30/ FEBRUARY 2026 THE RIDER Nominations Open For EC National Awards 2025


utes and put forth a nomina- tion for the 2025 Equestrian Canada (EC) National Awards! Self nominations are welcomed and encour- aged. PTSO members are eligible to nominate individ- uals that qualify in each cat- egory.


Nominate Here:


https://form.jotform.com/26 0205542472248


individual or organization that made a difference in the Canadian Equestrian Com- munity in 2025? Please take a few min-


Do you know a horse,


of great efforts and perform- ances in horse sport across the Canadian Equestrian community. Nominations are open for the EC National Awards from now until Feb- ruary 25, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET. The


The past year was full


achievements of individu- als, equines and organiza- tions who have contributed to the growth and success of the equestrian community over the 2025 year will be recognized in the following categories:


impressive


• Gold Medal Award • Lifetime Achievement


Year • Canadian Bred Horse of the Year • Media Award – The Susan Jane Anstey Trophy • Health & Welfare Award Full information on all


Award • Equestrian of the Year – The Dr. George Jacobsen Trophy • Junior Equestrian of the


Year – The Gillian Wilson Trophy • Horse of a Lifetime – The Hickstead Trophy • Volunteer of the Year


• Owner of the Year • Coach of the Year • Official of the Year • Horse of the Year • Canadian Breeder of the


through the portal and win- ners will be announced at the beginning of March 2026.


the awards can be found at equestrian.ca/nat ional- awards. The Awards com- mittee will be reviewing nominations


submitted


EC Awards Committee The EC Awards Com-


mittee members are as fol- Keeping our Horses Healthy in the Bitter Cold = lots of good hay + water


By Sue Wilson Would you have been


worried about your horses last month if they lived out- side 24/7 with no manmade shelter? This is the second winter that our horses have lived on a rolling pasture at the Dundas Valley Conser- vation Authority. Their only shelter is in the valleys or forest. So yes, we worried,


and we kept extra close watch on them in January to ensure they had the re- sources they needed to sur- vive the cold. Our horses are on a


forage-first diet and always have access to hay in their OptiMizer slow feeders. They forage what they need, when they need it. Digest- ing hay fibre in their hindgut is their main source of ad-


has stayed clean, with virtu- ally no grooming needed. We kept an eye on his con- dition and behaviours to as- sess his comfort in the cold. He has been fine and so far this winter, has not been blanketed. (I also periodi- cally take photos like this and record his body condi- tion score using an awesome tool from Equine Guelph. This helps me note gradual changes over time.)


https://thehorseportal.ca/hea lthcare-tools/body-condi- tion-scoring-tool/interac- tive-body-condition-score/


Finally, and probably


justable body heat. I like to think of hay as the fuel that keeps the “furnace” going in the horses’ body. In bitter, cold weather they dial up the amount of hay they eat to keep themselves warm. We test our hay each


Fall to determine the best recipe for our herd. We look carefully at:


1. Calories = DE (Di- gestible Energy) With a number of easy


keepers in our herd, we pre- fer getting hay that is low in calories to help with weight management.


2. Protein All of the horses in our


herd are aged 20 years or


older. Older horses typically need higher crude protein to combat age-related muscle loss.


3. Sugar (NSC, ESC) There is a metabolic


horse in the herd with a his- tory of laminitis. We want to feed low sugar hay.


4. Fibre (Lignin, ADF, NDF)


This is the fuel for the


furnace. They need appro- priate levels of fibre types to turn up the heat in the ex- treme cold.


Last year, we had a


hard time getting a single source of hay that met all our requirements. Our first-


cut grass hay was very palatable, but it was low in protein and high in sugar. So, we supplemented this with some alfalfa hay to in- crease protein and calories, decrease the sugar and bal- ance the fibre. We used compact bales


and fed 4 grass bales and 1 alfalfa bale per OptiMizer. This was about 250 pounds of hay per feeder, resulting in a mix of 80% grass and 20% alfalfa hay. The table below shows the test results for this hay recipe.The horses always had hay avail- able and the slow feed net- ting on their feeders (sized 1.6” and 1.25”) optimized their intake and prevented waste. Also, all the horses


were on a ration balancer and the oldest horses re- ceived an amino acid sup- plement.


above (red) or below (blue) typical range recommenda- tions for each parameter.


● Shading Several times last


month, I wondered if I should blanket my 27 year old Kentucky Mountain Horse, the palomino in the photo. He has such a beauti- ful, thick winter coat that naturally responds to the weather. It really fluffs up in the extreme cold to maxi- mize the amount of trapped air for insulation. And with all the fresh snow, his coat


For the Benefit of Community: Calgary Stampede Generates $721 Million in Annual Economic Impact for Alberta


CALGARY, AB (Feb. 5, 2026) — Since 1886, the Calgary Stampede has been a place where organizations, the commu- nity and visitors from around the world have gathered. Whether coming together to celebrate community spirit, exchange ideas, showcase agriculture practices, or seal a deal with the shake of the hand and a tip of the cowboy hat, Stampede Park has existed as a place to connect and conduct business. For more than a century, we have


been proud to be a growing contributor to our community. From a new eco- nomic impact analysis conducted by MNP LLP (MNP), the Calgary Stam- pede generated $721 million in total economic output across Alberta in 2025—a 33 percent ($181M) increase in economic output compared to an eco- nomic impact study previously con- ducted in 2019. The study examined the economic


impact created by Stampede operations and visitor spending tied to the annual Stampede celebration in July, as well as


events held year-round on Stampede Park. The analysis focused on incremen- tal economic benefit, measuring spend- ing by out-of-town visitors and Stampede operational spending associ- ated with events, isolating new dollars entering the local economy, rather than total economic activity. Beyond provincial impact, Stam-


pede-related activity generated $872 million nationally in economic output, and locally, $664 million in economic output for Calgary, including $190.7 million in wages and salaries to Calgar- ians. This economic output translates into filling hotels, restaurants, local busi- nesses, attractions, taxis and ride shares. It also means creating jobs, attracting tourism and visitors, connecting agricul- tural and industry thought leaders and building our city. “These economic impact numbers


are a clear reflection of the strong com- munity support of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, and continued demand for conferences, conventions, trade


shows and community events both on Stampede Park and across the city,” shares Joel Cowley, Chief Executive Of- ficer of the Calgary Stampede. “As a not-for-profit organization, the Calgary Stampede is proud to contribute mean- ingful economic value to our neigh- bours. This study highlights how our gathering place attracts investment and reinforces a resilient, competitive econ- omy, while contributing to a vibrant community.”


Key impact analysis findings: • $872.4 million in total annual eco- nomic output in Canada • $721.2 million in total annual eco- nomic output in Alberta • $664.2 million in total annual eco- nomic output in Calgary • $190.7 million in annual wages and salaries for Calgarians The new study also shows that the


Stampede’s annual 10-day celebration remains not only a signature Canadian event, but an economic engine, generat-


ing $389 million in economic output in Alberta in 2025. Events hosted at Stam- pede Park throughout the rest of the year, in tandem with Stampede opera- tions and spending also contributed an additional $332 million in economic output provincially. “Calgary is incredibly fortunate to


be home to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and Stampede Park. These iconic anchors attract visitors from across Canada and around the world, in- spiring longer stays and return visita- tion,” says Alisha Reynolds, President & CEO of Tourism Calgary. “We’re proud to work alongside the Calgary Stampede to attract visitors and events as we con- tinue to grow the visitor economy and strengthen Calgary’s value proposition as a compelling, year-round destination for business, sport, and leisure.” The new analysis shows a nearly


48 per cent ($214M) increase in eco- nomic output to Calgary alone since 2019, emphasizing the rise in year-round activity on Stampede Park.


“The results from the MNP analy-


sis demonstrate the positive momentum our city continues to build,” adds Cow- ley. “Together with our partners, we are strengthening Calgary’s reputation as a sought-after tourism and events destina- tion, and an agricultural hub, while sup- porting increased development and investment in and around the southeast corner of downtown Calgary and Stam- pede Park.” Through unwavering community


support and the dedication of our more than 3,000 volunteers, alongside 1,200 year-round employees and 3,500 sea- sonal employees, the Calgary Stampede is able to reinvest revenue into youth, education, the arts, and agricultural pro- gramming, while celebrating with—and in—our community year-round.


About the Calgary Stampede Visit www.calgarystampede.com


indicates


most importantly, we en- sured that the horses always had easy access to liquid water. They have a water trough with a floating heater in a spot in their pasture that has good footing. My palomino wears a Tractive GPS on his halter and we recorded that he visited the water trough area 4 - 6 times every 24 hours during the cold weather. Extreme cold weather


can be worrisome for horse- owners. Despite the extreme cold in January 2026, our horses survived outside 24/7 with no manmade shelter or blankets. In fact, with opti- mized hay and water, not only did they survive, they thrived!


Schomberg, ON • Julie Brewster – Bowden, AB • Peggy Hambly (Chair) – Guelph, ON • Taylor McRae – Ottawa, ON


lows: •


Jennifer Anstey –


ments regarding the EC Na- tional Awards can be directed to:


Questions or com-


Peggy Hambly peggy.hambly@gmail.com


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