Atlantic Canada Trail Riding Association Newsletter Page ACTRA

Horse Groups Call on CFIA for Answers on EU Equine Food Safety Requirements

WESTBANK, BC, Aug. 25 /CNW/

Today, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) and Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) are asking the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to respond regarding a European Commission requirements letter dated 17 April, 2009 from Paola Testori Coggi, deputy director-general of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection.

The letter notified affected "third" countries of requirements for equines (horses, donkeys and cross-breds) intended for food production, including the identification of horses intended for food production, a system of identity verification, a prohibition on the use of anabolic steroids and other prohibited drugs, and a minimum 6-month withdrawal period for veterinary medicinal products. The letter stipulates immediate steps required to implement a food safety program for countries supplying horse meat to the European Union.

To date, the CHDC and the EWA have not received a response to their inquiry letter previously sent to Dr. Claude Boissonneault of the CFIA's Red Meat Species Program. Also, the CFIA has yet to make public the news of this pivotal mandate that affects the entire multi-billion dollar horse industry, including horse racing, performance show horses, breeders, rodeo, and all horse owners.

In addition, countries affected must have submitted an Action Plan by this date, yet there has been no indication this has been done. "It is incredible that the CFIA has yet to inform Canadians and Americans alike, about this far-reaching program that will impact the entire horse industry", says Sinikka Crosland of the CHDC. "There are thousands of horses going to slaughter every week in Canada, from both Canada and the U.S. There is presently no tracking or passport system for horses, and many are routinely given a wide range of performance enhancing drugs throughout their lives", added John Holland of EWA. "We see a huge potential for horse welfare concerns, as horses will be held for more than 6 months at transfer stations, without basic care provided and they will not be allowed to administer worming or pain medications to these horses", explained Ms. Crosland.

Due to the immediate obligations affecting the entire horse community, the CHDC, the EWA and their affiliates request that the CFIA respond without delay, and communicate to all horse groups and people affected. Citizens are urged to write to the CFIA, asking for details about this critically important program.

The CHDC is a collective of people and groups working to protect equines from slaughter for human consumption, as well as the export of live horses to other countries for the same purpose.

The EWA is an umbrella organization representing equine welfare organizations, equine rescues and individuals involved in a grass roots effort dedicated to ending the slaughter of American horses.

For further information: Sinikka Crosland, Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, info@defendhorsescanada.org, (250) 768-4803; John Holland, Equine Welfare Alliance, (540) 268-5693, john@equinewelfarealliance.org

I Ride

I ride. That seems like such a simple statement. However, as many women who ride know, it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/ electrician/ hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride.

The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness'. It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of 'the sickness'. It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in some ways, who we are as women and human beings.

I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my horse. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle up my dog, and I ride. I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the dust.

Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.

I consider the simple statement; I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the Manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment. Still I ride. No matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt. I ride. And I feel better for doing so.

The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the prowl add to the empowerment and joy in my heart.

I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch. We haul 40ft rigs. We back into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait, and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one. Now you are there. I ride.

--Author Unknown (although, many of us feel she is our sister)


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Atlantic Canada Trail Riding Association
Next Ride is October 3rd & 4th. Kim DelliCioppa is hosting 2 Judged Pleasure rides. Contact: Kim DellaCioppa (902)835-2792 55 Lewis Dr., Bedford, NS B4B 1C4 Go to the Schedule page to see the complete listing. Progressive dehydration affects the normal functioning of the "thirst center" in the central nervous system. Thus, dehydrated horses badly in need of fluids may entirely lose interest in drinking voluntarily. If you know your horse has been working and sweating hard throughout the day, and yet is not drinking, do not assume he doesn't need water. In fact, he may be approaching a metabolic crisis if not resolved quickly. Don't make the mistake of thinking, "he knows best what he needs"---use your head to make the right decisions on his behalf.		ACTRA 2009 Directors ChariPerson - Gween Dexter Vice-Chair - Deanna Johnston Secretary - Donna Lee Cole Treasurer- Pat Rideout Sanction Kit - Donna Munn Rules - Eric Dwyer Newsletter Editor Bev Elliott Public Relations - Lynn Beazley Statistician - Bev Elliott See a copy of ACTRA's recent newsletter May/June Newsletter Jean Bridges and her dauther Ann participating in the Surf N' Turf ride held on PEI July 11		THE PINK CHALLENGE CUP Gold Team: Jean Bridges and Anne Bridges Silver Team: Bev Elliott and Deanna Johnston Bronze Team: Wendy Vissers and Lucy Rudge More info Link out to helpful article on AERC site: Assessing your equine's overall fitness
Horse Groups Call on CFIA for Answers on EU Equine Food Safety Requirements WESTBANK, BC, Aug. 25 /CNW/ Today, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) and Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) are asking the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to respond regarding a European Commission requirements letter dated 17 April, 2009 from Paola Testori Coggi, deputy director-general of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection. The letter notified affected "third" countries of requirements for equines (horses, donkeys and cross-breds) intended for food production, including the identification of horses intended for food production, a system of identity verification, a prohibition on the use of anabolic steroids and other prohibited drugs, and a minimum 6-month withdrawal period for veterinary medicinal products. The letter stipulates immediate steps required to implement a food safety program for countries supplying horse meat to the European Union. To date, the CHDC and the EWA have not received a response to their inquiry letter previously sent to Dr. Claude Boissonneault of the CFIA's Red Meat Species Program. Also, the CFIA has yet to make public the news of this pivotal mandate that affects the entire multi-billion dollar horse industry, including horse racing, performance show horses, breeders, rodeo, and all horse owners. In addition, countries affected must have submitted an Action Plan by this date, yet there has been no indication this has been done. "It is incredible that the CFIA has yet to inform Canadians and Americans alike, about this far-reaching program that will impact the entire horse industry", says Sinikka Crosland of the CHDC. "There are thousands of horses going to slaughter every week in Canada, from both Canada and the U.S. There is presently no tracking or passport system for horses, and many are routinely given a wide range of performance enhancing drugs throughout their lives", added John Holland of EWA. "We see a huge potential for horse welfare concerns, as horses will be held for more than 6 months at transfer stations, without basic care provided and they will not be allowed to administer worming or pain medications to these horses", explained Ms. Crosland. Due to the immediate obligations affecting the entire horse community, the CHDC, the EWA and their affiliates request that the CFIA respond without delay, and communicate to all horse groups and people affected. Citizens are urged to write to the CFIA, asking for details about this critically important program. The CHDC is a collective of people and groups working to protect equines from slaughter for human consumption, as well as the export of live horses to other countries for the same purpose. The EWA is an umbrella organization representing equine welfare organizations, equine rescues and individuals involved in a grass roots effort dedicated to ending the slaughter of American horses. For further information: Sinikka Crosland, Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, info@defendhorsescanada.org, (250) 768-4803; John Holland, Equine Welfare Alliance, (540) 268-5693, john@equinewelfarealliance.org		I Ride I ride. That seems like such a simple statement. However, as many women who ride know, it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/ electrician/ hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride. The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness'. It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of 'the sickness'. It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in some ways, who we are as women and human beings. I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my horse. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle up my dog, and I ride. I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the dust. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth. I consider the simple statement; I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the Manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment. Still I ride. No matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt. I ride. And I feel better for doing so. The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the prowl add to the empowerment and joy in my heart. I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch. We haul 40ft rigs. We back into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait, and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one. Now you are there. I ride. --Author Unknown (although, many of us feel she is our sister)
All I Need to Know in Life I Learned From My Horse 1. When in doubt, run far, far away. 2. You can never have too many treats. 3. Passing gas in public is nothing to be ashamed of. 4. New shoes are an absolute necessity every 6 weeks. 5. Ignore cues. They're just a prompt to do more work. 6. Everyone loves a good, wet, slobbery kiss. 7. Never run when you can jog. Never jog when you can walk. And never walk when you can stand still. 8. Heaven is eating for at least 10 hours a day... then sleeping the rest. 10. Eat plenty of roughage. 11. Great legs and a nice rear will get you anywhere. Big, brown eyes help too. 12. When you want your way, stomp hard on the nearest foot. 13. In times of crisis, take a poop. 14. Act dumb when faced with a task you don't want to do. 15. Follow the herd. That way, you can't be singled out to take the blame. 16. A swift kick in the butt will get anyone's attention. 17. Love those who love you back, especially if they have something good to eat.				THE 12 "MOST IMPORTANT" THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU OWN A HORSE. To induce labor in a mare? Take a nap. To cure equine constipation? Load them in a clean trailer. To cure equine insomnia? Take them in a halter class. To get a horse to stay very calm and laid back? Enter them in a liberty class. To get a horse to wash their own feet? Clean the water trough and fill it with fresh water. To get a mare to come in heat? Take her to a show. To get a mare in foal the first cover? Let the wrong stallion get out of his stall. To make sure that a mare has that beautiful, perfectly marked foal you always wanted? Sell her before she foals. To get a show horse to set up perfect and really stretch? Get him out late at night or anytime no one is a round to see him. To induce a cold snap in the weather? Clip a horse. To make it rain? Mow a field of hay. To make a small fortune in the horse business? Start with a large one.

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THE PINK CHALLENGE CUP Gold Team: Jean Bridges and Anne Bridges Silver Team: Bev Elliott and Deanna Johnston Bronze Team: Wendy Vissers and Lucy Rudge

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I Ride

THE PINK CHALLENGE CUP
Gold Team: Jean Bridges and Anne Bridges
Silver Team: Bev Elliott and Deanna Johnston
Bronze Team: Wendy Vissers and Lucy Rudge