OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 THE RIDER /41


Equine Guelph Offers 150 FREE Short


Courses for Grooms and Trainers in Horse Racing


Story by: Henrietta Coole Guelph, Ontario - Equine Guelph announces the free offering of the new ‘Gut Health & Colic Prevention’ online course to the first 50 grooms and trainers to reg- ister from each racing sector in Ontario: Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing. The three- week online course will run this winter from January 22 - February 11, 2018 on Equine Guelph’s new online training platform, The Horse Portal. According to the 2016


Equine Guelph Horse Rac- ing Industry Survey, gut is- sues were ranked as the number three health issue behind respiratory issues and injuries. Not only is colic the number one killer of horses, but it is a major issue facing the horse racing industry. Excessive amounts of grain in the diet and for- age variation are thought to contribute to an increased risk of colic and other gut is- sues. Changes in stabling, exercise level and stress may also cause an increased


risk of colic. “Educating the horse


racing community on how to reduce the risk of colic and gut issues will be ex- tremely valuable to grooms and trainers,” says Hugh Mitchell, Chair of Ontario Racing. He adds, “This training will also benefit the health and well-being of the elite equine athletes as well.” The three-week online


short course will be flexible and practical with content appropriate for the racing industry. The course will be delivered from respected ex- perts from the horse racing community. For the first time, trainers and grooms from the three sectors will come together in discussion groups to share expertise and experience with each other. “Offering the ‘Gut


Health & Colic Prevention’ course at no charge will be an appealing way to engage the racing community to try out flexible, online learning on The Horse Portal,” says Gayle Ecker, director of


Equine Guelph. To register, go to


www.TheHorsePortal.ca/On tarioRacing and apply the appropriate coupon code for the free course valued at $95. Registration for the 150 free courses will be ad- ministered on a first-come- first-served basis to the first 50 trainers and grooms from each sector. This program is an on-


line training partnership be- tween Ontario Racing and Equine Guelph, with fund- ing provided by Grand River Agricultural Society. Project partners include: Central Ontario Standard- bred Association, The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. and Standardbred Canada. The online course is sponsored by Intercity In- surance Services Inc. and Capri Insurance Services Ltd.


For more information,


go to TheHorsePortal.ca/ Ontario Racing


Alexanne Thibault wins final leg of 2017 McKee-Pownall Groom Appreciation Showcase


nall Groom Appreciation Showcase wrapped up at Caledon Equestrian Park on Sunday (Sept. 24), with Alexanne Thibault earning top marks for her behind- the-scenes work in the final FEI jog of the season at the park.


Thibault may be familiar to many as a competitor in the FEI ring. But it is her tireless work in the care and presen- tation of her horse, Chacco Prime, for which she was honoured as a top-notch groom before the $86,000 Grand Prix on the final day of the Canadian Show Jump- ing Tournament . Thibault says grooming


work, punctuality and a gen- uine love for the horses for which she cares for the hon- our.


be one of the priorities,” she “Coming on time would


family is, me and my sister, we ride and take care of our own horses, and when I need her help she helps me, and when she needs my help I help her. That’s kind of how we do it and it works really well,” said Thibault, adding her father has also become quite the groom himself over the years. Thibault credits hard


is very much a family affair. With sister Coraline also a rider and regular competitor, she says the two share grooming duties and work for eachother in the role when the other is in the ring. “How we do it in our


The 19-year-old


By Graeme Frisque The 2017 McKee-Pow-


final leg of the 2017 McKee- Pownall Groom Apprecia- tion Showcase, which has been running at Caledon Equestrian Park throughout the season.


tience, compassion and knowing how to treat the horses right. Even if we think of them as animals, we have treat them the way we would treat ourselves,” she added. This was the fourth and


said, emphasizing the im- portance in routine for the horses. “I would also say al- ways work hard, never be sloppy or do more in one day, or less on the other for whatever reasons that come up. Always work your best every day.” “You need a lot of pa-


Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography In appreciation for all


the hard work grooms do be- hind the scenes, each horse in each of the four FEI jogs this season were judged by the ground jury based on overall presentation. The groom for each winner was awarded with a $200 prize and a McKee-Pownall Prize Pack.


Other winners this year Equestrian Park would like Services


included Nathaniel Tucker for his work with Flower, ridden by Conor Swail); Mia Antoinette Malmstrom for her work with Falco van Spieveld, ridden by Nicole Walker; and Danny Ingratta for his efforts with Vittoria 8, ridden by Ian Millar. McKee-Pownall Equine and Caledon


the congratulate all of the very deserving recipients of the 2017 McKee-Pownall Groom Appreciation Show- case.


out them. Grooms are the unsung heroes of many horse show careers. They are driven by a passion for the sport and animals and we would like to acknowledge their hard work. The list of tasks they perform is endless - grooming, bathing, braid- ing, lunging, setting jumps, feeding, mucking, riding, tacking up, untacking, clean- ing tack - at the ring, at the barn, at home, on the road... you get the idea!”


“We couldn’t do it with-


Terry Alfred Wilkes - 1939-2017


on September 16, 2017. Loving hus- band of the late Marguerite (Margo). Amazing father to Kimberley (Muren) and Helen. Best ever Grandpa and biggest race fan of Garett. Survived by his twin brother Perry (Pat), sister Mary Jane (Bill), Garett’s father Jeff, nieces, nephews and cousins. Terry was a loving man with admirable val- ues; a true gentleman who always put family first. He will be missed by his childhood friends, Christian Science Church members, Community Care volunteers, Rotary Associates, staff at the Niagara Children’s Centre and his circle of friends in the horse commu- nity. They were all a big part of his life. Donations in his memory to Christian Science Church, Niagara Children’s Centre or Community Care Beamsville would be gratefully ac- cepted. The family would like to thank the attending EMTs and police, as well as Dr. Overholt for their compassion-


Suddenly at his home in Jordan


Family and friends were invited to the Château des Charmes Winery to share happy memories and celebrate Terry’s life.


ate care. In keeping with Terry’s wishes, cremation has taken place.


Arabian horses and member of AHAEC. He was an active participant in the Arabian horse community, and as mentioned a wonderful volunteer for so many causes. In recent years, Terry & his good friend, Pete Cameron, would travel together to many Arabian horse shows, be it local or distant. From St. Catharines to Scottsdale, and many points in be- tween, the two of them would watch the show ring for hours, and have a line of people waiting to converse with them. The term “senior railbirds” described the pair best! Our sincerest condolences are with the Wilkes Fam- ily and to his respected companion Pete Cameron.


Terry was a long-time owner of


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