With spring approaching, horse owners are eager to get back in the saddle! However, as winter transitions to spring — or during any time of year with wet and muddy conditions — hoof health can be challenged, as these environments create the ideal conditions for thrush to develop.

Calgarian Karen Allen began volunteering at Bear Valley Rescue in Sundre, Alberta, a decade ago, to heal after her horse Mac, a 34-year-old Connemara, passed away. “It was healing to be with like-minded people who understood that the beauty, majesty, and true value of a horse was so much greater than the sum of what they could help us accomplish,” Allen says.

Have you ever noticed how your horse’s behaviour can change unexpectedly — becoming tense, spooky, or disengaged? What if these signs were a deeper message? Instead of seeing them as setbacks, these behaviours could be an opportunity to strengthen the trust and connection between you and your horse.

For thousands of years, the horse has been our trusted companion, serving as a worker, athlete, and partner in everything from agriculture to competition. Whether they’re a trail riding companion, school horse, ranch worker, or elite competitor, one thing remains constant—the need for proper hoof care. Without it, a horse’s soundness, performance, and well-being are at risk.

Spruce Meadows has shone a bright light on show jumping in Canada and lifted Canadian riders to the upper echelons of the sport. The best show jumpers of the last 50 years have competed at Spruce Meadows, allowing up-and-coming Canadians to watch and ride with the best.