DECEMBER 2017


Vol. 48, Issue No. 5 ISSN: 1209-3955 Price $3.95


Hardin Towell Claims Thrilling Victory in $87,000 GroupBy Big Ben Challenge to Close 95th Royal Horse Show


Toronto, Ontario – Hardin Towell of the United States claimed a thrilling victory in the $87,000 GroupBy Big Ben Challenge on Saturday night, November 11, to close out the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 95th Royal Agri- cultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto, ON. A sold-out crowd of


more than 6,000 spectators packed the Ricoh Coliseum and were treated to show jumping sport at its finest as 23 riders challenged the final track set by 2016 Rio Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Eight riders, including Kent Farrington and McLain Ward, currently ranked numbers one and two on the Longines World Rider


Rankings, jumped clear to advance to the all-deciding jump-off. The night belonged to Towell, who blazed around the jump-off track with Lucifer V, breaking the timers in 38.37 seconds to snatch the win from Canada’s own François Lam-


ontagne, 33, of St. Eustache, QC, who had stopped the clock in 40.92 seconds aboard Chanel du Calvaire. “This is my first time at The


Royal and it was fantastic!” said Towell, 29, who also won the


Continued on page 2


Hardin Towell of the United States con- quered the $87,000 GroupBy Big Ben Chal- lenge in front of a sold-out crowd on November 11, riding Lucifer V for owner Evergate Stables, LLC, to close out interna- tional show jumping competition at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


The Ontario Equestrian Federation is now


Richmond Hill, ONT. - After an in- depth strategic review, the Ontario Equestrian Federation is beginning a new, more memberfocused direction as Ontario Equestrian (OE). The Provincial Sport Organization’s re- launch demonstrates that Ontario Equestrian has refined its focus by providing relevant programming to


Equestrian is repositioning itself as “the community for equestrian sport in Ontario”. This clearer, more inclusive vision for the future is the reason why the organization has decided to drop


support equestrians at all levels of par- ticipation. The purpose is to serve its 22,000 members more effectively. As part of its re-launch, Ontario


resentation of the most important as- pect of all equestrian sport: the horse.


Continued on page 3


the word “federation” from its name – without it, the tone of the organization becomes more welcoming for all equestrians. The updated logo is a visual rep-


250th Anniversary of Horse


Racing in Canada celebrated at Royal Horse Show


Positive Case of Equine


Infectious Anemia Confirmed in Quebec - See Page 44


Combustible Clean Up


See Page 3 INSIDE


Combustible Clean Up.............3 Obit: Clark Douglas Merritt ...4 Obit: Walter Patrick Shanly....4 The Way Of Horses ..................6 Horse Country Awards.............7 Before You Blanket ...................7 Susan Dahl.................................8 Central Rodeo League..............9 OFA Board ................................9 Farm Property Tax.................10 Grey Bruce Farmers Week....12 Large Animal Rescue .............13 CHA AGM..............................14 CRHRA News .........................15 ORCHA News .........................16 OPHC News ............................16 OCHA News............................17 OTRA News ............................18 ORHA News............................19 CQHA Youth World Cup Team............................24


AQHA Director’s Report .......21 CQHA News ............................21 OQHA News............................22 QROOI News ..........................23 Ronert K. Irwin ......................25


Brooks and Irwin....................26 Ontario Equestrian News ......27 Equine Health .........................27 Lynn Palm...............................28 Fincham’s Harness .................29 Blue Ribbon Percherons ........29 Horse Listening.......................30 Megan Lane.............................31 AHAEC News .........................32 Holiday Gift Barn...................32 SPCA News .............................32 Beezie Madden........................33 Equestrian Canada Wrap Up..............................34


Royal Photos ...........................34 Equine Wellness ......................35 Lindsay Grice..........................36 Equi-Bow.................................36 Saddle Fit.................................38 Classifieds, Directory Ads.39-43 Real Estate...............................44 Equestrian Canada Dressage Committee ...........................45


Fitness For Riders...................46 Mathilde Blais Tétreault.........47


Material for the January/February 2018 Issue must be in our office by January 21st, 2018. Copy arriving after that date will be used in the March/April 2018 Issue. Send to P.O. Box 10072, Ancaster, ON L9K 1P2 or call us at (905) 387-1900


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