Campbell Valley Park, Langley BC
BC Equestrian Eventing Association is thrilled to have Gretchen Butts – (FEI Level 3 Technical Delegate, Level 3 Eventing Judge, Level 2 Steward) share her experience and knowledge with BC’s eventers and officials.

This three day course is for Technical Delegates and Judges of all levels. Course content is centered around promotion and maintenance of Equestrian Canada officials . Open for general auditing, it offers a great educational opportunity for anyone interested in learning what an official’s role is and how the rules impact the sport.
Included in the clinic, Lynda Ramsay (Equestrian Canada, Senior official, HCBC Provincial official and HP1 Coach for Eventing) will offer education for HCBC Provincial Rules Officials. Anyone interested in becoming a provincial level HCBC Professional Rules Official for Eventing Derby is welcome to attend.
Additionally, any coaches that attend will receive Professional Development points.

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

First stop Prince George!
Horse Council BC will be rolling into Prince George with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Sunday May 6. We will be bringing with us expert speakers presenting on important topics such as Equine Nutrition, Veterinary Care and Farm/Manure Management.

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

PRE REGISTER NOW AND BE ENTERED TO WIN ONE NIGHTS STAY May 5 at the RAMADA PLAZA PRINCE GEORGE!

Join Horse Council BC and Otter Co-op for a special evening of equine education with nutritionist Ken Wilkinson
The topic of discussion for this special presentation will be the symptoms, prevention, importance and interpretation of nutrition for laminitic and metabolic horses, Ken will also speak on hay analysis including discussion on sugar and carbohydrate content
Thank you Otter Co-op for sponsoring this event and providing us with the extraordinary expertise of Mr. Ken Wilkinson
Space is limited so please pre-register

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

Horse Council BC will be rolling into 108 Mile with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Saturday September 8th. We will be bringing with us expert speakers presenting on important topics such as Equine Nutrition, Veterinary Care and much more!

Pre-register and your name will be entered in a draw for a chance to win a free one night’s stay at 108 Golf Resort for the night of Sept 7

PRE REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

If you have any questions or difficulties registering please contact Sandy at [email protected]

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

Horse Council BC will be rolling into Kelowna with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Sunday September 9th. We will be bringing with us expert speakers presenting on important topics such as Equine Nutrition, Veterinary Care and More!

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

Pre-register and your name will be entered in a draw for a chance to win a free one night’s stay at Manteo Resort for the night of Sept 8 !

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

Horse Council BC will be rolling into Nelsoin with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Sunday May 5th. We will be bringing with us expert speakers!

PRE REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

If you have any questions or difficulties registering please contact Sandy at [email protected]

Please join us for what will prove to be a wonderful weekend of Dressage training and learning from one of the world's most decorated and recognized dressage athletes.

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

Horse Council BC will be rolling into Victoria with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Sunday November 18th. We will be bringing with us expert speakers presenting on important topics such as Equine Nutrition, Veterinary Care and much more!

PRE REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

If you have any questions or difficulties registering please contact Sandy at [email protected]

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

Horse Council BC will be rolling into Smithers with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Saturday September 14th. We will be bringing with us expert speakers!

PRE REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

If you have any questions or difficulties registering please contact Sandy at [email protected]

Participation in this workshop will qualify each coach or instructor to test the EC English Rider level exams

Horse Council BC is hitting the road again and visiting a community near you!

Horse Council BC will be rolling into Quesnel with our Community Talks Traveling Road Show on Sunday September 29th. We will be bringing with us expert speakers!

PRE REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Join us for an excellent, informative day chock-full of equine education

If you have any questions or difficulties registering please contact Sandy at [email protected]

Participation in this workshop will qualify each coach or instructor to test the EC English Rider level exams

It’s Back! BC’s premiere Equine Education Conference will once again be bringing you top internationally recognized professionals presenting the latest findings in equine health, welfare and training.

In today’s world we can all readily agree that bullying is bad. However, bullying remains and impacts us all, even just by witnessing it. We might not be aware of how and when bullying is happening around us in our barns and equestrian sport communities, or how we can best step in or speak out to support those being bullied. Beyond the desire to protect ourselves and others from bullying, it is vital that we understand the impact any bullying has on our ability to grow, learn, and develop ourselves into the best athletes we can be.
Join Annika McGivern, Mental Performance Coach, for a workshop-style webinar that will uncover the link between bullying, self-worth, and performance and leave you with tangible actions to build and protect your self-worth, enhance your growth and performance as an equestrian athlete and create a safe, positive environment that supports others to do the same

Presenter: Reg Steward, M.B. B.C. Ranch Safety Consultant, Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Consultant, Superintendent of Field Operations AgSafe, Buffalo Creek Consulting

Preparing for and navigating fires, floods, and other emergencies is no longer an option, you need a plan. ​It is said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Knowing what to do when and when to do it is key to the way you will handle any emergency, both during the event and in the aftermath. Do I have to go? What does it mean to be under an evacuation order, what is an evacuation alert? Considering options well in advance and being prepared for the way you, your family members, or workers,……and those in authority will respond is important. Are you prepared? Do you know what to do? Do you know what to take or where to go?

Explore the possibilities and gain understanding of the need to plan, the process during an event and how to get ready today for what we hope will not happen tomorrow.

March Equine Education Madness - Non Member Full Series Registration
Non- members use this event to register for the full series for the $100 discounted rate

The Horse Council BC / Equestrian Canada Hunter Jumper Course Design Clinic will be held in conjunction with Thunderbird Show Park’s March Gateway Finale. TBird’s world class facility and expertly designed rings lends itself perfectly to provide an excellent opportunity for hands on learning the “ins and outs” of Hunter and Jumper Course Design.

Enjoy expert instruction from clinician Peter Holmes, (FEI CD L3* JU, EC Senior Hunter Jumper Course Designer as well as additional mentorship from the Gateway Finale competitions’ assigned Course Designer Meghan Rawlins. Meghan is a FEI Level 2, EC ‘S’ Sr Course Designer ‘R” Course Designer Canada 'r' judge for Hunters and Jumpers and a USEF 'R' Hunter Judge. Meghan will be assisting with the clinic during off hours and at the completion of her competition day.

Whether you are a Provincially or Nationally Recorded Hunter / Jumper Course Designer needing updating, someone interested in becoming a Course Designer, someone just wanting to sharpen your eye and expand your knowledge, or a rider or parent wondering how and why the Course Designer does what they do, this is a clinic you won’t want to miss!

Presenter: Shelagh Niblock PAS, Foundations Equine Consulting Services

Shelagh Niblock is an equine nutritionist with an extensive background in both ruminant and equine nutrition as well as forge science as it relates to horses.

Shelagh currently practices as an equine nutritional consultant offering advise on the successful feeding and husbandry of horses. Shelagh also teaches Equine Production as well as Ruminant Health at the University of the Fraser Valley.

Topic: How to avoid the equine industry’s “triple threat”: preventing the spread of EHV, strangles and influenza

Presenters: Western College of Veterinary Medicines’ Dr Julia Montgomery and Dr Valentina Ragno

Topic: Saddle Fitting

Presenter: Lesley McGill, The Saddle Doctor, Society Of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitter and Saddler

As equestrian athletes we are meticulous at creating a plan for our horses, yet we often miss the essential step of creating a parallel competition plan for ourselves. Creating a well supported plan is one the foundations of confidence. This workshop walks participants through creating their own personal mental performance plan for the four stages of competition: (1) Before the Show (2) Morning of the Show (3) Tack Up and Warm Up and (4) In the Arena

Who we believe ourselves to be plays a big part in our ability to rise to challenges of equestrian sport. Our identity is linked to our beliefs, self-talk, habits, and reactions to what happens to us. This workshop walks athletes through a process of letting go of limiting beliefs and embracing the potential of who they will decide to be as they tackle the challenges and big goals of their sport.

Horse Council BC is very excited to announce a September 2022, HCBC/Equestrian Canada Dressage Judges Clinic with Equestrian Canada Senior Status and FEI5* Dressage Judge Cara Whitham.
Cara’s remarkable career in the equestrian industry has spanned everything from high performance dressage rider and certified coach to world-renowned judge, industry leader and volunteer. Through Cara’s celebrated career as a judge, she continues to be in high demand today, and mentors many judges in Canada and around the world. Cara has the top distinction of holding her FEI 4* judging credentials for Dressage.
Plus, she has held FEI status as a Dressage Technical Delegate, Eventing Steward, and Dressage Course Director. Recognized internationally for her knowledge and insight into equestrian sport, Cara was hired as a television commentator for the 2007 WEG, as well as the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
Cara’s judging career has taken her around the world and to the very top of the sport. Her contributions to equestrian sport and industry are immeasurable, and we are so fortunate to have this opportunity to benefit from her dynamic and world-class talent, bottomless commitment and invaluable experience.
Piggy backing off of her judging assignment as Dressage Judge for the 55+ Games in Victoria, Cara will be staying on to share her expertise on the art of judging Dressage. This clinic is a must attend for all HCBC, EC Dressage Officials needing updating, any one wanting to become a Dressage Judge and wanting to start their education with one of the best or Dressage riders wanting to know what will earn you those top scores. Don’t miss out on the invaluable opportunity.

This event is for Western Candidates to participate in a Equestrian Canada Western Coach or Instructor Evaluation

Join us for our March Madness Webinar Series! Every Monday night in March at 7pm PST with a wide range of great presenters. March 6, 13, 20, 27. Online via Zoom. Links to join the presentation will be sent out via email at 5pm PST the day of each presentation. Each session will only be available live and will not be on demand, so clear your calendars for Monday nights this March!

Clinic is open to all Carriage Driving enthusiasts
For HCBC/EC Officials: Early bird special until April 1 $225.00, after that cost will be $250.00
Includes two days of classroom, one day of live practical judging, breakfast and lunch Friday and Saturday, Friday evening Welcome reception and Education night
Auditors’ welcome $60.00 per day or $150.00 for all three days, anyone that applies as a new HCBC Driving official at the clinic will have their application and test fees waived.

Participation in this workshop will train coaches and instructors on how to use the Rider Level program, how to conduct the testing, what meets Standard and what will not. Training is classroom based with Video and two experienced Rider Evaluators and Coach Developers will facilitate the session.

Kelowna Riding Club is hosting a Western Rider Testing day

Supporting students and building self conficence

Join Senior EC Dressage Judge John MacPherson ringside August 20th at the Super Nova Sunday portion of the Rising Stars Youth Dressage Festival. John will be discussing judging Dressage while we watch live rides. Come find out just what a Dressage Judge looks for and what will bring in those high scores.
This clinic will be great for anyone passionate about the sport of Dressage, whether you are a Dressage Judge, thinking about becoming a Dressage Judge, a rider or a coach.
Location: Maple Ridge Equi Sport Centre
Date: August 20 2023
Time: 10:00 am
Registration Fee $50.00
The clinic will count for updating hours

John MacPherson
Ontario Canada

John MacPherson is an FEI competitor, EC Level 3 dressage coach and EC Senior Status Dressage Judge. His expertise in dressage and flatwork is immensely valuable to all levels of riders! John is a multi-year listed rider who has represented Canada Internationally for more than 25 years.

This workshop, created and facilitated by Dr. Megan Pinfield PhD RCC RCAT, is designed to give Equestrian Coaches the skills they need to effectively work with riders who have experienced accidents and now have riding fear. Coaches will be introduced to basic principles of neuropsychology that influence how riders experience, process and overcome fear. The aim of this workshop is to provide education about what riding fear actually is and to give coaches practical tangible skills for helping their riders through it.

Workshop #1
Topics Covered:
Topics covered:
Mental Wellbeing & resilience: how do we develop resilience.
Common mental health issues faced by equestrians
Differences between anxiety, fear and trauma
Understanding when to refer a rider to professional help
A deep dive into the construct of fear,2 different kinds of fear
Why riding fear is so stubborn and hard to resolve

Workshop #2
Topics covered:
What is Trauma? How common is Trauma? What is a traumatic event?
How our early life experiences affect our brain development and response to stressful situations
Understanding Adverse Childhood experiences
Thinking beyond Fight or Flight
Recognizing the symptoms of PTSD, Acute stress disorder, and Dissociation
Understanding and recognizing Vicarious Trauma in Coaches and Trainers

Workshop #3
What does it mean to be a Trauma Informed Coach?
Introduction to the TICE model (Trauma Informed Coaching for Equestrians)
Helping riders learn to regulate their nervous system
The importance of the Coach Rider relationship in managing fear, anxiety, and trauma (research)
Communication skills needed for using the TICE model

Coaches will be provided with model for coaching riders with fear issues that is in line with the principles of neuropsychology and learning theory. This series is designed to be take sequentially but coaches may opt to register for a single session if they cannot attend all 4. The material in each workshop builds on previous material covered.

Join us for our March Madness Webinar Series! Every Monday night in March at 7pm PST with a wide range of great presenters. March 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th. Online via Zoom. Links to join each presentation will be sent out via e-mail the day before. Each session will be available live, so clear your calendars for Monday nights this March!

Topic: Vitamins and Minerals Found in Forage and Not Found in Forage

Presenter: Dr. Clair Thunes

Topic: Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Presenter: Dr. Julia Montgomery

Topic: Equine Heart Health for Horse Owners

Presenter: B. Grace Goderre, BBRM, MSc student (they/them), University of Guelph, ON, Canada

Topic: Lumps, Bumps, Scratches, and Scabs: Skin Issues in Horses

Presenter: Dr. Jane Westendorf

Dylan Barry is a XC Jump/Course Builder and EC Certified XC Course Designer. Dylan hails from Quebec but mainly works in the US at the larger upper-level Eventing Competitions.

Dylan will be demonstrating and explaining hands on, how to build three different X Country Jumps
He will also be discussing the ins and outs of Eventing Derby course design, safety, and track.

Whether you are a Coach, Course Designer, builder, or facility owner this will be a clinic you won’t want to miss.
Cost includes a weekend pass ($40.00 value) to Can Am All Breeds Expo!

The National Coaching Certification (NCCP) offers coaches the opportunity for training and evaluation in ethical decision-making through the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions training, and online evaluation.

By successfully completing the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions training, coaches will be fully equipped to handle ethical situations with confidence and surety. The training helps coaches identify the legal, ethical, and moral implications of difficult situations that present themselves in the world of team and individual sport.

The NCCP Make Ethical Decisions module is a cornerstone of the NCCP and leaves coaches with no doubt as to what to do in challenging situations.

This workshop is aimed at coaches, parents, athletes and sports leaders. Learn how to properly manage a concussion or suspected concussion. Learn about concussion protocols, systems and understand the return to play process

Includes three days of expert instruction by the 2024 Equestrian Team Head Coaches
Stabling, Game Ready Swag, exclusive invitations to educational webinars and events and lots of fun!

We are excited for you to take part in our Multi-use and Horse Trail Clinic please register for your time slot through signup.com you can pay for your spot through this page. The clinic is 1 hour and 45 minutes with an hour long presentation the evening prior. Please arrive to your clinic tacked up but you will start the clinic with ground work. During this clinic you will learn how to habituate (desensitize) your horses to different stimuli you might find on the trail. It will start out in a controlled environment in the arena and then progress to a nearby trail. If you are feeling comfortable will guide you through a mounted portion of the clinic as well.

Rookie Rider is an Equestrian Canada program for children 6-12 that teaches students physical literacy, riding and horsemanship skills. This training will provide instructors an opportunity to add Rookie riders to their lesson program, summer camps or bring it to a community centre. The training can be taken by anyone 16+ and is a great opportunity for youth to get experience teaching as a Rookie Rider intern under a qualified instructor. This training is also open teachers or nccp coaches from different sports that do not have horse experience.

Candidates must have all pre-requisites completed before they can apply to participate in this evaluation. This includes EC Registered or Licensed status, Rider levels, MED, and HCBC membership. All applications and payment must be submitted to HCBC no later than 30 days prior to the evaluation date

We are excited for you to take part in our Multi-use and Horse Trail Clinic please register for your time slot through signup.com you can pay for your spot through this page. The clinic is 1 hour and 45 minutes with an hour long presentation the evening prior. Please arrive to your clinic tacked up but you will start the clinic with ground work. During this clinic you will learn how to habituate (desensitize) your horses to different stimuli you might find on the trail. It will start out in a controlled environment in the arena and then progress to a nearby trail. If you are feeling comfortable will guide you through a mounted portion of the clinic as well.

This education/maintenance clinic offered by HCBC will focus on judging priorities, and practical judging through the national level dressage tests to Prix St. George. Practical judging and theory organized for the first day with in-class work/videos and judging discussion on the second day.

Topics covered will include the training scale and its application, rules, the scale of marks, priorities at the levels, handling errors, writing appropriate comments, handling challenging situations, freestyles, etc.