did. It was eye-opening.”
“Pony Club encouraged me to have a broader view,” Morton says. “I didn’t become discipline-focused in the early stages of my career and I think that set me up for success.”
He explains, “I met a lot of people through Pony Club — dressage riders, three-day riders, show jumpers, people in the hunter industry. I think that was useful for my connection base.”
Irving says camaraderie was a big part of Pony Club, too. “I’m still really good friends with some of the people I grew up with in Pony Club and we have a good laugh about some of the antics we got up to.”
With all these benefits, it’s surprising there aren’t more Pony Club members today. Although there are Pony Clubs in over 20 countries, Canada’s club is struggling to attract members.
“We have about 2,000 members right now,” says Holub. “But that’s down from about 6,000 members ten years ago. So, we’re really looking to grow the membership and update the organization to become more relevant going forward.”
Canadian Pony Club is hoping to reconnect with former members who are still in the industry to help bring the
Karl Slezak and Kachemak Bay competing in the dressage phase of the 2009 Rolex Kentucky CCI4*.
PHOTO: MICHELLE DUNN
organization forward.
“It’s an old organization that hasn’t evolved as quickly as the horse industry has changed,” Holub says. “But we have a lot of volunteers who volunteer with Pony Club for life.”
“Nothing happened in Pony Club unless everyone volunteered,” says Irving. “That was a life lesson for me.”
It’s a lesson that stuck. Today, Irving provides opportunities for young, up-and-coming Canadian riders to travel to Florida and meet international riders, watch lessons and shows, and attend non-riding clinics through the Jill Irving Youth Equine Mentor Program.
“I believe the opportunities that Sudbury Pony Club gave me took me out of my little hometown and opened my eyes,” says
Brian Morton competing in Prince Philip Games during his Pony Club years.
PHOTO: BRIAN MORTON COLLECTION
PHOTO: RYLEE SMOLARCHUK PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Morton is now the resident rider at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta.
At Arenus, we believe in solutions not just supplements. The best solutions resolve the issue and prevent future problems.
This is why I founded Arenus Animal Health. To offer long term solutions for the everyday health challenges that horses face.
As a practicing veterinarian, I’ve spent many sleepless nights tending to colicking horses and decided there must be a better way to support these recurrent colic cases long term. After much research and careful attention to formulas, the Assure product family was introduced. Since that time over a decade ago, veterinarians across the United States have come to trust the Assure products to solve their toughest digestive cases.
Most supplement companies are created without research or simply built on the grounds of others’ ingredient research. Arenus Animal Health offers an exclusive line of unique products, extensively researched and clinically proven in their final form to offer lasting solutions to common health concerns.
Every product, as with every effort of Arenus Animal Health, serves the singular purpose of supporting better, more complete health and wellness through nutritional science. Our philosophy is grounded in the thought that more is not always better. If you’re feeding a large cocktail of daily supplements to your horse, then something is wrong with the program or the supplements themselves. Many horses, particularly performance horses, will benefit from supplementation. However, you need to be critical about the supplements you’re giving your horse.
At Arenus, we don’t bring on new supplements to fill a catalog or sell more products. Our line of supplements is limited to those that provide optimum health and serve a purpose in solving a problem. Our products contain the highest formulation technology, the best ingredients, and proven researched results. For that reason, you will find simple, straightforward ingredients and a product lineup designed to work with your overall care program to promote long-term health and wellness.
We guarantee that our products will help with the major challenges they are formulated to address. Whether it’s for digestive, reproductive, respiratory, structural, or overall health, our products simply work. Try them for yourself. If your horse isn’t healthier or you are not satisfied for any reason, just give our team a call. We will not only be happy to personally help you figure out a better solution for your horse, but we will also take the product back and give you a full refund.
At Arenus we’ve dedicated ourselves to developing products that actually prevent and resolve the most challenging health issues that horses face. We look forward to working with you to enhance your animal’s wellness and longevity.
Sincerely,
Jay Altman,
DVM President, Arenus Animal HealthIn working to bring the Assure line of products to Canada, it was discovered that the Assure name had been registered to another company. So, Canada gets the whole Assure line of digestive aids but under the new name Secure. The Secure products will bring the same great results with the same great guarantees as Assure.
Colic remains the number one killer for horses. Modern veterinary medicine has reduced and nearly eliminated colic caused by parasite infestations. Advancements in diagnostics, treatment and surgical methods have greatly improved the lives of horses suffering from colic episodes. However, with all these advancements, little has been done to address the management of stress that today’s horses suffer. Stress comes in many forms for our horses. Feed schedules, show schedules, training and exercise, separation from friends and everyday life in stalls and confinement all contribute to stress. For many horses this leads to varying degrees of digestive disturbance, leaky gut or even inflammatory bowel disease or colitis. These conditions are at epidemic levels among horses today. The worst part is that many riders are unaware their horses are even suffering. Digestive disturbance symptoms are too often dismissed because they’ve sadly become the norm. Bad attitudes, cinchy horses, difficult training and frequent bad performance days are all indicators of poor digestive health. Even overt symptoms like poor body condition and diarrhea get overlooked. It’s time that we started looking out for our horses and offered them the relief they deserve.
The Secure System has become a staple for veterinarians across the country in the fight against tough digestive and gastric issues. The stressful challenges that horses face has made it necessary to not only resolve digestive health problems, but to prevent issues and maintain long term health. Today more than ever our horses need digestive maintenance and support throughout their lives. They need the help of a great digestive support program. The Secure System addresses these modern day challenges for optimal health, comfort and enhanced performance.
The Assure/Secure products were developed with a different approach than other digestive supplements. The goal was to provide the best support to all portions of the digestive tract by adjusting the physiologic disturbances that are the root cause. There is no pharmaceutical product that can achieve this goal, nor a single supplement ingredient that comes close. By combining all of the right ingredients in just the right amount and then utilizing our proprietary Gastrointestinal Stabilizing Technology (GST) to produce an enteric coated delivery system we are able to effectively reverse the causes of GI disturbance. Reducing acidity, improving enzyme digestive function, stabilizing the hind-gut microflora, reducing inflammation and accelerating colonocyte repair and regeneration are all part of the functions of each and every Secure product. Not only have the products been extensively researched, but they have been awarded patents for reducing recurrent colic, reducing ulcers, resolving diarrhea and improving GI motility. Secure provides the most complete and effective method to resolve digestive disturbance and provide a digestive maintenance program that will keep your horses healthy and “happy”.
“I am amazed at the difference that I have seen in my horses on Assure Guard Gold, they are feeling better and performing better. I recommend Assure Guard Gold to anyone and everyone, even if their horses do not have diagnosed ulcer issues the GI improvements make a remarkable difference. GI health is so important to the overall health of the horse that the long-term benefits are tremendous!”
Fast-acting and effective, Secure Guard Gold combines our proven pairing of Secure Guard and Secure Plus into a complete, daily pelleted formula.
FAST DIGESTIVE AILMENT CONDITIONING: Secure Guard Gold packs a powerful punch and delivers fast digestive conditioning. Many owners see results in less than one week!
ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND WELLNESS: You don’t know how much of your horse you’ve lost to digestive health issues until you’ve addressed the problem. Having a calm and happy digestive system keeps your horse at the top of their game.
TOTAL DIGESTIVE SUPPORT: Secure Guard Gold works to support the entire digestive tract from the stomach through the hindgut. You can trust that your horse’s total digestive health is being supported for optimal function.
ALL-IN-ONE DIGESTIVE AID : A single ingredient won’t fix a horse’s digestive system. It takes the right combination to ensure proper digestive health. Secure Guard Gold combines our proven pairing of Secure Guard and Secure Plus into an all-in-one digestive aid. It’s the only product on the market that blends the quality ingredients necessary for a complete, daily solution.
This patented and veterinary approved supplement provides a powerful digestive support solution for enhanced performance and conditioning. Our proprietary psyllium process and special enteric coated pellets ensures delivery of beneficial microbes and ingredients. It addresses common ailments like colic, ulcers and more.
Our horses lead stressful lives. Their genetics dictate they live free, roam large areas, graze 20 hours a day, and have established position in the “pecking order” of their herd. In captivity, our horses live in a confinement management system, are fed intermittent meals, and are often separated from other horses. Although there have been many advancements in horse care, it has been a constant struggle to address and manage the stress today’s horses suffer. Feed schedules, show schedules, training and exercise, separation from friends and everyday life in stalls and confinement all contribute to stress.
Several studies have been conducted on the effect of stress on the horse. However, very few have focused on the influence of stress on digestive health. They often focus on heartrate, cortisol levels, or reproduction, which although important, fail to address one of the main systems most influenced by stress, digestion. Many times, we recognize this stress as acute or chronic diarrhea, weight loss and poor condition, or behavior changes. Horses with these conditions are living in a state of constant digestive disturbance and consequently predisposed to suffer from acute or recurrent colic episodes. Even a small amount of additional stress such as a change in temperature or a low water trough can tip these individuals into a state of digestive distress.
You may be asking, if these issues are so prevalent, why haven’t more studies been performed to better understand this relationship? One key component is access to the affected area. As many of us have experienced firsthand, it is extremely difficult to image or enter the hindgut due to the horse’s anatomy, whether in cases of emergency or as a diagnostic tool. Consequently, with the development of the 3-meter endoscope, most of the studies involving digestive health have centered around gastric ulcers, a more easily accessible area. Work has been done observing the influence of psychological stress such as training and showing on gastric ulcer formation. Although the stomach is quite important it is still only a small portion of the total digestive system.
Unlike the horse, the human digestive tract is more easily accessible, allowing for the use of many new technologies, including Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI), helping physicians to better understand the causes behind many gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. These technologies have led many physicians to a shift in approach, from merely managing the symptoms to treating the root cause of the disease and its predisposing influences. New technologies have made it possible to classify all the GI diseases in humans by location and better understand the underlying causes of disease, leading to a new term Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID.)
Even though these new technologies are not available to the horse, we can still use the components of FGID in humans to better understand equine digestive disorders. There are many similarities between FGID in humans and horses. Both involve abnormal motility and inflammation. There is also a connection between the nervous and digestive systems, creating a negative feedback loop, often the cause of digestive disturbances such as hindgut inflammation and possibly even colonic ulcers. In the horse these FGIDs may start out small with weight loss or poor performance, but if left untreated can, over time, develop into ulcers, chronic and acute diarrhea, colitis, or even colic.
But how does this process start? There are many different factors that can lead to hindgut disfunction including intermittent meals, sand irritation, antibiotics, NSAIDs, and large grain meals. These elements can lead to a buildup of lactic acid, altered motility and the death of beneficial hindgut microflora. Together, these negative effects merge leading to bacterial overgrowth, a change in mucosal secretions, and mucosal inflammation resulting in colitis. Underneath these changes are the everyday stressors our horses endure; confinement, trailering, separation, and the stress of performance and training all feed into this cycle, intensifying the underlying GI disorder. This cycle can greatly alter GI function, not only affecting performance and overall condition but leading to various disorders including Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Within traditional management practices the changes needed to reverse this stressful cycle are difficult and at times impossible to implement. Lack of real estate and the move of horse owners to more suburban areas limit the ability for the horse to live in its natural state, on pasture. Some changes can be made to their diet such as feeding less concentrate, higher quality and free choice forage, as well feeding more meals per day. Changing training and trailering routines may also help to reduce everyday stressors. However, these changes alone may not be enough to improve the horse’s stress level and mitigate its effect on their digestive health.
Incorporating a high-quality digestive aid, such as Secure Guard Gold, into your feeding program is the best or only solution to stabilizing the negative effects caused by the plethora of stressors your horses encounter on a regular basis. Secure Guard Gold provides the most complete and effective method to resolve digestive disturbance and provide support to the entire digestive tract from the stomach to the hindgut, helping your horse face daily digestive disturbances and look and feel his or her best.
Soothing and powerful, Secure Guard offers a solution to the most challenging digestive health problems in an effective, daily granular formula.
SOOTHING ULCER RELIEF: Ulcer treatments can wreak havoc on any horse by throwing off the normal balance of the digestive system. Secure Guard soothes the system and is patented to ameliorate ulcers to keep your horse feeling healthy and comfortable.
IMPROVED HEALTH AND OVERALL WELLNESS: Any digestive issue can disrupt your horse’s performance and comfort. Cinchy and irritable horses often have underlying digestive health problems. Ulcers are painful and make travel, training and riding a nightmare for your horse. Having a calm and happy digestive system keeps your horse relaxed and focused.
WHOLE DIGESTIVE SUPPORT: Secure Guard works to support the entire digestive tract from the stomach through the hindgut where additional gastric conditioning is required.
FLEXIBLE, TARGETED COVERAGE: Use Secure Guard daily for cost-effective maintenance of difficult gastric problems.
64 equine veterinarians and owners throughout the United States volunteered 144 horses with challenging gastrointestinal disorders to be enrolled in a research trial using the commercially available and patented Secure System. The cases were chronic or recurrent and trial periods were variable and limited for each particular digestive disorder. The trial established expectations for resolution within these limited feeding periods.
100% of horses with recurrent colic had shown a decrease in frequency of episodes.
Horses saw an average of 90% fewer colics within the initial treatment period.
80% of horses with chronic diarrhea were fully resolved or improved in 30 days.
81% of horses suspected with gastric ulcers were resolved or improved in 60 days.
100% of horses with sand accumulation were resolved or improved in 45 days.
94% of horses with poor body condition or weight loss were resolved or improved based on desired weight in 60 days.
Treatment during a relatively short term research trial has shown The Secure System of digestive aids to be excellent support products for both challenging digestive cases as well as regular daily support with proper dosing and duration. Improvement and resolution has been seen in all forms of digestive health issues including horses with chronic gastrointestinal disorders, particularly recurrent colic, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and motility disturbances.
When it comes to Omega-3 products, not all are created equal. This is because not all Omega-3s contain DHA, one of the most beneficial, natural Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids. DHA provides advanced cellular support for reproductive, respiratory and immune health.
Omega-3 supplements commonly source their Omega-3 Fatty Acids from low-DHA fish oil or non-DHA flaxseed. These sources do little to support your horse’s respiratory and immune health. Fish oil also exposes horses to the risk of heavy metal toxicity. Flaxseeds, although vegetarian, don’t provide the right type of Omega-3 Fatty Acids to optimally support respiratory and immune functions, yet can be of benefit to other body systems.
Our Omega-3 products are made from the same, safe algae-derived DHA used in human infant formula. As herbivores, horses are able to naturally absorb this bioavailable, algal-DHA for maximum health benefits. This is why we use it as the base of our respiratory and reproductive health supplements. Aleira is a unique blend of algal-DHA, antioxidant-rich mushrooms, vitamin C and MSM. This effective combo addresses inflammation and immune responses for horses with a range of respiratory issues.
Stall confinement. Tighter living quarters. Travel and trailering. Indoor exercise and dusty arenas.
All of these factors have led to a significant increase in allergic reactions and low level respiratory disease. More horses than ever before show symptoms of low level cough, drippy noses and low level breathing difficulties due to the early effects of airway inflammation. These horses need daily support instead of a medical treatment alone.
Ziegler Arenus Ambassador
“Aleira’s use as a therapy in both acute and chronic cases has impressed me to the degree that it has become a go to product in my practice and one that I highly recommend. In EIPH, IAD and severe dermatitis cases, Aleira has been a great success as an adjunctive therapy. A grand prix jumper I worked with who suffered from severe, chronic EIPH on a daily basis, showed marked clinical improvement after 45 days on Aleira. Other therapies and treatments had been unsuccessful in this horse. This is one of the many cases where I have witnessed significant improvement while using Aleira.”
Miller-Turpin DVM, DACVIMEven when it comes to severe respiratory disease issues such as Heaves or Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), anti-inflammatories and steroids are not always the best answer. Like a band-aid they offer a quick fix and at times are very necessary, but often don’t get to the root of the problem. Cellular support addresses the underlying issue and offers consistent, daily maintenance.
Years of research by our veterinarians and nutritionists have resulted in an algal-DHA based formula that makes a dramatic difference in horses with breathing and allergy challenges. Our formula can also be safely used in conjunction with traditional treatments. In many cases, horses are able to be supported on Aleira alone. If your horse is a bleeder or struggles with other respiratory or immune problems, then Aleira is the answer you’ve been waiting for.
Meg DavidOur horses live with respiratory challenges every day. Dust, molds, pollen, and other allergens can be found almost anywhere from a bale of hay to the barn, or stable environment. Even heavy urine odor can be irritating.
On top of the “normal” environment challenges, add travel, shows, and other physical demands that high performance requires and it’s no wonder so many horses suffer from respiratory and immune issues such as Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), allergies, and hives. In fact, up to 50% of performance horses experience IAD or Equine Asthma.
At Arenus, we wanted to find a non-pharmaceutical way to counter these issues, especially when the environment or level of performance can’t be altered. Anti-inflammatories and steroids are not always the best answer. They offer a quick fix, and while at times are very necessary, often don’t get to the root of the problem and many times are performance limiting. This is why we created Aleira. Years of research by our veterinarians and nutritionists has resulted in an algal-DHA based formula that makes a dramatic difference in horses with breathing and allergy challenges, by not only reducing inflammation and modulating immune responses, but through algal-DHA’s direct action on the cell membranes within the lungs. Many horses on Aleira can reduce or eliminate steroid and bronchodilator use completely.
While other products may claim the same results as Aleira, none of them contain the same ingredients. There are three main Omega-3 Fatty Acids that are referenced in studies and used in respiratory supplements– DHA, EPA and ALA. DHA and EPA are primarily responsible for the improvement in ailments and dysfunctions of the immune, respiratory and reproductive systems. Flaxseed contains only ALA which the body must then convert to DHA and EPA to enjoy the beneficial effects associated with Omega-3s. Horses can’t convert ALA effectively enough to provide DHA or EPA benefits. To effectively supplement DHA and EPA, the source must be oceanic. Fish oil is the common form available for supplementation and is very effective for carnivores. Aleira uses an oceanic, algae-derived source of DHA, the best possible for respiratory and immune issues in horses and the same source of DHA found in prenatal vitamins.
More bioavailable than flaxseed or fish oil, our purified, algal-DHA acts at a cellular level to not only strengthen and support cell membranes, but also confer increased elasticity and flexibility. Additionally, our proprietary mushroom blend provides potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, promotes normal respiratory function, and supports healthy lung and immune function. Many respiratory issues often have an immune component; Aleira includes additional ingredients such as Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and Vitamin C for additional help to support the immune system and respiratory health.
Proper immune function is critical for not only proper respiratory function, but overall health. With some horses, we are fighting an “uphill” battle against the immune system and additional support is required to fully address the issue. It is important to consider not only the cellular status of their respiratory and immune system but the condition of their digestive system as 60 to 70% of immune function can come from digestive health. The horse’s gastrointestinal tract forms a protective barrier between the bloodstream and the external world. What’s inside their gut is still “outside” their body. The gut deals with the pathogens in everything a horse ingests and therefore needs to have an effective immune system in place to ward off attacks and prevent illness.
Such is the situation with “Leaky Gut” or the breakdown of the intestinal and colonic lining. This deterioration of GI function leads to a breakdown of one of the first-line defenses against pathogens and can lead to further systemic problems based upon both the breakdown of the immune system and toxic invasions into the bloodstream. Until this barrier is restored, the horse will be more susceptible to everyday allergens. Adding Secure Guard Gold to your horse’s feeding regiment can help to repair this damage and reduce inflammation, thus helping to restore immune function.
If your horse suffers from respiratory conditions such as Equine Asthma and IAD or needs extra immune system support, Aleira may be the answer. The only nonpharmaceutical solution recommended by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine for the treatment of Equine Asthma, Aleira provides respiratory support through the most bioavailable source, algal-DHA. Aleira also improves immune function through ingredients such as our mushroom matrix, MSM, and vitamin C, and can replace traditional treatments such as steroids. And remember if your horse’s immune system needs an extra boost, consider adding Secure Guard Gold. You can trust Arenus to bring you only the best product and provide Solutions, not just Supplements.
Essential respiratory support, Aleira helps maintain optimal respiratory function in a daily, non-medicated supplement.
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE: Addressing airway challenges keeps your horse comfortable and at the top of their game. Aleira offers effective support for bleeders and horses with respiratory or immune responses. Aleira combats performance limiting conditions like Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), allergies, hives and dermatitis.
NON-MEDICINAL ALTERNATIVE: Powerful respiratory support without the negative side effects of traditional treatments like steroids. Safe for horses that are sensitive to traditional medications. In many cases, horses using Aleira are able to be supported on Aleira alone!
SAFE TO USE: Can be safely combined with conventional treatments for additional respiratory health support. Safe for long-term maintenance.
Our research-proven formula combines algal-DHA, an immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory proprietary Mushroom Blend, Vitamin C and MSM into a powerful supplement. It addresses inflammation and immune responses for horses with a range of respiratory issues.
“Managing equine asthma (RAO and IAD) cases has been easier thanks to Aleira. After research in my lab as well as recommending it for use in the field, I have found Aleira to be a valuable tool in managing difficult respiratory cases. My goal is to reduce equine asthma burden and find a cure that would reduce the reliance on prescription drugs, especially steroids, in managing these cases. It is helpful to horse owners and veterinarians to have at their disposal a non-drug therapy that has proven efficacy and is easy to administer. I have many cases that are now well controlled by proper management of environmental conditions and replacing or reducing drugs with Aleira.”
Reference: [Nogradi N, Couetil LL, Messick J, Stochelski MA, Burgess JA. Evaluation of an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Containing Feed Supplement in the Management of Horses with Chronic Lower Airway Inflammatory Diseases. J Vet Intern Med 2015; 29: 299-306.
Laurent Couetil DVM, DACVIM, PhD
This study was designed to examine the effects of ALEIRA® on coughing, respiratory effort and performance. Aleira is a patented formulation of ingredients including a specific and purified omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Through the research conducted at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Aleira was fed in conjunction with a low dust diet to 35 client-owned horses with chronic inflammatory diseases both recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Evaluation of laboratory and clinical parameters were made as well as assessment of daily on farm performance and results.
Overall, both clinician assigned VAS scores and owner assigned VAS scores improved 8 weeks in to the trial however, the clinician assigned VAS receiving Aleira supplementation reached statistical significance. Placebo clinician assigned VAS score increase was not significant.
VAS cough scores improved significantly in all 3 treatment groups but horses with 1 times per day dose of DHA exhibited a significantly higher VAS score 2 months later than placebo.
The effect of Aleira supplementation and pelleted feed on VAS scores was noticeable first at 2 weeks. The effects of Aleira supplementation and pelleted feed reached maximum benefit for coughing between weeks 2 and 5. The effects of Aleira supplementation and pelleted feed reached maximum effect for respiratory effort between weeks 5 and 6. The effects of Aleira supplementation and pelleted feed reached maximum effect for poor performance between weeks 3 and 5.
Aleira Supplementation for 2 months resulted in a significant reduction in neutrophils in BALF which was not observed in placebo fed horses.
Aleira Supplementation for 2 months saw a significant improvement in lung function in horses supplemented with DHA.
Aleira Supplementation for 2 months resulted in a 10-fold increase in plasma DHA levels. No other fatty acid was affected.
Supplementation of ALEIRA to horses with RAO or IAD, in combination with a complete pelleted feed, showed significant improvement in clinical signs, including cough, respiratory effort and performance as well as lung function and BALF compared to the placebo group.
2015; 29(1): 299-306.
Low conception rates. Mares taking multiple cycles to become pregnant or not conceiving for the year at all. Stallions with low sperm counts, poor quality and motility. Late-born, smaller foals at a disadvantage in yearling sales and competition.
These are some of the most pressing challenges in today’s breeding industry. These common reproductive issues are reduced with the help of a good DHA and cellular support supplement.
We developed Releira because there were no supplements available to help mares with fertility issues. There were only a few designed for stallions, but the reproductive health of mares was being ignored. Our research-proven formula offers a unique solution for a wide range of reproductive health issues, including problems with difficult mares. Supplementing with Releira helps mares that have difficulty conceiving become pregnant in fewer cycles. It reduces post-breeding uterine inflammation and fluids for higher pregnancy rates and it safely supports the mare and foal throughout gestation.
The same supplement can be fed to stallions to improve fertility. Pure algal-DHA works to not only increase sperm production, but to improve the quality of the cellular structure and progressive motility of the sperm for successful AI and live cover breedings. Even stallions with normal sperm counts often have numbers dip mid-season. Releira keeps numbers high throughout the entire season and improves numbers in stallions with low counts.
DHA improves molecular development of foals, creating a better cell membrane and more foals carried to term. Studies have proven that foals of mares supplemented with Releira have increased cognitive function and trainability. This is because quality DHA transfers to the foal during gestation and nursing.
If you’re ready for a more productive breeding season, try Releira. Our algal-DHA, research-proven formula is the solution for today’s most common fertility challenges in mares and stallions.
“I conducted a controlled trial utilizing a very robust frozen semen challenge that demonstrated a significant influence of supplementation with Releira on reducing the post breeding inflammatory response in all classes of mares.
A subsequent clinical trial involving thoroughbred mares and stallions in a commercial breeding environment further demonstrated the benefits of Releira in reducing breeding induced inflammation and improving per cycle pregnancy rates.”
Omega-3
The goal of this study was to determine if a significant difference existed in the uterine inflammatory response to frozen semen in response to supplementation with a blended algal and flaxseed source (RELEIRA) of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. 15 mixed breed horses were used in the study. 10 mares were classified as resistant based upon uterine biopsy scores of I-A or I-B and ability to clear all mating induced endometritis at 24 hours post insemination. 5 mares were classified as susceptible with uterine biopsy scores of II-B or III and the presence of uterine hyperechoic fluid at 24 hours post insemination.
Success in fewer cycles: Releira significantly improves conception rates in broodmares with a history of complications. Our DHA helps difficult mares that are typically bred in three to seven cycles to become pregnant in one cycle.
Reduced costs: Mares that don’t become pregnant still need care and resources. Quicker, successful pregnancies reduce the expenses for unbred mares and eliminates the missed opportunity of not having a foal to sell or compete with for another year.
Improved conception rates: Releira reduces post-breeding uterine inflammation and fluids for higher pregnancy rates.
Support throughout pregnancy: Safely provides constant reproductive support throughout the entire gestation period.
Boosts fertility: Improves pregnancy rates from stallions with a history of common fertility issues.
Increased sperm count: Stallions with normal sperm counts often have numbers dip mid-season. Releira keeps numbers high throughout the entire season and improves numbers in stallions with low counts.
Improved sperm quality and motility: Pure DHA works to not only increase sperm production, but to improve the quality and motility of the sperm for successful AI and live cover breedings.
More live foals: DHA improves molecular development. This creates a better cell membrane and more foals carried to term.
Less late season foals: Mares bred in fewer cycles result in foals born on time. Late-born, smaller foals are at a disadvantage against older foals in yearling sales and competition.
Improved cognitive health: Studies have proven that foals of mares supplemented with Releira have increased cognitive function and trainability. Quality DHA transfers to the foal during gestation and nursing.
A very significant reduction in uterine fluid accumulation and neutrophil infiltration was noted in the five mares classified as susceptible. Plasma DHA levels were significantly higher at day 28 and day 60 as compared to day 0. The inflammatory response, as indicated by uterine fluid presence and neutrophil infiltration, was significantly reduced at 12 and 24 hours in both resistant and susceptible mares fed RELEIRA for 63+ days.
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Oral supplementation of RELEIRA given to susceptible and resistant mares significantly reduced the post breeding inflammatory response to frozen semen.
References:
[1] Brendemuehl JP, Altman J, Kopp K. Influence of dietary algal N-3 fatty acids on breeding induced inflammation and endometrial cytokine expression in mares bred with frozen semen. J Equine Vet Sci. 2014; 34(1):123-124.
[2] J Equine Vet Sci. 2014; 34(1):123-124. Adkin AM, Warren LK, McCall CA. Effect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on behavior and cognitive development in nursing foals. J Equine Vet Sci. 2013; 33(5):363. Hansen TL, Adkin AM, Warren LK. Effect of early exposure to maternal docosahexaenoic acid on memory and cognition in weaned foals. J Equine Vet Sci. 2013; 33: 364. Adkin AM, Muniz AV, Mortensen CJ, Warren LK. Maternal fatty acid supplementation influences memory and learning ability in yearling and 2-year-old horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2015; 35: 419.
Essential reproductive support, Releira helps mares and stallions reach their full breeding potential in a daily, DHA supplement. This research-backed
formula provides reproductive health benefits for mares, stallions, and foals. It addresses common fertility issues with a readily-absorbed, vegetarian algae source.
The daily physical demands on performance horses and changes in modern footing have resulted in new challenges for our equine athletes. Soft surfaces and deeper footing puts horses at increased risk of soft tissue injuries. Orthopedic diseases like osteoarthritis only add to the problem.
But it takes more than traditional joint support to protect our horses. Today’s athletes need broader protection from tendon, ligament, joint capsule, muscular and soft tissue damages.
Equestrians today must find and use the best tools available to avoid major soft tissue injuries and control small, undetected strains and sprains before they become a major problem. This is the reason it’s crucial for riders to use great nutritional support and topicals to protect their horses.
Our Steadfast line goes beyond the abilities of traditional joint supplements. Most supplements ignore bone and soft tissue health, leaving your horse exposed to a variety of painful or career-ending injuries. Our clinically proven Steadfast formulas offer total structural support for the most comprehensive protection available today.
“RC Fancy Step has been great his entire career and he seems to be getting better with age. We attribute some of his success to using a great product like Steadfast Equine. I also use Steadfast Equine on some of my derby horses and all of my futurity horses.”
Shawn Flarida NRHA Champion and Arenus Ambassador
2X
NEM: Each packet of Steadfast Equine Performance contains a double dose of NEM compared to our original formula. Natural Eggshell Membrane provides a naturally occurring matrix of joint and structural support components that are synthetically manufactured in other supplements. NEM is a natural protein source that’s easily absorbed by horses for maximum structural support benefits. NEM results are proven more effective and faster acting than using traditional chondroitin and glucosamine. In a human study, NEM provided significant improvement to knee and hip osteoarthritis pain and stiffness within 10 days [1].
HIGH LEVEL PERFORMANCE PROTECTION: The lifestyle of equine athletes is stressful on joints, soft tissue and bone. Heavy training schedules, regular competition, frequent travel and uneven footing can lead to career-altering soft tissue injuries and chronic pain. Steadfast Equine Performance protects and preserves your horse’s joint health to extend their career and keep them comfortable in training and competition.
IMPROVED MOTION AND FLEXIBILITY: Performance horses with stiff, painful movement need total structural support for relief and comfort. Steadfast Equine Performance works fast with a powerful dose of Natural Eggshell Membrane to make your horse feel better for a longer stride length and more fluid motion.
RAPID REPAIR AND PREVENTION: Horses on Steadfast Equine Performance have the structural support to avoid time consuming and costly soft tissue injuries. Increased bone density, tendon strength, ligament strength and healthier soft tissues help prevent injury. Horses in training and competition need maximum support to keep them feeling and performing at their best.
TOTAL STRUCTURAL AID: Complete structural support for healthy joints, soft tissue and bones. Made with the highest level of naturally occurring glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen and hyaluronic acid available. No other equine joint supplement offers the unique formulation and scientific backing of Steadfast Equine Performance.
PRE-MEASURED SINGLE DAILY PACKETS: Convenient, daily dose pouches come pre-measured for easy feeding and storage. No need to use two packets for a loading dose or during times of added stress. Your horse receives the maximum level of joint support in a single packet. Easy to travel with or store.
Steadfast Equine Performance protects and preserves your horse’s joint health to extend their career and keep them comfortable in training and competition.
No other equine joint supplement offers the unique formulation and scientific backing of Steadfast Equine Performance.
More than a joint supplement, Steadfast Equine offers complete structural support for all horses. The patented formula contains Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM ) and TêlaFIRM.
®
These proprietary ingredients combine to provide your horse with a bioavailable source of glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, hyaluronic acid and chelated minerals for maximum joint and soft tissue support and performance recovery.
IMPROVED MOTION AND FLEXIBILITY: Horses with stiff, painful movement need total structural support for relief and comfort. Steadfast Equine works fast to make your horse feel better for a longer stride length and more fluid motion.
REPAIR AND PREVENTION: Horses on Steadfast Equine have the structural support to avoid time consuming and costly soft tissue injuries. Increased bone density, tendon strength, ligament strength and healthier soft tissues help prevent injury.
ACTIVE HORSE SUPPORT: The lifestyle of a performance horse is stressful on joints, soft tissue and bone. Preserve your horse’s joint health to extend their career and keep them comfortable in training and competition.
SENIOR SUPPORT: Horses of all ages benefit from structural support maintenance. Arthritic and aging horses have additional stress on their joints that require support for optimal health. Steadfast Equine helps senior horses feel younger and more agile.
PRE-MEASURED POUCHES: Convenient, daily dose pouches come pre-measured for easy feeding and storage.
TOTAL STRUCTURAL AID: Complete structural support. No other equine joint supplement available offers the unique formulation and scientific backing of Steadfast Equine.
16 mature horses with OA were fed STEADFAST® Equine or a placebo for 42 days. Blood was collected every two weeks and levels of the biomarkers CTXII, PIIANP, and osteocalcin were measured. CTXII collagen is a byproduct of cartilage breakdown, PIIANP is a protein found in cartilage and blood increases indicate cartilage regeneration while the protein osteocalcin is important in bone mineralization and increases suggest chondromodulation.
The decrease in serum CTXII and increase in serum PIIANP and osteocalcin suggest slowing of cartilage loss and rebuilding of cartilage and bone tissue in horses fed STEADFAST® Equine.
References:
Wedekind KJ, Coverdale JA, Hampton, TR, Atwell CA, Sorbet RH, Lunnemann J, Harrell RJ, Greiner L, Keith NK, Evans
JL, Zhao J, Knight CD. Efficacy of an equine joint supplement, and the synergistic effect of its active ingredients (chelated trace minerals and natural eggshell membrane), as demonstrated in equine, swine and an osteoarthritis rat model. Animal Physiology. 2015; 7: 13-27.
In a University controlled study of 16 horses, SNM Performance Ultra was shown to significantly reduce Back Pain within 30 days of application.
Horses were randomly assigned to either a SNM Performance Ultra treatment group or a control group. Back pain scores were evaluated regularly with a pressure force gage for both horses treated daily with SNM and untreated horses. In summary, horses treated with the SNM Performance Ultra had significantly decreased pain scores over a 30-day period.
“My 8 year-old gelding slipped real bad at a barrel race about a month ago and his lumbar area in his back got real sore to touch and the points of his shoulders got big knots in them. I had my chiropractor adjust him and I started using the SNM Performance Ultra Gelotion daily after workouts and within 3 days those muscles began to soften. I’ve since just made it a part of my daily regimen.”
LynnzieLindstrom, Arenus Ambassador, World Champion Barrel Racer
“Every horse I own, or train uses SNM products daily, simply because there’s no question they work and are the best liniment product on the market. We all want our horses nice and supple in their muscles and SNM helps me get that. A horse that feels good will give you his all
Irving. “I started the program because I feel that highperformance riders need to give back. That goes back to Pony Club and volunteering and giving kids opportunities. That’s where I come from. That’s my culture. It comes full circle.”
Canada’s high-performance riders have followed many different paths to achieve excellence in their various sports. But methodically gaining knowledge and skills through the Pony Club system seems to be a common denominator.
“Pony Club is a great high school-level education,” says Morton. “You become versatile, well educated, and set up for success. The traits that you have to develop to be able to pass those tests — being studious, determined, patient, and having a cool head and being able to multi-task — those are great skills for any field. Later on, you can go and learn tradecraft and more specific things about a particular equine discipline, but that general education is going to set you up to be a good horse person, no matter what you want to do.” b
> Tania Millen is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
Imagine a sandy island surrounded by the fierce Atlantic Ocean where waves endlessly crash on white sand beaches, dune grasses are flattened by the wind, and wild horses run free. That place exists and it’s in Canada, 160 kilometres east of Nova Scotia where approximately 500 wild horses roam free on Sable Island in a National Park Reserve.
“It feels like you’re on the moon with wild horses,” says Sandy Sharkey, a professional photographer who has been to Sable Island 16 times to photograph the island and its wild horses.
Today’s horses originated from mares and stallions that were purposefully shipped to the 49-kilometre-long crescent of sand in the 1700s. Some horses were rounded up and sold from 1801 to 1940, but in 1960, the wild horses were protected under the Canada Shipping Act In 2013, they were subsequently protected under the Canada National Parks Act
The island is uninhabited, although scientists, parks’ staff, and limited numbers of tourists spend time there along with the horses, over 320 bird species, and the world’s largest breeding population of grey seals.
“There are barracks that Parks Canada staff stay in but after you hike away from them, it’s just this incredible expanse of sand, horses, grassy dunes, and seabirds by the thousands,” says Sharkey.
Visitors to the island can only stay for the day — there are no overnight accommodations — and must remain 20 metres away from the horses, which are not fed or cared for in any way.
“The entire island is essentially a beach with grassy dunes in the centre of it,” says Sharkey. “I don’t know any beach that could match the pure white sand. It’s spectacular.”
Visitors are guided, hiking up and down grassy dunes then down to the shoreline and beaches.
“You smell the ocean,” says Sharkey, “and it doesn’t matter how far inland you are, you always hear the waves crashing on the shore.”
“You hear the sea birds and there’s always a beautiful breeze,” Sharkey continues. “The horses have these iconic, incredibly long tangly manes and the breezes are always lifting their manes up in the air.”
Genetic research indicates that the horses are most closely related to Nordic and Mongolian horse breeds, sharing genes with Shetland, Icelandic, Exmoor, Mongolian, Finn, and Norwegian Fjords. But due to their isolation, the horses have developed unique genetics, different from all other horse breeds. Since they had lived wild and unmanaged for over 50 years when Sable Island came under Parks Canada management in 2013, they were deemed “wildlife” and hence considered wild horses rather than feral.
“They’re fairly small in stature,” says Sharkey, who has travelled the world photographing wild horses, “only standing about 13 hands high.”
“They also have, without a doubt, the longest manes of any wild horses I’ve ever seen. Plus, Sable Island’s horses often have tails that reach the ground.”
The horses have no predators or competitors and are well-adapted to their storm-thrashed island, eating beach
“Their existence stirs our imagination. We feel their energy and their pure, unbridled spirit. To spend time with wild horses is to reach deep into your own soul and find your own freedom, whatever that may be.”
— SANDY SHARKEYWild horses on Sable Island.
grass and drinking from freshwater ponds or digging for groundwater.
“The island has a small number of freshwater ponds,” says Sharkey. But bands of horses on the western and eastern tips of the island live far from those ponds, so they’ve learned to dig through the sand until they find fresh water. Plus, if the ponds freeze over in winter, they’ll dig for water.
“A lot of people feel that wintertime must be devastating for the horses when in fact the opposite is true,” says Sharkey. Temperate ocean currents from warmer southern waters flow north around the island so any snow usually melts within 24 hours.
Sharkey believes that part of the mystique of the Sable Island horses reflects their hardiness and wildness.
“In the world that we live in today, where mankind is incessantly managing every square inch of the Earth, the fact that these horses are unmanaged by mankind and have done quite fine out there, thank
The horses of Sable Island likely descended from horses seized by the British from the Acadians living in the Maritime provinces known then as Acadia. During the Expulsion of the Acadians (1755 to 1764), people were deported to what is now United States and some of their livestock were transported to Sable Island. The horses survived on the tough marram grass in the sand dunes. In 1801, a life-saving station was built on the island and the horses were used to haul lifeboats and life-saving equipment to multiple shipwreck sites.
PHOTOS: SANDY SHARKEYyou very much, is a wonderful testament to their ability to survive,” says Sharkey.
“Sable Island is unique and essentially untouched by mankind,” she says. “The whole place is exceptional.”
Although Sable Island is home to Canada’s best-known wild horses, they exist in three other provinces, too. Wild horses can be found in the Bronson Forest of northwest Saskatchewan; on the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains; and in west-central British Columbia near Nemaiah Valley.
Like Sable Island’s wild horses, Saskatchewan’s Bronson Forest Ponies are protected. They live in meadows east of Bronson Lake, which is located about 100 kilometres northeast of Lloydminster.
Some believe they originated from domesticated horses that were set loose in the homesteading days of the 1800s; others think they’ve only been wild since the 1950s.
To date, no genetic research has been conducted to determine their origins. However, in 2005 there were about 125 wild horses living in the Bronson Forest area. By 2009, their numbers had declined to approximately 35, partly due to hunters shooting them. At that point, Lloydminster MLA Tim McMillan introduced a private Member’s bill to the Saskatchewan Legislature to protect the horses. In November 2009, Bill 606: An Act to Protect the Wild Ponies of the Bronson Forest, passed unanimously and the horses are now protected by law.
“The horses are all colours, such as sorrel, grey, and buckskin, and weigh about 360 kilograms (800 pounds),” wrote Marilyn Hougham in an email. She and her husband, Tom, live in the
The Bronson Forest ponies of northwest Saskatchewan are protected but not managed. There has been no genetic research to determine their origins. They are a popular sight with
Frenchman Butte area and have viewed the horses for many years.
She says in past years there have been two groups of eight to twelve horses plus mares and stallions with youngsters. They live in a meadow east of Bronson Lake in summer — a popular recreation area — then move to smaller meadows in winter for protection from the weather.
“The local people love to see the horses and will take a drive to see them,” Hougham wrote. “They’re enjoyed by anyone boating or hiking.”
But they’re not managed.
“I don’t believe there is any oversight as to the health and population of the Bronson Ponies,” advised Sergeant Beth Kelly, a Conservation Officer Supervisor in Loon Lake by email. “The only protection they have to ensure no one harms, harasses, or takes them is the legislation.”
“It’s a disgrace the way the law is not applied,” wrote Wayne McCrory, a British Columbia-based Registered Professional Biologist who has been studying western Canada’s wild horses for over 20 years. “[The number of horses] is down to 35 which is not a viable population.”
While Saskatchewan’s ponies are protected, Alberta’s wild horses are not. They live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, are considered feral by the Alberta government, and are regulated as livestock under the Stray Animals Act. “They’re not stray animals,” says Bob
Henderson, the President of the Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS), formed in 2001. “They’ve been out there for generations.”
According to the Government of Alberta, the horses are descendants of domestic horses used in logging, guiding, and outfitting operations in the early 1900s.
A 2016 genetic study conducted by Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAW) and partners found that the horses primarily descended from draft breeds. They also found connections to the Altai horse — a Russian breed from Siberia which is known for thriving in cold climates.
In 2018, Christina Tollett, a Masters’ student at the University of Saskatchewan, confirmed the dominance of draft breed genes. She found that on average, the horses are 15 percent Quarter Horse and/or Paint, 15 percent Percheron, nine percent Clydesdale, seven percent Fell pony, and seven percent Belgian. The other approximately 50 percent of their genes came Peruvian, Standardbred, Morgan, and other breeds.
In 2021, 1,314 horses were counted along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in six Equine Management Zones — Elbow, Ghost River, Sundre, Clearwater, Nordegg, and Brazeau — which coincide with the names of nearby rivers and towns. That’s down from 1,712 in 2018 but greater than the 709 horses counted in 2015. Most of the horses live in the Sundre and Ghost River areas and they’re often encountered along backroads.
The horses have been rounded up and
Alberta’s wild horses (shown here and on the facing page) are considered feral by the Government of Alberta, and not protected. Opponents of the horses claim they compete with cattle for grazing. Although it is against the law to shoot and hunt them, or capture them by snaring, a capture season can be declared allowing licensed horse trappers to remove them. Bob Henderson, President of WHOAS, believes these horses need proper management and protection and that there is a more humane and civilized way to manage them.
sold for meat or as future riding animals since the 1940s. In 1994, the Alberta government created the Horse Capture Regulation to allow the public to apply for a licence to capture horses. It still exists today.
“In 2012, there were over 200 horses removed in a massive cull,” says Henderson. “WHOAS wasn’t allowed to be part of it, but we did rescue nine young horses out of it. After they removed so many horses, the population actually rebounded and became higher than it was before.”
“If their numbers go up, there are more effective ways of managing them than catching them and removing them from the landscape,” says Henderson. “We conducted a contraception program and found it can be very effective.
“The biggest opposition the horses have
are the cattle leaseholders,” says Henderson. “They say the horses eat all the grass, which is totally untrue. They don’t do the environmental damage that people say they do.”
An Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) position statement says, “The protection of feral horses in Alberta does not fit within our mandate of protecting Alberta’s wildlife and wild places.”
However, the AWA also supports “efforts by our provincial government and its public advisory committee on feral horses to establish ecologically, humanely, and sustainably sound policies for management.”
Meanwhile, WHOAS's mandate is to protect the horses and find ways to leave them on the landscape. The society also has a rescue facility west of Sundre where horses that get into trouble, such as young stallions trying to poach mares from local ranchers, can be gentled and rehomed.
“To manage the horses correctly and effectively, they need their own act and regulations,” says Henderson. HAW uses the term “Alberta Wildies.” WHOAS is promoting the term “Alberta Mountain Horses” and believes that the horses need to be protected from indiscriminate killing or capture.
Tollett seemingly agrees, writing that the horses’ may warrant protection due to their cultural value and importance to Albertans.
The 2022 Equine Global Conservation List produced by Equus Survival Trust considers Alberta Wildies to be “StudyCritical.” Horses on the list must have historical significance, be unique, have a viable breeding population in North America, plus meet additional criteria. “Study-Critical” means that additional research is needed to confirm their status and there are only 100 to 600 breeding mares producing 25 to 150 foals annually.
Research continues and the Alberta
PHOTOS: SANDY SHARKEYFeral Horse Advisory Committee recommenced meetings in fall 2022. Meanwhile, the Alberta government is drafting a feral horse management plan.
West of the Rocky Mountains, there are free-ranging horses in British Columbia’s central Chilcotin, southern Okanagan, interior near Kamloops, and in the Coast Mountains north of Whistler.
“There have been minimal actions taken in managing wild horses in the province,” advised the BC Ministry of Forests by email. “There’s no evidence that suggests wild horses pose a concern [to grassland wildlife].”
A 2018 survey found about 2,800 wild horses in BC’s Chilcotin. But BC’s Ministry of Forests advised that the total number of wild and feral horses in the province in unknown.
“The Tŝilhqot’in [Chilcotin] horses are the largest group of really wild horses in Canada,” says McCrory.
About 400 of those wild horses live in Elegesi Qayus Wild Horse Preserve southwest of Williams Lake in the Chilcotin and are protected.
“The wild horse preserve is the largest in North America, but it’s not recognized by the federal or provincial governments,” says McCrory.
The Brittany Triangle is a 155,000hectare high elevation plateau within that preserve. According to the not-forprofit society Friends of Nemaiah Valley (FONV), there were just over 100 horses living there in 2017.
“The Brittany horses are of interest because of their relatively unique DNA,” says David Williams, the president of FONV. “Their dominant DNA is the Canadian horse. Most of them are black
or dark brown and have the same kind of conformation as Canadians.”
The Brittany horses are isolated from surrounding areas by the Chilko River to the west, the Taseko River to the east, and the mountains to the south. The rest of the Chilcotins’ 2,500-plus horses live beyond the Triangle and some are considered more feral than wild.
If wild horses wander beyond Tŝilhqot’in title lands, which now encompass the Wild Horse Preserve and Brittany Triangle, they’re regulated by BC’s Range Act and not protected.
“Sometimes horses are shot out on the range and left to rot,” says McCrory.
Tŝilhqot’in horses pre-date European contact. David Thompson and Simon Fraser separately observed Tŝilhqot’in people riding horses in 1807 and 1808. But First Nations, conservationists, and ranchers disagree about the horse’s history and value. In 1896, BC passed the Wild Horse Act which allowed licensees to shoot unbranded stallions running on public lands. In the early 1900s, ranchers called the wild Chilcotin horses “evil,” “a curse,” and “pests.” The horses were a convenient scapegoat when grasslands
became overused and degraded. This sentiment still prevails along with what some consider outdated culturally biased land management practices.
“Wild horses (naŝlhiny) are a big part of who we are,” says Dr. Roger William, former chief of the Xeni Gwet’in (pronounced “hunee gwateen”) First Nation and plaintiff in the William Aboriginal Rights and Title case. “We used horses long before my time but they became more important as time went on.”
The Tŝilhqot’in established an Aboriginal Wilderness Preserve in the Brittany Triangle in 1989. The Xeni Gwet’in — one of six bands in the Tŝilhqot’in Nation — continue to live on their traditional territory in the Nemaiah Valley and watch over the horses. In 2002, they created the Elegesi Qayus Wild Horse Preserve. As of 2007, the Tŝilhqot’in have the right to manage the horses for their own use, which includes catching them to produce riding and working horses; however, due to the unique genetics of the Brittany horses, they’re not part of any captures.
In 2014, Tŝilhqot’in Nation title for over 1,700 square kilometres of land was confirmed by the Supreme Court of
BC’s Chilcotin is home to the largest group of wild horses in Canada. About 400 of them live in the Elegesi Qayus Wild Horse Preserve southwest of Williams Lake, and are protected. The approximately 100 horses living in the Brittany Triangle are geographically isolated from surrounding areas and their Canadian Horse-dominant DNA is relatively unique.
Canada. Wild horses in that territory are now protected by the Tŝilhqot’in.
BC has other wild horses, too. There are over 200 horses that roam the mountains around Highland Valley Copper Mine, 50 kilometres southwest of Kamloops. Their genetic origins remain unknown. But in 2014, the mine started conducting annual horse counts and working with a committee of stakeholders to create a feral horse management plan.
A representative of Highland Valley Copper Mine advised by email that they monitor the feral horses around the mine and the mine is part of a Feral Horse Management Committee along with the Nlaka’pamux Nations and provincial government. However, Cardell Dumais, a Range Officer with BC Ministry of Forests in Kamloops, advised that his office wasn’t involved with the committee.
The wildness of other horses roaming free in BC, is questionable. Seemingly wild horses in the Okanagan are reportedly owned by First Nations’ families from the Osoyoos, Penticton, and Lower Similkameen Indian Reserves. First Nations, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, and provincial biologists work together to address ecosystem impacts, management, driver safety, and potential property damage related to these horses.
Horses also free-range east of Pemberton in the Coast Mountains and are reportedly owned by Lil‘wat First Nation members.
Outfitters in northern BC historically left their horses to free-range on Crown land over winter. Remnant horses still reportedly run wild in the mountains.
Wild horses in Canada have their own unique history and genetics, but only the Sable Island horses and Bronson Forest ponies are protected. Some of BC horses have minimal protection; Alberta wild horses do not. But in his upcoming book about Canada’s wild horses, McCrory says that protection is needed and writes, “recent genetics research has concluded that the now-extinct Yukon horse and today’s horse are the same species: Equus ferus caballus This significantly strengthens the case that the North American wild horse of today is a
returned native species reintroduced by Europeans … and not an introduced alien species.” He also argues that genetic research has linked the horses to Canadian and Yakut/East Russian horses, hence the horses are unique.
BC and Alberta’s horses are also fully integrated into the natural predator-prey ecosystems where they live, which means young, old, and sick horses are killed by bears, cougar, and wolves. Western Canada’s wild horses are also highly connected with First Nations’ people. Indigenous groups have centuries-long horse cultures, and several bands are now utilizing horse activities for cultural revitalization.
Wild horses, and the freedom they symbolize, enthrall many and some still roam free in Canada. But without protection, they may not be here forever. b
> Tania Millen is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
More than 200 feral horses of unknown origin roam around the Highland Valley Copper Mine southwest of Kamloops, BC.
Sable Island National Park Reserve is accessible from May to October by air or sea. Parks Canada approval is required for groups; individuals must reserve seats on an approved aircraft or group tour. A one-day guided tour including a fixed-wing flight to and from Halifax, Nova Scotia costs approximately $2,500 per person. A one-day helicopter flight and one-day tour costs about $3,500 per person. A multi-day expedition by ship costs about $6,500. All trips are in high demand and generally book up a year in advance.
In summertime, Saskatchewan’s Bronson Forest ponies live in the meadows east of Bronson Lake, about 100 kilometres northeast of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. They’re very wary, so plan to keep your distance.
Alberta’s mountain horses are often found along roadways in the Rocky Mountain foothills west of
Sundre. Contact Wild Horses of Alberta Society (www.wildhorsesofalberta.com) or Help Alberta Wildies Society (www. helpalbertawildiessociety.com) for assistance locating them.
The wild horses in BC’s Chilcotin primarily live on Xeni Gwet’in First Nation territory, which is now recognized as Aboriginal Title Land and is being transitioned to Tŝilhqot’in Nation management. The Xeni Gwet’in welcome visitors but request that guides are booked through the Xeni Gwet’in in Nemaiah Valley for non-motorized access to the backcountry. Alternatively, contact Friends of Nemaiah Valley (www.fonv.ca) for more information about the Brittany Triangle horses.
To find horses around BC’s Highland Valley Copper Mine, drive Highland Valley Road (97C) between Logan Lake and Ashcroft. Alternatively, take a walk on Logan Lake Recreational Trails.
PHOTOS: SCOTT OLIVERThe route of the Blue Wolf Totem Expedition took riders 3,640 kilometres across Mongolia from the southeast to the northeast in 84 days.
From May to August, 2022, 17 adventurers aged 27 to 70, rode over 3,640 kilometres across Mongolia in 84 days as part of the Blue Wolf Totem Expedition. It was the longest charity ride in recent history and combined exploration, fundraising, and adventure.
Five Canadian riders, including Heidi Telstad, took part in the ride which was organized by Julie Veloo, another Canadian. She’s the founder of the Veloo Foundation which supports impoverished children in Mongolia.
“The expedition wasn’t just about riding from one end of Mongolia to the other and taking the shortest route possible,” says Telstad, an endurance rider based in Langley, British Columbia. “It was about trying to see something special every day.”
“Almost all of the zigzaggy points on the map are a place that somebody on the team had never been,” says Veloo. “We weren’t thinking about the length of the ride [when creating the route], we were thinking about the beauty, about special places to visit.”
Mongolia has extensive human history but many of the country’s historical locations haven’t been researched. So, when planning the trip, Veloo drove around the country asking local people about significant and historical places in their area. She also asked the Mongolians involved in the ride — guides, herders, and their families
— what they’d like to see and which areas of the country they’d like to visit. Then she’d research the location and add it to the planned expedition route.
“We were supposed to start in the Gobi Desert in southeast Mongolia where it was nice and warm,” says Telstad.
But a few days before the ride started, there was an outbreak of hoof-andmouth disease, which meant the horses couldn’t be trailered into the Gobi Desert.
“The whole plan went out the window,” Telstad explains. “We had to completely reinvent the first 30 days.”
Subsequently, the trek began just outside Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar, where it was still very cold. The horses and riders endured regular snowstorms, wind, and rain during the first weeks of the trek.
“A lot of us weren’t prepared. But Julie had lots of deels — long Mongolian coats — so we were all wrapped up like Starship Troopers,” Telstad says.
The riders had to cover a minimum of 700 kilometres every 14 days, to stay on schedule. “We rode 50 to 80 kilometers a
day, depending on whether we got lost or not,” Telstad says.
In addition to the 17 riders there were 15 to 17 support crew including herders, guides, a translator, cooks, drivers, and a doctor. They travelled in three or four vehicles ahead of the riders, behind them, or on different routes altogether. There were also about 40 loose horses so that the riders could swap horses regularly.
“The loose horses got a break [from being ridden] but still did the same mileage,” says Telstad. “However, because we didn’t start where we were supposed to, there wasn’t a lot of forage. Everything was still brown from winter. So, we often took long breaks during the day.”
Everyone woke up at about six in the morning, and while the riders ate breakfast, the guides walked or drove out looking for the horses.
“The horses wandered so far at night trying to find feed that we didn’t get on them until between 10 and noon,” says Telstad. “We wouldn’t have lunch until three or four in the afternoon.”
The long days meant sometimes the support vehicles’ headlights were needed to guide the riders into camp.
“We still had to finish out the miles whether we were tired and exhausted or not,” she explains. “Some days we’d be lucky and everything would work like clockwork, but those days were very few.”
Changing the route on the fly meant that the original camp locations changed, too.
“Sometimes we didn’t meet up [with the support vehicles] where we were supposed to,” she says. “So, our support team would be driving around the countryside trying to find the camp.”
Although the trek was a grand adventure for participants, it also raised over $128,000 US for the Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project. The project supports 150 children and 250 families who live on and scavenge through Ulaanbaatar’s garbage dump to survive.
A kindergarten, community library, and outdoor playground now provide education, meals, and social interaction for children five days per week, so they’re not left in unheated gers (canvas tents) all day.
“It’s a really disadvantaged neighborhood,” says Telstad who visited the kindergarten along with other trip participants. “The ride was more about raising money for building the school and stocking the library than riding horses.”
“The funds will go towards feeding,
After an unexpected change of route, snowstorms, wind, and rain during the early weeks of the trek caught many riders unprepared. Horses waiting out the sandstorm.caring for, and educating children who would otherwise be scavenging at the garbage dump,” says Veloo. “Some of it will go towards a summer camp for older kids and a youth horse program. Some funds will support ongoing programs — alcohol and child abuse prevention — that make families safer and stronger.”
Raising funds for the children and awareness of the Veloo Foundation’s projects was the main reason Kendle Leitz, a 35-year-old rider from Victoria, BC, did the trek. “It’s a cause I’ve been supporting since Julie started [the project],” says Leitz.
The trek was Leitz’s fourth time riding in Mongolia. “I just love the culture and horsemanship, and the respect they have for their horses, livestock, and each other. The people are very genuine,” she says.
“Wherever we went — it didn’t matter how poor or rich the person was — if we knocked on their door, and said, ‘Hey, can we huddle in your ger for an hour and have lunch because we’re really cold?’ people would just let in 17 strangers,” says Telstad. “It’s really neat how warm and welcoming people out on the steppe are to complete strangers.”
The riders also visited many deer stones erected throughout Mongolia.
“They just seem to be a place of recognition, a place that has a lot of energy or spiritual meaning,” says Telstad. “In any other country, they would probably be fenced and protected but [in Mongolia] they’re just out in the middle of nowhere.”
The stones’ histories remain unknown, but it’s understood that the monuments originated in the Bronze Age approximately 3,300 to 1,200 BC. That was when writing, the wheel, and bronze were invented, successfully advancing civilizations beyond the Stone Age.
“Some are burial sites, but the majority are not,” says Telstad. “You can feel the energy of certain ones. The hairs on your arm stand up a little bit — it feels kind of electrical.
“The deer that are carved into the stones look like these big loopy long creatures,” explains Telstad. “There are usually about 10 or so on one deer stone. I wondered how they were carved so many years ago.”
There was present day cultural exchange, too, when the expedition’s horse managers learned about shoeing horses from their countrymen.
Early in the trip, when expedition riders
had asked whether Mongolian horses were ever shod, they were told they weren’t. But late in the journey, when the expedition reached northwestern Mongolia, horses at a festival were shod. After the expedition’s horse managers discussed the benefits of shoeing with local farriers, all the expedition horses were shod.
“They just started laying them down because the horses don’t know how to have their feet held up,” says Telstad. “The shoes come in small and medium sizes, and they don’t do a lot of adjustments. It’s not very precise and there’s nothing pretty about it. It’s all about function.”
The horses were certainly tough.
“When we rode up to see the reindeer on the Russian border, we went through these crazy deep bogs,” says Telstad. “They were up to the horses’ chests, our feet were dragging in the mud, and the horses just hopped through it like it was nothing.
“But everybody has to ride a reindeer once in their life,” Telstad says. “They’re so smooth and gentle. They have this little string wrapped around their antlers and with just a little wiggle of the string,
A custom-made Mongolian saddle. Hobbled horses with grain bags. At night the horses wandered far in search of forage, which was scarce.they turn to the left or right or stop or go. It was quite magical.”
The horses were supposed to be replaced every two or three weeks but due to the altered schedule that didn’t happen. It was something Telstad and others struggled with.
“[The organizers] were trying really hard to get fresh horses for us but they weren’t successful, especially in the beginning, and the horses were getting tired,” says Telstad.
The ambitious schedule, tired horses, and exhausted riders meant that when the horses tripped in ground-squirrel holes,
the riders fell off.
“We had lots of falls,” she says. “It was really stressful. My riding style changed because I was ready for my horse to stumble at any time.” But Telstad was lucky. “I think there were only three of us that never fell off our horses throughout the whole ride,” she says.
The expedition’s doctor picked up riders with his vehicle if they were either too tired to ride or had fallen off. One of those riders was Noemie Plante-Nappert, a trail
riding guide from Quebec.
“About 1,000 kilometers before the finish line, I got bucked off my horse,” she says. Plante-Nappert was in a lot of pain but continued riding. “When I came back [to Canada], I went to the doctor and I have broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and dislocated shoulder.”
Arlene Rees wasn’t so lucky. She’s a 70-year-old rider from Victoria, BC who says the expedition was a perfect fit. “I’ve committed my entire life to helping at-risk children, have a lifetime of experience with horses, and an adventurous spirit,” she explains.
But on day 29 of the trek, Rees’ horse nosedived in what she says was “a horrific cold storm” and she fell off, flat on her back. “The ride doctor said ‘You’re not going to be able to ride. You’re going to have to go home,’” says Rees. “He knew I had broken ribs.” Five days later Rees flew home in excruciating pain and subsequent x-rays confirmed broken ribs.
But Alysha Knoflook, a 33-year-old rider from Ontario, has a different story. She’s ridden since age four and has wanted to ride in Mongolia for a long time. After starting the trek, Knoflook says, “Being able to ride different horses every day was a cool experience. But I really missed riding a horse that I had a connection with.”
Knoflook asked Veloo if she could buy a
A lunch break with “The Arch Where You Are Reborn” in the background.
horse to ride for the whole trip. “Originally it was a joke and then it kind of became a worm in my brain that I couldn’t stop thinking about,” she says. The search began.
“Then, one day [the head herder] showed me a picture of what was probably Mongolia’s only morbidly obese horse,” says Knoflook. She bought him for about $750. “We picked him up along our ride that day and he ended up going about 1,400 kilometers.”
Knoflook named him Blue, after the expedition. At the end of the ride, she donated him to a fundraising auction for the Veloo Foundation where another expedition rider bought him. That rider subsequently donated him to the Veloo Foundation to be used as part of the youth horse program.
The expedition was life-changing for many.
“When we crossed the 3,600-kilometre mark, we were all really emotional,” says Veloo. “It was an absolutely gorgeous place and people were hooting and hollering, crying and sobbing because it had been such a big challenge.
“People changed in wonderful and inspiring ways,” says Veloo. “[During the ride] we had time to let go of the crap that we don’t normally have time to work through in our life.”
One rider who was wired all the time became very calm. Another is completely changing what she wants to do in life.
“Almost everybody reached some really inspiring level of Zen,” says Veloo. “By the end of the trip it didn’t really matter what happened. A lot of riders have had a hard time adjusting back to their world because it’s hard to be this mellow in a world that runs on clocks.”
“I learned to let go of control,” says Knoflook. “The universe will provide.”
“The idea that ‘simple is more’ is always going to stick with me,” says Telstad. “Being comfortable with yourself without the desire to be entertained. You can get by with a lot less than you think you need.”
“I suffer from anxiety, but I didn’t have a moment of anxiety when I was on the trip,” says Leitz. “So it made me more aware of living in the moment as opposed to worrying so much about any sort of future.”
Plante-Nappert fell in love with Mongolia and its people and is going back in November. “The trip changed my life.” b For more information on the Veloo Foundation, visit > www.VelooFundation.com
> Tania Millen is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 78.
“Everybody has to ride a reindeer once in their life,” says Heidi Telstad, who describes them as smooth and gentle to ride, and guided by string wrapped around their antlers.
Welcome to the 31st edition of our Celebration of Horses Photo Contest, the longest-running equine photo contest in Canada.
This year our contest attracted a record number of photos with entries pouring in from our much-loved regular contestants and an avalanche of new contenders. Thank you to everyone who shared their special images and memories with us.
Our primary sponsor again this year is ThinLine Canada, who deserves HUGE THANKS for their generous donation of the grand prizes in the six main categories. The Quarter Horse category is kindly sponsored by the Canadian Quarter Horse Association, and the runners-up in all categories are sponsored by Horse Community Journals Inc., publishers of this magazine.
Now… we are pleased to present the Winners and Runners-Up in this year’s Celebration of Horses Photo Contest.
1ST RUNNER-UP
Daphne meets the world! WWS Million Dollar Dreamer (aka Daphne) is a 2022 Gypsy filly just minutes old when photographed by Morgan Gibb of Wawanesa, MB.
“This Canadian filly, born September 14, 2022, is from the rare Lou bloodline,” says photographer Kate Saunders of Pembroke, ON. “She will become part of the Locksley Canadians breeding program to help promote this rare breed.”
“Logan has a friendly and engaging personality,” says photographer Nancy Leask of Brooklin, ON. “Whenever he spots me from afar, he hurries over to greet me. Here he gives me the most imperious look because he knows he is special enough to have his own personal portrait photographer.”
Gregory and his partners Biscuit and Muffin. “These three continue to grow together learning boundaries, partnership, and most of all, friendship,” says Amber Bond of Keremeos, BC. “He certainly has a special way of being with Biscuit and Muffin and these two definitely respect Greg’s size and abilities. This is just one of the special moments of the trio that I’m honoured to share.”
Biscuit is a Miniature gelding almost 28 years old and Muffin is a double registered Miniature mare coming four years old.
First year on the farm. “From fun times in the winter through to a new foal born in the spring, there is always something going on!” says photographer Nathalie Burke of Clearwater, BC. In this photo, Picasso, an 18-year-old Quarter Horse/Paint gelding, enjoys a snuggle.
“Stella is discovering how much fun it is to go in the water on a hot summer day,” says photographer Nathan Dugas of Belliveau Cove, NS.
Skip the Night is a 2006 off-the-track Thoroughbred mare that retired sound, then competed in eventing and jumpers, and is now approved in the main Hanoverian studbook. Superbe Stella HHS is her Hanoverian filly by Schwarzenegger.
Delfin, Gem, and Sonrisa are Kiger Mustangs and part of our breeding program at Winterwind Kigers, says photographer Kaitlin Knox of Antigonish, NS.
There’s a party going on right here… in the pasture.
“Rena, the bay, a 19-year-old Hanoverian/Thoroughbred mare and Tori, my husband’s Thoroughbred mare, are celebrating a cooler day at the end of summer,” says photographer Jane Hyndman of Limehouse, ON.
“I just went out to capture some images of our horses on a beautiful fall evening,” says Shelby Underwood of Whitecourt, AB who caught this photo of a five-year-old Appaloosa gelding galloping by.
“This is barrel racer Amanda Schwitzer at a jackpot in Bengough, SK,” says Gwen Nesvold of Assiniboia, SK who captured this great moment of the pair rounding a barrel.
“Hang on baby!” Lori Martin of Hanover, ON, snagged this photo of a three-year-old trotter that seems to be trotting on air.
“This is our happy place,” says Shelby Underwood of Whitecourt, AB, with “several horses worth their weight in gold.”
“Those sunny days during the dead of winter provide such relief,” says photographer Erin Jardine of Vernon, BC. “Eden, a fiveyear-old Canadian mare, gave birth to a gorgeous black filly in the spring.”
“I got a couple of ponies for the grandchildren to enjoy but I think I’m having just as much fun with them!” says Darlene Shantz of Milford, ON, who captured this photo. “This is Tater, age and breed unknown, but he is a sweet pony that came with a free mini as his sidekick — how could I resist?”
“I captured this image just east of Edmonton, AB. It was breathtaking watching this stallion galloping through the snow,” says Irene Morden of Sooke, BC. He is SRS Poseidon, a three-year-old Gypsy Vanner stallion.
“It was a warm October day, and all the horses went down to the Waterton River for a cool off,” says Karen Jarvie of Glenwood, AB. Making sure the other horses get soaked is Myeyesofblue, an APHA mare.
“Since I often photograph this 2022 colt, he always hurries to me when he sees me enter the nursery field with my Nikon. This day I interrupted his nap but caught him on the way up,” says Nancy Leask of Brooklin, ON. This is Welsh Cob colt Reidell Lohengrin ap Percival (aka Logan), born in May 2022 in Ashburn. He has qualified for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2022 and will be sent to his new owner, Melissa Harding of Florida, after the Royal.
“My horse doesn’t like baths and insists he’s not white, so he rolls every time I say ‘let’s get you cleaned up,'” says photographer Celine Morris of St-Hilaire, NB. “He is a seven-year-old perlino tobiano registered APHA. He has light buckskin patches everywhere, but since he’s never clean you’d never know. He has a very goofy funny personality and always makes us laugh. He steals everything you are working with in his pasture. Will sit in the tractor bucket because it’s fun. There is never a dull moment with this guy!”
“This photo was taken shortly before Norman was laid to rest, and is one I come back to often to think about how lucky I was to have this horse in my life,” says Jayme Anderson of Salmo, BC. “Norman (BC Leos Hot Cash) was truly one of the good ones. He did it all from jumping to driving, with his huge personality at the forefront. He showcased the immense versatility of the Quarter Horse breed in everything he did, and is the reason I have such a passion to be in the horse world.”
To Support the BC Horse Industry!
HCBC works to connect and strengthen the BC horse community. We are more than just insurance… By joining HCBC you show your support for: The Right to Ride — The right to ride horses on public land, i.e., in parks, and on designated trails in BC. HCBC communicates with provincial/local government to support its members in their advocacy roles.
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Horse
Receive a 5 PERCENT DISCOUNT on the HCBC membership(s) when registering for auto-renew. The discount applies to HCBC membership(s) only.
The discount will apply to your 2023 and 2024 HCBC membership as long as auto-renew is still in effect.
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The extended memberships opened on September 6 this year. We will continue to offer the 2022 memberships, the extended memberships 2022-2023, and the 2023 memberships.
HCBC has had to increase the cost of 2023 memberships, which began on September 6 and takes effect as each membership comes up for renewal. With this modest adjustment, our first since
Youth Associate Membership: $49.00 Adult Membership: $67.00 Family Membership: $158.00 Affiliate Membership will remain at $215.00 Premium Business: $199.00 as of January 1, 2023 Regular Business: $99.00 as of January 1, 2023 Clubs will remain at $85.00
By restricting the amount of the increase, we seek to keep the HCBC memberships affordable.
Forgot to renew? Or a new HCBC Member? Join or renew for 2022/2023 coverage! Get all of 2023 plus the rest of 2022 at a discounted rate.
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HCBC hosts and supports multiple educational events throughout the year along with providing free online courses to members, all based on sound scientific research and data.
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At long last, the therapeutic riding programs in Canada are returning to normal activities following two very difficult years. Riders and volunteers are coming back to take part in therapeutic riding activities. Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) instructors and coaches have been able to return to work and carry out their jobs.
The training and certification of therapeutic riding instructors in Canada is one of the core programs of CanTRA.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many therapeutic riding programs suspended all activities, and others continued to work in a scaled-down fashion. This period deeply affected those people training to become therapeutic riding instructors, as the opportunities to gain practical experience were severely limited.
There were a number of candidates who enrolled to do the CanTRA Instructor training in 2019. Many struggled to obtain the necessary experience due to the
Salmonberry Arts & Publishing, 2022; memoir; ISBN 9781777149208; 340 pages; paperback, ebook
Reviewed by Tania MillenThis complex memoir recounts Johnston’s internal tussles and deep reflection on finding meaning in the latter part of life. After splitting with her longterm partner, leaving her job of 16 years, and losing family relevance, Johnston — a 60-year-old woman from Vancouver Island, BC — goes to Africa on horseback safari. Her writing invites readers to question their limiting beliefs and internal barriers while navigating life’s challenges and opportunities. Nuanced storytelling and Johnston’s willingness to share her raw
pandemic. The curriculum for therapeutic riding instructors involves both theoretical and practical components, and it was difficult for candidates to obtain the necessary practical experience to complete their training.
Some aspects of the training can be done by reading books or taking part in webinars, but other aspects require practical training
The topics studied by CanTRA Instructor candidates include understanding horse care and management, understanding disabilities, learning about adaptive tack, writing lesson plans, coaching theory, understanding rider progression, and volunteer training. Last but most important is the practicing of teaching riders with special needs under the mentorship of an experienced CanTRA therapeutic riding instructor or coach. This practical experience is invaluable. “Well done!” to the candidates who
have managed to complete their training and assignments and who have gone forward and passed their CanTRA qualifications. It is recognized that this takes lots of hard work and persistence, and has been extra difficult to achieve during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CanTRA is now welcoming new candidates to become therapeutic riding instructors. Becoming a qualified CanTRA instructor is a way forward for safe and enjoyable therapeutic riding in Canada.
Congratulations to the newly qualified CanTRA Instructors from British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. CanTRA has seven new Basic Instructors, two new Basic Instructors 2 and one new Intermediate Instructor.
For more information or to find a centre near you please contact our Head Office at ctra@golden.net.
Follow us on Facebook @ Cantra_ACET and visit > www.Cantra.ca or donate at > www.CanadaHelps.org.
feelings while hoping for “an opening in the dark forest” of her life drew me in.
Johnston discovered horses in mid-life and, declining traditional riding lessons, pursued natural horsemanship instead. Seeking a rebirth and new adventures, she commits to a trip to Africa after Googling “horse+volunteer+Africa” and that’s the start of her love for the people, wilderness, horses, and humanity of the continent.
The book is split into three parts, and Part One introduces tendrils of the book’s subplots. It describes Johnston’s initial visit to Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the present-day effects of colonialism, and the beginnings of a potential love affair with a handsome African horseman. Her vivid description of galloping flat out through prickly brush to avoid becoming prey of lionesses took me right into the bush with her,
pounding heart and all. Upon returning to Canada, Johnston attempts to hold onto her “internal recalibration” which she writes is tough when “society conspires to propel us toward something: some place, some event, some accomplishment, some demise, something not right now.” But “Africa gets into your blood” and the “cautious down-to-earth love letter” she writes garners a phone call from her horseman on the opposite side of the Earth, inviting her return.
In Part Two, Johnston returns to her lover, writing, “He is, after all, half of what brought me back to Africa.” She volunteers at another horseback holiday operation, reveling in their herd of horses galloping gaily into camp. Johnston examines how geography, place, and identity intertwine, shares her fears, and opens herself to unspoken desires. She describes land-
Newly qualified CanTRA Intermediate Instructor Jenny Clarys Wilson from Canmore, Alberta. “I am so proud to become a CanTRA Therapeutic Riding Instructor,” says Wilson. “Every child and every adult has a unique story to bring to the barn and looking at the smiles they have after being around horses is so precious. I am so excited to start my new journey in the world of therapeutic riding.”
scapes most only dream of riding through. Drawn into her lover’s culture, she writes, “Every day brings revelations about a way of life that is utterly unknown to me.” Johnston returns to Canada, then traipses back to Africa, a cream dress in her bag — “a wedding dress, just in case.”
Part Three is a reckoning as Johnston struggles to reconcile her feelings about a relationship which epitomizes “the tragedy of the 21st century polarized world: the disparity between haves and have-nots.”
During many life decisions, Johnston calls on the spirit world for answers. Ultimately, she survives “the ache of a heart on the precipice of loss” and finds a slice of peace while holding space for what may come.
It’s an inspiring and courageous memoir intertwined with a love of horses which reveals the intricacies of living and loving in vastly different cultures.
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In its inaugural year, the CQHA Canadian National Amateur Team Tournament (CNATT) was more successful than anyone could have imagined! Developed by the CQHA’s membership committee, CNATT was a program designed to target the Quarter Horse industry’s largest and most lucrative population, our Canadian American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) amateur members. The 2022 CNATT roster consisted of ten teams of ten AQHA amateur exhibitors from across the country.
Each team was sponsored by a Canadian-owned and/or bred AQHA stallion. In appreciation of this support each team member promoted their stallion through their personal social media account and by wearing stallion-sponsored merchandise at the shows they attended. These activities, along with some other fun non-horse events and contests, provided an additional way for team members to earn team points outside of their placings at 2022 Canadian AQHA sanctioned events hosted from May 1 to December 31, 2022.
“Canadian Quarter Horse owners came together through social media to support each other during the pandemic, and to keep that communication and momentum going the CQHA membership committee wanted to develop a program that would keep the community members invested in each other as we return to a regular show season,” said tournament chairperson Joelle Johnson of Drumheller, Alberta.
Laurie Haughton, the chair of CQHA’s Media Marketing and Communication’s committee, stated: “The tournament was welcomed with great excitement across Canada and attracted interest from a wide variety of Canadian AQHA amateurs who compete in everything from reining and halter to walk/jog and cow horse events. CQHA’s social media has been abuzz all season with talk of the tournament and team members supporting each other and the program with the extensive use
By Laurie Haughton, Chair, CQHA Media, Marketing & Communications Committeeof the hashtags that the program employed.”
The hope was that the 100 Canadian amateurs and ten Canadian-owned AQHA stallions involved in the 2022 tournament would be the beginning of a new program which CQHA could expand in the coming years; what it developed into was a program worth over $15,000 in sponsorship monies and prizes, none of which the committee solicited, and stallion owners are already inquiring about sponsoring teams for 2023.
The original inspiration was to use CNATT as a way to keep Canadians connected and supportive of each other by using the excitement of competing with their Quarter Horses as the common denominator no matter what discipline. In keeping with this, the membership committee has plans to expand the number of teams for 2023 and also allow team members to compete at AQHA/CQHA Alliance Partner sanctioned events such as, rodeo, reining, cutting, and hunter-jumper events to earn points for their team.
Thank you to our Program Sponsors:
• American Quarter Horse Association
• Official Awards Sponsor: Rose Fire Saddles
• Official Digital Media Partner: Show Horse Today
• Ace Therapy Canada, CQHA’s Official BEMER Partner
• Tendo Enterprises, supporting non-horse activities
If you are interested in learning more about being a team sponsor or member in 2023, please email admin@CQHA.ca.
Trafalgar Square Books, 2022; Non-fiction; ISBN 9781646011476; 380 pages; paperback, ebook Reviewed
by Tania Millen“A willing servant is still a servant,” says Sharon Wilsie in her introduction to Essential Horse Speak. It’s the premise which started Wilsie’s lifelong journey of understanding how horses communicate. She explains what she’s learned to date in her new book, Essential Horse Speak.
It’s a hefty tome and I was immediately drawn to Part Two, a 30-page dictionary of how to have conversations with your horse. Although I grasped the basics of what Wilsie was saying, I was unfamiliar with her unique terminology (Zero, X and O, Buttons, and named exercises) so I went back and read the prelude. Her comment, “It’s never a bad idea to be both understood and become more understanding,” which encouraged me to delve into Part One which forms the bulk of the book.
The introduction to Part One explains why Horse Speak matters today. Horses are no longer simply a method of transportation — we’re looking for relationships with them. But there’s a gap in our understanding of how to converse with them. Wilsie writes, “A friend seeks rapport, a foe forces compliance,” and we can choose to have epic relationships with our horses through rapport. However, according to Wilsie, what we humans feel on the inside of our bodies and portray on the outside must be congruent to converse with horses. We also need cognitive understanding, empathy, and the mechanics of Horse Speak to be successful. The following nine chapters dive into those requirements.
Chapter one explains body language skills including Zero, X and O, Core Energy, and Bubbles. Chapters two and four explain herd dynamics,
horse types, and use a chessboard analogy to explain how horses move through their world. Chapter three summarizes the 15 Buttons or interactive areas on a horse’s body that they use to communicate, and how we can use them, too. Chapters five through seven describe how to have conversations on the ground, while chapters eight and nine extend those conversations to liberty, lunging, and riding. There are also Buzzword, Myth-Buster, and Skill-Builder sidebars peppered throughout the text along with explanatory photos and drawings.
Essential Horse Speak is well-written, easy to read, engaging, and practical. It’s easy to dip into one section then back up and read another depending on your interests and the challenges you have with your horse. Some sections explained observations I’ve made with my own horse; others provided new information — such as the chessboard analogy — that I know I can use. The content filled some blank spots where I’ve tried to mesh natural horsemanship principles with more traditional training methods.
Ultimately, this book fills a gap in our understanding of horses as sentient beings. Much of riding and horsemanship today focuses on the practical and physical mechanics of a specific sporting activity. But as the horse industry continues to change and ethical horsemanship is prioritized, equestrians need to evolve, too. This book can help. It explains how horses use their bodies to talk and shows us how to listen and respond in ways they understand — a prerequisite for those wanting deep relationships with their horses.
Trafalgar Square Books, 2022; Non-fiction; ISBN 9781646010493; 244 pages; paperback, ebook
Reviewed by Tania Millen
Are you a midlife novice horsewoman wondering about the ins and outs of having a horse? If so, this book can help. It’s clearly designed to answer questions for women who are finally living their dreams of riding or owning a horse — whether they’re new to the horse world or returning after a long absence.
The book is split into seven parts and 24 chapters and provides basic guidance for navigating the horse world. It details how to find an instructor, a suitable barn, what to wear, and how to deal with age-related physical challenges. It’s likely the only book that discusses the challenges of riding with urinary incontinence, which bras and panties work best, and how to convince your joint replacement surgeon that you absolutely have to ride.
There are chapters on fear, fitness, and weight. There’s a section on buying a horse (or not), including how to shop, whose
Nimbus Publishing Limited, 2022; Fiction; ISBN: 9781774710654; 296 pages; paperback.
Aislinn loves Summerwood Farm more than anything else (except probably her fiery chestnut Arabian, Firefly). Every summer, she stays at the farm for two weeks of riding camp alongside her best friend, Jill.
This year, though, she can’t seem to stay out of trouble. She keeps spotting a fox and an owl that none of the people around her seem to be able to see. After sneaking out at night to track them, Aislinn realizes that the mysterious animals are actually different forms of a young Mi’kmaw ghost named Gabe who died in 1926. He needs her help to cross over into the spirit world so he can reunite with his family.
Meanwhile, Aislinn makes another discovery. Rumours have been floating around the camp about a developer buying the land leased by Summerwood Farm. When
advice to consider, and what a pre-purchase exam is. Plus, there’s another chapter on the necessities of having a veterinarian, farrier, and saddle fitter.
The book wades into sensitive subjects, too, summarizing insurance needs, power of attorney if you’re incapacitated, and how to decide when to put your horse down.
The last two parts of the book address keeping a horse at home, boarding other horses, and finances. There’s even a chapter on dealing with an unsupportive spouse — a delicate subject that’s candidly discussed.
The book also covers topics that specifically appeal to older novice horsewomen, such as the many options for international horse adventures, cruises, cattle drives, guest ranches, and horseback expeditions.
Sidebars of “ageless advice” are scattered throughout the book. Topics range from features of fitness trackers to a boarding facility checklist, how to get the best sleep, and how to analyze your financial future (so you can afford
Aislinn gets called to the office of the stable owner, Grace, she happens to see an email on Grace’s computer confirming that the land will be sold to a real estate company. Although Grace owns the stable itself, she doesn’t own the cross-country course, trails, or jumping ring. The surrounding land is also valuable in a historic sense: it is the site of the former Poor farm and cemetery, as well as traditional Mi’kmaw territory. Aislinn is determined to stop the developer from building houses on the land and hopes to turn it into a provincial park instead.
As it progresses, the story follows two main plots: Aislinn trying to help Gabe “move on,” and her fight to keep Summerwood Farm from being developed. Both storylines are quite engaging. They’re linked in the sense that Gabe is Mi’kmaw and one of the key reasons the developers can’t build there is because the site contains an ancient Mi’kmaw burial ground.
a horse habit!).
There are also 10 pages of resources and references at the end of the book that provide details of organizations, books, articles, and businesses relevant to horsewomen at midlife and beyond. The book’s home website www.ridersofacertainage.com, is a great starting place.
Riders of a Certain Age fills a vacant niche, providing much-needed curated information tailored to the novice, older horse lover. The author’s conversation style and carefully considered guidance keeps the mood light while imparting essential tidbits of information. For example, a sidebar of “good boarder guidelines” summarizes common sense tips that help boarding barns run smoothly: avoiding gossip, sharing facilities, tidying common areas, and offering to help with maintenance. Ultimately, Severn’s book delivers what it promises: guidance for the fastest growing segment of the horse industry, the women aged 50 to 80 choosing to have horses in their lives, perhaps for the first time. For those seeking to indulge their newfound or lifelong horse passion, this is a useful reference that’s easy to read.
I really enjoyed the character development throughout the story. Aislinn is a spunky and passionate heroine, whose refusal to follow rules leads to many antics and close shaves. She starts the story as rather self-centred, but over the course of the book learns to care about and fight for others. She also improves her relationship with her family, especially her brother. Overall, Spirit of Summerwood is a fun, progressive book with lots of horsiness. A blend of genres, it encompasses Indigenous allyship and Poor farm history, as well as 2SLGBTQIA+ and disabled campers. Even somebody who has never ridden a horse will be able to enjoy the book and relish the descriptive passages when Aislinn and Firefly gallop through the forest, wind blowing in their hair. I would recommend this book for an animal lover looking to read a light but eye-opening story about struggling to do the right thing, even if it means breaking rules.
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Tania Millen is a freelance writer and author with a Masters in Journalism and a BSc in Environmental Science. She’s written four books, including Go Horse Camping and Pack’em Up, Ride’em Out: Classic Horse Pack Trips in BC and Alberta. A former 3-day event rider, she now enjoys mountain pack trips. www.TaniaMillen.com
Horse show judge, coach, trainer, and specialist in equine behaviour, Lindsay Grice helps riders solve their “horse puzzles,” sharing keys from the science and research of how horses think and learn. She holds judging certifications in multiple disciplines — Western, hunter/ jumper, dressage and obstacle events. Lindsay has taught classes and seminars in Equitation Science for provincial equine associations, therapeutic riding facilities, and courses offered by the University of Guelph. She regularly conducts clinics for horse clubs and private farms. www.lindsaygriceridingcoach.com
Annika McGivern is a Mental Performance Consultant who grew up as a Three-Day-Event rider in British Columbia. Her passion for eventing took her to Ireland, Australia, and America as a working student to world class riders, where she developed a keen interest in the psychological side of sport and performance. Annika has a BA in Psychology, an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and seven years experience as a certified Equestrian Canada Competition Coach. Annika works with athletes and coaches, in person and online, to help them find enjoyment and satisfaction in their sport through achieving their best possible results and outcomes.
www.annikamcgivern.com
Kathy Smith is an equine journalist, and the publisher and editor of this magazine since its inception in 1991. A lifetime horse person, she has an unceasing passion for horses and is dedicated to serving and supporting the horse community.
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Affordable Barns 39
Anvil Brand 38
Arenus Animal Health Insert, 1, Outside B/Cover
Bale Buddy 40
BC Appaloosa Centre 37
Bear Valley Rescue 79
Canadian Horse Journal 2, Inside B/Cover
CapriCMW 9, 13
Cassell, Ryan/Fair Realty 73
Castle Plastics 14
CF Fence 13
Circle F Horse Rescue 79
Country Homes & Acreages 73
CURT Manufacturing 3
Daily Horse Supply 77
Denco Storage Sheds Inc 19
Dr Cook Bitless Bridle 41
Eaglewood Equestrian Supplies 77
Equine Essentials Tack & Laundry Services 59
Equine Foundation of Canada, The 79 Equine Guelph 23
Equinerehab ca (School of Equine Massage and Rehabilitation Therapies) 22
Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment Ltd 37
Horse Council of British Columbia 71
Horse Habit, The 59
KIOTI 15
Linton, Alexa 23
LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society 79
Maple Lane Equestrian Trailers 29
Myles Herman — Equine Bodywork 63
Nettles Stirrups 35
New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society 79
Northern Acreage Supply Ltd 39
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology 21
Otter Co-op Inside F/Cover
Peruvian Horse Club of Canada 63
Pferde Traum Farm 36
Real Estate Centre 73
RevitaVet 29
Sciencepure Nutraceuticals 5
Summerside Tack & Equestrian Wear 7
Tack Collector, The 63
Thin Line Canada 7, 69
Ultra-Kelp for Horses 29
Weidemann 34
In 2021, the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) hired an independent contractor, Serecon Inc., to conduct a study to determine the current status of Alberta’s equine community and estimate the economic benefits that it contributes to the provincial economy. The study was designed to capture the impact of all businesses and services in Alberta that connect, directly and indirectly, to the equine community and its related industry.
AEF worked with key stakeholders in the equine community, using their knowledge and experiences to design a comprehensive survey. AEF administered the survey through multiple social media groups and electronic distribution tools in the fall of
2021, with a total of 1,520 responses from a wide array of industry and community participants. Interviews were also conducted to validate and build out results.
Major Findings from the Report
• The diverse mix of equine activities makes a significant financial contribution to the province. Findings indicate the total economic impact of the equine community in terms of gross domestic product amounted to just under $1.4 billion in 2021.
• Direct expenditures in the equine community totaled over $1.7 billion. These expenditures result in a contribution of $855 million in labour income.
• The equine community has a notable impact on employment in Alberta. Analysis reveals that over 6,500 fulltime equivalent (FTE) jobs are contributed by the various equine industry activities. After accounting for all horsekeeping expenditures, the total number of FTE jobs contributed by the equine industry is over 20,300.
• Study results show Alberta’s total population of horses to be just over 142,000 kept on over 25,000 properties. Roughly 54 percent of horses are used for recreation (backyard ownership, trail riding, summer camps, etc.), 40 percent for sport (Western, jumping, dressage, vaulting, etc.), and six percent for work (outfitting, ranch work, guiding, etc.).
• When it comes to overall expenditures per horse (board, feed, health care, etc.), owners of horses for sport pay nearly twice as much (at approximately $12,700 per year) as those used for recreation (approximately $7,500), and over three times those used for work (approximately $3,700).
This study shows the equine community’s significant impacts across the province demonstrating the great importance of this diverse and widely reaching sector.
To download the entire report, visit the AEF website > www.AlbertaEquestrian.com/ the-economic-impacts-ofalbertas-equine-industry-2021
The newly-released results of a study initiated by Alberta Equestrian Federation confirm that the Alberta horse industry makes a significant contribution to the province’s economy.PHOTO: DREAMSTIME/OLGA ITINA
