Alberta Horse Trials Association

***March 30, 2020 – Covid-19 Update – All Equestrian Canada sanctioned competitions are suspended until June 1, 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.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/katharine-morel-amp-kerry-on-eventing-safety-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

The AHTA is working on what we can to help improve and support safety at a provincial level. But consider donating to this fund that will support cross country safety and frangible devices for all of Canada!

As many of you are aware, on Saturday, February 29, 2020, the eventing community lost one of its most promising teams. Katharine Morel (or Kat as she was known to those close to her) was a fierce competitor, full of a determination and drive to succeed that many of us can only dream to possess. But she wasn’t just an eventer. She was a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and truly one of the most kind and caring people anyone could ever meet. She loved without bounds, and was a shining light in any room she entered, with an infectious laugh that could brighten anyone’s day. The world is a darker place without her in it.

Kat met Kerry five years ago at the racetrack. While she only got to see her in the stall for a brief meeting, she knew she had to take a chance on that beautiful mare. What transpired over the next five years was nothing short of extraordinary. Kat and Kerry became an unstoppable team, climbing quickly through the levels of eventing in both Canada and the United States, and forging an unbreakable bond. They faced a lot of challenges but they worked through them together and grew to become an inspiration for many in Alberta and across the country.

On Saturday, February 29, Kat and Kerry left the start box like any other day, just as many of us do on a regular basis. They never expected that they wouldn’t be coming home. Fence #8 on the Intermediate course at Rocking Horse claimed both of their lives.

This never should have happened. They were strong. They were prepared. They were ready. But one missed step at one moment in time was all that it took and now Kat and Kerry are never going to ride the fields of another cross country course together.

The worst part is, there is technology that has been invented to prevent exactly this occurrence. But it is not in use at all facilities or all events due to the cost of purchasing, installing and continuing to use this technology. Together, we can change that. The price of these items should never cost another horse or rider their life simply for doing something they love.

Our goal with this fund is to provide funding to all event venues across Canada that wish to upgrade any of their jumps at the preliminary level and beyond to include frangible or MIM technology. Equestrian Canada and the individual provincial organizations already cover some of these costs but it’s not nearly enough. Equestrian Canada provides $300 a year to each venue. These systems can cost up to $2500 each to install. We want to fill in that gap. But we can’t do it alone.

Through this fund, individual eventing venues throughout Canada that host at least one EC sanctioned event each year will be able to submit a proposal for the fences they wish to upgrade, and request that we cover the associated cost. All frangible or MIM devices must be installed by a certified EC course builder or designer, or an individual who has received training directly from the manufacturer on their proper use and installation.

Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can save a life. It may be too late for Kat and Kerry but if the tragic loss of their lives can lead to a change for the better in Canada, then maybe we can find a little light in this darkness. Please help us while we try to #KerryOnForKat.

A message from Scott Linklater, Kat’s husband and biggest supporter:
Thank you to everyone far and wide who has taken the time to send their support, condolences and love in this time of need. It has truly been a show of how many lives Kat has touched in one way or another and this brings comfort in more ways then I can put into words. She was a loving wife and my best friend, a relationship so special, having her in my life has truly been a dream come true. Her love and care for Kerry and their journey together was a beautiful thing to be a part of. I had always told Kat that she was going to make a name for herself in this sport and I am so proud of her accomplishments.
In Katharine and Kerry’s honour, I would like their lives to be remembered by making waves in the improvement of safety to riders and horses in the eventing world, but I can’t do it alone. Please help me in raising the funds needed to make the changes possible. Anything helps!
Please donate to the GoFundMe link below and SHARE it far and wide.
Many thanks
Scott Linklater

Hello everyone,

The Alberta Horse Trials Association has an advertising opportunity available for your business.

We print a handbook every year that contains pertinent information for the upcoming year, such as omnibus pages, dressage tests, and rule changes. It is a valuable tool to new and seasoned riders alike, especially since the Equestrian Canada omnibus has stopped printing. I know I pull mine out dozens of times a year.

This year is extra special as the handbook is getting a total revamp for 2020 and all the pages will be printed in color! Additionally, we are planning on having them printed earlier so that means more exposure and advertising bang for your buck!

The Alberta Horse Trials Association (AHTA) is a provincial not for profit equestrian organization promoting the Olympic sport of Three Day Eventing in Alberta. Often dubbed the triathalon of the equestrian world, Eventing combines the three disciplines of dressage, cross country, and show jumping. The competition takes place over a duration of 2 or 3 days, depending on the venue. Venues are located all over Alberta, as far north as Grande Prairie, and as far south as Cochrane. The sport of Three Day Eventing is a true test of skills and bravery, and is an extremely spectator friendly sport. Spectators across the province enjoy cheering on their favorite horse and rider combinations, and can easily get involved in volunteering.

Our association promotes development of the sport for riders of all ages and skill, from the grassroots to the international level. We host and support educational events, clinics with world class clinicians, national level competitions, and athlete development programs across the province. This year marks the thirteenth year that we proudly boast a High Performance program and team, which aims at identifying and supporting talent to the top levels of the sport. 

The AHTA produces a convenient yearly handbook, containing pertinent information in regards to competition, dressage tests, and rules. It also showcases highlights of our membership, as well as information as to how riders from other disciplines can get started in this sport. This popular handbook is distributed to barns, equestrian stores, clubs, mane event expo, clinics and competitions across Alberta, and is provided free of charge.

We are currently seeking businesses interested in promoting their brand in our publication. Your logo or advertisement can be included in color print. There will be a minimum of 500 copies printed and they will be distributed throughout Alberta at events, clinics, barns, tack shops, and more! The handbook is approximately 4.25” by 5.5” in size. Here are the options available: 

Colored Ad:    

Full page: $450.00

Half page: $400.00

Quarter page: $250.00

Advertisments must be submitted by Friday, January 17, 2020. 

Please contact Tanja Minder at ahtacompetitions@gmail.com for more information, or if you would like to submit an advertisement to us. 

The Alberta Horse Trials Association would like to congratulate everyone who received a year end award at our annual Awards Banquet on November 9th, 2019. Thanks to all riders, family, and friends who attended!

And thank you to all of our generous sponsors!

We would also like to thank everyone who donated or bid on items at our silent auction. It was a success and we raised $4280 that will go directly towards clinics in 2020!

Preliminary Upgrading Awards – Melanie McJannet, Brooklyn Green, Heather David, Lauryn Hemmerling

Old Timer Award Margo Gaglione

Coach of the Year – Amy West

Top Rider of the Year – Leah Breakey

Outstanding Young Contributor (Sponsored by Haut Construction Ltd.) – Brecklyn Clement

Thoroughbred of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Association) – King’s Landing, owned and ridden by Samantha Pritchard

Canadian Sport Horse of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Sport Horse Association) – Wellington Romance, owned and ridden by Laurie Powell

Canadian Warmblood of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeder’s Association, Alberta Chapter) – Master Class, owned and ridden by Leah Breakey

Eventing Horse of the Year (Sponsored by Red Deer Greenhawk) – Phoenix, owned and ridden by Erin Myles Luff

High Point Leaderboard Division Winners

Open Starter
1st Brittney Nelson, Babydoll
2nd Greyson Hubl, Trevor
3rd Tessa Vatanen, Dusty

Regular Pre-Entry
1st Rebecca Taylor, PTF Phireworxs
2nd Amelia Elash, No Jack
3rd Sophie Pye, Acadia

Open Pre-Entry
1st Margo Gaglione, Curtain Call
2nd Amy West, Sneaky But Slow
3rd Kaylee Stegmaier, Fiona

Regular Entry
1st Annette Case, Macintosh
2nd Alexa Hubl, Whiskey Whisper
3rd Morgan Hellekson, Final Coat

Open Entry
1st Morven Smith, Classic Ky
2nd Coutney Benton, Samba
3rd Laura Hornung, Majors Mito Azure

Regular Pre-Training
1st Erin Luff, Phoenix
2nd Pernille Rydberg, Noergaards Laval
3rd Reese Macpherson, Shotgun Express

Open Pre-Training
1st Derek Jackson, Cosmic
2nd Christine Alward, Top Gun
3rd Samantha Pritchard, Isabella

Regular Training
1st Jesse Gaudry, Slick Nickle
2nd Mackenzie Hoffman, Heatchcliff
3rd Jesse Gaudry, Johnny Rambo

Open Training
1st Kayla Bushell, Redemption
2nd Sara Zerr, WH Cansas
3rd Krysta Goodkey, Presence Of Mine

Open Preliminary
1st Isabel Light, Martini
2nd Melanie McJannet, Corona Classic
3rd Sandra Donnelly, Belshazzar

CCI2* Long & Short
1st Kathleen Weare, Sadenno
2nd Mikayla Hoffman, Eli
3rd Jada Graham, Cilano

CCI3* Long & Short/Intermediate
1st Leah Breakey, Master Class
2nd Shelby Brost, Crimson
3rd Samantha Pritchard, King’s Landing

CCI4* Long & Short/Advanced
1st Leah Breakey, Master Class
2nd Samantha Pritchard, King’s Landing
3rd Shelby Brost, Crimson

Click Here for 2019 Extreme Tack Team Challenge Results

The October 5th and 6th weekend couldn’t have been more perfect weather wise for the AHTA Leahona Rowland and Shandiss McDonald Eventing Clinic! The warm sun shone down on 38 riders of all levels from brand new to eventing, to advanced, as they rode in dressage, show jumping and cross country lessons over the weekend.

Thanks to the Alberta Equestrian Federation’s generous support, we were able to have clinician Shandiss McDonald come to share her knowledge with 20 horse and rider combinations that were “New To Eventing!”

Shandiss grew up eventing in Surrey, British Columbia, and since then, has had the opportunity to compete all over Canada, United States and Europe. In 2012 for the London Olympics, Shandiss and her horse Rockfield Grant Juan were chosen to be the traveling reserve for the Canadian Eventing Team, along with finishing 16th at Rolex Kentucky CCI4* and completing Pau CCI4* in 2013. She also had the opportunity to compete and train in Europe from 2013 to 2015, and insists that experience was invaluable to her equestrian education. Shandiss now teaches and trains out of a beautiful facility in Mono, Ontario and has a talented string of competition horses and a passionate group of students she is helping to move up the levels.

Shandiss’ experience and wealth of knowledge allowed her to provide a fun, progressive and confidence building experience for those 20 riders who were “New To Eventing” over the weekend. She focused on good basics, simple exercises, and tailored her instruction to what each horse and rider individually needed. Every rider came away having tons of fun, learning a lot, and having their confidence grow in all three phases without feeling pressured or overwhelmed. We are absolutely looking forward to having her back for another clinic like this in 2020!

Leahona Rowland also taught 18 more experienced eventing riders, from the Alberta High Performance Team and Alberta Horse Trials Association. She has been the Alberta High Performance Coach and Consultant for the past 3 years.

Leahona, at the age of 8, started riding and eventing in Kelowna, British Columbia. She brought her mare Upolu up to the Intermediate/CCI2*-L level, before moving to California where she became a working student for Yves Sauvignon. She moved on to be a working student for Penny Rowland, competing at the CCI3*-L level, after that working for Peter Gray and at just 18 years old completed her first Advanced horse trials. Leahona then sold her upper level mare Upolu to a Young Rider whom she coached on to win individual gold at the NAYC in the CCI2-L and CCI3-L. She then went on to bring several horses up tp the Advanced level in the US and well as the UK. Leahona spent 8 years working, coaching and training in the UK, and was William Fox-Pitt’s head rider in 2007 and 2008. She also gained a wealth of knowledge working and riding in the UK for Mark and Sandy Phillips, Tiny Clapham and Nigel Taylor, and in the US for David O’Connor, Scott Keach and Beth Underhill.

Leahona’s 18 riders had a great last cross country outing of the season to end on a good note. Some were more experienced combinations introducing some new exercises and challenges as they plan to move up the levels in 2020, and others focused on the basics and solidifying what they had learned this season and needed to work on, focusing more on the growing partnership for the future.

We are so incredibly fortunate to have clinicians of this caliber come to Alberta, and are very thankful to the Alberta Equestrian Federation for their support in making this happen, and we hope to collaborate on more of these opportunities in the future!

If you aren’t a member yet, the Alberta Equestrian Federation provides many opportunities and benefits for all of their members. From clinics and shows, insurance and coverage, to programs for the recreational rider, AEF has all your bases covered!

The 2019 AHTA Young Prospects Program Evaluation has had another successful year!

On Thursday, August 15th we convened at Alhambra Stables here in Red Deer to hold our 4th AHTA Young Prospects Program Evaluation. We spent the day looking at beautiful young  horses and exposing those youngsters to the horse show atmosphere leading into the Devoucoux Alhambra Summer Event.

The Organizing Committee of the 2019 Bromont Horse Trials is pleased to announce the inaugural “Bromont Rising” Program, which will provide C$3,000 to each of up to ten United States and Canadian riders under the age of 25 to compete at the June 2019 CCI Three Day Event at Bromont, Quebec. In addition to the financial grant, the Program will consist of two days of mounted and unmounted instructional components prior to the start of the event, and coaching (as requested) during the event. These components will be taught by leading coaches, course designers, riders, owners and support staff. The Program will include seminars on horse selection, conformation, syndication, business skills, stable management and event preparation.

“This has long been a dream of mine, and I am delighted to have it come to fruition with the help of the 2019 Organizing Committee and our title sponsor Mars Incorporated,” said Sue Ockendon, who has run Bromont since its inaugural season as the equestrian venue for the 1976 Olympics. “It is so important that we recognize and provide support to our younger riders who will be the future of the sport,” she continued. “I am hopeful that this program will flourish and extend to other venues” said Ms. Ockendon.

The grant money, which will be awarded in a lump sum to each recipient, is intended to allow young North American riders to pay for transportation, entries, lodging and food during the FEI event that will run from June 5 to June 9, 2019. Program participants will arrive Monday (June 3) for the training camp that will precede the first horse inspection.

The application form for the Bromont Rising Program will be available on the Bromont website by April 1. Selection criteria will be published and, according to Ms. Ockendon, will focus primarily on talent and determination: “We are trying to give a leg up to the riders who have committed to making this sport their livelihood, and who need help in achieving that goal,” she said. Participants in the Program can compete in any division that is offered at Bromont.

Bromont’s June Three Day Event, which offers CCI*, CIC*, CCI 2* and CCI 3* divisions, is widely recognized as one of North America’s premier FEI events, and draws competitors from throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. Known for its rolling hills, open terrain, established footing and world-class courses, Bromont always attracts the upper-level, high performance riders. “With this Program,” said Sue Ockendon, “we are aiming to provide an opportunity to riders who are not currently part of any grant or training program to come to Bromont and compete with the ‘big guns.’” Bromont promises to have an exciting line-up of coaches and lecturers for Program participants. Eventing Nation will report on details of this new program as they are released.

Keep an eye on the Bromont Website for the Application Form available by April 1st! https://bromonthorsetrials.com/en/

2019 Handbook Advertising Opportunity

The Alberta Horse Trials Association (AHTA) is a provincial not for profit equestrian organization promoting the olympic sport of three day eventing in Alberta. Often dubbed the triathalon of the equestrian world, eventing combines the three disciplines of dressage, cross country, and show jumping. The competition takes place over a duration of 2 or 3 days, depending on the venue.Venues are located as far north as Grande Prairie, and as far south as Cochrane. The sport of three day eventing is a true test of skills and bravery, and is an extremely spectator friendly sport. Spectators across the province enjoy cheering on their favorite horse and rider combinations, and can easily get involved in volunteering.

Our association promotes development of the sport for riders of all ages and skill, from the grassroots to the international level. We host and support educational events, clinics with world class clinicians, national level competitions, and athlete development programs across the province. This year marks the twelfth year that we proudly boast the only High Performance Program and Team in Canada, which aims at identifying and supporting talent to the top levels of the sport.

The AHTA produces a printed, hard copy, convenient yearly handbook, containing pertinent information in regards to competition, dressage tests, and rules. It also showcases highlights of our membership, as well as information as to how riders from other disciplines can get started in this sport. This popular handbook is distributed to barns, equestrian stores, clubs, Mane Event Expo, and competitions across Alberta, and is provided free of charge. It is also displayed on our website and widely shared and distributed online.

View the online version of our 2018 AHTA Handbook.

We are currently seeking businesses interested in promoting their brand in our publication. Your logo or advert can be included in color print or in black and white.

There will be a minimum of 500 copies printed. The handbook is approximately 4.25” by 5.5” in size. Please take a look at the options available:

Colored Ad:

Full page: $450.00
Half page: $400.00
Quarter page: $250.00

Black and White Ad:

Full page: $400.00
Half page: $350.00
Quarter page: $200.00

Advertisements must be submitted by Friday, March 8, 2019.

Please contact Tanja Minder at ahtacompetitions@gmail.com for more information, or if you would like to submit an advertisement to us.

Thank you for your time,

Tanja Minder
AHTA Competitions Chair

Go Eventing!