JANUARY 2011 THE RIDER /3


Dressage Canada Launches Search for Technical Leader


Ottawa, ON—Dressage Canada and Equine Canada have launched a search for a dressage Technical Leader.


This position is part of a high performance program developed to assist not only in identifying talent- ed athletes (both human and equine), but also in creating a sys- tem to support and compliment their training and competitive goals. Dressage Canada and Equine Canada gratefully acknowl- edges the assistance of Own the Podium (OTP), a national sport technical initiative designed to help Canada’s summer and winter ath- letes achieve podium success at the Olympic Games.


Dressage Canada will accept applications for this position up to January 15, 2011. Please send applications to the attention of Christine Peters, Manager Dres- sage at the Equine Canada office 2685 Queensview Dr., Suite 100, Ottawa, ON K2B 8K2, Fax: 613- 248-3484 or e-mail:


cpeters@equinecanada.ca. The Dressage Canada Own the Podium (OTP) Hiring Committee will review the applications and determine which applicants should be interviewed based on their ful- fillment of the position require- ments. Interviews will be sched- uled after January 15, 2011, and will be conducted jointly by the chair of the OTP Hiring Commit- tee; members of the OTP and Christine Peters, Manager Dres- sage.


At the conclusion of the inter- view process the Dressage Canada Athlete Council will have an opportunity to comment and put forward their recommendations on the candidate interviewed. Com- pensation details will be discussed with applicants during the inter- view process. Compensation will be commensurate with an appli- cant’s experience and accomplish- ments.


For details about the position and/or the application process,


please contact Christine Peters at cpeters@equinecanada.ca.


About Dressage Canada


Dressage Canada, as a com- mittee of Equine Canada, is the National governing body for Dres- sage in Canada. Dressage Canada’s objective is to foster the growth of Dressage and the pursuit of excel- lence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials’ education and programs, rules & qualifying crite- ria, sport development, publica- tions & awards. For more informa- tion about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site.


About Equine Canada


For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.


Planting Trees for a Healthy Horse


By Patricia Lowe, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority The best time to plant a tree was a decade ago; the next best time to plant a tree is – today. The author of that statement is unknown, but was likely the owner of a horse or two and knew full well the connection between plant- ing trees and horse health. So go ahead, order some native trees for planting this spring and your local Conservation Authority will help you get started with a tree plan for your property.


Generally, the best place to plant trees for horse health is just outside the perimeter of the pas- ture. Planting native trees as opposed to ornamental varieties is important, as they benefit the natu- ral ecosystem and are generally resistant to insect pests and dis- ease. It is important to not over plant and totally shade your pas- ture, select species that are non- toxic and select trees that suit your wet or dry site conditions. The roots of trees will further stabilize soil, reduce erosion and maintain water clarity, absorbing excess nutrients like nitrates from horse manure. The benefits to a horse include shelter from cold winter and dry summer winds, reduced


exposure to sun further decreasing stress to your horse and providing a more comfortable living environ- ment. The leaf litter provided by trees as they drop their leaves each fall, improves the soil fertility of your pasture, resulting in improved nutrient uptake by your horse. Conservation Authorities offer native tree and shrub planting programs at cost and will provide you with advice on species selec- tion suitable to your watershed and beneficial to your horse. Some examples of native and non native trees NOT recommended around your pasture are red maple (Acer rubrum), Cherry (Prunus sp) and Black Locust (Robinia pseudoca- cia) due to their toxicity to horses and other livestock. Other danger- ous trees include oaks (Quercus sp), horsechestnut (Aesculus hip- pocastanum), Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus), pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), pine (Pinus sp) and yew (taxus sp). If you already have some of these trees on your property and they are small enough, simply transplant them out of your horses reach. If they are too large, fencing around them or re-aligning pasture fencing is a simple solution to protect your equine friends.


Spring is an excellent time to plant, as bareroot trees can be pur- chased in bulk quantities at whole- sale costs through your local Con- servation Authority. Not sure which of the 36 Conservation Authorities you should contact, check out the provincial map and contact listing on the Conservation Ontario website at www.Conserva- tion-Ontario.on.ca.


This article has been prepared by the Healthy Lands for Healthy Horses Steering Committee, which is comprised of representatives from the Ontario Equestrian Feder- ation’s Horse Facilities Council, Uxbridge Horseman’s Association, Ontario Trail Riders Association, Equine Guelph, University of Guelph, Ontario Ministry of Agri- culture, Food and Rural Affairs and various Conservation Authori- ties. Funding for events organized by this committee has been provid- ed by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association from the Nutrient Management BMP Demonstration Grant funding pro- ject.


For more information please visit: www.equineguelph.ca/healthy- lands.php


Top-Notch Speakers for Online Studies at Equine Guelph


By: Equine Guelph Staff Special Guest Speakers


Equine Guelph is pleased to announce an impressive line-up of speak- ers will be joining the online course called, The Equine Industry, a part of the online equine studies program offered by Equine Guelph.


Dr. Sandra Olsen, Curator of Anthropology of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and author of the course textbook, will be joining the course to expand upon the domestication of the horse. Dr. Olsen’s work has uncovered the earliest evidence of domestication of the horse and she was also one of the cre- ators of “The Horse” exhibit that pre- miered at the American Museum of Natu- ral History and now at the Museum of Civilization in Canada.


Joining the prestigious line-up of special guests will be Dr. Jeff Thomason, hoof researcher with the University of Guelph, sharing his insights on the anatomical changes of the horse (in par- ticular the hoof) throughout 55 million years of evolution. Mr. Derek Nelson, for- merly World Affairs Analyst for Thom- son News Service, will be sharing his insights on the military role of the horse and its impact on several world battles that changed the course of history forever. “It is a great thrill for our students to


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have the opportunity to spend a week with Dr. Olsen and learn about this pivotal point in history, when horses were first domesticated and the subsequent effect this had on many aspects of culture and society.” said Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph and course instructor. “Our group of guests for this course is top-notch and we are pleased they are willing to share their specialized knowl- edge with our students.”


Other January courses on offer include Anatomy, Nutrition, Health and Disease Prevention, and Management of the Equine Environment, and Marketing and Communications. Visit www.equinestudiesdiploma.com for more information about courses and registra- tion.


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