The last three wildfire seasons have been among the 10 worst on record. 2023 marked the worst fire season in Canadian history, with fires consuming 16.5 million hectares—more than double the previous record and nearly seven times the historical average. Alberta had earlier-than-normal fires, flames threatened Nova Scotian communities, wildfires in eastern Canada produced smoke that stalled North America’s eastern seaboard, 65 percent of the population of the Northwest Territories was forced to evacuate, plus massive British Columbia wildfires burnt homes and displaced people. Smoke was ubiquitous, affecting horse and human health.

Borys’s job was to become great. Trainers worked hard to shape his potential into performance. He was put through many years of schooling. Different riders tried their hand and methods. His tack was adjusted. Feeding, schedules, and supplements were optimized. The problem wasn’t effort; it was that Borys didn’t cooperate.

Horses are highly social animals that form close bonds with other members of their group. Because of this, it is reasonable to expect that the loss of a companion may affect their behaviour and emotional well-being. However, until recently, there has been surprisingly little scientific research into how horses respond to the death of another horse. A study led by Claire Ricci-Bonot and Daniel Mills at the University of Lincoln, with MSc student Emily Wilson, alongside Stefania Uccheddu of the San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Padua, Italy, aimed to address this gap.

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.