Alberta Horse Trials Association

The AHTA has finally received the Guidance documents from AHS which outline the procedures and requirements to apply for an exemption to run equestrian events! This is very exciting news for us.

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/15b5d30a-97c2-45a7-85d6-a47cb00703c0/resource/7fb6217a-ae5e-47ef-8225-8eea6d4072d6/download/covid-19-guidance-equestrian-events-2021-05.pdf

The AHTA has been hard at work over the winter and has implemented some new policies focused around our number one priority according to our membership – Safety!

Our new AHTA Medical Services Policy was put in place to educate and assist our organizers in obtaining higher quality ambulance services. The AHTA is offering financial assistance to event sites that are able to meet these high quality requirements.

It has also become clear to us that most of our members were not aware of the proper channels to go through if a complaint or concerning situation arose, or if an appeal needed to be made. We have put together the AHTA Complaint or Appeal Procedure document to help our members better navigate any situations that arise. The AHTA Witness Statement form we’ve created is another helpful document that can be utilized to help in certain situations.

Finally, we have taken the guidelines from Equestrian Canada’s Code Of Ethics and created our own AHTA Substance Use Policy based on the national code. We hope this guides our members more clearly in what behaviors are appropriate for our sport.

We would like to thank the AHTA board of directors for their hard work on these new policies!

AHTA Online Education – all previous webinars are available to rewatch on Youtube!

Other Online Seminars Available To Rewatch

Equestrian Canada Coaching Information Session – Registered vs Licensed and more! with Helen Richardson & Kendal Lehari, presented by the Ontario Eventing Association
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhAOA5-ap8s

So You Want To Do An FEI Event with Kendal Lehari, presented by the Ontario Eventing Association
https://youtu.be/KBTg27n8ino

Baby on Board: Nutrition for the Broodmare with Delaney Veterinary Services
https://youtu.be/7Y6V9FuW8as

Professional Eventers Panel, Discussion of Training and Fitness Programs Used by Experts by KER Equine
https://ker.com/equinews/professional-eventers-panel-recording/

Foaling The Mare with Sussex Equine Hospital
https://www.sussexequinehospital.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Foaling-the-mare-bundle-2.pdf

Building Your Horse’s Strength Through Groundwork
https://youtu.be/nk_TYGqvHyQ

Equine First Aid, Preparing For An Emergency
https://youtu.be/KjqM93HG00M

Eventing Horse Nutrition by KER Equine
https://ker.com/equinews/eventing-horse-nutrition-webinar/

Ask An Equine Surgeon with Ollie Crow, Specialist in Equine Surgery
https://youtu.be/UrHenbGgyps

Lunchtime Learning Series – Dr Kathryn Surasky – Equine Rehabilitation
https://vimeo.com/517219421

Lunchtime Learning Series – Dr Kate Robinson – Equine Nutrition
https://vimeo.com/515490184

Lunchtime Learning Series – Dr Ali Miletic – Equine First Aid
https://vimeo.com/519972542

Lunchtime Learning Series – Dr Taylor Mahren – Introduction To Equine Lameness
https://vimeo.com/415956073

Fun With Worms! with Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic
https://fb.watch/3VhupCjcEE/

The Mental Side Of Eventing, Overcoming Your Fears, Frustration, Doubts & Mistakes with Daniel Stewart, presented by Ontario Eventing Association
https://youtu.be/7wZUIfkMjm8

How To Develop Your Yearly Competition & Recovery Plan with Ruth Allum, presented by Ontario Eventing Association
https://youtu.be/1NmCNoy_huI

Fitness Training for Eventers, A Role for HR Monitoring by KER Equine
https://ker.com/equinews/fitness-training-for-eventers-a-role-for-heart-rate-monitoring/

Preparing Your Horse For Competition with Mark Todd & Pippa Funnell
https://youtu.be/HKF-d-vN4O4

Equine Supplements by Purina Canada
https://fb.watch/3KvKuM0HpU/

We are excited to announce the addition of a third High Performance Team Tier. We have created an Under 18 (U18) Program for eventers ages 12-18 who have completed a minimum of 1 Pre-Training or higher. This program is designed to support a wide variety of riders. Whether you want to continue moving up the levels, make the High Performance Team someday, or have an interest in representing Alberta at the North American Youth Team Challenge, this program is for you!

Registration for the U18 Program is Open Now! Deadline is February 26, 2021.

More information and applications available at: http://albertahighperformance.com/index.php/about-us/

There are a lot of new changes to our Equestrian Canada eventing rules for 2021! To help make sure everyone is aware of these we have created a list of some of the most notable changes.

For a full summary and full rules please check out the links at the bottom.

Remember! It is the rider’s responsibility to know the rules,
it’s an important part of sportsmanship!

• French links now allowed. The centre link may be a flat link that lies in the same plane as the rest of the bit.
• For Cross Country, a throat lash is compulsory (A TD has confirmed micklems are still allowed).
• The whip is not to be used more than two times for any one incident (*was previously three). Also clarification added about excessive use of whip between fences, as well as visible whip marks always being excessive.
• Blood on Horses must be reviewed case by case by the Ground Jury. Not all cases of blood will lead to elimination and an Eventing Recorded Warning or Warning Red Card.
• For Cross Country – any addition to the cheekpiece is forbidden (sheepskin or additional material).
• For Show Jumping only – leather sheepskin or similar material may be used on cheek pieces of the bridle providing the sheepskin does not exceed three centimetres in diameter measured from the horse’s cheek.
• A Competitor, after having knocked down a flag at an obstacle as a consequence of a run out, may ask the Fence Judge for the flag to be repositioned, but no time will be deducted.
• At any time during the competition, the Ground Jury in consultation with the Veterinary Official has the right and duty to eliminate any Horse which, in their opinion, is lame or is unfit to continue.
• Any Competitor who leaves the event site after a fall without submitting to the examination required under this Article will automatically be issued an Eventing Recorded Warning for incorrect behaviour.
• Elimination from one of the tests entails elimination from the overall competition of the Competitor and/or Horse. The Competitor and/or Horse may not continue in the competition. Disqualification from one of the tests entails disqualification from the final classification. Disqualification means that a Competitor and the Horse(s) they are competing may not take further part in the competition.
• Modifications to the Eventing Recorded Warning/Warning Red Card System for 2021.

Summary of changes for 2021 (all changes in red): https://www.equestrian.ca/cdn/storage/resources_v2/CvA93CD2PHnZiK5pS/original/CvA93CD2PHnZiK5pS.pdf

Full updated 2021 rule book: https://www.equestrian.ca/cdn/storage/resources_v2/GJ4DgSewsftamDx3T/original/GJ4DgSewsftamDx3T.pdf

Dear AHTA Members,

I am excited and very inspired to serve you, our members, as the next President of the AHTA. I am passionate about eventing, and I look forward to making a meaningful contribution to our sport and to our association in 2021. The board will be meeting in January to set our strategic priorities and goals for next year, and we would like to invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with us in advance. Please take a couple of minutes to complete our annual survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JVTTDJR or alternatively I hope that you will feel free to reach out to me directly any time at ahtapresident@gmail.com

With the holidays nearly upon us and 2020 drawing to a close, I’d like for us to take this opportunity to reflect on and celebrate all that we have accomplished this past year – we invite you to share your favorite eventing/horse memory from 2020 so that we can feature you in an upcoming social media blast with happy 2020 horse memories!

Please drag and drop your photos into the google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dzDFDocDF1GHuPZoZIxjbhVqEkedP5TE?usp=sharing

On behalf of myself and the rest of the Board, we wish you all the best for the rest of 2020, and we are looking forward to whatever 2021 brings. We will remain committed to doing our best to offer any programs that we can next year, while still keeping the safety of our members our top priority during this pandemic.

Crissy

Cristin Embury
President
Alberta Horse Trials Association

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View this email in your browser 2020 AHTA AGM Information For 2020 we will be having our AGM online via Zoom Meeting. Listen in on director reports, participate in some great discussions and share your ideas on how to make eventing in Alberta even better at our Annual General Meeting! Also nominate and vote for any vacancies on the AHTA board of directors. An agenda will be posted as we get closer to the date. There will be a round table discussion where members can bring forward ideas and suggestions.AHTA Virtual AGM Via Zoom Meeting Saturday, November 14, 2020 1:30PMIf you plan to attend, please sign up online at: https://forms.gle/LjUzvdXzomCFsSuB7 and the zoom meeting link will be emailed to you. Any questions can be directed to Cristin Embury ahtaspecialevents@gmail.com The 2020 AGM Agenda will be posted on the AGM website page once it is available. 2019 AHTA AGM Minutes – 2019-AHTA-AGM-Minutes and Reports-Draft The Alberta Horse Trials Association is Looking for New Directors! If you love eventing and want to get more involved in the growth and development of our sport in Alberta then perhaps being a director is for you! It requires time and energy, a 2 year term commitment, but is also very fun and rewarding! An election will be held at our online AGM on November 14th, nominations will be accepted from the floor and then a vote will take place. If you are interested in becoming a board member or would like more information about what is involved, please message the AHTA Facebook Page, or you can also get in contact with any of the board members, contact information can be found here: http://albertahorsetrials.com/index.php/board-of-directors/ Organizer’s Forum Just a note that our virtual Organizer’s Forum via Zoom Meeting on Nov 15th will be restricted to event organizers and AHTA board members only. Anyone can attend our virtual AGM on November 14th and there will be time set aside in our agenda to voice any comments, ideas or suggestions and they will be taken forward for discussion at the Organizer’s Forum the following day. Any questions about this can be directed to our AHTA Competitions Chair Tanja Minder at ahtacompetitions@gmail.com High Performance Program 2021 The HP Program will continue to run in 2021. Leahona Rowland has signed on to continue in her role as the program Coach/Consultant.  She is one of only two certified High Performance 1 coaches in Canada and we are fortunate to have her. The program has 2 “teams” or levels.  The High Performance team consists of horse/rider combinations who have competed at the Prelim level and above.  The Development Team consists of horse/rider combinations who have 3 MER at the Training level. Riders must be in some sort of program with their own coach.  Leahona and guest clinicians will provide guidance/additional support through clinics. Training Plans are submitted to Leahona, bi-monthly. Registration packages will be available by November 1 on the High Performance web site (Albertahighperformance.com) or on the AHTA web site (Albertahorsetrials.com).  As 2020 had very few competitions, prospective members can use their competition MER (qualifying scores) from 2018, 2019 and 2020. If you have any questions, contact Kathleen Ziegler via email ahtahighperformance@gmail.com NEW! AHTA Event Evaluation Form Did you attend an event in 2020? The AHTA and our event organizers always welcome constructive criticism and feeback to help improve our events going forward! This form can be filled out anonymously and your responses will go to the AHTA board of directors, and will be shared with the event organizers as well. The Event Evaluation Form is now on our website under Events & Clinics – Competitions drop down, or can be filled out here: https://forms.gle/RhQK1h2nUjhQX5f97 Informative Links No, You’re Not Ready To Move Up – Heelsdown Mag Major League Eventing Podcast – Amazing Interviews You Won’t Want To Miss! Fall Classic Warmblood Sale – First Online Sale Smashes Records It is the right of every Equestrian Canada Sport Licence Holder to suggest changes to the rules, subject to the current policies, procedures and schedules. EC rule change suggestions are accepted from Jan. 1 through to May 31 of each year through the Rule Change Suggestions Portal. More information can be found here https://www.equestrian.ca/programs-services/rules   Have something you’d like to see shared in the newsletter? Ideas, suggestions, or just have something to say? We want to hear it! Email Jessica at ahtacommunications@gmail.com

We just wanted to let our members know that we have amended the bylaws to include electronic voting for our online AGM on November 14th.

Amended bylaws can be viewed at http://albertahorsetrials.com/index.php/bylaws-policies/ and will be voted on at the AGM.

Please contact president Nancy Watson with any questions or concerns at ahtapresident@gmail.com

List of Cancelled AHTA Clinics and Events – Updated June 10, 2020

For those clinics not yet on this list, the AHTA is currently working with AHS on a proposal to be able to run our clinics under current pandemic directives. We are cautiously optimistic and will keep our members updated.

Beaumont Clinic & Derby – May 16/17
Sandra Donnelly Cross Country Clinic – May 23/24
Mind’s Eye Horse Trials – May 30/31
Beaumont Horse Trials – June 6/7
Eventing 101 Clinic South – June 13
Eventing 101 Clinic Central – June 14
Eventing 101 Clinic North – June 20
James Alliston Clinic – June 20/21
Cochrane Horse Trials – June 27/28
Prentice Creek Horse Trials – July 10-12
Northwestequest Horse Trials – July 18/19
Matt Brown Clinic – TBD. Postponed until further notice.
Buster Creek Horse Trials – August 7-9
South Peace Horse Trials – Sept 5/6
Equestrian Canada Eventing Talent Development Clinic with David O’Connor – September 11-13 – Postponed until 2021

Please check back as this page will be updated regularly.

May 1, 2020 – Covid-19 Update – All Equestrian Canada sanctioned competitions are suspended until June 30, 2020. For competitions that do run, there will be no accumulation of points, scores, qualification or rankings towards any EC awards program or team selection, and there will be no posting of results starting March 16, 2020. EC will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic and assess the need for further extensions to the suspension timeline.