46/ DECEMBER 2010 THE RIDER Shopping Bags for Feedbags By Mallory Hendry.


Equestrian Factory Outlet is well known in the horse world for their phi- lanthropy, and their golden reputation in this area is well deserved.


“We have a tripod when it comes to charity,” Marc Nicols, CEO of Equestrian Factory Outlet, says. “There’s the focus on the person, education and mentorship as well as the rider and skill, and then there’s the third leg – the horse itself.”


For Marc, developing a way to raise money to help horses allows Eques- trian Factory Outlet to complete their philanthrop- ic mission. Currently, they sponsor riders in different disciplines at various lev- els, supply annual bursaries and trophy programs and focus on youth develop- ment as well. It was only natural, Marc says, for them to eventually shift that focus to the horse. It’s a time when the animal the industry depends on could use the spotlight.


Over the past few years, the economy has suf- fered and everybody has felt the effects. Besides human victims, there’s been an increase in the neglect of animals such as horses. Their owners sim- ply do not have the funds to keep them well fed and cared for. Unlike a dog or a cat, these thousand pound animals are considerably more difficult to re-home, sell or even give up. Unfor- tunately, Marc says what’s seen in the media is only the tip of the iceberg. Noticing an increase in this disturbing trend of equine starvation about a year ago, Equestrian Factory Outlet started brainstorming dur- ing their internal meetings as to what could be done to help in the long term. “Corporately, person- ally, humanely it’s the right thing for us to focus on for the next several years,” March says.


Equestrian Factory Outlet developed a pro- gram called Shopping Bags for Feedbags, where people


can purchase a reusable canvas tote bag for $4.99 and the proceeds go to help feed horses in need. Every- one working on the project is doing so pro bono, and the program is set up so that anybody can be involved. Beyond just pur- chasing a bag, retailers can help out by carrying them in their store and other companies can sponsor to have their name and logo on the bag as well.


them.”


Funds will be allocat- ed on a critical need basis, with volunteers doing walks throughs, viewing presentations, going over veterinary information and photos to assess which require the most urgent care. This project isn’t just to help out established res- cue organizations like the OSPCA, provincial horse resue organizations and the many equine adoption agencies, but is also geared towards “Joe Farmer” who has hit hard times and may be facing the choice between selling them for meat or euthanizing them. Hopefully the proceeds from Shopping Bags for Feedbags will help the average person avoid los- ing their horses, or keeping them in less than ideal con- ditions.


Starting in Ontario in January and rolling out across the country from there, shopping bags may soon extend to pins, key chains, t-shirts – anything that will raise awareness and funds. Marc says he’s hoping it quickly takes on a life of its own because there’s a “massive need” for things to change. To that end, Equestrian Facto- ry Outlet was smart enough – and concerned enough – to know they couldn’t take this project on alone. Marc is actively encouraging other retailers who would normally be seen as “the competition” to get on board.


foremost, the program had to have a feed company on board. The first and only pitch was to Agri- brands Purina Canada. As a company, they already do a lot of good for very little recognition, exhibiting a modesty and true commit- ment to social change that few other major corpora- tions have. Marc says when he was pitching the idea to them a lot of the orga- nizations that were in line to benefit from the


First and


Equestrian Factory Outlet™ and Agribrands Purina launch Shopping Bags for Feedbags at the RAWF. Left to right: Victoria L. Nicols, Marc M. Nicols, Daniela Matulic and Jozef Malcarski of Equestrian Factory Outlet, Keri Weir – Central Ontario Horse Specialist, Agribrands Purina, and Marc Andre Blouin, Agribrands Purina Canada. Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi


money raised by Shopping Bags for Feedbags were already being quietly helped out by Agribrands. The program would give the company the added funds to help out even more. National marketing coordinator Jacques Trem- blay is an “insightful guy”, says Marc, who recognizes that the work they do with the organization will “streamline the gifts they give” and show the eques- trian industry what they do behind the scenes.


Shopping Bags for Feedbags was launched at the Eques- trian Factory Outlet™ onsite Showroom during RAWF. Photo Credit: Canadian Pets and Animals Media


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“This is a non-partisan problem,” he says. “It’s not a time for ‘industry poli- tics’, it’s a project geared to need regardless of who recognized the need and acted on it. Let’s just get it done and do the right thing for the equestrian world and the horses who serve


“Purina is one of those corporations that is an unsung hero,” Marc says. “It gives of itself to such depth that it’s time for them to be at the forefront of this important mission.” Marc also approached Liz Shaughnessy, who works in press relations, to help get the word out through the media. Liz says she gets three to five e- mails a week from people trying to give her their horses because money is tight.


“This is clear evidence things are not perfect out there for a lot of horses,” she says.


As for more concrete facts and statistics, those are hard to come by. Because horses were origi-


nally used for farming and other working positions, they have been studied col- lectively under general agricultural animals. This category also includes cows, pigs, goats and the like. Unfortunately this is no longer an acceptable reflection of horses’ reality. Because of the high con- centration of equine activi- ty within the provinces, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario are making moves to develop a unique subsection for horses and new monitoring practices in recognition of the ani- mals’ new role in people’s lives.


“One of the missions for this project wasn’t just to raise money for animals - which is important – but the secondary part is to raise awareness,” Liz explains. “We’re all in this together; we have to be in this together. It’s to give horses not only feed but a voice, and I think that’s the part that’s missing.”


Those who do have a voice are proving more than willing to speak up on behalf of the horses they love. One of the directors of a youth development program the Equestrian Factory Outlet supports approached Marc and told him since they do so much


for their organization, what could they do now to help him.


“I think that’s a state- ment on other organiza- tions wanting to get involved and make a differ-


ence, whether it’s selling bags at clinics and events or making sure they pick one up for themselves,” Marc says. “There’s a real appetite (no pun intended!) for them to get involved.”


Marc Nicols explains the concept behind Shopping Bags for Feedbags which was unveiled at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.


Photo Credit: Canadian Pets and Animals Media


Outstanding Equestrians and Volunteers Recognized!


The tradition continued with another entertaining Annual Awards Banquet held during the OEF Annual Conference. The OEF was pleased to acknowledge the 2010 OEF Annual Award and the People Make a Difference Award winners at its Annual Ban- quet held Saturday October 23, 2010 at the Delta Meadowvale Resort & Conference Centre in Mississauga.


of the Year Award – Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals, Coach of the Year – Cathy Inch, Media of the Year – HorseSport, OEF/Just Add Horses Environmental Award – Celtic Roots Equestrian, the Presi- dent’s Award – Equestrian Man- agement Group (EMG).


OEF Award winners includ- ed: Yvonne Collard Award – Cheryl Smith Ehrlick, Sandra Sill- cox Award – Bob Smith, Sponsor


In recognition of the behind- the-scenes efforts of the many vol- unteers in the equine world, the OEF was proud to bestow “People Make a Difference Awards” on the following individuals identified by their OEF member associations: Arabian Horse Association of


Eastern Canada – Tara Porter, Canadian Pony Club – Central Ontario Region – Gwen Barnes, Canadian Pony Club – St. Lawrence/Ottawa Valley – Cat Hunter, Canadian Pony Club – Western Ontario Region – Kathryn Roe-Guerin, Central Canada Paso Fino Horse Association – Camilla Willings, Eastern Ontario Pleasure Driving Society – Wayne Byrne, Gaited Horse Group of Ontario – Dolly Puccia, Miniature Horse Club of Ontario – Mary McKib- bin, Mounted Games Across Canada Inc. – Mike McCulligh,


Ontario Combined Driving Asso- ciation – Mary Cork, Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Associa- tion – Margaret Murray, Ontario Farriers Association – Luke Proulx, Ontario Friesian Horse Association – Willem Hellema, Ontario Morgan Horse Club – Amanda Gilbank, Ontario Quarter Horse Association – Val Love, Ontario Reining Horse Associa- tion – Wendy Dyer, Tri-County Carriage Association – Helen Pri- nold.


Congratulations to all 2010 award recipients!


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