Ottawa, Ontario — Karen Brain of Saanichton, BC, successfully represented Canada at the Hartpury CPDI***, held July 5 to 7 at the Hartpury College in Gloustershire, England.

On the opening day of competition, Brain started off with a bang, claiming the Grade IV Team test aboard the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Absolut, kindly loaned by Phillipa Bishop of Staffordshire. Entering the ring first, the duo’s fluid and mistake-free test earned first place with an average score of 72.7% from the panel of three judges.
continue reading "BC Dressage Paralympian wins for Canada"

HORSE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA

Opportunity for Stable Owners

Professional financial evaluations of 12 to 15 stables will be conducted by an agricultural business consultant to produce the document Economics of Operating a Stable.

Evaluations will provide stable owners with information on the strengths and weaknesses of their operations and opportunities for improvement.

The Economics of Operating a Stable study and documentation will provide comprehensive financial information on the operating of a stable to assist current and incoming stable business owners.
continue reading "Eye on the Industry: September 2007"

Medal wins in eventing, show jumping, and dressage secure Team Canada’s spot at 2008 Olympic Games

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - The Canadian eventing team of Kyle Carter, Sandra Donnelly, Waylon Roberts and Michael Winter has won the silver medal at the XV Pan American Games that took place from July 14 to 29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The third and final phase of competition, show jumping, took place on Sunday, July 22, at the National Equestrian Centre located north of downtown Rio. Team and individual medal ceremonies immediately followed.

continue reading "Canada earns Silver at Pan Am Games"

The world’s governing equestrian body has released the first edition of its new dressage handbook. The FEI Dressage Handbook - Guidelines for Judging has been written by some of the most experienced FEI dressage judges in the world.

“This new ‘Bible’ will prove invaluable not only for the education of dressage judges but also to riders and trainers at all levels,” a representative from the FEI says.

“It will not only help the better understanding of the scores, but also improve the awareness of the criteria outlined in the FEI Dressage Rulebook.”

The book is on sale at 40 Swiss francs ($35 CAD) plus postage. Proceeds from the book will be used in the education of FEI dressage judges.

Canada’s eventing, show jumping, and dressage teams are on their way to Pan American Games

Eventing 

Following a successful spring training and competition program, the Canadian Eventing Team who will represent Canada in the 2007 Pan American Games (PAG), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 14 to 29 has been chosen.

Five rider/horse combinations are named to the team and nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee. Named to the team (in alphabetical order) are:
continue reading "Bound for Brazil..Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage"

By: Sandra Fenstad-Sanche

Collection is a term loosely used, abused, and misused by many. Sitting in the bleachers at a horse show, standing in the hitching ring, or watching your neighbour’s child take a lesson, you hear time and again, that word, “collection.”

“Sally looks beautiful today. Look at her horse, it’s collected.” With pinned ears and wringing tail, young Sally’s horse goes obediently around the lesson arena while being pulled, prodded, and poked.

Her horse, hanging heavily in the bridle, it continues around the ring with all its weight on its forehand, while poor Sally struggles with all her might to hang onto her horse’s mouth. Because a horse travels with its head perpendicular to the ground, does not mean that collection is truly present.
continue reading "Collection"

By: Bob Goddard

I’m not exactly sure how or when it happened, but my daughter Jamie has become a fervent advocate of a thing called “dressage.”

As I understand it, dressage is an equestrian event with roots in antiquity. Like democracy, philosophy, and the Gyro sandwich, it was invented by the ancient Greeks and handed down to us via less-ancient Europeans. It is, by far, the most perplexing form of showing I have ever witnessed.

According to The Great Book of Horse Knowledge (a.k.a. The Great Book), dressage takes its name from the famous 18th century French poet, inventor, and part-time comedian Pierre Dressage.
continue reading "An idiot’s guide to dressage"