THE VOICE OF EQUINE ALBERTA MEMBER MAGAZINE · Long distance riding has a special place in my...

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO AEF100, 251 MIDPARK BLVD SE, CALGARY, AB T2X 1S3 40050297

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

� Wild Rose Trail Ride highlights

� 1000 hour Ride and Drive milestones

� Wild Rose Circuit

� AEF coaches at Horse Haven

� New mounted search and rescue

and much more!

THE VOICE OF EQUINE ALBERTA MEMBER MAGAZINE

www.albertaequestrian.com

FALL 2012

Time to renew your membership!

For your peace of mind…

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OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, except holidays.Managing Editor: Monika Smith

[email protected] 403.242.6162Publication Committee: Sonia Dantu, Shelley Newman, Nicole Worthylake, Monika Smith

2012 MAGAZINE DEADLINESArticle Deadline Ad Booking Ad files to AEF Mailing Date

Spring: January 15 February 1 February 8 March 8Summer: April 15 May 3 May 10 June 10Fall: August 1 August 20 August 27 September 28Winter: October 15 November 3 November 10 December 10

Advertising SalesPlease contact Nicole Worthylake

All material is copyright 2012. Ideas and opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the ideas oropinions of the AEF. Alberta Bits reserves the right to accept, and/or edit material submitted for publication.The AEF makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained therein, but assumes no liability in cases of error or changing conditions. Any business relations or other activities undertaken as aresult of the information contained in Alberta Bits, or arising there from, is the responsibility of the partiesinvolved and not of the AEF. We welcome signed letters to the editor, but reserve the right to publish, edit forgrammar, taste and length. For reprint information, please contact [email protected].

Magazine design by The Visions West Studio.

04 It’s your Albertaby Monika Smith, managing editor, Alberta BitsIt’s time to renew your membership

05 Hello AEF members!by Tara Gamble, president AEF

06 2013 AEF fee review and new member referral program

07 Wild Rose Trail Ride: First ever, annual trail ride a great successfor fundraising, fun and family

08 English competition coach specialist certification

09 Wild Rose Circuit NCCP competition coach workshopNCCP fall equestrian theory courses

10 Gold medal in endurance riding for young ridersChinook Country Dressage Association celebrates 25 yearsby Audrey Kokesch

11 AEF coaches at Horse Haven

12 Winning the Stampede saddle

13 K-Country Parks Days by Marie-Pierre Chappeland

14 2012 scholarship recipients

16 Provincial association feature Little Bits Therapeutic Riding AssociationRimbey Sleigh, Wagon and Saddle Club

17 1000 hour Ride and Drive milestones Meghan Black, Valerie Patterson and Cayley Sparks

18 Takin’ care of trail businessby Scott Phillips

20 Riders to the rescue: equine teams are part of FSARby Ken Fach

21 CRAC’s wrangler of the yearby Pat Hyndman

22 Ask the insurance guy: helmetsby Mike King

24 Horses All celebrates its 35th anniversaryby Wendy DudleyTeam Alberta jumping

25 Canadian Polocrosse team wins in Europe

26 AEF member groups Associate, Affiliate and Business Members, as of September 15, 2012


100, 251 Midpark Blvd SECalgary, AB T2X 1S3

Toll Free: 1.877.463.6233Phone: 403.253.4411Fax: 403.252.5260


10%

ON THE COVER Sidney Kobi and her horse are from Gadsby, Alberta partici-pating in the AEF’s first-ever, annual Wild Rose Trail Ride, Sunday, September16 at Rafter Six Ranch Resort grounds. The ride was a ninth birthday presentfor her. Photo credit: Amber Perry, Just for KiX Photography

Fall 2012; Volume 4, Issue 3Alberta Bits is the Alberta Equestrian Federation’s official member magazine. It serves the entire equestriancommunity of horses and riders of all ages, interests and involvement, as the Voice of Equine Alberta.

Alberta Bits magazine is sent four times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) to all current AEF membersand is made available at the office and special events attended by the AEF.

Alberta Bits is distributed throughout Alberta with news and events on behalf of recreational, sport, breeds &industry and educational sectors of the Alberta horse industry. Alberta Bits is distributed to approximately14,000 members; 9,000 households and businesses; and at approximately 10 events and trade shows annually.

The Alberta Equestrian Federation has been incorporated since 1978.

Publications Mail Agreement—#40050297

Printed in Canada—ISSN 1918-7122

2013 is the AEF’s 35th Anniversary–Let’s celebrate!AEF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Tara Gamble 780-945-7516 [email protected] PresidentVice President Kippy Maitland-Smith 403-845-4864 [email protected] Juliet Franke 403-843-6427 [email protected] Les Oakes 403-540-9859 [email protected]–Breeds and Industry Bill desBarres 888-303-1070 [email protected]–Education Trish Mrakawa 403-938-6398 [email protected]–Public Relations Rebecca Munoz 403-507-1828 [email protected]–Recreation Brian Irving 403-936-0221 [email protected]–Sport Sarah Torry 587-777-5670 [email protected] Alison Douglas 403-762-5213 [email protected] Lewis Hand 403-722-4690 [email protected] Raylene McWade 403-887-2566 [email protected] Ken Schmuland 780-449-0749 [email protected] Laura Stenhouse 403-466-1993 [email protected]

Provincial association contact members listed on page 26.

AEF STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTORSonia [email protected] ext 4

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORNorma [email protected] ext 1

MARKETING & PROGRAM SUPPORT Nicole [email protected] ext 5

COACHING ADMINISTRATORErin [email protected] ext 3

COMPETITIONS COORDINATORSophie [email protected] ext 2

FINANCE, GENERAL INQUIRIESRita [email protected] ext 6

Inside

Hopefully, everyone got to do thethings this summer that you plannedon. Fall is busy with associationsorganizing their final, major events;riders working for year-end points andclubs gearing up for AGMs, celebra-tions and renewal.

The editor’s door is always openfor ideas and articles, for example,Parks Canada Day, held annuallyacross Canada. (Check out page 13.)Foothills Search and Rescue has also created a mounted equine unit. See page 20for this story. Do YOU have an article? story idea, photos? please contact me.

A LASTING LEGACY—PETER LOUGHEED (1928-2012)

If you’ve ridden in K-Country, thank the vision of Peter Lougheed. In 1977, hecreated Kananaskis Provincial Park, later renamed Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.With the creation of Peter Lougheed and Spray Valley provincial parks, an area thatincludes 76,740 hectares of provincial Crown land in the Bow River watershed, hegave all equestrians the opportunity and access to enjoy a stunning part of Alberta.

A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS

Long distance riding has a special place in my heart: Alberta is perfect for it.Young Canadian riders of team Canada won the team gold medal this year. One ofthe riders is from Winfield; the up-and-coming Jessica Yavis. (Article on page 10.)Top CTR and endurance rider Leanna Marchant and her horse “Sam” came 15th atthe Tevis (August 4-5, 2012)–her first time on arguably the world’s toughest trail–through the Sierra Nevada’s, crossing two mountain ranges in California with crazyelevation changes and climbing to over 8,000 feet. Of the 205 that started this year,only 98 completed.

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE?

I shouldn’t be astonished that there are equine organizations that have beenaround for 20, 30, 40 or more years. A great quote from the article on the 25thanniversary of the Chinook Country Dressage Association is: “A wise person onceresponded when asked how they stayed together for 60 years of marriage:they didn’t fall out of love at the same time. That’s how this club has kept thisshow going. No one fell out of love with the show at the same time.”

AEF 35TH ANNIVERSARY

As the AEF is approaching its 35th anniversary, Alberta Bits would like tohonour those folks and organizations who have been around for those 35 years!Rider, competitor, official, volunteer, or business owner or event creator? Call! Backin the 70s when the AEF was starting up, it was a different time. Tell us the good,the bad and the ugly. What’s different today? Tell us the funny stories, those ‘wouldyou believe?’ and those wonderful remembrances of companionship with a horse.

If you have ideas about celebrating, or would like to volunteer, contactRebecca Munoz, chair of public relations: [email protected].

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

With all the benefits that being anAEF member and all the great work thatthe AEF can and does do on behalf of allhorse people in Alberta, what’s not to like,support or join? AB

It’s your Albertaby Monika Smith, managing editor of Alberta Bits

4 AlbertaBits FALL 2012 www.albertaequestrian.com

It’s time to renew your 2013 membership

You can complete your personalized membership renewal form,renew online or send it by fax.

Be sure to let us know if your email, mailing address or othercontact information has changed. Your membership benefits keepgrowing each year:

� Automatic personal liability and AD&D insurance coverage;optional insurances available as well, including the NEW WeeklyAccident Indemnity coverage.

� Members Priority Program gives you great discounts with manybusinesses!

� Alberta Bits magazine four times per year.

� Access to educational scholarships, awards and funding.

� Access to clinics, educational workshops and annual AEF conference.

� A wide range of programs for all ages and for all recreational andcompetitive riders and drivers, including the Wild Rose program!

� Access to resource information on everything from where to takelessons to where to go trail riding. See the new online trail map!

� AEF educational brochures and resource materials.

� ONLINE STORE–offering many great items from rider level manu-als, trail manuals/guides, equestrian books, educational DVDs,AEF clothing, Muck Boots™, signs and much more! AB

Managing editor, Alberta Bits

Monika Smith volunteering at an event.Photo credit: courtesy of Monika Smith

Donations requested for the AEF conference silent auction

November 16-18, 2012The AEF will be conducting a silent auction during our annual confer-

ence this November. 100 percent of the proceeds go towards supporting thesuccessful youth program, Live Outside the Box. This program rewards youngpeople to spend less time in front of the TV and computer and spend moretime outside being active with their horses!

Businesses, associations and individuals are invited to please consider acontribution to the silent auction. Suggestions for donations could be yourbusiness products, gift certificates, riding gear, clothing, gift baskets, ridinglessons, original art, etc. Any items small or large are appreciated. All of thesilent auction donors will be recognized at the conference.

This is a great way to get our members familiar with your company andproducts and to help support a great program.

To donate an item, contact Nicole at [email protected] call 403-253-4411 ext 5.

All donated items must be at the AEF office by November 16, 2012. We may also be able to assist with pick up in certain areas.

THANK YOU TO OUR CONFERENCE PLATINUM SPONSOR, CAPRI INSURANCE

AlbertaBits FALL 2012 5www.albertaequestrian.com

by Tara Gamble, president

Thank you to everyone thatcame out and supported our first everfundraising Trail Ride at the world-famous Rafter Six Ranch inKananaskis, without you, the daywould not have been such a great success. We look forward to holdinganother ride next fall for our 35thanniversary!

The AEF has had a very success-ful year thus far and the board ofdirectors have been busy with com-mittee meetings and following throughon set goals. For the first time, AEFcommittee terms of references weredeveloped and approved by the board.All standing committee chairpersonsset goals with their committees and

have been holding regular meetings to follow through. An overview of all the 2012successes will be provided for you in your next issue of Alberta Bits, in addition toa break out session that will be held at our annual conference this year in Calgary.We hope you will join us November 16, 17 and 18, 2012 at the Delta CalgarySouth.

In addition, I am pleased to report that the AEF held a goal setting andstrategic planning session. From this, the AEF Board has now approved a five-yearAEF strategic plan that:

� Clearly defines the purpose of our organization and establishes realistic goalsand objectives consistent with our mission and vision in a defined time framewithin our organization’s capacity for implementation

� Communicates our goals and objectives to the AEF’s members and partners

� Ensures the most effective use is made of the AEF’s resources by focusing onour key priorities

� Provides a base from which progress can be measured and establishes amechanism for informed change when needed

� Brings together everyone’s best and most reasoned efforts to have importantvalue in building a consensus about where the AEF is going

The AEF strategic plan is posted on our website under ‘Business & Bylaws.’Most recently, the AEF has begun work on an internal audit. Internal auditing

can be of either an assurance or a consulting nature.

Assurance-related internal audit services focus on two broad areas:

1. The adequacy of the design of internal controls and other key financial andoperating policies and procedures

2. Compliance with, and operating effectiveness of, internal controls and otherfinancial and operating policies and procedures

Unlike a financial statement audit performed by independent external audi-tors, which provides only a high-level consideration of internal controls as an element of audit planning, an internal audit function focuses on the details of an organization’s policies and procedures with an objective of preventing and detecting:

Bits of news

Tara Gamble. Photo credit Terry Jorden

1. Weaknesses in the design or operation of policies and procedures

2. Non-compliance with policies, procedures and bylaws

3. Inefficiencies in operations

4. Occupational fraud and abuse

The primary objective of our internal audit is to improve your (our valuedAEF members) organization’s strength by making practical changes for enhancingpolicies, procedures and operations and thereby taking a proactive approach tofind and correct weaknesses before a problem arises. We look forward to sharingthis report with our members and when complete, this will also be posted on ourwebsite under ‘Business & Bylaws.’

It is my pleasure to serve you as your president. I thank all of our membersfor your support and please remember, we are your ‘voice’ and we encourage youto contact us anytime or stop in and visit the office.

Till the winter issue! AB

Please visit our online

store and purchase your

Muck Boots™ today.

Muck Boots™ are nowavailable for purchasethrough the AlbertaEquestrian Federationonline store.

Hello AEF members!

Check our online storefor other great styles

available too!


2013 AEF fee reviewThe AEF recently conducted a fee review of all levels of AEF membership and

AEF programs. In addition, the AEF compared our membership fees with those ofother partnering provinces (the AEF was among the lowest across Canada). It wasdetermined that after direct expenses are removed from the AEF membership fees(GST, insurance premiums, printing/production of membership cards, AlbertaBits, database charges, Equine Canada member fee and staff allocation), $1.15per member was left over to cover operating costs such, telephone/internet, officeconsumables, office rent, board meetings, production of educational materials,trade shows, salaries, etc. On average, operating costs increase at 3.5 percent peryear; the AEF has not increased memberships relevant to these costs.

As a non-profit, AEF revenue sources consists of membership fees and asmall operating grant from the provincial government (maximum grant received is10 percent of overall operating expenses).

The AEF has also been fortunate enough to be granted a casino license everyother year; the funds received have been reduced significantly over the years andcasino funds also come with specific restrictions on what the revenue can be spenton. The AEF cannot solely rely on government or casino funding as the future isalways uncertain with changes in government and cutbacks.

The AEF gratefully thanks its members for donating to various programs!However, this amount is not used for operational funds, only towards programs.Donations account for only one percent of overall revenue.

The AEF Executive voted in favor to increase membership fees for 2013 inorder to ensure costs are being covered for administering memberships. The AEFexecutive also voted in favor of a new member referral program to help offset thecost of the membership fee increase.

NEW MEMBER REFERRAL PROGRAM

The AEF is pleased to introduce our NEW member referral program.This will offer you, our existing members, an opportunity to save on your

membership!

The main highlights of the member referral program are:

� For NEW Members Only! The member referral program is ONLY for currentmembers that refer a brand new AEF member

� Members MUST refer a person who has NEVER been a member.

� Referral Credits: Members will receive a $5 credit for each NEW memberwho joins the AEF! MAXIMUM of three (3) referrals per year (Individual orFamily) for a total of $15.

� Referral credits can be accumulated by an individual member, a family mem-bership, a provincial association, an affiliate organization, or coaches - theyall count! $5 per referral to a maximum of three.

� Membership referral credits will be applied to the following year’s member-ship renewal. NO CASH VALUE.

� People receiving referral credits for 2013 will have those credits appliedagainst their 2014 AEF membership fees. Unused credits from the 2013 yeardo not carry forward.

� IMPORTANT–Members giving referrals MUST tell the NEW member to provide the AEF with the current member’s individual, family, association or affiliate name and AEF member number. Credits will NOT be applied if the NEW member does not give your name and AEF number.

Although it is necessary for the AEF to increase membership fees; thisincrease can be offset for you by the NEW member referral program! AB

NEW FOR 2013WEEKLy ACCIDEnt InDEMnIty The AEF is pleased to offer this optional coverage to you withthe purchase of your annual membership.

Weekly Accident Indemnity provides you with incomereplacement in the event you are unable to work due to an accident.

Coverage is in force 24 hrs/day, 7 days/wk and includes(but is not limited to) injuries arising from an equine-relatedincident.

The policy will provide up to $500 per week in incomereplacement for up to 26 weeks. (Some restrictions apply).Must have filed an income tax return to CRA in the mostrecent year, must be an AEF Individual member and a sepa-rate declaration form is required. Apply directly on yourmembership form and be sure to complete the declaration(included in your fall issue envelope or on the AEF website).

The fee for this optional coverage is $100 per member.

DrEssAgE JuDgEs CLInICThe AEF is pleased to announce a one-day dressage clinicwith FEI judge, Lorraine MacDonald. The clinic, as well asbeing an educational offering for interested participants,will serve as mandatory upgrading for AEF provincial dressage judge applicants.

WHEn: Saturday, October 27, 2012

WHErE: Trakhner Glen Stables, Priddis

WHAt: AEF provincial dressage judges clinic

WHo: Applicants from the April clinic (priority), coaches, competitors, EC judges and anyone interested in learning how tests are scored.

WHy: To certify the applicants who attendedthe April clinic (primarily) and to offer an educational workshop for anyone interested in dressage

For more information on these and other clinics, please contact Sophie Beaufils at (403) 253-4411 ext 2 or email [email protected].

www.albertae- AlbertaBits FALL 2012 7

the Wild rose trail ride:First-ever, annual trail ride a great success for fundraising, fun and family at Rafter Six

l-r Tara Gamble, president of the AEF; Rick Maidman, Opening Gaits and Brian Irving, chair ofrecreation presenting Maidman with a $500 cheque. On September 16, the AEF raised $1,500on behalf of the following therapeutic riding associations: Opening Gaits Therapeutic RidingSociety of Calgary, Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association and Journeys Therapeutic RidingAssociation. Each year, the ride will continue to fundraise to support other AEF-member thera-peutic riding groups Photo credit: Amber Perry, Just for KiX Photography (all images)

“The warm look of the horses just draws the children in” Rick Maidman

“The day was absolutely perfect–in large part to the friendly, helpfuland informative AEF staff and volunteers, the superb service provided bymembers of the Cowley family & staff at Rafter Six Ranch Resort and theidyllic and picture perfect location chosen for the ride”.

Jo-Ann Bird

More images available, contact the office.

$500

$1,000

$2,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$4,000

Through the COMMUNITY SPIRIT GRANT your generous donation will be matched.Help AEF scholarship recipients; encourage youth to Live Outside the Box; improveaccess to our wilderness through the Trail Supporter program; support under repre-sented groups through the new Wild Rose Trail Ride, make the 2012 Conference theevent of the year and the upcoming 35th anniversary celebration memorable.

$3,500

Help us grow our herd ofgreat programs!


An exciting new coaching certification program is now available for Englishcoaches in Canada. It is a highly accessible certification program designed forthose working with intermediate or more advanced riders in furthering their stu-dents’ basic riding, horsemanship and safety skills, as well as advancing competi-tion experience from provincial to national level competitions.

“The specialist program is really important because it fills the gap betweenthe competition coach and high per-formance coach,” explains GrantField, chair of the national coachingcommittee and a master evaluator.“It’s perfect for coaches who mighthave been at the old level 2, but werespecialists, not generalists and there-fore never became certified. It’s atotally new program that will serve thecommunity needs better.

“It’s the starting point forbecoming a specialized coach in yourdiscipline at a very attainable level–now coaches can just apply directly to this pro-gram if it meets their experience. They don’t have to go through a previous coach-ing level,” he adds.

“I feel really proud of the English coaching committee for having finalizedthis last step in the competition coaching stream. We have created a great oppor-tunity for the athletes and the coaches that coach them.”

Additionally, the competition coach-specialist will be certified to evaluate ahorse and its suitability for a student, to supervise stable operations and routines,and to have demonstrable experience training and preparing horses for competi-tion. Though candidates will specialize in one discipline, they are expected to beconversant in all English disciplines.

To be eligible for certification candidates must:

• Have competition experience

• Be at least 20 years of age as of January 1 of the current year

• Hold an Equine Canada Gold sport licence (or higher) in good standing,and be a current member of your provincial sport organization

Acquiring certification requires the following steps:

• Submission of sample lesson and seasonal training plans

• Participating in a single evaluation day with two evaluators where you areevaluated on coaching skills while giving lessons

• Evaluation of your coaching skills during competition

“The competition coach specialist program ensures that coaching profes-sionals value national teaching standards, safety and quality horsemanship,” statesGillian Ross Erasmi, education coordinator, Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF).

“We proudly worked alongside Equine Canada to develop the training thatwas necessary to launch the competition coach specialist program, including man-aging various training pilots instrumental in attaining Coaching Association ofCanada program approval. Thanks must be extended to the many dedicated indi-viduals who provided their time and expertise during this process.

“Quality coaching is vital to equestrian sport and the Equine Canada’s coach-ing program–this new format increases accessibility for those who coach ridersfrom the beginner level up to the elite competitor,” concludes Ross Erasmi.

Complete details on this program can be found on the Equine Canada website under coaching: how to become certified. Details can also be found on theAEF website under coaching. AB

English competition coach specialist certification

“…it fills the gap

between the

competition

coach and high

performance coach…”


nCCP fall equestrian theory courseEdmonton, October 27-28, 2012 (Whitemud Equine Learning Center)

This is a great course for equestrians who want to learn more about the following modules:

� Equestrian teaching and learning� Planning an equestrian lesson� Analyzing beginner equestrian performance� Making ethical decisions

The course is a two-day, classroom-based course taught by our highly certi-fied learning facilitators. It is open for anyone to attend.

Participants will receive a workbook, reference manual and certificates ofcompletion.

It is also strongly recommended as a training course for those wishing toreceive future instructor and coach certification.

Please contact the AEF coaching administrator to register: (403) 253-4411 ext 3, or email [email protected]. AB

The AEF is working on further developing our current provincial grassrootscompetition program (Wild Rose Circuit). We would like to help grow the circuitby offering more shows, of all disciplines, everywhere in Alberta. If you are inter-ested in sanctioning a show with the AEF, please contact our competitions coordi-nator at [email protected] or (403) 253-4411 ext 2.

Here are the BENEFITS to sanctioning your show with the AEF:

� Promotion of your stable/organization on the AEF websitecalendar/enews/Alberta Bits magazine

� Availability of carded/trained officials

� Incentive programs: volunteer recognition and ‘win your entry’ draw

� Affordable sanctioning fees: $30/day without prize money and $40/day withprize money

� AEF membership required ONLY (not EC)

Please visit our website www.albertaequestrian.com for more information onour competition program.

Capri Insurance WIN YOUR ENTRY draw

By entering a Wild Rose Circuit show, you are eligible to win up to $200! Just register on time, and you are automatically entered into a draw. The

more events you enter, the more you can win. One winner per show. Capri Insurance is generously helping to support Alberta’s competitors and

show organizations with their donation. AEF membership required at the time of registering for the show and entered

before closing dates. The amount payable will not exceed the show fees, to a max-imum of $200.

Volunteer recognition program

As part of the Wild Rose competition program, each show may submit thename of an outstanding volunteer to the AEF. The volunteer will receive a $50 giftcard. Congratulations, volunteers!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS

CAPRI WIN YOUR ENTRY VOLUNTEER

WJPHC Dressage & Derby Invitational April 28-29 Rana Rothwell Lee BreakeyAlborak Stable, Calgary

BRAVE Tulips in the Air Horse Show May 5 Kenna Stoll Jamie SchiebleHighland Ridge Stables, Okotoks

Willowdale Spring Series I May 12-13 Allison McAlary Warren McLeanWillowdale Equine Centre, Red Deer

Wild Rose Dressage May 27 Lonnie Antal Samantha LethbridgeEversfield Equestrian, Black Diamond

BRAVE Here Comes Summer Show Jun 2-3 Olivia Brown Kira BarrHighland Ridge Stables, Okotoks

Jump Into Summer BRAVE Show Jun 23-24 Rylee Graham Marinna KraychyHighland Ridge Stables, Okotoks

Wild Rose Dressage Jun 24 Trish Alexander Samantha LethbridgeEversfield Equestrian, Black Diamond

Fort Macleod Western Arabian Jun 30 Bryana Gullickson Connie Hunterand All Breed ShowS R Horsetraining, Fort Macleod

Double W Summer Classic Dressage Show Jun 30 Lindsey Stevenson Diana DunlopDouble W Riding Academy, Bluffton

Wild Rose Classic 2 Day June 30-July 1 Judith Orr-Bertelsen May McKinnonDriving TrialEagle Ridge Ranch, Kevisville

Didsbury Horse Show July 6-8 Libby Phelan Angela PrattDidsbury Exhibition Grounds, Didsbury

Wild Rose Dressage Jul 15 Susan Simpson Samantha LethbridgeEversfield Equestrian, Black Diamond

Riqueza’s Rising Star BRAVE Show Jul 21-22 Emily Prevost Tim SimpsonRiqueza Riding Academy, Calgary

Heart’s Haven Society Therapeutic Aug 18 Tarah Leslie Tobi LyonsBenefit ShowRaymond Rodeo Grounds, Raymond

Riqueza’s Fall Candy BRAVE Show Sept 8 Molly Renshaw Sherry BlakeRiqueza Riding Academy, Calgary

Double W Dressage Day Sept 8 Annie Muilwijk Doris SchmaleDouble W Riding Academy, Bluffton

Wild rose Circuit

nCCP competition coach workshopLethbridge, November 24-25, 2012 Lethbridge College

This workshop is a more advanced course for equestrians who want to learnmore about the following modules:

� Designing an equestrian sport program

� Managing an equestrian sport program

� Training mental skills for equestrian sport

It is a two-day, classroom-based course taught by our highly certified learn-ing facilitator, Lorraine Hill and is open for anyone to attend.

Participants will receive workbooks and certificates of completion.It is also recommended as a training course for those wishing to receive

future instructor and coach certification.Please contact the AEF coaching administrator to register: (403) 253-4411

ext 3, or email [email protected]. AB


gold medal in endurance riding for young riders

Canadian endurance riders Lee Hutten, Emma Webb and Jessica Yavis won

the team gold medal at the 2012 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young

Riders Championships in the NAJYRC-CH 4* FEI Championship race held July 20,

2012, Lexington, Kentucky.

In an incredible display of team unity, all three members crossed the finish

line together to earn top honours in the first ever FEI 4* 120 km race held at the

championships. Hutten of Chesterville, ON, riding Parker AES, Dessia Miller’s 12-year-old Arabian gelding, finished in 07:00:33 for fifth place individually. In sixthplace was Emma Webb of Flesherton, ON, and Serloki, Janice Worthington’s 12-year-old Arabian gelding, in 7:00:34. Jessica Yavis of Winfield, AB, riding Jahlad, a10-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Jaye Yavis, rounded out the Canadians in atime of 07:00:35.

The gold medal winning Canadians finished in a total time of 21:01:42, andthey were the only team to finish the race and be awarded a medal.

The North American

Junior/Young Riders' Championships

(NAJYRC) are held annually under the

rules of the Federation Equestre

Internationale–the international gov-

erning body for equestrian sport. The

2012 competition hosts the Olympic

disciplines of eventing, dressage and

show jumping as well as FEI disci-

plines of reining, endurance and

vaulting. Many of the world’s top event

riders, including many Olympic gold

medalists, began their careers at the

NAJYRC.

Individual gold medalist,Katherine Gardner (USA) rode AF BigBucks in 06:11:48. AB

l-r Riding to the finish line are Lee Hutten on Parker AES, Jessica Yavis on Jahlad andEmma Webb on Serloki and winning the team gold medal at the 2012 Adequan FEI NorthAmerican Junior and Young Riders Championships in the NAJYRC-CH 4* FEIChampionship race. Photo credit: Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography, [email protected]

Lee Hutten, Emma Webb and JessicaYavis. Photo credit: Allen MacMillan/MacMillanPhotography,

Chinook Country Dressage Association celebrates 25 yearsby Audrey Kokesch

What does 25 years mean toyou? That’s what the Chinook CountryDressage Association (CCDA) is cele-brating this year.

We have been running theAnnual CCDA Show for 25 years.CC\ADA (Chinook Country\AlbertaDressage Association) is not a big clubwith lots of members. On the contrary.There are only a handful of dedicatedmembers that have gathered togetheryear after year to put on an EquineCanada sanctioned dressage show,now held at Claresholm Agriplex. Theshow caters to all levels of dressagefrom training to grand prix.

How did we do it? The associa-tion has secured major financial spon-sorship to support the show. Somesponsors have been with us for thewhole 25 years.

A wise person once respondedwhen asked how they stayed together

l-r back row: Diana Dunlop, Peter Venerables, Nancy Fenner, Bob McMeekin, Siv Prins,Lois Cicman, Meghan Hood, Audrey Kokesch, Bob Huff. l-r front row: Hope Olsen, BeverlyRogers (2012 judge), Anita Owen (2012 judge), Lorraine Hill, Barbara Edgecombe-Green,Debbie Roslinsky, Drusilla Pearson and Mary McLean. Photo credit: Bob Huff

for 60 years of marriage–they didn’t

fall out of love at the same time. That’s

how this club has kept this show

going. No one fell out of love with the

show at the same time.

We have pulled together and got

the job done when it counts. It hasn’t

been any one person that kept the

wheels going–it has been a team of

people. Some have come and gone,

and we thank them so much for their

time and effort. Some have been here

since the beginning either doing the

same job or picking up the slack and

we thank you for your on going time

and effort. The competitors have come

and gone; some have been with us

from the start–25 years of showing.

What an incredible journey this has

been. Here’s to the next 25 years.

Hopefully we’ll all be there to

cut the cake again. AB

Audrey Kokesch is one of the founding members of the present Chinook Country\Alberta

Dressage Association. She has actively been involved with the dressage sport in southern

Alberta for 30+ years as a competitor, CC\ADA executive member, Annual CC\ADA

Dressage Show organizer/volunteer.


Volunteering through the AEF,Equine Canada certified coaches hadthe fun and pleasure of sharing theirexpertise, knowledge and love ofhorses with visitors to Horse Haven atthe Calgary Stampede this year. Thesecertified coaches were: Jose Abdala(Calgary), Matt Brandrick (Thorsby),Lisa Denyer (Chestermere), andTamalyn Richardson (Airdrie). AEFmember Danielle Majercsak also volunteered. All coaches received professional development coachingupdate hours.

HORSES 101

The new Horses 101 programconsisted of 20-30 minute sessionsheld throughout each day. “This year,10,000-18,000 people visited HorseHaven, a record number,” states LisaHardy, a light horse committee volun-teer, with responsibility for the educa-tional zone of Horse Haven.

The sessions were delivered byEC certified coaches who worked withhorses supplied by the breed reps inHorse Haven. They were set up for vis-itors who have limited exposure tohorses and have basic or introductoryknowledge of horses and horse care,equipment, etc. The sessions sparkedinterest among non-horse ownersabout riding as a recreational andlearning activity for people of all ages.

Horse Haven also works with theUniversity of Calgary Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine who providedsome equine specimens for educa-tional display.

The light horse committee hasabout 40 volunteers and it celebratedits 35th year as a Stampede commit-tee. There were 18 different breeds,as well as, educational activities andinformation.

The Calgary Stampede preservesWestern heritage and culture, whichthe light horse committee supports bycreating programs about horses, theircare and their role in Alberta’s historyand today. “The AEF and its membersare an excellent resource to help us do that, so we look forward to acontinuing partnership and more new educational activities next year,”says Hardy. AB

MATT BRANDRICK

The experience was nice; it gives a coach a chance to show what he or she has to offer. I gave a halfhour seminar first on health, maintenance and conformation, and then on tack, the proper way to tack up ahorse and what to look for when buying tack and a horse.

The crowd gathered quickly and remained the whole time, asking questions throughout the demonstration.

I was born and raised on a seventh-generation farm in Quebec and just recently moved to Alberta. I'vehad horses my entire life and always paints and quarter horses. I've trained and competed for the last 16 years.I became a coach a few years ago because I like to teach others!

LISA DENYER

Through Horse Haven I was able to share my love and knowledge of thehorse. As a horsewoman of over 20 years, and a dedicated coach, I was elatedwhen I was given the chance to volunteer at such a cool place.

Guests were able to wander through the barns, pet the horses, and learna great deal. This year there was huge push and support for an educational focus;and as a member of the AEF and EC, I was able to be a part of the learning expe-rience. During my Friday and Saturday there, I was teamed up with some excel-lent four legged partners to teach “Horses 101” to many Stampede goers. Duringthe demos we covered such basics as how to interact with a horse, grooming,behaviour, health care, and more. Horse Haven was a hit. A huge thanks to theAEF and Equine Canada for teaching us coaches the true meaning of horse educa-tion. And a thank you to the light horse committee for such a great event!

I hope to see you all next year at Horse Haven, where we will have newand exciting things to share with you!

AEF coaches at Horse Haven

JOSÉ ABDALA

I enjoyed interacting with people while talking about how a horse thinksand talks to us using its body language. This opportunity presented by AEF andthe light horse committee also gave me the opportunity to have a better under-standing of Alberta’s heritage.

For example, in speaking about body language, ear position offers a lot ofinformation (when the head is down, they usually don’t feel threatened. Musclecontraction indicates that the horse is very nervous therefore a fight or flightreaction could be expected. You do need to see and understand the amount ofstress on the face and the eye.

I talked about the horse in its natural environment and in a barn.Grooming and how horses groom each other was another topic. We can use thisto discover cuts, injuries and finding “itchy” points. It’s also a good way to create abond with the horse.

TAMALYN RICHARDSON

I was very happy to participate in horse haven this year, as sharing my knowledge with others, is exact-ly what I love to do.

The crowd size really depended on the time of day, but there were lots of people who seemed interest-ed and asked questions. I kept it pretty basic in my demos included grooming, saddling and unsaddling, andsome fun horse tricks.

I am originally from BC, recently graduated from Olds College with my diploma in the equine sciencecoaching major. I also received my instructor of beginners in English with my jump component. I have shown inmany events: dressage, jumping, breed shows, gymkhana, carriage driving and a little bit of Western.

General performance is what I am most experienced in and is what I enjoy doing on a day-to-day basis.I just moved to Airdrie and I am excited to start my coaching career.

Tamalyn Richardson and her horse BMU Lewa. Photo credit: Brett Seed

At Horse Haven, Lisa Denyer and fjord “Heidi,” owned by AngelaWillberg doing a demo. Photo credit: Raegen Sapieha

Matt Brandrickand RMW ClassyExpress. Photo credit: Jennie Gautrey

l-r Lisa Hardy holding Appaloosa “Stormy,” (owned by HowardMaerz) as José Abdala talks about grooming at Horse Haven.Photo credit: courtesy Lisa Hardy

www.albertaequestrian.com12 AlbertaBits FALL 2012

LUCK OF THE DRAW

AEF member Brenda Spanier won one of the coveted Vic Bennett saddlescommissioned for the centennial celebration of the Calgary Stampede.

When she got the call that she had won the saddle, she says, “ecstatic wouldbe an understatement to describe me when I heard I had won.”

By age 52, she’s realized that she loves teaching horsemanship and riding tonew students and is pursuing this. “I completed the Western rider levels 1-4, fin-ishing in 2007 and have registered for NCCP to test for my coach 1 and workingwith a coach to continue.”

The saddle is on display in Cochrane, where Spanier works, at HomeQuarter Mercantile and Pie Shoppe. She states that she has a wonderful partner inlife, four horses, three dogs and two-and-half cats that are all healthy and happy.

THE SADDLE

Legendary saddle maker Vic Bennett built 100 custom all round saddleshandcrafted exclusively for the 2012 Calgary Stampede Centennial. They werenumbered and signed by Calgary Stampede president and chairman of the board, Michael Casey and saddle maker Vic Bennett. A certificate of authenticityaccompanies each saddle. AB

Winning the stampede saddle Calgary Stampede queen and princesseswith Brenda Spanier, winner of theStampede Saddle. Beside her is VicBennett, maker of the centennial customall around saddle handcrafted exclusivelyfor the 2012 Calgary StampedeCentennial. Photo credit: Patti Lee Each saddlehas a certificate of authenticity, shownleft. Photo credit: Brenda Spanier


First celebrated in 1990, Parks Day is a national event held every July at the

municipal, provincial and federal levels.

It offers visitors the opportunity to participate in unique and fun activities in

parks and sites of special interest all over the country.

The first Kananaskis Parks Day was held in 1995. From day one, our theme

was “what you can do in Parks and what Parks can do for you.” The partnership

between government Agencies and private operators has allowed us to feature

enforcement, public safety, rescue and wildlife management programs while

also highlighting the role that campground contractors, adventure and recreation

businesses offer the public who want to hike and bike, climb, camp, fish, hunt,

horse ride, dog sled, snowshoe, ski, explore, learn about and enjoy our mountain

environment.

Each year, new exhibitors are invited to participate and thus the

circle of cooperation and information grows.

On Sunday, July 22, about 2,000 visitors took in thirty booths: most

popular were those with interactive displays where children had a lot to do

and touch.

A free barbecue lunch (hotdog, chips, pop and candy floss) is offered to

everyone on site, and it crowns a wonderfully social, educational and fun out-

doorsy day at the height of July. AB

K-Country Parks Day

Conservation officer Rod Jaeger and horse Nip give joy to the very youngest of visitors during Kananaskis Country’sParks Day, held on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Around 2,000 visitors attended the festivities. Photo credit: Bow Valley Volunteer

Steward Don Parsons

AEF member Pam Asheton volunteering with ”Apache” andbusy all day with young families wanting to learn about andget close to a horse. Photo credit: Marie-Pierre Chappeland

by Marie-Pierre Chappeland, Office Manager, Bow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country Order your Horse Savvy Planner today!

The new 2013 Horse Savvy

Annual Planners are available

for purchase.

You can also order this beautiful

day planner with your membership

purchase or renewal.

The planner opens with a full-12

month, year-at-a-glance 2013

calendar, which is followed by 53

weekly spreads, highlighted by the

Equine Health Planning System

plus bonus pages and ends with

the 2014 monthly year at a glance.

NEW FOR 2013 - Equine Reminder

Sticker Sheet included.$30.00 includes shipping

This is an AEF fundraising initiativeto support youth programming


2012 scholars

rEBECCA-Lou BArBEr–$1,500Becky Barber is a 20-year-old who grew up in Edmonton. She began

riding at the age of eight by enrolling in a jumping camp and shortly after,lessons. After five years of lessons, she purchased her first horse and wasthe president of the Colchester Crusaders 4-H club. Barber’s heart however,lies with jumping horses. Over the last three years, she had won manychampionships in the hunter ring on her Irish sport horse, Cavo. Barber isnow training her young thoroughbred/Oldenburg mare.

She is completing her second year of a BSc in animal health majoringin companion and performance animals at the University of Alberta. Uponcompletion, Barber plans to completes a master’s degree based on equinenutrition and use her knowledge towards the betterment of the sport in Alberta.

The scholarship committee and the board of directors are pleasedto announce the 2012 scholarship recipients.

This year, 15 students applied with six receiving scholarships.Three scholarships were $1,500, thanks to the generous financial

contribution from Capri Insurance, which increased the AEF schol-arship amount from $750.

All of the applicants were young women and all applicants arecareer-bound in the horse industry.

KAItLIn MCDonALD–$1,500 Kaitlin McDonald is 25 and is enrolled in veterinary medicine at

the University of Calgary and in her second year of studies. She grewup in Edmonton and started riding as a toddler. Her passion grew asshe took jumping and dressage lessons. McDonald enjoys working withand showing her six-year old Canadian warmblood, Belle. After completing her BSc honors in physiology in 2008, McDonald becamecertified as an Equinology equine body worker. In addition, she hasworked as an assistant to a hunter-jumper trainer, taught riding lessons and spent countless hours mucking stalls.

After graduating, McDonald plans to work in Alberta as an equine practitioner with a focus on sport-horse and rehabilitation medicine.

LInDsAy nAKonECHny–$1,500 Lindsay Nakonechny is a 21-year-old Edmonton-born student who

is finishing her BSc in animal health at the University of Alberta. Shestarted English riding lessons at nine and at 12 joined the ClearwaterValley Pony Club. Since then, she has been an active volunteer of theclub, participates in eventing and is involved with Beaumont HorseTrials. Currently, she is training her eight-year-old Canadian warm-blood, Herbie, to preliminary level and hopes to start coaching beginnerlessons.

After Nakonechny completes her undergraduate degree, a mas-ters in equine and welfare at Nottingham Trent University in England is next and then a PhD in a related-equine field. She hopes to attain a lec-turer position and become involved with equine educational programs.


ship recipients

The committee and board congratulate these students. We lookforward to their success and continued involvement with horses.

The AEF encourages its members to apply to an accredited col-lege or university in an equine or equine-related course of study.

The AEF supports education and encourages men and women ofall ages to further their knowledge about the equine world.

Watch for 2013 scholarship applications, February 2013.

HAnnA FErguson–$750Hannah Ferguson is 19 and is from Edson. She has been in 4-H since

she was 11 and completed eight years doing the horsemanship, reiningand rodeo projects. Showing in local horse shows is one of Ferguson’spassions and she competes in both Western and English classes. Besidesshowing, Ferguson enjoys working as a wrangler at kids’ camps and alsoteaching children riding lessons.

Currently, she has completed her first year in the animal healthtechnology program at Olds College. This is a two-year diploma programthat offers a variety of job opportunities. Ferguson hopes to work at avet clinic upon graduation to put her enthusiasm for animals to gooduse. She anticipates continuing to ride and show horses and teach rid-ing lessons as a side job.

JEnnA KnuDsLIEn–$750 Jenna Knudslien is an 18-year-old from Lac La Biche. She got her first horse when she was nine years old and has been

riding horses ever since. In the past she has taken English lessonsincluding jumping but now rides Western; recreational trail riding andcattle cutting. Knudslien has enjoyed many years as a 4-H member inthe horse and vet science projects, with hands on learning and gettinginvolved in helping the community.

She has recently completed her first year of the university studiesprogram at Portage College and has applied to the animal sciencedegree program at the University of Alberta, in order to pursue acareer in animal health.

sArrA BroWn–$750 Sarra Brown is an 18-year-old who grew up in the village of

Forestburg. She started riding at the age of nine when she joined thelocal 4-H multi club and was a member of the horse project. WhenBrown got the basics of riding down, she took jumping lessons. At age13, she got her first horse, Paul, an Appaloosa/quarter horse cross.With the help of a friend, Brown trained this two-year-old. Since then,she has bought two more horses, a six-year-old and a yearling. Shetrained them both herself.

Brown now does trail riding along with volunteering at localequine events and working at two local horse farms. She plans topursue her education taking an English horsemanship course.

featuring…

When a horse is more than just a riding buddy

Horses can be a great healer,and the proof can be seen around theworld in centres offering therapeuticriding. Therapy can be physical, usingthe horse’s movement to influence the

body of the rider, or can focus on mental health, with riding used to providesocialization, recreation, interaction and life skills. Each child, adolescent, adultor senior able to experience a therapeutic riding session will leave with benefits,from improving muscle tone and posture, developing fine and gross motor move-ment, building relationships, to improving communication and confidence.

In Edmonton, the powerful healing strength of horses is being shownthrough a recreational horseback riding program with therapeutic benefits forchildren and adults with disabilities–Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association. Thenon-profit charitable organization was established in 1975 and has been operatingfrom Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association in Edmonton, benefiting over115 riders each year.

To begin with, Little Bits riders aged three and up must be able to maintain asitting position while the horse is in motion. Help is always on hand with a team ofvolunteers leading the horse and walking to the side of the rider. Instruction isfrom a qualified therapeutic riding instructor on specially selected and trainedhorses and ponies. For people in wheelchairs, there is a special ramp that allowsthem to mount the horse. Each participant starts with some simple stretches andexercises before they go on a trail ride and play games.

Many volunteers come because of their love for horses; in the end they stayfor the people. Little Bits’ volunteers are loyal, dedicated and very appreciative ofthe program. This year, two volunteers received 20-year; one, 15-year; five, ten-year; and 11, five-year service awards. Currently, Little Bits is recruiting volunteersfor the fall session with positions available that allow persons aged 14 and up tohelp out. Please call (780) 476-1204 or e-mail [email protected] for moreinformation.

Children don’t realize this is therapy. The barns don’t smell like hospitals. Somany riders literally grow up with the program: they started riding with Little Bitsas children and now are adults. Seeing the joy in the faces of Little Bits ridersshows the unique bond that is formed between these specially selected horses andour riders. Many children and adults with disabilities do not have the opportunityto go out into their communities and access activities they would like to participatein. With support from donors, board, staff and volunteers, Little Bits is able tooffer horseback riding with therapeu-tic benefits to children and adults withdisabilities. You can donate online atwww.CanadaHelps.org or by down-loading a donation form through LittleBits’ website www.littlebits.ca.

Upcoming fundraising eventsinclude: Achievement Days (November2012), Rodeo Program Sales(November 7-11, 2012) and the LittleBits ‘N Bites Breakfast Round-Up(March 2013). Contact Little Bits(780) 476-1233 or [email protected] more details. AB

Little Bitstherapeuticriding Association

Tyler riding Snowball at a lesson, May2012. Photo credit: Marielle Lam

September 1993 saw the start ofthe Rimbey Sleigh, Wagon and SaddleClub (RSWSC). The first meeting washeld at Bill and Adeline Nesbitt’s housewith seven members to bring like-minded people together and promote and enjoy the riding and driving of horses.Over the years, donkeys and mules as well as a few oxen are now included.

As the club and its popularity grew, a cutter parade was decided and a date inFebruary was selected. The Rimbey Cutter Parade was born. 2012 marked the 20thannual get together and through the years, rigs from Stettler, Drumheller, Calgary,Rocky Mountain House, Westlock and all points in between have been showing upto have fun and strut their stuff.

The RSWSC also holds trail rides, poker rallies and fun-days. Members canalso be found helping out other local organizations, trading volunteer time andsome have even been spotted flipping pancakes every July 1st at Rimbey’s annualpancake breakfast.

Through cutter parades, poker rallies and other fund raisers, the club hassupported many charities and organizations, such as the food bank, kids in sports,local play grounds and has even purchased a defibrillator for the community centeras well as donating $2,000 to the Rimbey Hospital Patient Comfort Fund.

Though at times the membership has flirted with 20 or so members, for themost part it has usually been about 10 people who are active. The club is alwaysready to welcome new members but when membership is low it’s a comfort toknow we can depend on Rimbey’s community volunteers to help out with manningcheck points, registration desk or the kitchen.

The February 2012 the cutter parade was a special one. At the 20th annual,club members assembled five of the original members and at the parade present-ed them with 20-year pins, a plaque and a heartfelt “thank you” for having theambition and vision to start something that, 20 years later is still going and bring-ing “like minded people together to promote and enjoy the riding and driving of horses.”

The Rimbey Sleigh, Wagon and Saddle Club meet on the first Tuesday of themonth, 7:30 pm in the International Truck Museum.

For information on the club, please phone Barry Nesbitt (403) 843-3520 orlook the club up on rswsc.ca. AB

rimbey sleigh,Wagon andsaddle Club20 years young


l-r Two past presidents of the RimbeySleigh, Wagon and Saddle Club, BillNesbitt and Keith Kendrew. Photo credit:courtesy of RSWSC

Past president Ray Warner and current president Tyke Tataryn (driving his team) at apoker rally. Photo credit: courtesy of RSWSC

Jed riding Joker at a lesson, May 2012.Photo credit: Marielle Lam


1000 hour ride and Drive milestonesMEGHAN BLACK

My name is Meghan Black and my mount for the past nine years

(and counting) is a 12-year-old, 15.1 hh sorrel quarter horse mare,

Winning Sonita Bar or “Sunny.” I started riding when I was eleven.

I’m originally from Calgary, but I'm presently in Edmonton finish-

ing my Masters in Geology at the University of Alberta. Thanks to my

dad, Sunny travels with me to school allowing me to ride all year! I was

so proud when I achieved my goal of 1000 hours over one year in

2011! I was shocked at how quickly the hours in the saddle added up!

Especially since Sunny and I train constantly for open shows across

Alberta. Sunny and I do both English and Western, focusing on the all-

around events: halter, showmanship, English equitation, Western horse-

manship, trail and English and Western pleasure classes. We still dab-

ble in jumping and went to our first dressage show in April.

This winter, I’d like to learn to rope. I can’t wait to log another

thousand hours! Meghan Black and Wining Sonita Bar or “Sunny.” Photo credit: Joanne Dolan

CAYLEY SPARKS

My name is Cayley Sparks.

I am 13 years old and my favorite thing to do is to spend time

with my horse, Sir Lancelot. Lance is a black Friesian X; he is 15.2 and

14 years old.

I love to jump him and go for trail rides. I have owned him for

two years.

I live in Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory and love riding outside

during our long summer days. We are lucky to have an indoor arena

for riding during the winter.

It was pretty easy to reach 1000 Ride and Drive hours in two

years because I can ride all year long.

VALERIE PATTERSON

My name is Valerie Patterson and I am 59 years young because of

my horses. We live southeast of Medicine Hat. Our great neighbours let

us ride on their land.

I have been riding since I could walk. Horses have been a part of

most of my adult life. We ran a riding stables in Medicine Hat. We pro-

vided guided rides and were told by the customers that our rides were

the best they ever had. I also rode demonstrations for Team Quarter

Horse at the Spruce Meadows Masters. That was so much fun.

The horse I ride the most now is our 12-year-old PMU Shire-thor-

oughbred cross gelding named Mr. Hitch.

I have been competitive trail riding lately so have had to really

increase my riding. I also show western pleasure while wearing my

helmet. Safety is number one but I also like the fact that the helmet

doesn’t blow off. I hope to continue riding for fun and competition. It

took me ten great summers to reach 1000 hours.Valier Patterson and Hitch at Rattlesnake Roundup Competitive Trail Ride, September, 2011.Photo credit: Peter Vogelaar

ALBERTA

RIDE AND DRIVE

Cayley Sparks and Sir Lancelot. Photo credit: Caroline Sparks

After a grueling and cold Albertawinter, thoughts turn to loading up thehorses and heading out west to ourRocky Mountains. And the conversa-tions are the same every spring: “Haveyou been out west yet? How dry is it?How high is the river? What are thetrails like?”

At the beginning of every trail season we’re confronted with new trail condi-tions. November with it’s typical high winds, spring runoff and flooding can drasti-cally alter the trails and camping areas that we frequent.

While placing caches for the Amazing Backcountry Race (www.abcrace.com)we found trails in a variety of conditions. The Yaha Tinda Ranch in early June ofthis year was subjected to excessive rains that brought down the remaining snow,flooding the area in what looked like a landslide. The access road needed to berebuilt and the Bighorn Campground was literally under two inches of mud.

Many rivers throughout the province were high, fast and too dangerous tocross. Some trails that previously paralleled the Red Deer River now run right offthe bank into the muddy water. Most trails were accessible, however some in low-lying areas or adjacent to the river were wiped out. Other trails in the northernpart of the province were blocked with branches and fallen trees when adjacentcreeks flooded. The southern half of our province fared better, however rain inJune contributed to some boggy trail conditions.

Each season new deadfall blocks the trails. Bridges and stream crossingsrequire maintenance. Fences, gates, equestrian campsites and stalls require repair.Were you to start your mountain riding mid-summer however, you’d likely not beaware that the trail you’re riding may have been recently impassable. So who takescare of our equestrian trails?

Conservation Officer Grant Kihn has served in the parks system for over 30years. He was most recently in charge of the backcountry and equestrian programareas in the Hinton District. Part of their mandate was the trails system. “Themaintenance of our trail systems is ultimately the responsibility of the provincialpark. How they choose to do this is up to them. They may choose to utilize volun-teer organizations or stewards.” Grant himself was instrumental in the develop-ment and maintenance of equestrian trails, which included posting signs and mapson the trails and also developing trail maps with the use of GPS.

In addition to the government, there are several not-for-profit organizationsthat actively work to maintain equestrian campgrounds and trails such as TheFriends of the Eastern Slopes Association (www.foesa.org) and The WillmoreWilderness Foundation (www.willmorewilderness.com). The AEF Trail Supporterprogram, an annual fee provides funds to maintain trails, check out the website totake part in the program. Alberta Parks also relies on volunteer support throughindividuals and organizations. Interested? Visit www.albertaparks.ca.

Individual trail systems are supported by local user groups as well. Jen Sadéeof the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association would like to see horseback ridersget involved. “In regards to trail maintenance, our efforts this summer are focus-ing on fixing drainage issues on the new trails that contribute to on-going traildamage. It would be great to have some equestrians out to volunteer with theseefforts! An equestrian volunteer presence would also be helpful as far as designdecisions and making sure that the trails are as safe as possible for horses.” Seethe volunteer page at www.branchiostegals.org for more information.

Norm Spencer of the Southern Alberta Trail Riders Association(www.satra.ca) explains the program in place for the southern end of the

province. “Ninety percent of the trail maintenance is professionally done. SATRA ison the South West Alberta Trails Advisory Council (SWAT), which receives grantmoney from the federal government.” Similar to other trail associations, SWAT is amulti-user entity, representing off-highway vehicles, hikers, bikers and equestrianusers. SATRA also does their own fundraising to support trail projects. “Our club currently has plans on paper, and funding, to do trail maintenance in theSouth Castle.” [The AEF Trail Supporter Program has provided $16,000 to SATRAtowards projects in 2010/2011. editor] Consider volunteering or supporting theorganizations that maintain the trails and equestrian campgrounds that you use.Many trail riding organizations and clubs also do their share of trail maintenance.In addition, you can be a steward of our trail systems by adhering to some com-mon sense rules:� If you’re packing in or camping in the backcountry, leave your site as you

found it. That means taking out all garbage and recyclable items.

� When riding our trails, if you see garbage left behind from another rider,pick it up and take it out with you. If you see it and ignore it, you’re just asresponsible for it as the person that dropped it.

� If trails are blocked by deadfall or branches, do your part to clear the trail.If you’re up to it, take a saw. Shortcutting around an obstacle causes erosionand unwanted parallel paths.

� Avoid trails that are soft or wet. Riding on marshy trails can damage themand expose root systems.

� Do not tie horses to trees for extended periods of time. The forest floor isfragile and a horse tied to a tree can quickly expose the root system, killingthe tree. Use high lines or stalls.

� Camping at an equestrian campsite: clean up before you leave. That meansall manure, shavings, and leftover feed that may be in your stall, campsite oraround your trailer. Equestrian campgrounds have manure dumping areas.

� If there isn’t a manure bin (such as at a multi-use trail head parking lot),clean up your manure, feed and shavings and take it out with you.

� If you notice facilities in need of repair, notify the park authority or volunteerorganization that maintains it.

Horseback riders are, in general, respectful and appreciative of our back-country. And we are exceptionally privileged in this province to have free access tothe trail systems and parks that we do. Realize that our backcountry is a sustain-able resource. That means that we need to work to conserve it for our use.

Keep that in mind the next time you’re on one of our beautiful Alberta trails.Leave it as you found it (or better than you found it), and help out when andwhere you can.


Scott Phillips is the proud owner of five horses that he rides and trains daily. His passion for

horses is evident in his weekly blogs on Northernhorse.com where he also works as a web

programmer. Scott enjoys spending his summers on horseback in the mountains. You can

contact him at [email protected].

takin’ care of trail businessIndividuals, associations and government pitch in to maintain Alberta’s great equestrian trails

by Scott Phillips

Photo credit: Scott Phillips

AlbertaBits FALL 2012 19www.albertaequestrian.com19 AlbertaBits FALL 2012 www.albertaequestrian.com

Are you covered?

AEF members automatically receive $5,000,000 excess personal liability and $30,000 Accident, Death and

Dismemberment insurance that covers you 24/7, worldwide.

“ “

At a competition in Arizona, I was warm-

ing up before my jump off, when a freak

accident occurred.

A fellow rider rode by, their horse kicked

out and connected with my right leg.

I was immediately in pain, but decided

to proceed to the jump off anyway. I rode

through the round but when I dismounted,

I heard a crunch and knew I was in trouble.

The on site paramedic took me to the

closest ER, where I was diagnosed with a

broken fibula. My bills were adding up with

the hospital stay, x-rays, surgery, medica-

tion and casts and I still had to get home.

Fortunately, I am a member of the

Alberta Equestrian Federation and had

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Coverage to my membership.” Luckily,

I was covered!

Call the AEF for your membership today; can you afford NOT to be covered?

Alberta Equestrian FederationPhone: 403-253-4411 Toll Free: 1-877-463-6233www.albertaequestrian.com

Capri Insurance is the official insurance provider for the AEF

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by Ken Fach

Don’t be surprised to hear moreabout mounted Search & Rescue(SAR) teams being deployed inAlberta alongside their ground SARcounterparts and specialty teams.Readers of Alberta Bits will knowwhy: even if you’re not familiar withSAR tactics and protocols, you’ll knowthe advantages riding horseback hasover being on foot or even riding anATV. Now the same benefits are beingfelt in SAR.

Not that there’s anything newabout SAR in Alberta itself. Since thelate 1980s, the federal and provincialgovernments have organized variousSAR efforts and programs around thecountry, involving five federal depart-ments (including the Ministry ofNational Defense and Canada CoastGuard), Parks Canada and municipal,provincial and federal police.

Ground SAR operates under the mandate of local police services and is com-prised of skilled volunteers trained up to provincial and federal benchmarks.Organized locally, regional SAR groups can respond efficiently to meet specificchallenges. Often, they also have specialists in their ranks, such as trackers, swift-water teams, rope rescue, cave rescue and ATV units. Now they also have equineteams.

It’s no small undertaking. In Alberta alone, more than 1,600 trained volun-teer SAR members have contributed over $100 million in time and equipment last-ing the past 18 years to help find and rescue overdue, lost, injured or strandedpeople. These services depend on self-generated funds, community fund-raisinginitiatives, grants and donations; not to mention the dedication of volunteers.Within the local Foothills SAR organization, over 6,000 hours are logged annuallyto ensure we are ready at a moment’s notice to respond to emergencies.

Here’s a typical scenario. A 911 call comes in reporting someone missing asa result of an accident, illness or other emergency. The RCMP are the first port ofcall. They’ll assess and decide if a local SAR team should be brought in. We’ll set

up a mobile command base, from which a search-management team immediatelybegins gathering and assessing whatever information we get. Resources are coor-dinated and deployed in a variety of methods to suit the emergency.

In southwestern Alberta, it is usually Foothills Search and Rescue (FSAR)that gets the call. Operating out of Turner Valley and responding to an average of15 emergencies per year, FSAR oversees 4,000 square kilometres of mountainparks and foothills that attract thousands of campers, hikers, cyclists, equestrianriders and skiers.

That’s a lot of bush to cover; many miles to travel; and countless streams tosplash through. FSAR has been up to the task since 1993, but there’s now a newspecialty team that is especially suited to the job.

Readers of Alberta Bits can guess what that is. Over the past two years, FSARhas been working with Alberta conservation officers, the Calgary Police Servicesmounted unit and two other SAR groups–Arrowsmith SAR from BC and SundreSAR–to establish a provincial standard and practice for mounted SAR operationsin Alberta. It’s been a success–and a welcome one.

Within FSAR, riders are expectedto be members of AEF and both riderand horse must qualify for MountedSAR as a unit. But it’s more than basichorsemanship: an equine unit must beready to perform hasty searches, gridsearches or confinement tactics; becapable of performing patient evacua-tion; and accept a wide range of stim-uli around a busy search base and invaried terrain. We even have our ownversion of the musical ride, using for-mation-riding exercises to instill trustand communication within the team.

Mounted SAR has many advan-tages that even the fast and mobile ATVteams would envy. The mountedsearcher can see, hear and movethrough varied terrain much better

Training day at Anchor D Outfitters, March 2012. Bert Johnson, ATV operator and WendyCarson, rider. Photo credit: Lucy Phillips

riders to the rescue:equine teams are part of FSAR


l-r Joan Fiddler, Wendy Carson, Ken Fach. Riders warming up before being tested underthe performance equine evaluation for mounted search and rescue service. Photo credit:Gordon Watson


than most search teams–mechanizedor not. Plus, there is an extra set ofeyes, ears and nose on the job witheach mounted unit. The horse willusually tell its rider what’s ahead onthe trail before the rider knows what’scoming.

So the next time you are out rid-ing or camping with your family, youjust might see some riders in yellow.We’re keen to keep in touch with ourcommunity and answer any questions,so come by and say hello. We couldbe out on an exercise, practisingsome procedure that will come inhandy sometime, or we might just besaving somebody’s life.

For more information aboutFoothills Search and Rescue, visitfoothills-sar.ca. AB

CrAC’s wrangler of the year

Ken Fach is on the board of directors of Foothills Search and Rescue and has been an

active member since 2005. For the past two years, he has been working with various

stakeholders to establish standards for mounted search and rescue in Alberta. Bree, his 20

year-old quarter horse, is enjoying his new duties in Search and Rescue.

by Pat HyndmanVice president, CRAC

Twice a year the CalgaryRegional Appaloosa Club (CRAC)gather down in the “Gap” west ofMaycroft, Alberta in the Livingstonemountain range to assist 16 ranchesmove their cattle to the summer pas-ture and then gather them up again inthe fall to go back home. There areusually between a thousand and twelvehundred cattle to move around the twenty-square-mile range of some of the mostbeautiful scenic mountains in Alberta.

Over the last twenty plus years, the club has seen many members developinto really good “hands” and these annual events have become a ritual–somethingthat real life gets worked around. There are long days in the saddle no matterwhat the weather is. Lots of bushwhacking, river crossing, bog slogging and moun-tain climbing–on horseback and sometimes on foot–take place. Where the cowsgo, you go. The goal is to make the cows go where you want them to go. It isn’t as easy as it sounds when there is a whole mountain range to run away and hideon you.

There is a huge education to be learned by horse and rider on handling and“reading” cattle. It takes many years to learn the terrain, the places the cattle liketo gather and hide, how to avoid the bears and how to enjoy the nightly socialcampfire. It is a totally different world–one that embraces the Western way of lifethat hasn’t changed in the last century and one that takes all the stress away fromeveryday life.

In 2001, a long time member of the CRAC, Kent Schaefer, made a big ceram-ic trophy of a cowboy holding his saddle shortly before he passed away after along illness. He requested that the trophy be presented to the wrangler of the yearat the Gap. This trophy is kept at the Appaloosa Museum in Claresholm. A vote istaken from every member who rides in the spring cattle drive and at the fall gath-ering. At the CRAC’s annual Valentine’s day fundraising auction, we present thewinner with the trophy and a photo story. It is a hard-earned honor to be thewrangler of the year. The 2011 winner was Sue Gatenby. She is a very active, sup-portive and hilarious member of the club. Her riding ability and cow sense havevastly improved over the years at the Gap, so much so, that she is now the “Boss”.

Please check out our past wranglers at www.calgaryappaloosa.com. AB

We're at 8,000 feet with an eye watering,bracing wind. With each step my horseplunges through drifting snow. He’s paddedand sharp shod for just such a day. The radiocrackles: another mounted search team hascut the track we've been seeking and searchbase redeploys us for a type 2 search in thevalley below.

Two hours later, we've found the subject.Conscious, but suffering stage 2 hypothermia,John wouldn’t have lasted the night. He’streated on site by the search team and hiswife is given the good news by the RCMP con-stable handling the investigation.

Finding a lost man deep in the back-country is not easy and calls for a great deal oftraining for humans and their mounts.

It starts with SAR qualification: a 60-hourcourse that meets provincial standards. Onceyou’ve learned SAR theory, protocols and tactics, there is an equine performanceevaluation for both rider and horse. Based on arider level 2 standards, it is developed to meetthe requirements, various challenges and ter-rain encountered during SAR operations.

The evaluation is just the test. It’s themany hours of practice and training that makethe mounted team so valuable to SAR.Formation riding tightens communicationbetween rider, mount and team. Hastysearches and type 2 and 3 searches (variousopen grid systems dictated by priorities ofspeed or thoroughness) are done differentlyon horseback, which takes time to perfect.Then comes the integration of mounted teamswith other teams.

But when that 911 call comes in, all ofthis work is worth it. Just ask John. Better yet,ask his wife and kids.

Wendy Carson, FSAR member qualifying for mounted SAR special team at the HDTVProductions ranch west of Millarville. Photo credit: Gordon Watson

Courtney Isbister qualifying for theFoothills Search and Rescue specialmounted team at the HDTV Productionsranch west of Millarville. Photo credit: GordonWatson

2011 Wrangler of the Year Sue Gatenby.Photo credit: Pat Hyndman

Crossing the Old Man River in the fallroundup. Photo credit: Pat Hyndman


HelmetsThere seems to be a lot of discussion regarding the use of

helmets in horse related activities, including horse shows, in thelast few years. As an (older) rider originally of Western disciplinewho is now trying dressage, it just does not feel right…what’s thedeal anyway? I have been riding this way for my whole life, whywould I change now?

Signed, “Hard Headed”

Dear Hard Headed,

First, you need to know that I understand where you are coming from…Ihave been involved in the horse industry for most of my life and hope that by now,I understand how horse people think.

In my professional life as an insurance broker who specializes in risk management in the horse world, questions about the use of helmets come up constantly and invariably the whole concept of Western vs. English and jumping vs.dressage is a part of the helmet question.

You need to know that I respect the culture and history of traditional attirein all equine disciplines, which often means no helmet. That said, I want to sharea few facts that are pretty straight forward (these facts come from an extensivestudy done in Canada and the US over several years that did not consider disci-pline or riding style).

• People involved in horse riding are more likely to suffer head trauma thanthose involved in football, boxing or soccer

• Head injuries are the most common reason for admission to hospital oreven death among riders. Most injuries occur during pleasure riding

• A fall from 60 cm (two feet) can cause permanent brain damage. A horseelevates a rider three metres (eight feet) or more above ground

• A human skull can be shattered by an impact of 7-10 km/h. Horses can gal-lop at 65 km/h. Children’s skulls are the most vulnerable

• Ages ten to fourteen are the children most likely to be involved in an accident with a horse but all ages are at risk

• A rider who has had one head injury has a 40 percent chance of suffering asecond head injury. Children, teens and young adults are most vulnerable tosudden death from second impact syndrome. Second impact syndrome is thesevere swelling of the brain caused by a second head injury before recoveryfrom the first head injury

• Death is not the only serious outcome of unprotected head injuries. Thosewho survive with brain injury may suffer epilepsy, personality changes, andintellectual and memory impairment

So I guess the question is…Knowing all of the facts above, why would any-one ride without a helmet?

I think we can all agree that no one can absolutely force anyone to do any-thing. We probably all know people who have been known to get behind the wheelof a car after too many drinks and/or drive without a seatbelt even though it isunlawful and unquestionably, socially unacceptable to do so. I guess that what Ihope for (sooner than later) is that the whole horse community will accept hel-mets as a smart and reasonable thing to do so that we can reduce injury and setan example for future generations.

Upcoming AEF events!

EC gEnErAL PErForMAnCE JuDgIng CLInIC

October 13-14, 2012, Olds College with EC senior judge Lorraine gilchrist

ADuLt AMAtEur DrEssAgE CLInIC WItH ACoACH BrEAKout sEssIon WItH JAnE sAvoIE

Hosted by the CA/ADA (Eligible for Coaching updating hours)

October 13-14, 2012, Kestrel Ridge Farm, Calgary

For more information on these and other clinics, please

contact Sophie Beaufils at [email protected]

(403) 253-4411 ext 2

Mike King is an equine insurance specialist with Capri Insurance Services Ltd. and is

responsible for the insurance programs that benefit the Alberta Equestrian Federation

and its members. Do you have a question on insurance? “Ask the Insurance Guy”…and

we will provide an answer in the next issue [email protected].

As an insurer, I can tell you with-out hesitation that going without a helmet while riding is a risk that is(or should be) unacceptable… this is not about fashion, or culture or history, this is about doing the rightthing and staying safe to enjoy anotherday.

I hope that we never have another claim for a head injury under our insur-ance programs, but suspect we will. In my daily interaction with customers, I amstill astounded at the number of commercial facilities and show organizers whoallow customers and/or a competitor to ride without a helmet. Now, that is justplain wrong and the courts are saying so.

Got a question on insurance? “Let the insurance guy” know… and we willtry to answer it in the next issue. AB

Ask the insurance guyby Mike King


Horses All celebrates

its 35thanniversaryby Wendy Dudley

For 35 years, Horses All hasserved the equine community, cater-ing to all breeds and disciplines.While it has had several owners, itsregional focus has never wavered,enabling it to survive the ups-and-downs of the horse economy. It is

the longest-serving horse publica-tion in western Canada, and one of the few monthly

publications left.The paper was founded in 1977 by Doug and Jacki French, and crafted from

their home in southern Alberta. It was a lengthy process, with stories typed, photosdeveloped in darkrooms, papers hauled by horse trailer from the printing presses,and mail bags sorted by local farm ladies.

Doug and Jacki’s daughter, Shanyn Silinski, has vivid memories of growingup with the paper, as it was part of her life from age six to 23. “We covered every-thing, and right across the country,” said Shanyn who reported on rodeos, jump-ing, draft horse pulls, and 4-H. “We hauled our hides, talking to people and mak-ing connections.”

It was a success, with thousands of subscribers, but it struggled after it wassold to North Hill Publications in Calgary. It requires a huge time investment, saidSteve Mark who, with wife Cindy, purchased it in 2004.

Working out of their home, the Marks introduced columnists, such as AprilClay who continues to contribute an equestrian sport psychology column. The clubnews boosted circulation, giving it a grassroots profile, and a third section wasadded for Western Performance events.

“We had free rein and we made it huge,” said Steve. Revenues in the first twoyears grew by 200 per cent, and over their four-year ownership, the numbersquadrupled. How did they do it? They waded knee-high into the equine communi-ty. “Horses All is a hands-on paper. You have to be out there, meeting people,”said Cindy, a barrel racer-turned-dressage rider.

The couple put the paper together in their home, turning two bedrooms intooffices, one for Cindy as editor and the other for Steve who was in charge of sales.At night, the two would lie in bed, thinking up headlines at 3 am. “That was ourpillow talk. It was just so much part of our lives,” laughed Cindy.

“I would be up at 5 am, taking issues down to Pincher Creek or up to Red Deer. It was a seven-day job. And that’s what it takes,” Steve added. “It wasour life.”

Four years ago, the Marks sold the paper to Vancouver-based GlacierPublications, about the same time the horse industry took a hit. “Horse publica-tions had to go into change mode,” said Tom Mumby, in charge of Glacier’s spe-cial projects. A survey conducted two years ago revealed the majority of Horses All readers are western riders, so there is now an increased emphasis on thosedisciplines.

With most of its readers in Western Canada, 20,000 copies are mailed eachmonth to households in BC, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

“We want people stories and horse stories,” said Mumby, emphasizing that Horses All will not forget its roots. “There are interesting things about everydiscipline and every breed.” AB

Shawn and Shanyn French were active in the family business at a young age. Photo credit:Shanyn Silinski.

team Alberta!2012 CIEC, september 21 - 23

The Canadian InterprovincialEquestrian Championships (CIEC) isan Equine Canada sanctioned competi-tion that includes the disciplines ofdressage, jumping and reining. Classesare for both junior and adult ridersand offer the opportunity for competi-tors to test their skills against theirpeers from across Canada.

The 2012 championships willbuild on the inaugural 2011 event,with nine provinces expected to fieldteams. The CIEC was hosted by the Fédération Équestre du Québec (FEQ) concurrently with the Quebec Equestrian Games, in Bromont, Quebec, September21-23, 2012.

Jump Alberta and the AEF are very proud to have a jumper team competingat the CIEC this year. The team consists of two junior riders and two senior ridersas well as a chef d’equipe, a discipline coach and a team coach.

We will have updates and results in the next issue of Alberta Bits. AB

2012 CIEC tEAM ALBErtA(jumping): Alanna Marsden (junior)

Meagan Beunder (junior)

Kristy Mytrash (senior)

Augusta Marit (senior)

Trish Mrakawa (chef d’equipe)

Rachel Coldham (discipline coach)

Kerry Marit (team coach)


Through the AEF MEMBErs PrIorIty ProgrAM, businesses offer special discounts to AEF members. Be sure to support our Business Members and shop with them! Interested in offering discounts to AEF members?

Call us today at 1-877-463-6233, ext 5

or visit www.albertaequestrian.com

The players from the Millarville Polocrosse Club helped rein in the first-placetrophy for Team Canada by beating host France 14-9 in the final of the FestivalÉquestre du Marquenterre July 27-29 in St. Jean-les Rue, France. It was the firsttime a Canadian team had competed against the European countries of Norway,France, Netherlands and Germany so the level of competition was unknown. Afterwinning their first game against Norway, 14-3; the Canadians continued on theirwinning streak defeating Netherlands 10-4; Germany, 15-7 and finally the defend-ing champions, France, 14-9.

Victory was sweet for the Canadians who practiced hard before going toFrance and then stayed strong and focused when on the field. They overcame chal-lenges of unfamiliar horses, a local breed called Hansen horses (fjord cross,which were very different from the thoroughbreds used back home), wet condi-tions and a different style of play, which gave them great satisfaction in their win.

For more information: www.polocrossecanada.com AB

Canadian polocrosse team wins in Europe

l-r Renee Hicks, William Horne, Isabelle Ladiges, Lance Davison, Kayla Hicks, Allen Hicks.Missing is Samantha McCullough. Photo credit: Brande Strachan

PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS CONTACT PHONE

Alberta 4-H Provincial Equine Advisory Committee . . . . . . . . . . Yvonne Yaremcio 403-742-8353Alberta Carriage Driving Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Harris 780-967-5825Alberta Donkey And Mule Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alice Todd 403-646-2624Alberta Dressage Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean Duckering 403-373-0173Alberta Equestrian Vaulting Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marijke Van Der Sluijs 403-556-6266Alberta Friesian Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annie Muilwijk 403-885-0345Alberta Horse Trials Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sheilah Swanberg 780-814-3543Alberta Miniature Chuckwagon Racing Association . . . . . . . . . . Dalene Cosgrave 780-352-2189Alberta Morgan Horse Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Delrose Burns 403-885-4992Alberta Trail Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don Scott 780-895-7660American Saddlebred Horse Association of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sylvia Brown 780-430-1854Alberta Walking Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shirley Wesslen 780-885-5290Canadian Cowboy Challenge Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danita Phelan 403-992-0362Endurance Riders Of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Harris 780-954-0000Horse Industry Association Of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robyn Moore 403-420-5949Jump Alberta Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristi BeunderTrail Riding Alberta Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shauna Piasta 403-684-3700Welsh Pony & Cob Society Of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Clay 403-934-3666

AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONAlberta Equestrian Awareness Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Danyluk 780-358-2388Aurora Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jolene HughesBanff Light Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Quinn 403-762-2682Bear Valley Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Bartley 403-637-2708Black Diamond Polo Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Sadee 403-949-2697Blackfoot Trail Riders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Vongrad 780-449-5600Bow Valley Bandits 4H Horse Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marge Carlin 403-256-3084Bow Valley Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Falkner-March 403-678-2673Calgary Arabian Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane Walker 403-938-7196Calgary Equestrian Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Stenhouse 403-466-1993Calgary Regional Appaloosa Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monique Plumb 403-251-5631Calgary Regional Trail Riders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tricia Sterner 403-547-0569Calgary Western Riders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coreen Calvert 403-804-3277Canada Mounted Games Association - Alberta Region . . . . . . . . . Jane Goodliffe 780-349-6193Canadian Horse Breeders Association Rocky Mountain District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Rioux 780-967-1030Canadian Registry Of The Tennessee Walking Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dianne Little 403-271-7391Central Alberta Adult Riding Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Debi Jensen 403-885-5222Chinook Carriage Driving Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patty Carley 403-346-2146Cleardale Riders Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandy Richardson 780-685-3305Cochrane Horse Trials Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Craig 403-932-3650Cooking Lake Saddle Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgina Riddell 780-922-5460Cottonwood Corrals Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Patry 780-852-3121Delacour Agricultural Society & Community Club . . . . . . . . Cathy Summerscales 403-285-9463Didsbury Agricultural Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Dampier 403-335-4494Easy Rider Walking Horse Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dianne Little 403-271-7391Equine Foundation Of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Franke 403-843-6427Foothills Therapeutic Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dianne King 403-652-7419Fort Calgary Wheel & Runner Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jo-Ann Wilson 403-936-5985Fun Country Riding Club Of Strathmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Atkinson 403-533-2338Garden Valley Pony Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catherine David 780-963-4116Giddy Up Go...Little Hooves...Big Hearts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dawn-Marie Tannas 780-636-2131Gladys Ridge Riding Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dawn-Marie Tannas 403-652-2331H.E.D.J.E. Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Krista Lund 780-835-1280Hastings Lake Pleasure Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anita Van Dorp 403-662-3665High Country Carriage Driving Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gaye Mclennan 403-938-5069Hot Spots Regional Appaloosa Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janelle Kynoch 780-693-3951Journeys Therapeutic Riding Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timmi Shorr 403-601-2805Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olena Dudych 780-476-1233Meadow Creek Vaulting Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marijke Van Der Sluijs 403-556-6266Millarville Therapeutic Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica van der Hoek 403-616-4731Miniatures In Motion Horse Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elsie Overgaard 403-845-6650Mount View Special Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelene Williams 403-337-2950Mounted Games Across Canada Alberta Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Pettitt 780-237-6853Northern Lights Driving Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Mills 780-963-3031Northern Trails Riding Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deana Harbidge 403-220-1624Opening Gaits Therapeutic Riding Society of Calgary . . . . . . . Yvonne Anderson 403-254-4184Over The Hill Trail Riders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Becky Clement 403-883-2436Parkland Harness Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donna Hemeyer 403-782-2647Peace Area Riding For The Disabled Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Douglas 780-538-3211Peace Draft Horse & Pulling Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Finch 780-532-6118Performance Standardbreds Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Sunberg 403-242-8666Polocrosse Calgary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lesley Plant 403-249-1831Polocrosse Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kayla Hicks 403-827-7306Prairie Dusters Drill Team Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crystal Young 780-766-2278Rainbow Equitation Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roxanne Proudfoot 780-975-7116Ranahan Polocrosse Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathy Robinson-Ladiges 403-938-1993Ridgeview Riding Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norene Pinder 780-674-6186Rimbey Sleigh, Wagon & Saddle Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Nesbitt 403-843-3520Rocky Mountain Gymkhana Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lorne Goff 403-845-6708Rundle Riders Therapeutic Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clare Elsbett 403-710-7769Shortgrass Riding Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Drotos 403-377-2582Smokey River Team Roping Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jodi Bougerolle 1250-788-3272Smokin' Hooves Gymkhana Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chelsey Wachno 780-834-7451Society Of Tilt & Lance Cavalry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Radar Goddard 403-660-0826South Peace Horse Show Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sheila Swanberg 780-814-3543Southern Alberta Trail Riders Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leanne White 403-553-4787Springbank Pony Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lois Booy 403-289-9066Spruce View Gymkhana Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dawn Edmondson 403-728-3074Steele's Scouts Commemorative Troop Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Clarke 403-933-7782

Stettin Nakamun Sleigh Rally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Powell 780-967-2634Stone Bridge Carriage Driving Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gord Fulton 403-224-3753Strathcona All-Breed Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Natalie Ince 780-232-1677Sundre & District Light Horse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne Allison 403-638-5052The Calgary Hunt Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Palmer 403-931-2444Thompson Country Pony Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leanna St. OngeTraildusters Horse Club Of Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lily Wasieczko 780-829-3628Triple R Riding Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pauline Briggs 780-942-3390Uplift Therapeutic Riding Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brenda Orlita 403-362-5570Valley Riders Saddle Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Davina Mason 780-494-2550Welsh Show Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Mcclelland 403-782-3147West Jumping Pound Horse Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Blaeser 587-999-9707Western Canadian Wagon Train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gail Sissons 780-675-2570Whitecourt Agricultural Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sharlene Munday 780-779-4343Wild Horses Of Alberta Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Henderson 403-556-6167Wildrose Mounted Shooting Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gail Cook 403-748-3928

AEF BUSINESSES AND MEMBERS PRIORITY PROGRAM

A Sharper Image - Equine Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-468-9270Alberta Label Specialists Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-931-3204Alberta Prairie Wagon Trains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-740-2796Calgary Stampede . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-261-0114Call Away Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-861-0511Canadian Natural Horsemanship Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-354-3401Certified Horsemanship Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-399-0138Creekside Equestrian Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-556-6266Dean Orlando Professional Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-801-6820Delta Calgary South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-278-5050Digger'S Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-656-0406Double W Riding Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-843-3333East Acres Equestrian Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-990-9916Equanimity Edge Equine Massage Therapy Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-888-378-4632Equine City - Home of Gp Farrier Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-862-0022Equine In Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-969-5319E-Sport Physiotherapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-652-6341Foothills Horse Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-938-4525G & R Equine Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-901-2414Greenbriar Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-279-1931Healing Soles Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-597-6268Higher Trails Equine Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-510-8051Hoof & Nail Farrier Supplies Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-252-1661Horse Publications Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905-727-0107Horse Trekking Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-835-4629Horses All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-200-1019Horsesense Horsemanship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-348-5636Inner Equine Journeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-934-2706Ironhill Equestrian Centre Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-931-3268J. W. (Jim) Lawton, CMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-933-3348Just Passing Horse Transport & Bereavement Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-680-4177Martin Deerline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-452-2790Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-949-3329Olds College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-556-4767Outpost At Warden Rock Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-877-762-2767Prairie Sky Vaulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-969-0433Ram River Tours - Ram Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-844-0408R-Bac Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-855-348-6314Rivers Edge Camp And Conference Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-637-2766Reverence Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-807-6126Romp N' Roll Acres Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-722-2936Saddle Up Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-546-9922Silverstar Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-931-2200Spiritual Equine Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-519-6765Strathcona Animal Bedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-464-0485Syner G Apparel & Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-978-2589The Horse Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-270-7700The Horse’s Mouth TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-835-7088The Visions West Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-242-6162Victoria Ann Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-933-7678Western Horse Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-250-1128Willow Grove Stable Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-938-6398


AEF member organizations (as of September 15, 2012)

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Long Term AthleteDevelopment

THE VOICE OF EQUINE ALBERTA MEMBER MAGAZINE · Long distance riding has a special place in my...

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Transcript of THE VOICE OF EQUINE ALBERTA MEMBER MAGAZINE · Long distance riding has a special place in my...