With purses being offered of close to $3.7 million, the 2013 Racing Program includes a stakes program worth over $750,000, the Ontario Bred and Ontario Sired Purse Bonus Programs in open races and purse supplements available to overnight restricted races.

The Ontario Rewards program supporting the breeding community is continued in 2013 with $550,000 and $55,000 available in Breeders’ Awards and Stallion Awards, respectively. Industry Development Projects have been continued where value to Quarter Horse racing is maximized. Funding is continued for marketing, development of Ontario’s Quarter Horse wagering product, equine research and support of post-racing programs.

The Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program remains committed to the continuing development of a quality Quarter Horse racing sector in Ontario. For further information, contact the Program Administrator at 416-213-0520 or by email at qhprogram@ontarioracingcommission.ca

“Our Government is exploring every option for improving the care and support available for Canada’s Veterans and their families,” said Minister Blaney. “I have heard Veterans across Canada loud and clear, we know there is interest in animal therapy and we are exploring its use for Veterans.”

“Each year, 2,500 St. John Therapy Dog teams provide over 180,000 hours of service to children, the elderly, the lonely, and the sick across Canada, enriching their lives,” said Mairi Arthur, Chancellor of St. John Ambulance. “We are excited about the pilot project being supported by Veterans Affairs Canada and we hope that this research will help contribute to improving the quality of life of our Veterans.”

“Can Praxis is very pleased to be part of this initiative,” said Steve Critchley, Co-Founder, Can Praxis. “Horses respond to human body language. Our staff helps Veterans and their spouses in learning about and understanding the horse’s reaction. It is this innovative combination that helps put theory into practice and reduces stress. This helps the families as they fine tune their relationship.”

Veterans Affairs Canada will partner with St. John Ambulance Canada and Can Praxis, who will work to evaluate the use of dogs and horses to improve the overall mental health and well-being of Veterans. Can Praxis has partnered with the University of Saskatchewan and St. John Ambulance with McGill University to measure the benefits of their respective programs.

“I am heartened to see that Veterans Affairs Canada is listening to Veterans with mental health illness,” said Wayne Johnston, Founder, Wounded Warriors Canada. “It is a huge step to study the benefits of therapy dogs and of equine therapy—two programs that Wounded Warriors Canada is proud to help fund and will continue to support in the years ahead.”

Earlier in the week, Minister Blaney recognized Mental Health Week in Canada by announcing the launch of the new PTSD Coach Canada mobile app and a two-year study involving 140 clinicians to examine how effectively they are using cognitive processing therapy to treat adults with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Both St. John Ambulance and Can Praxis will receive a contribution of $25,000 to advance this important research.

For more information on Veterans Affairs Canada’s programs and services, visit http://veterans.gc.ca/

In 2012, there was one laboratory-confirmed case of EHM in Ontario.

EHV-1 infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal foal death, and/or neurological disease. EHV-1 is not a federally reportable disease. It is immediately notifiable by laboratories under the reporting regulation of the provincial Animal Health Act.

Because infected horses may show no clinical signs, but still shed the virus, the temperature of suspect animals should be monitored twice daily for 14 -21 days and any abnormalities discussed with a veterinarian. Neurological signs include loss of muscle coordination, lethargy, inability to urinate, reduced tail tone and/or head tilt. It is important that a veterinarian assess suspect cases of EHM, since it can be difficult to distinguish between this and other serious diseases, such as rabies, that can affect the nervous system in horses.

EHV-1 is easily spread by sharing contaminated equipment, contact with an animal carrying the virus, or by the clothing, hands or equipment of visitors to farms who recently had contact with an infected horse.

All horse owners should be reminded to practice vaccination and appropriate biosecurity protocols and procedures (see links below) for horses and equipment coming on and off the farm, particularly if traveling to shows or events.

Current EHV vaccines may reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurological form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize the spread of this disease.

Increased vigilance is needed in the equine industry at this time. In cases of neurological disease, a veterinarian’s first obligation is to rule out rabies if the animal dies or is euthanized, by submitting a brain sample to CFIA. Appropriate personal protection, such as gloves and a face shield, should be used when collecting samples.

Equine Herpes Virus is an opportunity to remind your clients that the best method of disease control is disease prevention.

Ontario cases of EHM and other equine neurological disease are listed at here.

Windfields Farm ceased operations in 2009, having already sold off portions of land to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College, and to housing developers. Some of the barns as well as the gravesite of Northern Dancer were to be preserved, but these plans have not yet come to fruition and the future of these historic gems remains uncertain.

Elizabeth Ross, Diane Stephens and Marianne de Gannes have taken on the responsibility of sharing with the equine and local community all that is transpiring with the property by attending Oshawa council meetings and meeting with their staff. Their goal is to provide clear, accurate information on all things related to Windfields, the old farm. They have also been conducting some research into the history of the buildings.

To learn more, please visit www.facebook.com/WindfieldsFarmnewsandnotes

Better known as the “The Pony Fairy,” Gwynne is the only Canadian-approved Alexandra Kurland ‘Click That Teaches’ instructor. She has used clicker training for the past 15 years. For three decades before that, she successfully trained horses and their humans using conventional means. Now, Gwynne prefers to use clicker training because, as she said, “It works better and faster, but, more importantly, it builds great relationships, and is fun for the horse and trainer. Clicker training produces an eager, interactive animal, who is engaged in the learning, a horse who wants to be with you.”

In her weekly posts, Gwynne will provide foundation lessons, then expand on these teachings to show you how to train anything you can imagine. Join her to start building a better relationship with your horse through clicker training.

We look forward to receiving your questions, comments and requests on how to train certain behaviours. Check out this new blog at www.horse-canada.com/the-pony-fairy 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which enforces the HPA, deems soring to involve the use of action devices, chemicals, pads, wedges or practices like trimming a horse’s hoof to expose sensitive tissue, to cause pain in the horse’s forelegs and produce an accentuated show gait for competition. According to the USDA, soring has been primarily used with Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses and continues despite the existence of a federal ban for over forty years.

“Far too often, those involved in showing the Tennessee Walking Horses have turned a blind eye to abusive trainers, or when they do take action, the penalties are so minor, it does nothing to prevent these barbaric acts,” stated Whitfield. “This amendment does not cost the federal government any additional money and is essential in helping to put an end to the practice of soring by abusive trainers.”

The horse show industry has been living with the HPA for over 40 years. However, the trigger for USDA enforcement of the Act is the showing, exhibition, auction or transport of a sore horse. For this reason USDA has focused its efforts on those segments of the show community that involve breeds and activities that are most frequently involved in soring. If a breed, discipline, or activity is not soring its horses to exaggerate their gaits, then as a practical matter the Act has likely not adversely affected them and the bill to amend the Act, if passed, will not affect them any more than current law.

The bill would amend the HPA to prohibit a Tennessee Walking Horse, a Racking Horse, or a Spotted Saddle Horse from being shown, exhibited, or auctioned with an action device, or a weighted shoe, pad, wedge, hoof band or other device or material if it is constructed to artificially alter the gait of the horse and is not strictly protective or therapeutic. These new prohibitions would not apply to other breeds and would not prohibit the use of therapeutic pads, or bell boots or quarter boots that are used as protective devices.

The legislation would also increase fines and penalties for violations for soring, including the potential for a lifetime ban for repeat offenders.

The bill would create a new licensing process for horse show inspectors, eliminating the current program that uses industry-affiliated designated qualified persons (DQPs). This program has received criticism because these DQPs are often not independent of the industry they are inspecting. USDA would be required to train, license and appoint the new independent inspectors for shows and other HPA-regulated activities that wish to hire an inspector. Licensed or accredited veterinarians would be given preference for these positions. The decision to hire an inspector, however, would still be up to the show, sale or auction. It would not be made mandatory. Shows or sales that employ DQPs now would begin using USDA-selected inspectors. Shows or sales that choose not to use DQPs now would not be required to use them should the bill pass.

The Bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“The AHC supports this legislation, as does the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Paint Horse Association, the American Morgan Horse Association, the Pinto Horse Association of America, the American Veterinary Medical Association and other groups,” said Jay Hickey, president of the American Horse Council.. “The bill focuses on the problem it is intended to solve and does not adversely affect other segments of the show industry that are not soring horses and have no history of soring horses. The AHC will be involved in the Congressional process and will immediately oppose any efforts, amendments, or attempts to broaden the Act or its enforcement that would adversely or unnecessarily affect any breeds, disciplines, or horses that have no history of soring.”

The morning commenced with Dr. Dorothee Beinzle outlining the recent developments in treating heaves. This was followed by Dr. Judith Koenig providing a detailed look at how shock therapy can be used to heal wounds. There was much more information to digest before lunch as Dr. Physick-Sheard explained new understandings about the equine heart and Dr. Jeff Thomason brought everyone up to speed on fascinating advances in studies examining how the hoof functions. The action packed morning ended with Dr. Thomas Koch describing the breakthroughs in stem cell research and the direction for exciting new possibilities with the launch of in vivo work this year.

The afternoon resumed with another full helping of knowledge served up by highly knowledgeable presenters. Dr. Tracey Chenier guided the audience through the procedure of embryo transfer and highlighted her challenging research working on embryo cryopreservation. Dr. Prescott brought over 25 years of expertise to the table giving the audience a real appreciation of the dedication and passion required to track down an insidious bacterium like Rhodococus equi and develop a vaccine. Dr. Keith Betteridge and Dr. Tony Hayes teamed up to deliver interesting insights into their research of combating infertility in mares. Equine Guelph’s own Diane Gibbard finished the day highlighting some staggering statistics from Equine Guelph’s recent colic industry survey. Of the 1,200 respondents, 85% had a personal experience with Colic. The survey also identified clear gaps in knowledge and priority areas in education and communications which Equine Guelph is responding to with their new Colic Prevention eWorkshop (next offering April 15 -28).

Attendees left the Report on Research presentations saturated with knowledge and satisfied. “Excellent topics and presentations in a format that lay people can understand! Thank you. I will definitely pursue additional workshops online by Equine Guelph at the University of Guelph.” Suzanne Kay

Equine Guelph would like to extend many thanks to the Knowledge Translation and Transfer Program under the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs OMAFRA-U of G Partnership for the grant which made the “Report on Research” videos and the special presentation on April 6th possible.

To view the Report on Research videos go to Equine Guelph’s You Tube playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9ACE18F9180735B1&feature=plcp

The funding was announced by Eric Foster, MLA for Vernon Monashee, on behalf of B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick, at a Vernon Young Riders 4-H horse club first-year check, in which members were taught skills such as measuring, and checking a horse’s temperature.

The funding will support the 4-H program in its 99th year of operation in B.C. and help its 2,200 youth members learn about farming and food production as well as building leadership skills and personal development. 4-H members complete hands-on projects in areas such as field crops, beef, horse, dairy, poultry, bees, agroforestry and mechanics designed to prepare them with knowledge and experiences to guide a successful career.

“One of the things I find most rewarding about being Agriculture Minister is my meetings with young British Columbians interested in farming,” said Letnick.”They are incredibly passionate about local foods, have grown up technology-savvy, and are keenly aware that a career in agriculture is also one in business.”

“4-H clubs offer our youth the mentorship and expertise of volunteers, who are often an owner of one of the 20,000 family farms in B.C.”

Ministry of Agriculture youth development staff also deliver conferences to youth and work closely with more than 600 registered 4-H volunteers, who mentor the youth and help transfer agriculture knowledge and skills from one generation to another.

4-H stands for head, heart, hands and health. 4-H members range in age from six to 21 years and are part of clubs in more than 50 B.C. communities. The goal of the 4-H program is youth development, with a focus on knowledge, leadership, citizenship and personal development.

“Kids learn top-notch agriculture and leadership skills through ‘learn to do by doing’ in 4-H,” said B.C. 4-H Provincial Council president Rick Kantz. “I and other B.C. 4-H volunteers are pleased to partner with the Ministry of Agriculture to deliver this practical learning to youth, it is necessary for our future in the agriculture sector.”

Learn more about Ministry of Agriculture’s youth and community development programs at www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/4-H/youth_dev_pgm.htm and the B.C. 4-H at www.bc4h.bc.ca

Inspectors will increase testing of raw and ready-to-eat meat products coming to the country from Iceland, Ireland, Poland, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. All tests of imported raw ground beef or veal will also increase, including products that are already tested for a toxin that produces E. coli bacteria.

“We are confident that the inspection system at ports of entry ensures the safety of products that come into our country every day,” said Catherine Cochran, a spokeswoman for the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. “However, in response to recent events and consumer concerns, we are increasing species testing to enhance current safeguards and prevent fraudulently labeled products from entering the country.”

USDA officials have acknowledged that species testing for meat imported into the US has been performed typically only when there’s a reason to question a shipment. The statement did not note a specific schedule for testing.

The motion, put forward by Essex MPP Tara Natyshak, received the full cooperation of The Progressive Conservatives and the New Democratic Party and was approved with 53 votes to 33 Liberals against. However, because of the verbiage this motion in non-binding and is simply a suggestion that the government follow this course of action. Whether the Liberals will agree is unclear.

The text of Natyshak’s motion is as follows:

That, in the opinion of this House, the following principles should be immediately applied to the Province’s gaming policy:

1) Implementation of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s transformation of gaming strategy be suspended until after the 2014 Ontario municipal elections in order to allow municipalities wanting to be a host site for a casino to undertake a referendum on the issue on the 2014 ballot;

2) A panel, composed of representatives nominated by the three recognized parties, be tasked with hearing from stakeholders and drafting fair spending limits for parties taking part in the referendum on casinos;

3) Changes to the Slots at the Racetracks partnership be frozen, in order to enable the horseracing industry to continue to operate while the government engages the industry in a robust consultation with the goal of ensuring its survival, stability and growth; and

4) Current funds from unclaimed purses due to racetrack closures be made available to local or community race tracks. Filed March 18, 2013.