2009

A SPECIAL FEATURE OFTHE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

MAY 29, 2009

GUELPH - How importantis the horse industry to ruralOntario?

That is the question re search-ers at the University of Guelphwould like to be able to answer.The latest census of agriculturecompleted in 2006 reportedthat the horse sector showedthe greatest increase out of allof the agricultural sectors in theprovince. In fact, horses havebeen gaining in popularity con-sistently over the past 10 to 15years, and in some regions, par-ticularly those in the GreaterToronto Area (GTA), they haveeven surpassed such traditionalagricultural commodities aspoultry and egg, beef cattle,and vegetable production interms of gross farm receipts.

There are several connec -tions between the vitality andgrowth of the equine industryand the economic success ofrural regions in Ontario. Con -trary to some popular miscon -ceptions, horses are not a wasteof valuable farmland.

Quite the opposite actually,

as the equine industry contri -but es to a wide range of eco -nomic activity in rural areasacross the province. For exam -ple, horse owners will oftenspend quite a bit of money ontheir horses and their prop -erties, which can result in eco -nomic spin-offs for local busi -nesses.

An Equine Canada report,completed by Vel Evans in2004, pointed out that the aver -age property improvementinvestment for the horse indus -try is $8,777, compared to$1,740 for farmers in other sec-tors.

In a survey of members ofthe Ontario Equestrian Federa -tion completed by BronwynneWilton in 2007, 30% of re -spondents had built an indoorarena since taking ownershipof their property, 46% reportedbuilding new barns for theirhorses, and 91% reported in -stal ling new fencing on theirproperties.

That translates to a signi -ficant investment in the rural

landscape and if local busi ness -es can cater to this sector, therecan be positive impacts in thesurrounding community.

We also know that horseowners present a unique andconsistent market for highquality hay for their horses.

According to Joel Bagg ofOMAFRA, there are approxi -mat ely 300,000 horses in Onta -rio and these horses consumeapproximately 750,000 tonnesof hay every year. If the num-ber of horses continues toincrease in the province, thepotential market for qualityhorse hay will continue to im -prove for Ontario farmers.

The equine industry alsobrings an important and uniquetourism element to the Ontariocountryside. Both through theracing industries and throughthe sport horse competitionssuch as show-jumping, dress -age, eventing, and rodeos (toname just a few), there areimportant spin-off effects forrural communities that wel -come and promote the horse

industry. Given all of those real and

potential benefits of horses torural Ontario, it is critical togain a better understanding ofthe true scope of the industryacross the province. Severalstate horse councils in theUnited States have conductedeco nomic analysis projects ofthe horse industry within theirstates, however, similar data islacking or out of date in On -tario.

As a first step in creating agreater awareness of the role ofthe horse industry across theprovince, researchers at theUniversity of Guelph are invit-ing people to participate in anon-line survey that is availableon the Equine Guelph websiteat http://www. equine-guelph.ca/. The direct link is:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=6RuuO1Nq_2bPAePt2sLbJ7wQ_3d_3d.

Researchers hope anyoneinvolved in any sector of theequine industry in Ontario willparticipate in the survey. Any -one wanting to become moreinvolved in the project, mayalso contact the researcher, Dr.Bronwynne Wilton, at bwilton -@uoguelph.ca.

The results of the projectwill be used to learn moreabout the scope of the equineindustry in Ontario and todevelop new projects aimed atsupporting the equine industryas part of a strong and vitalrural Ontario. Results will bemade publicly available uponcompletion of the project.

PAGE TWO - EQUINE - MAY 29, 2009

Horsing around at Fairgroundswith Equi-fest on June 7

ORANGEVILLE – Thefairgrounds here is the place tobe on for horse lover on June 7for Equi-fest 2009.

The day begins with reg is -tration for horses and riders at8:15am with the opening cere -monies taking place at 9am.Spectators are welcome. Theycan learn new skills from thesidelines; talk to people fromall walks of life who share apassion for horses; and visit awide variety of vendors andequine practitioners.

This is the third annualEqui-fest - a “just-for-fun” dayof non-competitive events forhorse-lovers, their friends,families, and equine compan i -ons. Organized by the WomenHorse Owners Association(WHOA), it is a registeredHorse Week (Ontario Eques -trian Federation and Equine

Canada) event - http://www.-equinecanada.ca.

Elaine Capes, chairman ofWHOA, is excited about thenew activities planned for thisyear; the Hoof Beat Outriders,an all-woman drill team fromOrillia, will put on two shows.They were a big hit at theRoyal Agricultural Winter Fair,and the Can-Am. And, at highnoon, a team of wranglers fromRawhide Adventures will dem -onstrate the skill of cow herd -ing, explaining why horseslove it.”

In addition to shows anddemonstrations, there will be awide variety of on-horse clinicsin Western and English disci -plines, run by an impressive listof local professional trainers,coaches and competitors:

- Brian Keir and John Mc -Cormick, barrel racing;

- Claire Hunter, jumping;- Erica Dale, turn-n-burn,

barrel racing;- Heather Collinge, balanc -

ed riding;- Joanne Milton, reining,

and side saddle;- Kenneth Hodges, Equi-

fest master of ceremonies andconformation coach;

- Ruth Vale, harnessing anddriving;

- Summer McEwan, dress -age;

- Tamara Taylor, Gym khan -na games; and

- Tina Horne, western drill.Tickets for the one-day

event are: spectators $5; riderand horse $60.

That provides entry into allclinics for the day, WHOAmember and horse $40; stallrental extra, if required. Thoseinterested can contact WHOA

by email w.h.o.a@-sympatico.ca, or by calling705-434-0081.

Visit www.WomenHorse-OwnersAssoc.com for furtherinformation and registrationdetails.

Fees for those wanting extraservices include:

- Horse and Rider $60, forentry to all clinics throughoutthe day;

- Horse and WHOAmember $40 (annual member -ship $25, email w.h.o.a@sym-patico.ca, with advance regis-tration recommended;

- Horse transportation avail -able from Trillium Transport.Call Ed 519-942-3756 for fees;and

- stall rental $40 (includesshavings, book ahead).

GARA FARM BUILDINGS INC.Drive Sheds • Pole Barns • Equine Facilities

Belwood

Chris Feenstra(519) 787-3786(519) 820-1562

Gary Swaving(519) 843-2727(519) 820-4374www.garafarm.com

Fax(519) 843-6659

FROM THE COVERLife is good - This yearling appears to be enjoying himself in thegood weather. His name is Canadian Pacific, and he is a Canadianwarmblood stud colt, by Travis Hall Equestrian Centre StallionPacific Star STV. photo courtesy of Judy Johnson

RR#4 Belwood 519-843-9932

www.encoreperformancehorses.com

Encore Equestrian Centre

SUMMER CAMPSJuly 6-10

Aug 17-21

Aug 10-14Aug 21-28

Little Riders Designed for beginner riders.

Includes riding, theory andpractical sessions,

crafts and swimming

OPEN HOUSE &

REGISTRATION

Sat. May 31 2pm-4pmRegistration forms available at

www.encoreperformancehorses.com

Monday to Friday with Thursday Sleep Over

Horse CourseTheory and

Practical

Sessions

Grooming

and

equipment ride

twice each day.

On-line survey to consider theeconomic role of equine industry

MAY 29, 2009 - EQUINE - PAGE THREE

DeBoer’s FarrieryProfessional shoeing and trimming by Ashleigh DeBoer.

Proudly serving Centre Wellington & surrounding areas.For more info, call 519-400-1604 or visit

www.deboersfarriery.ca

FENTON FARMSFENTON FARMS“QUALITY HORSE HAY”

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Dale Norris Dale Norris 519-846-8298519-846-8298

HENRY STABLESHome of 5time O.S.S.

Johnston CupWinner

ROSS HENRY

& SONS

Contact Wayneor Trevor

519-848-3788Arthur, Ontario Photo by:Iron Horse Photography

A state-of-the-art large-

animal isolation unit that

will set a new standard in

patient housing and infec-

tion control opened today at

the University of Guelph's

Ontario Veterinary College.

In the isolation facility,

potentially infectious ani-

mals will be separated from

other patients, especially

horses that are being admit-

ted for elective med-

ical/surgical evaluations or

other procedures. Animals

showing signs of infectious

disease will immediately be

directed to the isolation

unit.

The 9,000-square-foot

facility includes 12 separat-

ed stalls — each with its

own nursing station —

video monitoring from a

central station and sophisti-

cated diagnostic equipment.

Each stall has dual access

with interior and exterior

doors, which will improve

the efficiency and working

conditions for staff and cli-

nicians.

"It's very exciting to be

opening the doors of this

long-awaited facility," said

OVC dean Elizabeth Stone.

"We've always provided

innovative health-care serv-

ices, and this new unit gives

our clients yet another rea-

son to be confident in our

ability to provide the best

care possible."

Located in the southwest

corner of the OVC com-

plex, the isolation facility

serves as the anchor for the

new OVC Health Sciences

Centre, which will include

the new Pathobiology

Building and Animal Health

Laboratory and the Hill's

Pet Nutrition Primary

Healthcare Centre, both

scheduled for completion in

2010; an animal cancer care

centre; an equine sports

medicine and reproduction

centre; and other improve-

ments to the OVC Teaching

Hospital.

Construction of the iso-

lation centre was funded

through infrastructure

grants from the federal and

provincial governments,

with additional support

from the University.

OVC opens large animal isolation unit

RR #4 8690 Wellington Road 22Rockwood 1-800-283-6966

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15 Wells St. Arthur, 519-848-253615 Wells St. Arthur, 519-848-2536Dr. R. Bryan Hicks &Dr. Kayte Armstrong WelcomeDr. Roxan PardiacDr. Roxan PardiacDr. Mandy MulderDr. Mandy Mulder To the Arthur Veterinary Clinic

We Are Now AcceptingNew Patients

Emergency Services Available

Equine Dentistry, Medicine, Surgery,

Radiology, Reproductive Services,

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248 Main St. S., Mount Forest, 519-323-2060

PAGE FOUR - EQUINE - MAY 29, 2009

Photos and more information at www.HorseFarmsOntario.com or www.CountryHomeOntario.com

Or call Maggie Horne or Scott Robinson at 519-824-9050

IDEAL FOR PROFESSIONALHORSEMEN OR BOARDING FACILITY

$1,100,000Private 40acre horse farm located minutesnorth of Guelph. Includes restored 4BRcirca1911 red brick farmhouse, detached 2car garage with 2nd floor 2BR staff apart-ment, 12 boxstall horsebarn with attachedindoor arena and attached hay/shavingsstorage areas, outdoor dressage ring, out-door jump field, 5 paddocks, 2 hay fields &18 Fence Cross-Country Course!

HIS & HERS HORSE HEAVEN! $449,000Tree lined drive; renovated century 3 bed-room brick farmhouse with 2 jacuzzi tubs; 77acres (70 workable); 14 box-stall barn withheated tack room; large workshop with water,bathroom, 2 lg roll-up doors (combine sized)& concrete floor. Miss this one at your peril!

CAN’T BEAT THE LOCATION$995,000

Ideally suited for gentleman farmer orsomeone with storage needs. 46 pristineacres minutes north of Guelph on Hwy 6,YET TOTALLY PRIVATE FROM ROAD VIEW.3300+ sq ft, upgraded 5BR tudor stylehome with main floor inlaw suite or mas-ter BR with ensuite. Vaulted ceiling LR withhardwood flooring & fireplace insert. -Modern steel sided barn buildings by PostFarm Structures include 36’x80’ dri-veshed, 40’x100’ barn and 40’x60’ haybarn. Plenty of parking for farm or heavyequipment. 2 large pastures, pond andhardwood bush.

TURN KEY EQUESTRIAN FACILITY,PRIME LOCATION! $995,000

Complete package for board-ing/training/coaching facility. 3300 sq ft, 4BRcustom brick home.16 boxstall horsebarn withSoftStall & SoftStep flooring, wash stall, wash-room, 70’x 120’ indoor arena, 100’ x 200’sandring, 6 paddocks, ¼ mile track , pondAND attached 3BR 1800 sq ft apartment.

TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY!$1,125,000

You won’t find a more stunning acreage any-where! 24 acre Country Estate located inPuslinch, mins east of Cambridge. RestoredCentury Stone farmhouse set amongst toweringtrees, overlooking large pond, gently rolling pas-tures and perennial gardens. House upgradesinclude kitchen granite counters, built-in appli-ances and fabulous solarium with exposed stonewall. 2 barns, several paddocks, hayfields &hardwood bush complete with cabin.

90 ACRE CENTURY STONEHORSEFARM IN PUSLINCH!

$849,900This 5BR, 3300 sq ft, century stone farm-

house has all the character, charm & qualityof yesteryear - beautiful stone work, newercedar shingle roof, centre hallentrance/staircase plan leading to large prin-ciple rooms with high ceilings, pine plankflooring and amazing woodwork. Houseneeds interior updating. 18 box stallbankbarn currently a boarding facility, multi-ple electrobraid paddocks with run-ins, out-door sandring. Approx 50 acres in hayfields.All this and only 10 min Southwest of Guelph!

MAGGIE HORNE, SCOTT ROBINSON* Brokers *

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New Listing

AMAZING VIEWS OF SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE!

$529,000Enjoy peaceful morning sunrises and

evening sunsets from deck and front porch ofthe custom -built board and batton, 3br bun-galow overlooking farm fields and conserva-tion land. Pine plank flooring, huge countrykitchen, solarium, partially finished w/o base-ment, Energy Efficient Geothermal Heating,brand new roof. All on 23 acres with 2 horsepaddocks, 3 stall barn and walling trailsthrough woods.

CENTURY STONEFARMHOUSE ON 7 ACRES

$527,000Stately century stone farmhouse set up on ahill amongst tower maples and overlookingcountryside. A diamond in the rough! Centrehall staircase, pine plank flooring, 9’ ceilings,deep baseboards -they don’t make them likethis anymore! Income potential from 3BRapartment at back of the house. 7 acres ofpasture and steel shed.

LOOKING FOR A LIFESTYLECHANGE? $849,000

Tired of in town chaos and congestion? Checkout this 2700sqft, 4BR, upgraded centurystone farmhouse located on 127 acres withCarroll Creek running through; just 5 minwest of Elora, 20 min to Waterloo. Enjoyamazing views and sunsets, or strolls throughwooded trails along creek valley. Heated in-ground pool provides endless hours of sum-mer entertainment. Outbuildings includebankbarn, steel barn suitable for horses anddriveshed.

SUPERB EQUESTRIANFACILITY - MINUTES EAST OF

CAMBRIDGE! $929,00047 acre horsefarm featuring 34 boxstall barnwith washstall, heated tack, feedroom &attached 75'x 145' indoor arena with heatedviewing room. 105' x 125' fenced outdoor san-dring with floodlights. Adjacent bank barn loftprovides hay and shavings storage, and work-shop. 2 cement manure storage areas. Four 3-5 acre pastures & 5 individual turnouts withhydro & water, electrobraid fencing. Approx 12acres in hay. Remodelled board/batton housesuitable for barn staff or trainer.

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Masterfeeds, Equine Canada announce Canadian partnershipEquine Canada and Mas ter -

feeds Inc. have announced apartnership to raise funds forthe Canadian Equestrian Teamenroute to the Alltech FEIWorld Equestrian Games inKentucky in 2010.

This fall, Equine Canada

and Masterfeeds will launch ayear-long fundraising initiativeleading up to the 2010 Games.Official FEI Games appareland merchandise, with net pro -ceeds going to the CanadianEquestrian Team, will be avail-able at the Equine Canada and

Masterfeeds exhibit at majorCanadian events such as TheRoyal Agricultural Winter Fairand Spruce Meadows.

In addition, the official treatof the Canadian EquestrianTeam will be sold at partici -pating Masterfeeds dealershipsacross Canada – with a per -centage of proceeds donated tothe team.

All eyes will be transfixed

on the Kentucky Horse Park asthe 16-day competition, fromSept. 25 to Oct. 2010, sees thelargest movement of horsessince World War II. The gamesare expected to attract 800,000spectators, 800 athletes, and900 horses from around theglobe. The eight disciplines ofthe games include: showjump ing, dressage, eventing,driv ing, endurance, vaulting,

rein ing and para-dressage.Earlier this year, Master -

feeds Inc. was named as Can -ada’s first official Gold Feedpart ner of the Alltech FEIWorld Equestrian Games.

“Not only are we extremelyproud to be a partner of theGames, but now given our newrelationship with Equine Can -ada, we can leverage our brandand distribution across the

country to raise funds for theCanadian Equestrian Team,”said Rob Flack, president ofMasterfeeds.

The World EquestrianGames represent the worldchampionships for eight eques -trian sports. The games areheld every four years, twoyears prior to the OlympicGames.

The Golden Woods Riding School Ltd.

Over 50 years of combined teaching experience.

8295 Indian Trail, Rockwood - 519-856-0505www.goldenwoods.on.ca gwrs@@golden.net

English Riding Lessons, Summer Show Series, English Riding Lessons, Summer Show Series, Children’s Camps & Saturday Pony Pals ClubChildren’s Camps & Saturday Pony Pals Club

Obey the laws when approaching horses on roadsA recent accident where a

vehicle killed a valuable horsebeing ridden on back roads hasprompted horse users to pro -vide information to protecteveryone using the publicroads.

Did you know in Ontario ahorse and rider or horse-drawnvehicle has the right of way onmost roads?

Did you know that fright -ening a horse on the road is infact a ticketable offence of the

The Highway Traffic Act,which states, "Approachingridden or driven horses, etc. …Every person having the con-trol or charge of a motorvehicle or motor assisted bi -cycle on a highway, whenapproaching a horse or otheranimal that is drawing a vehi-cle or being driven, led or rid-den, shall operate, manage andcontrol the motor vehicle ormotor assisted bicycle so as toexercise every reasonable pre-caution to prevent the frighten-ing of the horse or other animaland to ensure the safety andprotection of any person driv-ing, leading or riding upon thehorse or other animal or beingin any vehicle drawn by thehorse or other animal."

Horses have minds of theirown, like small children, and ascan often behave in ways thatdo not seem logical to humans.

Experienced horse ridersask that the motoring publicslow down, especially on dirtor gravel roads where debrismight be flung at riders andhorses, causing not only injury,but also unexpected behaviourfrom the horses.

Horse riders may be en -countered on roadways duringall seasons. Be especially care-ful during winter months whereriders’ options are limit ed if thehorse does something unpre-dictable.

If coming across a fright -ened horse, stop until the horseis back under control.

THE

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MAY 29, 2009 - EQUINE - PAGE FIVE

Utility TractorsMF500, MF2600 & MF3600 Series

Commercial EquipmentZero-Turn Equipment

Compact TractorsMF1500 Series

Mid-Range TractorsMF5400 Series

Mowers & Mower Conditioners

Sub-Compact TractorsGC2400/GC2600

Square BalersMF1800 Series

Round BalersMF1700 & MF2700 Series

Tillage & Seeding Equipment

Do more work. Have more fun.It’s easy to do both with our Massey Ferguson® equipment.

When it comes to getting the job done quickly and efficiently, you just can’t beat our full line of Massey Ferguson compact and utility equipment. After all, Massey Ferguson has been an innovator in the farm

equipment industry for over 160 years. That kind of legacy and professional farmer DNA was used to build each piece of Massey Ferguson compact and utility equipment. From rugged and reliable tractors

to our agile zero-turn mowers, pull-type mowers, hay balers and seeding/tillage equipment, we have everything you need to tackle the toughest chores with ease.

Plus, our commitment to you goes beyond our equipment to include flexible financing, quality parts and a Massey Ferguson dealer who’s with you every step of the way.

See your dealer today or visit www.masseyferguson.com to learn how you can do more work and have more fun with our exciting line of Massey Ferguson compact and utility equipment.

Swanston Farm Equipment Ltd.5205 3rd Line R.R. #3 Rockwood, Ontario N0B 2K0

(519) 856-9512 Fax: (519) 856-2250

www.swanston.com

Standardbred show returns but with different formatIn 2008, the inaugural

Stan dardbred Showcasehorse show was held.

The horse show wasopen to Standardbreds onlyand was organized topromote the ver sa tility ofthe Standardbred by offer-ing classes in a variety orEnglish, western and driv-ing disciplines.

The success of the show,along with theStandardbred-only horseshows put on by the OntarioStandardbred AdoptionSociety in the past have re -sulted in the Ontario Stand -ardbred Show Series beingformed this year.

The series is a group ofthree Standardbred-onlyhorse shows, each being runinde pendently but the pointsfrom each show in the seriesbeing accumulated for yearend awards.

The shows in the seriesare being organized by OxerStables, to be held in Miltonon June 28, StandardbredShow case Riding Club to beheld at Grand RiverRaceway on Aug. 2, andO.S.A.S. to be held atCounty Heritage Park onAug. 28.

The awards banquet willbe held at Grand RiverRaceway in the fall.

The Standardbred Show -case Riding Club (SSRC) isa non profit volunteerorgani za tion whose focus isto promote the breed as ariding, showing and pleas-ure driving horse. "Thereare enough groups promot-ing the adoption side. Wefeel there is a lack of advo-cacy for them as a showhorse and we are out to ad -vance that." said KellyMcLaughlin, SSRC presi-dent.

The group is continuallylooking for support andsponsorship for the horseshow this year and is grate-ful that Grand River

Raceway has offered itsfacility to run the horseshow on the Sunday ofIndustry Day Week, butthere are several expensesincluding ribbons, equip-ment costs and ambulancefees that need to be covered.

There are opportunitiesto sponsor classes at a cost

of $100 each, donate prod-uct for prizes, register as atrade fair vendor or generalcash dona tions. The websitew w w . s t a n d -ardbredshowcase.com isnow operating and containsall the current informationwith re spect to the horseshow and a section devoted

specifically to recognizingthose individuals and organ-izations who have commit-ted to supporting and spon-soring the show this year.

For further informationplease visit the website orcontact Kelly McLaughlinat 905-335-8115.

PALGRAVE – The 2008Olympic silver medalistsMac Cone, Jill Henselwood,and Ian Millar will joinmany of Can ada’s top grandprix riders at the CaledonEquestrian Park this month.

“As the new seasonbegins at the CaledonEquestrian Park, we aredelighted that so many ofour equestrian athletes havechosen to show with us thisspring,” said CraigCollins.. “We would like toextend a warm welcome toall members of the commu-nity to join us for our open-ing events.”

The first competitionended May 17 but the sec-ond one runs May 20 to 24;with each week featuring a

$20,000 open wel come(Friday), a $10,000 modi -fied grand prix (Saturday)and a $50,000 grand prix(Sun day at 2pm).

Equestrian ManagementGroup has received a recordnumber of entries for thespring series Classic atPalgrave Phase 1 andCaledon National shows,having booked over ninehundred stalls.

There will be horsescompet ing from Wednesdaythrough Sunday in the site’ssix competition rings andspectat ors are always wel-come. The park features anonsite restaur ant and anequestrian related vendorarea.

Equestrian Management

Group has been operatinghorseshows at the CaledonEquestrian Park since 1986,and continues to push for-ward. It will host theinaugural Cana dian ShowJumping Champion shipsSept. 23 to 27, featuringworld class competition.

Looking forward, manyup grades and changes willbe happening at the park inpreparation for the 2015Pan American Games. Thepark has been selected asthe equestrian venue ifToronto wins the bid.

The Caledon EquestrianPark is located just east ofPalgrave at 200 PineAvenue. For more informa-tion please visitwww.equiman.com.

Caledon Equestrian Parkkicked off 2009 season

For all your horse fencing& building supplies

PAGE SIX - EQUINE - MAY 29, 2009

The Original “no wire” Polymer Horse Fence that makes Horse Sense

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We carry a full line of electric fencing products from Zareba, Red Snap’r, Electronet, Gripple , Red Brand and Power Probe fence testers.

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The Original “no wire” Polymer Horse Fence that makes Horse Sense

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CCENTRAL CANADA PASO FINO HORSE ASSOCIATION

presents

A GAITED HORSE FUN SHOWLocation: Erin Fairgrounds, Erin, Ontario

Date: Sunday, August 16thLots of fun classes, lots of great prizes, lots of good times!

For more info contact Camilla Willings 519-848-6326 oor email: finavistafarm@hotmail.com

and

COME MEET THE PASO FINO BREEDDuring ‘Doors Open Fergus-Elora’

Location: Forest Gait Farm 8122 Eramosa/Garafraxa Townline, Fergus.

Date: Saturday, June 20th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm A fun-filled day of Latin music and food

Demos of the Paso Fino’s unique gait and test rides. If you've ever wanted to try a Paso Fino... here is your

chance! For more info contact Marijean Harris at 519-787-2909 or email: info@forestgaitfarm.com.

Open house set for June 20 to introduce smooth riding Paso Fino horses The Paso Fino is the oldest

true native breed of horse in theAmericas.

It was the mount of theSpanish conquistadors. The an -cestors of today’s Paso Finocame to America on the secondvoyage of Christopher Colum -bus.

The Paso Fino is a mixtureof three European breeds – theAndalusian, the Barb, and theSpanish Jennet. The Paso Finoinherited the exquisite gait ofthe Jennet and, over time,became known as Los Caballosde Paso Fino – “The horseswith the fine step.”

Naturally quick and sure-footed, their hooves are verydurable. Paso Finos vary in

size from 13.2 to 15.2 hands,with the average being around14.2 hands. The horse has abeauti ful, flowing mane andtail. They can be found in everyequine colour including bay,black, buckskin, palomino,chestnut, gray, roan, and evenpinto.

Although not well known inCanada, the Paso Fino is gain -ing great popularity among thehorse savvy community. Thelong held secret is getting outas more and more horse enthu-siasts are looking for a com-fortable ride combined withgreat versatility.

The Paso Fino is a naturallygaited horse. It can walk, can-ter and gallop like other horses,

but its preferred way of goingis its own four-beat gait. ThePaso Fino will produce a won -derfully smooth ride at threeprimary speeds: Classic Fino,Paso Corto and Paso Largo.The difference between thosegaits exists in the degrees ofcollection and extension.

Strong, willing, intelligent,enthusiastic, proud, loving, andmischievous are some of thetraits of the Paso Fino. Theyare a “people-oriented” horsethat enjoys human companion-ship and always strive toplease.

The Paso Fino is a very ver-satile animal that can beenjoyed everywhere from theshow ring to the cow pen to thetrail. Paso Finos make for agreat, comfortable trail ridemount. Their smooth gait tran -scends any other for coveringthe trail. At the Paso Corto, thehorse can travel quickly, whilethe rider sits as comfortably asat the walk. Imagine a longtrail ride with no bouncing -just gliding. That’s why PasoFino lovers say they have thesmoothest ride in the world.

To learn more about thePaso Fino Horse, visit ForestGait Farm on June 20 from10am to 4pm, when the DoorsOpen Fergus-Elora and the‘Central Canada Paso FinoHorse Association’ (CCPFHA)will host an open house andmeet the breed. At the farm,Paso Fino horses will demon -strate their unique gait and vis-itors have the opportunity to goon a test ride.

Forest Gait Farm is locatedat 8122 Eramosa-GarafraxaTownline, southeast of Fergus.

For more information con-tact Marijean Harris at 519-787-2909 or email info@-forest gaitfarm.com.

PASO FINO - The Paso Fino horse inherited a magnificent gait and offers a very smooth ride. Therewill be an open house at Forest Gait Farm June 20 for those interested in learning more about the animal, which is becoming better known in Canada.

Easy rider Marijean Harris, of Forest Gait Farm, rides a Paso Fino Stallion - a horse becoming knownfor its easy gait.

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by Dr. Bob WrightLead Veterinarian,

Equine and Alternate SpeciesSince 1999, the spread of

West Nile virus across NorthAmerica has brought with it anumber of challenges.

The first preventive mea -sure, and the least challenging,is to vaccinate all horses withthe standard 2-shot West Nilevirus vaccine. That is followedwith booster vaccinations asrecommended by a veterin -arian.

The greatest challenge ishow to control the mosquitoesresponsible for spreading thevirus. There are approximately75 species of mosquitoes inCanada, all of which hatchtheir eggs in water and feed on

blood. Mosquitoes that feed onboth birds and mammals tendto predominate in late summer.It is the control of thosespecies, the so-called "bridgingvectors," that is critical in pre-venting the transfer of WestNile virus from infected birdsto mammals such as horses andhumans.

The mosquito’s entire lifecycle can be completed in lessthan 10 days if the temperatureis favourable. The mosquitospecies of concern with respectto the spread of West Nile virusis Culex pipiens. Those arethought to be the primarybridging vector in the transferof West Nile virus from infect-ed birds to humans and horses.A fertilized Culex fe male can

survive over winter in shelteredplaces such as animal burrows,cellars, and sewers, emergingin the spring to take a bloodmeal prior to laying her eggs.

Reducing breeding areasCulex mosquitoes breed in

stagnant water. Therefore,eliminating standing water andreducing the breeding sites isthe first line of defence againstmosquito bites and West Nilevirus. The following methodsare used:

- identify areas where wateraccumulates after a one-cen-timeter rainfall, includingdepressions and tire ruts. If thewater remains for more thanseven days, you have a poten -tial mosquito-breeding site.Mark those areas on a site map

for assessment after each sig-nificant rainfall and foremploying prevention options.Fill in depressions and ruts.

- Eliminate structures thataccumulate water whereverpossible. Those include cans,jars, discarded tires, cloggedroof gutters, yard decorationsand stock tanks. Empty birdbaths every other day. Coverrain barrels with a tight-fittingfly screening.

- Identify locations of catchbasins and entrances to drainswhere water accumulates.Those areas may require appli -cation of larvicidal treatments.Unclog ditches to allow waterto flow. Use a sump pump todrain water from temporarypools that may accumulate on a

property. - Drain or cover swimming

pools, wading pools, or similarconveniences that are not inuse. Use appropriate poolchemicals to ensure water doesnot stagnate. Consider openingthe pool in early April to pre-vent larva development thatcan occur if the pool is notopened until late May or June.

- Drill large holes in oldtires used to hold down tarps sothat water drains.

- Aerators or any methodthat creates water surfacemovement in ponds, e.g., wind-mill-driven aerators, willreduce or prevent mosquitoesfrom breeding.

- Consult the Ministry ofNatural Resources (MNR)

before stocking any naturalwater body with fish. Artificialponds can be stocked with fish(bass, rainbow trout) that eatmosquito larvae. Do not stockponds that have an outflow tonatural water sources with non-native fish.

- Goldfish can be used instock tanks that are not beingemptied every three to fourdays. They will control bothalgae growth and mosquito lar-vae.

- Wetlands must not bedrained or altered in any way,unless there is an exceptionalcircumstance of significanthuman health risk from diseasevector mosquitoes. Consul -tation with, and permission

Controlling mosquitoes on horse farms and rural properties

Continued on next page

PAGE EIGHT - EQUINE - MAY 29, 2009

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Controlling mosquitoes on horse farms and rural propertiesfrom, the MNR and appro-

priate Conservation Authoritywould be required.

Taking precautions to pro-tect against mosquito bites isthe second line of defence. Usean insect repellent on yourselfand on horses and applyaccording to label direc tions.Apply initially to horses insmall areas in case a horse issensitive to the product.Several products containingpyrethrin, resmethrin and per-methrin are available for use onhorses. They can be found invarious concentrations, formu -lated as sprays, wipe-ons andointments. Those products aremore effective as fly repellentsthan mosquito repellents.

DEET-based repellents arethe most effective. There isonly one DEET-based insectrepellent registered for use onboth horses and riders: Vet TekMustang PCP No. 22000. It iscurrently being reformulatedfrom a 35% to a 30% DEET-based product. In a study com-paring the efficacy of insectrepellents against mosquitobites, a 23.8% DEET provideda mean complete protectiontime of 301.5 + 37.6 minutes(4.4 - 5.7 hours) protection tohumans.

Riders should be warnedthat DEET-based products maycause damage to rayons,acetates, dynel, plastics orpainted surfaces.

Avoid placing horses out-doors between dusk and dawnwhen mosquitoes are mostactive. Since face flies botherhorses from late morning tolate afternoon, it will be diffi-cult for horse owners to find aninsect-free time when theirhorses can graze on pasture.

Avoid riding horses or plac-

ing horses in areas that arefavorable mosquito habitats,such as low, wet pastures orbush areas. Pastures that areopen to the breeze are pre-ferred.

Ensure that the barn hastight-fitting screens over thewindows and doors. Large flyscreens, which pull across ordown to cover the entrances toalleyways, are commerciallyavailable.

Use yellow incandescentlights or fluorescent lights inthe barn. Those are less attrac-tive to mosquitoes.

Cautions for horsesMany of the products used

by horse owners will be sup -plied in ready-to-use handsprayers containing permethrinand/or pyrethrin in variousconcentrations (e.g., 0.5%).Horse owners should alwaysread the label carefully and useaccording to manufacturer'sdirections. The following areexamples of recommendations.

Avoid contact with eyes, ,and muzzle. Do not saturate thehair or soak skin. Repeat treat-ment daily or as directed by theproduct label and when neces-sary. Do not use on newborn ornursing foals. Do not coverhorses with a blanket immedi-ately after treating. Do notapply to the back of horsesprior to saddling. If a horsedevelops skin irritation afteruse, cease using this productand consult a veterinarian. Donot use on horses intended forfood. Do not contaminate feedor water troughs. Avoid breath -ing the mist. These productsare toxic to fish.

Third line of defenseRural dwellers and farmers

can hire a licensed pest man -agement company to properlyassess their needs and safely

apply pesticides to controlmosquitoes on their property.Those companies are listedunder Pest Control in theYellow Pages of the telephonebook.

The Ministry of theEnvironment strongly recom -mends that rural landownersand farmers focus efforts onpersonal protection and re -moving mosquito-breedingsites before considering the useof pesticides.

Larvicides are used in cir -cumstances where reducing orremoving standing water is notfeasible. The Ministry of theEnvironment (MOE) allowsonly two larvicides - Bacillusthuringiensis israeliensis (Bti)and methoprene - to be usedunder permit in Ontario.

In Ontario, rural land -owners (and their full-timeemployees) who have a pondor dugout that is wholly con-tained on their property, withno outflow or connection inany way to surface waters, canapply specific products con -taining the larvicide Bti. Thisnaturally occurring bacteriumprovides the most effectivecontrol at certain stages of amosquito's life cycle, so repeat-ed applications of this larvicideare necessary to achieve effec-tive mosquito control.

Bti is available in a granularformulation (500-gram shakercans or 5-kilogram bags) fromlocal feed and hardware out-lets, garden centres and pestcontrol companies in Ontario.Those vendors must hold aPesticide Vendor's Licence. Nolicence or permit is required bya farmer or rural dweller topurchase or use a Schedule 3product containing Bti.

MethopreneMethoprene is an insect

growth regulator. When mos -quito larvae are exposed to it,their life cycle is disrupted andthey are prevented from reach -ing maturity and reproducing.

Methoprene can impactsome freshwater invertebratesbut does not seem to have long-term adverse effects on theirpopulation. It is slightly toxicto some fish species. It de -grades rapidly in water, beingsusceptible to transformationby sunlight and micro orga -nisms.

Adulticides Adulticides must be applied

when the target mosquitospecies is most active andapplications are more effectivewhen used under ideal weatherconditions (e.g., a clear night,air temperature about 15°C orhigher and wind velocity 5 - 8km/h). Currently registeredadulticide products containmalathion, propoxur, pyreth -roids, and pyrethrins.

Rural landowners and farm -ers may use adulticides labeledfor domestic use from a ready-to-use aerosol, fogger or tanksprayer on their own propertywithout a licence. Most horseowners will restrict the use ofadulticide use to the inside ofbarns using ready-to use handsprayers (premise sprays) ormechanically-timed mistrelease units.

Farmers who are certifiedagriculturists may purchasepesticides for land extermi -nations on their farm, includingadulticides for mosquito con-trol around livestock and infarm buildings.

Users should be aware thatadulticides may be effectiveonly for a short period of time,due to the ability of mosquitoesto fly short distances fromother properties.

AlternativesScientific studies do not

support claims that natural pre -d ators - such as bats, swallows,purple martins, dragonflies orother flying predators - areeffective in appreciably re -ducing mosquito populations.According to Health Canada,citrosa plants do not produceenough citronella oil to beconsidered effective andcitron ella-based productsappear to be potential dermalsensitizers which, therefore,may cause allergic reactions insome individuals. Ultravioletor black lights, sonic devices,various mosquito traps andzappers have not been proveneffective.

There are no guarantees thatwill prevent you or your horsefrom being infected with theWest Nile virus. Therefore, the

best you can do is to manageyour farms and properties inways that will decrease the riskof coming in contact with aninfected mosquito, and to pro-vide your horse with protectionby using the West Nile vaccine.

ProtectionEnsure your horse is prop-

erly protected by using theWest Nile virus vaccine. Do, orhave a professional do, a siteevaluation and eliminate allmosquito breeding grounds,where possible. Evaluate thebreeding areas that cannot beeliminated and choose the mostappropriate method to preventmosquitoes from breeding.

If you choose to use a pesti-cide, read the label carefullyand observe all label precau-tions in order to protect people,pets and livestock.

Continued from page seven