Your March HCBC Newsletter is here!
 
Email Header
Full Image
yd2

HCBC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018

Date: Saturday, March 24, 2018 *Please note date change from April 7th as published in Fall/Winter Lifestyles Magazine

Time: 4:00 PM

Location: Sandman Signature Hotel Langley – Willoughby Room ( 8828 201 St, Langley, BC )




 

 

 

yd2

RENEW FOR 2018 TODAY!

2018 Memberships are open for purchase at hcbc.online.  Your 2017 membership will have expired on December 31st, 2017.



 

 

 

yd2

HERE WE COME PRINCE GEORGE!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

The Community Talks Travelling Road Show will be rolling into Prince George May 6!
Join us for a day of top notch equine education brought to you by excellent, informative speakers who will be presenting on topics such as Equine Nutrition, Veterinary Care, and Farm, Pasture and Manure Management.

Location: Ramada Plaza Prince George
444 George Street
 Prince George, BC
Time 10:am - 5:00pm
 Lunch provided

Admission by donation to: Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association

See you in Prince George!

 

 

 

yd2

KIDSPORT BC HELPS ASSIST 79 YOUNG EQUESTRIANS IN BC SPORT SYSTEM

In 2017, KidSport provided $1.95 million in funding to 7332 children in the BC Sport System. For 79 children that are Horse Council BC members, KidSport distributed $24,878 in funds to help these young people get involved in equestrian sport. 

 

 

 

BC SOCIETIES ACT TRANSITION: What all Clubs need to know

It is Not as hard as it sounds....
 
Every society regardless of if they are a non-profit or charity must transition by November 28, 2018.
A new Societies Act came into force on November 28, 2016 that requires each society to transition online to ensure they comply with the Act. Every Society wither they are a non-profit or a charity must transition.

If you require any further information, please visit our website at: www.gov.bc.ca/societiesact or call 1 877 526-1526.
COACHING   EDUCATION
Full Image
yd2

ENGLISH RIDER EVALUATOR TRAINING

April 15th English Rider Evaluator Training session at the HCBC Office. This training will allow participant Instructors or Coaches to test Rider Level candidates. Three PD points will be awarded for attending this session. If you have already done the training, you can attend to refresh your knowledge and receive PD. We have room for 15 people, so please register early. Contact coaching @hcbc.ca for a registration form or download one from the HCBC events calendar.
 
English Coaches and Instructors please note that there is a change to the “Who Can Test” criteria for the English Rider Program. It was recently accepted by the EC National Coaching Committee that a Competition Coach can now test Rider 8. Previously it was required that a student had to use a Competition Coach Specialist to test this level. This revision should help students complete the rider program in area’s that there are not Competition Coach Specialists available.
 
Western Coach and Instructor candidates interested in participating in an Evaluation in 2018 please contact coaching@hcbc.ca so we can plan a date that is best for the majority of candidates. At this time a Western Evaluation is planned to be in Grand Forks.
 
All Coach and Instructor Candidates should make sure that they have all the requirements completed and application in the HCBC office no later than 30 days before the Evaluation date. This includes every item listed on the application form and the Evaluation checklist. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted for any Evaluation. 
yd2

SAVE THE DATE! DRESSAGE LEVY PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE SYMPOSIUM

Save the date for this exciting event coming to Langley this November! Put on by Equestrian Canada, this will be an exciting learning opportunity.

More information to come!
yd2

ADULTS & KIDS!  SIGN UP FOR A SHORT COURSE! Essential online course for all horse caregivers

Understand horse behaviour and learn smart, practical on-farm management practices to keep you and your horse safe. This course is essential for both youth and adults who are handling and caring for horses; equally informative to new horse people and seasoned veterans. Enjoy the online atmosphere and opportunity to chat with horse enthusiasts from around the world.
 
Never taken an online course before? No worries! This course takes a common sense, practical and flexible approach to training – no prior online learning experience required. About 5-10 hrs./wk. of time is suggested.
 
Youth (ages 14-17) & Adult Offerings: March 26 – April 11
 
SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT FOR HCBC MEMBERS
 
Register at: https://thehorseportal.ca/partner/hcbc/

EQUINE CANADA CONVENTION 
April 5-8, 2018 at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa, ON

The 2018 EC Convention will host a total of six EC officials‘ clinics and two NCCP workshops. And, with the purchase of a Full Convention Pass ($250), you can score a huge deal by attending any or all of the offered clinics at no additional fee! The clinics and workshops are open not only to current and aspiring EC officials and certified coaches, but to all members of the equestrian community who enjoy continuous learning and personal development. These sessions will offer additional advantages to current and prospective EC officials and certified coaches. Current officials can use the clinics for updating or upgrading purposes, while EC certified instructors can claim professional development points. Prospective officials can also list clinic participation as part of a future application to become an EC official.

Click here to register
COMPETITION   SPORT
Full Image

BC SUMMER GAMES COMING TO COWICHAN JULY 19-22

Are you an equestrian athlete between the ages of 11 & 18? Want to learn more about qualifying for the BC Summer Games? 2018 BC Summer Games Technical Packages are now available online and can be found on the BC Summer Games page of the HCBC website. 

$150,000 WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO U25 ATHLETES ACROSS CANADA

Horse Council BC is pleased to announce two new programs being introduced nationwide, with the mandate to support Equestrian Athletes across the country under the age of 25. The programs are being designed to help identify those who have the potential to become Canada’s next High-Performance Athletes. Funding for the programs has been graciously provided from the J.C. Anderson Family Foundation and the J.C. Anderson Legacy Fund through The Calgary Foundation and the Alberta Sport Connection Donation Program to the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) for purposes of supporting Athlete Development. John Anderson, a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team has helped make this funding and programs possible.

yd2

REMINDER: RENEW WITH EQUESTRIAN CANADA
BY March 31, 2018

Equestrian Canada Sport License renewal by March 31st to avoid $20 late fee. Click here to renew today.

Please note that you must have your HCBC renewed before you can renew your EC Sports License. 
INDUSTRY   AGRICULTURE
yd2

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS

Open to all livestock and rural land owners including fruit, grape and grain growers

BC Cattlemen's Association in cooperation with Horse Council BC and Ag Safe present this interactive and informative workshop that will teach you how to prepare your property and connect with your community in the event of an emergency including fires and floods.

This course will cover:
 Risk Assessment
 Safeguarding your property against fire
 Community Planning
 And much more...

Complimentary Coffee and lunch/dinner. Click the Register Here Button for Dates, Locations and More Information

yd2

HORSE WELFARE ALLIANCE OF CANADA CODE OF PRACTICE FOR EQUINE

In the fall of 2012, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Equestrian Canada released the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. Five years later, the Horse Welfare Alliance
of Canada commissioned a survey to gauge the level of awareness of the Code and implementation of the Requirements within. This project is a cooperative effort with partial funding from Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

The Codes are practical guidelines that include Requirements that cover basic animal care needs including food and water, shelter, emergency preparedness and end of life options for farm animals in Canada. “The care or ownership of a horse requires a significant commitment and a high level of responsibility,” says Mikki Shatosky, HWAC project coordinator. “Horse owners and caregivers need to be aware of the Code as they set the standards for horse care in Canada. The Codes are an excellent reference document for questions on animal care or when owners are challenged on how they care for their animals. In several provinces, the Codes are enforceable through provincial animal
care acts.

yd2

AGRICULTURAL LAND REVIEW SURVEY

Have your say! Equine industry input is needed to protect and improve the ability to keep and raise horses in your neighborhood! B.C.‘s Minister of Agriculture, Lana Popham, announced the formation of an independent committee to lead a public engagement process and provide recommendations to the provincial government around this important topic. The Advisory Committee will consider best approaches to revitalizing the ALR and the ALC. You are encouraged to complete AGRI's online survey. Survey ends April 30 2018  

Click Here to Take the survey!

 

 

 

Full Image

 

 

 

MAGAZINES

MEDIA PARTNER MAGAZINES

Horse Council BC is partnered with 2 of Canada's top horse magazines for the 2018 season. This means that we are able to offer all HCBC Members a discount to annual subscriptions to each of these great publications.

To purchase a discounted subscription, please log in to our online membership portal and click "Add Magazine Subscriptions to Existing Horse Council BC Membership".

Click on the monthly magazines right here in the e-news to go straight to these publication's websites and check out their great content each month!
yd2 yd2
MONTHLY COLUMNS
yd2

INVASIVE SPECIES OF THE MONTH

The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus or Rana catesbeiana) 

For March, we’re taking a break from reporting on invasive flora to highlight invasive fauna. Many of you with ponds on your property may already be familiar with the American Bullfrog. You may even have seen one devouring the ducklings in your pond; not a very pleasant sight. Adult Bullfrogs are highly predatory, consuming in addition to the conventional frog fare of insects and other small invertebrates, birds, small mammals, snakes, and other frogs (including smaller Bullfrogs). The frogs were brought to B.C. by would-be frog farmers in the 1930s and 40s, and have spread under their own power or with more human assistance since then.
The American bullfrog has a large robust body that can reach 20 centimeters in length. They are green or brown in colour and have yellow or pale cream to white throats. American bullfrogs displace native frogs in habitats they invade by out competing and depleting the food sources of native frogs. Their colonization of lakes is followed by decline in the native red-legged frog and pacific chorus frog populations.

Bullfrog populations have become established in B.C. in the Lower Mainland, Lasqueti Island, and Vancouver Island as far north as Campbell River. They have also been reported in the South Okanagan.
If you notice new Bullfrog colonies, let B.C. Frogwatch know at bcfrogwatch@victoria1.gov.bc.ca

Source: Invasive Species Council of BC; BC Frogwatch

 

 

 

yd2

TRAIL OF THE MONTH

Kakwa Provincial Park and Protected Area

Kakwa Provincial Park and Protected Area is located 70km north of McBride in Northern BC; Prince George is another nearby town. The Park and PA is a remote wilderness area located on the British Columbia-Alberta border. The park showcases iceclad  mountains, extensive alpine meadows, and a section of the Continental Divide. Its main physical features include Mount Sir Alexander (3270 m), Mount Ida (3189 m) and Kakwa Lake.

Permission from BC Parks is required to travel this park with horses.
“Kakwa” is the Cree word for porcupine, and these animals abound in the park. Care must be taken with preventing them from accessing the undersides of vehicles, boots, gear or just about anything, because they will chew it. It’s a good idea to wrap the base of the vehicles you’re leaving at the trailhead in chicken wire to keep kakwas away from your brake lines.

There are two areas at the south end of Kakwa Lake that have been designated for camping: one is for hiker traffic (West side of Wapumun Creek) and the other is for horse traffic (East side of Wapumum Creek). These sites each have a pit toilet and fire circle, horse users are requested to cross Wapumun Creek at one specially marked location only: at the blue bamboo poles near the north end of the creek where it flows into Kakwa Lake. The creek is a crucial spawning creek for the Rainbow trout that inhabit Kakwa Lake, and horses crossing along the creek would damage the spawning beds. Horse users please avoid this area with your horses as this area is a source of drinking water for park visitors. The park is a user maintained park, so pack out whatever you have packed into the park. Please cooperate and help to keep the park pristine for future visitors.
 
Kakwa is stunning, but a true wilderness area, so come prepared and properly equipped. You will not be able to haul a trailer right to the horse camp site and will have to pack in everything you need along the Walker Creek FSR, about 30 km. Once you’re there, do not let horses swim in the lake in front of the cabin as this area is a source of drinking water for park visitors.

For more information and important visitors notices visit the BC Parks website here: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kakwa

 

 

 

yd2

PONY TAILS KIDS CLUB

Hi! It’s me Alice the Pony,

The people at HCBC told me that we have lots of new members in my Pony Tails Club, so I thought I should re-introduce myself. My name is “Alice the Pony” and I am a Pony. A Pony is smaller than a horse, but much smarter. My humans call me “Alice” or “Pony” and usually I answer to both. But as I am a very special Pony, I don’t always answer right away. I am retired now, but I used to teach my human child how to ride. I spent a lot of time teaching her to fall off, just so she could learn to stay on better. I like to write to my Pony Tails Kids Club members and tell them about things my friends and I do, as well as give tips on how to take good care of Ponies plus lots of other fun things. Spring is just around the corner and I know a lot of you have Spring Break coming up, the days are getting longer so we can all spend more time outside! Why not find a Spring Break Pony Camp in your area, and play with some ponies! I’d love to see pictures if you do!
email me at ponytails.alice@hcbc.ca

Do you know a horse crazy kid ?
Join Alice the Pony’s FREE Pony Tails Kids Club today!

 

 

 

yd2

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Backroad Mapbook

Regional Cities/Parks: Cache Creek, Clearwater, Grand Forks, Kamloops, Kelowna, McBride, Merritt, Penticton, Princeton, Salmon Arm, Savona, Valemount, Vernon

Other areas available: Northern BC, Vancouver Island, Vancouver Coast an Mountains, Kootenay and Rockies, Cariboo and Chicotin Coast

 

 

 

2018 HCBC Official Partners
Full Image
Horse Council BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
yd2 yd2