DECEMBER 2012 THE RIDER /13 Ontario Equestrian Federation
honours Paralympic rider Judi Island with award at the Royal
Richmond Hill, Ont. – Canadian Paralympic Dressage rider Judi Island has been awarded the highest honour in the Ribbons for Rides Program, an initiative by the Ontario Equestrian Feder- ation and Ontario Therapeutic Riding Association that awards therapeutic riders with a ribbon for each FEI Para Dressage test completed. The award was pre- sented yesterday to the 59-year- old Caledon resident at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair during the OEF Member Appre- ciation Party.
“Achieving the champion rosette in the OEF Ribbons for Rides program was a fun chal- lenge,” says Island. “I think the OEF Ribbons for Rides program encourages Para-Equestrian rid- ers to push to reach new heights. This program, which is gener- ously offered by OEF at no cost, gives Para-Equestrian riders a goal to work towards at their own pace and at their own barn. It also provides a starting format for up-and-coming riders at ther- apeutic riding centres and inspires all Para-Equestrians to prepare for upcoming competi- tions.”
Island was an avid Dressage rider whose life was forever changed in January 1993 when she sustained a C-3 spinal cord injury – incomplete quadriplegia – in a car accident. Totally para- lyzed below the neck, she entered into an intensive rehab
therapy program. She never thought she would ride again and asked her mother to sell her beloved Lippizan, Gitano. But a year and a half after the accident she began riding in a therapeutic riding program at Sunrise Eques- trian Centre for the Disabled in Guelph, ON. After nine years of hard work, she got back on Gitano, which her mother had cared for since the accident. Island went on to win bronze in both the Grade 1a Individual Championships and Freestyle at the 2003 World Championships. She also represented Canada at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.
In appreciation of the time and effort that riders put into completing the 10 tests required to obtain receive the Champion
rosette in the Ribbons for Ride program, the OEF has the cham- pion rosettes signed by the rider of the recipient’s choosing. Island chose Canadian Olympic Dressage rider Christilot Boylen. Island says Boylen’s perfor- mance in Freestyle at the 1986 World Championships was an inspiration as she developed her own riding skills.
“The Ontario Equestrian Federation congratulates Judi Island on reaching yet another career milestone,” says Dianne Graham, the executive director of the OEF. “Judi is an inspira- tion to riders of all ages, disci- plines and riding abilities and we are honoured to present her with the champion rosette in the OEF Ribbons for Rides program.”
Draft Equine Code of Practice Released for Public Comment
Ottawa, Ontario - Equine Canada and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) are pleased to announce the launch of the public comment period on the draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. The draft Code can be viewed and submissions made at
nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/equine until Febru- ary 14, 2013. All stakeholders are encouraged to provide input to ensure that this Code reflects a common understanding of equine care expec- tations and recommended practices in Canada. A Scientists’ Committee report summariz- ing research on priority welfare topics for equines can be found online alongside the draft Code. This peer-reviewed report aided the dis- cussions of the Code Development Committee as they prepared the draft Code of Practice. “I’m proud of the collaborative effort committee members have shown since we began our work in early 2011,” says Jack de Wit, Director with the Equine Canada Board of Directors and Chair of the Code Development Committee. “The next step is opening the draft Code to input from the public. With the public’s help we will have a Code that is good for own- ers and the animals in their care.”
“As an equine veterinarian and horse owner, it’s a pleasure to participate in a Code process that provides an opportunity to advance the welfare of equines across our diverse indus- try,” says Dr. Bettina Bobsien, Canadian Feder- ation of Humane Societies representative on the Code Development Committee. “It is important that this Code reflect the best practices avail- able for the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules.”
Anyone can provide comments and sug- gestions on the Code; all submissions must be made through the online system and follow the instructions provided at
nfacc.ca/codes-of-prac-
tice/equine.
The equine Code revision is led by an 18- person Code Development Committee, which includes participants from across Canada repre- senting the diversity of the industry. Members include horse owners, caregivers, animal wel- fare and enforcement representatives, researchers, veterinarians and government rep- resentatives. The Scientists’ Committee includes researchers with expertise in equine behaviour, health and welfare. The final equine Code of Practice will be released in June 2013. More information on the Code development process is available at
nfacc.ca/codes-of-prac- tice.
The equine Code is one of eight Codes of Practice currently under revision as part of a multi-year NFACC project. Codes of Practice serve as our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices. It is important Codes be scientifically informed, practical and reflect societal expectations for responsible farm animal care. The Codes cover housing, feed and water, handling, euthanasia, transport and other important management practices.
Funding for the Codes of Practice is pro- vided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agricultural Flexibility Fund, under the Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare initiative, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
About the National Farm Animal Care Council NFACC is a collaborative partnership of diverse stakeholders created in 2005 to share information and work together on farm animal care and welfare. For more information on NFACC visit
nfacc.ca.
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