Notes from the Prez - October 2010

Read on for the latest update from Manitoba Horse Council President, Geri Sweet.

News from the Prez

October 2010

I have just come back from an Equine Canada Board Meeting.  The primary focus of the meeting was to continue work on the Equine Traceability Programme.  The Federal Government has embarked on a programme to be able to trace any livestock, cattle, sheep and pigs are well on the way to completion. Our job in the Provinces is to convince our members and the majority of private horse owner that it is in their best interests to have their horses IDed.  Anyone who has an EC passport is already on the radar, as are race horses, breed registered etc.  The question is why? The most compelling argument for the general owner is for security purposes.  Presently it is very difficult to trace stolen horses or pinpoint the area affected by any disease.  With ID and location, this would be much easier.  If owners have a problem with EC being the agency, would they prefer Ag Canada?  The bottom line is: the Canadian Government wants all horses to have an ID, so it will become Federal Law. Surely it is better facilitated through a group that has knowledge of the particular animal group.

The other issue that took up a great deal of the meeting was the concern about the 6 non participating provinces. There was considerable discussion about how to approach them and there were a number of suggestions.  In the meantime the major issue is the coaching programme as it falls under Education and therefore is a Provincial mandate.  As a result this cannot be facilitated by EC directly.  The suggestion was made to see if other provincial organizations could facilitate.  For example Olds College in Alberta has an Equine Science discipline; perhaps they could organize the programme and some thing similar at U Saskatchewan.  Subsequently it is noted that Olds actually includes the EC coaching certification in one of its courses, so perhaps the same is the case in other provinces.  To be continued.

There is some discussion about reorganizing the board of EC to make it function more efficiently.  Stay tuned for more in the future.

Geri Sweet
President
Manitoba Horse Council