Millen, Tania Articles

Understanding horse auctions, what to look for at horse auctions, best practices for horse buyers at auction, how to maximize sale at horse auction, things to consider when buying at horse auction

Horses sold at Canadian auctions range from high-end racehorses to weanlings of unknown origins. There are auctions for specific breeds or levels of performance, and those that are open to anyone who has a horse to sell. There are online auctions, in-person auctions, and a combination of both. Canadian horse auctions cater to every budget, too.

Ron Southern of Spruce Meadows, Margaret Southern of Spruce Meadows, show jumping in Canada, history of Spruce Meadows, legacy of Spruce Meadows, history of equi-fair, show jumping Spruce Meadows

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.

climate change horse industry, prepare horse farm for climate change, heat dome horses, rescuing horses disaster, hay shortages, colic horses

Climate change is increasingly affecting horses, horse properties, and their owners across Canada. In recent surveys, nearly 90 percent of Canadians reported noticing the impacts of climate change in their communities. Horses are facing rising health risks, including respiratory diseases from wildfire smoke and dust, skin conditions and hoof damage caused by unpredictable weather, and new parasites and diseases. Horse owners are also dealing with higher hay costs, unexpected veterinary expenses, and challenges related to weather disruptions, such as riding limitations. Meanwhile, owners of horse properties are working to repair damage from severe storms, flooding, droughts, and high winds.

Equine education in Canada, Where can I study equine education in Canada? Equine studies BC, Equine studies Alberta, Equine studies Saskatchewan, Equine studies Manitoba, Equine studies Ontario, Equine studies Quebec, Equine studies New Brunswick, Equine studies Prince Edward Island, Equine studies Newfoundland, Equine studies Nova Scotia, horse education in Canada

Are you keen to learn more about horses, riding, and their management? It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager, young adult, or knocking on retirement’s door, there’s an equine program for you. Across Canada, there are high schools, colleges and universities that offer horse-related programs and courses, plus there are online courses, too

family farms, how to run a family farm, horse farms, how to manage farm and family life, canadian farms, horse farms canada, managing farm and children, tania millen

Running a family farm or ranch can be both demanding and rewarding. For these three Canadian families, the challenges of farm life are balanced by the many benefits of working together as a family.

alternative treatments horse, laws for farriers canada, laws for equine massage, equine chiropractors, horse veterinary associations, injuries horses, horse castration

In Canada, professionals who offer equine massage, equine chiropractic, farriery, and equine homeopathy who are not veterinarians may unintentionally be practicing veterinary medicine, which could be against provincial laws. There is a lack of oversight due to few regulations governing the training, certification, and qualifications of these types of service providers. Moreover, provincial veterinary associations typically only intervene when a complaint is filed by a horse owner. As a result, individuals can easily market themselves as qualified to offer these services, even without the necessary expertise, leaving vulnerable horse owners to "learn the hard way" when choosing a provider.

extreme horse sports in canada, archery on horseback, jousting on horseback, swordplay on horseback, Indian relay racing on horseback, shooting firearms on horseback

Equestrians worldwide are exploring innovative ways to enjoy their horses, and Canada is no exception. So, if you want to rev up your riding or support a new sport, consider shooting arrows, slashing swords, swinging lances, blasting guns, training fancy footwork, or galloping through the snow.

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In October 1873, after Canada’s Prime Minister John A. Macdonald approved the formation of a North West Mounted Police (NWMP) force, adverts like this one in the Halifax Chronicle appeared in newspapers across what is now Eastern Canada. They encouraged recruits to sign on to what Tony Rees writes would become “one of the greatest chapters in Canada’s national mythology; as rich in absurdity as glory, every bit as foolhardy and reckless as it was colourful and proud.”

equine fitness program, jec ballou, how to increase my horse's fitness, plan to keep my horse fit

Is your horse ready to meet the increased physical demands of the spring season? Along with additional riding time, it's essential your horse is fit enough to hit the trails, compete, jump, or focus on endurance or dressage.

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Cowboys are icons of the North American Wild West, and the cowboy culture continues to dominate Canada’s Western provinces.

equine pre-purchase exam, lameness evaluation horses, lameness locator horses, equine veterinary diagnostic system, flexion testing horses

Keeping horses sound is one of the most difficult and important aspects of horse sport. Given that horses have an uncanny ability to injure themselves, at some point every rider or horse owner will need their veterinarian to conduct a lameness evaluation.

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In recent years, a growing number of facilities specializing in rehabilitation and fitness for injured horses have emerged in Western Canada. These centres cater to horses in need of recovery or improved fitness, offering a range of treatments tailored to individual needs. Services vary depending on the business, with options like treadmills, swimming pools, exercise equipment, saltwater baths, and solariums commonly available. Many centres also provide additional offerings such as bodywork, nebulizer treatments, and retail products.

horse's sheath clean a horse's penis, groom a horse grooming tania millen ecolicious sheath cleaner smeg-u-later, penis infection my horse has a sheath infection

A good grooming session is a lovely way to connect with your horse, and most horses appreciate the pampering. However, often avoided is the important task of cleaning the sheath of a male horse. Whether it's the fear of being kicked, uncertainty of how to do it properly, or simply feeling squeamish, many with geldings and stallions tend to avoid the chore. Despite the reluctance, veterinarians recommend regular cleaning and inspection of a horse's sheath as vital to the health of the male horse.

canter pirhouettes, cow horse stops, reining spin, footfalls reining, clix photography, tania millen, shawna sapergia, vern sapergia, cow horse turnaround, how to turn reining horse around, canter turns

Each equestrian discipline has its own specialized movements, requiring distinct training, balance and footwork. While some of these maneuvers may look similar, they serve unique purposes within their respective sports. For instance, in dressage, riders guide their horse’s front end around the hindquarters in elegant pirouettes; ranch riders execute quick 180-degree turns to track cattle; and reining horses perform fast, precise 360-degree spins. Although all involve turning, the reasons and techniques behind these movements are different. To understand their purpose, timing, and differences, we consulted a dressage rider, a ranch horseman, and a reining judge for insight.

bridle horse riding, tania millen, martin black horse trainer, spanish cowboys, stefanie travers horse trainer, straight up bridle, bosal two rein, roping

The horse will teach you if you listen - Spanish cowboys (vaqueros) who came to North America over 500 years ago left a lasting legacy — not only in words such as chaps (from chaparreras) and rodeo (rodear) which are engrained in today’s Western lifestyle — but in their riding and horse training skills, too. In the early 1500s when Spanish cows and horses were imported into what is now Mexico, cattle ranching and bridle horses were introduced to North America. Vaquero bridle horses were highly trained, handy stock horses that worked as partners out on the range and were in tune with their riders’ every aid. Making a bridle horse was and is a multi-year process whereby horses are started in a hackamore (bosal), then advanced through a two-rein bridle (small diameter hackamore beneath a spade bit bridle each with a set of reins) until they are ready to be ridden “straight up in the bridle” in a spade bit.

fort Walsh, Grasslands National Park, horse trail, trail riding, saskatchewan trail riding, prairie trail riding, horse camping

Horseback riding through the vast, sunlit prairies of Saskatchewan, with the possibility of encountering a herd of wild bison, was a long-held dream that drew me to this stunning part of Canada. However, it wasn’t until enduring a six-month-long snowy winter in Terrace, BC, that I finally turned this dream into a reality.

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The 21st Century Rider - Many Canadian riders are throwing their leg over horses well beyond the age when others are pursuing more sedentary activities. For example, about 19 percent of Alberta Equestrian Federation members were over the age of 56 from 2015 to 2018. In British Columbia, approximately 19 percent of active Horse Council BC members were over age 60 in 2018. Meanwhile, in Quebec last year, about 12 percent of Cheval Quebec members were age 60 and over. Nationally, approximately 22 percent of Equestrian Canada sport licence holders were older than 50 in 2018, and 10 percent were older than 60.

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It’s hard to believe that the Government of Canada would own a spectacular horse ranch adjacent to the Rocky Mountains, where trail riders are welcome to camp and ride. But it exists. Ya Ha Tinda Ranch — owned by Parks Canada and the only federally operated working horse ranch in the country — turned 100 years old in 2017.

injured horse, trick training horse, non-riding horse activities, teaching horse manners, jonathan field, how to handwalk a horse

Sooner or later, most horse owners have the unfortunate experience of dealing with an injured horse. It’s common sense to have a veterinarian assess what’s wrong as soon as your horse becomes injured, but a vet will also help create a rehabilitation plan, advise how long the recovery period will be, and provide post-recovery expectations.

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Satisfying the horse-specific needs of stallions is imperative for their mental and physical health. However, it can be challenging to provide living arrangements where stallions aren’t just surviving — but thriving. Kelly Brook Allen is one stallion owner who is adamant about her horse’s welfare. “He gets to live a normal life,” she says. Allen owns Canoa Farms in Merritt, British Columbia with her husband, Ron Stolp.

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