Among domestic animals, horses are some of the most naturally wide-ranging. They evolved as nomadic grazers, adapted to constant movement across varied landscapes and climates. Their instinctive response to any potential threat is still flight. Although domestication has shaped them to fit human needs, their fundamental nature remains largely unchanged.

In an industry as diverse and mobile as Canada’s equine sector, accurate identification and traceability are more important than ever. The Canadian Horse Identification Program (CHIP) was created to meet that need, offering a voluntary, national equine identification and traceability system designed specifically for Canada’s horses — and the people who care for them.

About 1,500 horses run free on the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains north of Highway 1, which bisects Calgary, and south of Highway 16, which splits Edmonton. Their presence is controversial.

Wildfire smoke is a recurring reality for Canadian horse owners, and it’s likely increasing the prevalence of respiratory disease in horses across the country. Researchers have found that wildfire smoke produces measurable impacts to horses’ respiratory systems — including reduced aerobic capacity and lung function — even after air quality improves.

Soft tissue and skeletal injuries are of significant concern in sport horses. Fortunately, veterinary knowledge and technology are rapidly advancing to quickly and accurately diagnose and treat such issues. Medical imaging technologies have become powerful diagnostic tools. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the modalities are often successfully used in combination with one another to accurately facilitate diagnosis and direct appropriate treatment.

Planning ahead for your horse’s emergency and end-of-life care is one of the most responsible and compassionate steps you can take as an owner. Creating a written directive ensures your wishes are clear, your horse’s needs are met, and your barn manager and veterinarian have the guidance they need during critical moments. From recording basic details and veterinary contacts to outlining financial limits, euthanasia authority, and aftercare preferences, this document provides peace of mind and helps prevent confusion during stressful times.

Some lives are best measured not in years, but by the legacy still being created. The story of the Canadian Horse is inseparable from the people who refused to let the breed be forgotten. Among the guardians of this living legacy is Dantan W. Wilson, a man whose life has been devoted to ensuring the breed’s survival and preserving its true spirit.

“I’m not really a goal-setting type of person. I just want to ride and enjoy my horse. Goals make it stressful. There’s no point — so much is out of my control.” Sound familiar? Many equestrians quietly sidestep real goal setting, telling themselves that goal setting doesn’t work for them. This avoidance often comes from unconscious thinking errors such as fear of failure, perfectionism, or not believing that you have any real control over your results.

The colder months require careful consideration of seemingly simple tasks, such as providing your horse with fresh, clean water. Fortunately, horses, humans, and livestock have shared many Canadian winters together, and there are several options for winter watering.