Pick of the Best!
Health, Harmony and Horses Offers Valuable Insight in Third Annual Conference
Special Guests on Sunday Covered Concerns About Proposed Veterinary Profession Act Changes
April 5, 2006
Marv Amlin offering horse advice and demonstrating 'How to REALLY Listen' at the Health Harmony and Horses Conference held March 11th and 12th at Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.
Fort Saskatchewan, AB --- Exclusive to Alberta Equine ...On-Line --- Nine pictures included! Sonja Christopher offered her third annual Health, Harmony and Horses Conference at Blackland Ranch northeast of Edmonton, Alberta on March 11th and 12th. 160 participants attended this year’s conference; they were informed by 14 speakers and enjoyed learning more about the services of 11 exhibitors. This year there was also a special forum on Sunday afternoon to discuss and address proposed changes to the Alberta Veterinary Professions Act (VPA).
This roving conference sees many new faces each year as it draws from a new population each time. Past conferences have been held southeast of Edmonton in the area of South Cooking Lake and west of Edmonton by Stony Plain. There is a high rate of return attendance as the topics are interesting and varied and offer practical skills. This conference should be attended with a like-minded friend as sessions are offered concurrently and it isn’t possible to be in two places at once!
Most conferences give academic knowledge on what horses require to be physically healthy. Topics at this conference focus on not only the physical health of the horse but the relationship between horse and humans; how the human factor affects the well-being of the horse and vice-versa. Speakers discuss how the human relationship builds with work on the horse and results in a harmonious relationship between the two.
Nothing could make a stronger case for this harmonious relationship than one of the two opening sessions, Improving Communications with your Horse, presented by Tara Gamble. Horses are non-verbal communicators. As humans we must know and understand their body language, from the flick of an ear to the tuck of a tail! This ability allows us to interpret their responses to us and communicate through our body to get the correct responses from them - building a wonderful partnership in the process. The complexity of communication between horse and rider increases when a third factor, the instructor, is thrown into the mix! Gamble also presented on Sunday with Lateral Work: What, Why, When and How?
Ilse de Wit, also known as Clickerwoman, pays very close attention to horses and timing as she trains them. With the aid of a clicker to reward behaviour, she must determine the exact time to reward the action of a horse; first with a clicker and treat, and later with a just a click. It was interesting to watch her change a horse’s expectation of a treat coming from her pocket to coming from a safer distance away from her body. A beginning to a whole new way of learning!
Candace Cox, a people-watcher, pays close attention to the way people stand and move and helps them balance their stance and movement through the Alexander Technique. Marv Amlin, also a horse trainer, knows what a horse is saying through its body language and knows when to encourage the correct response to his request of the horse’s attention. When this pair teams up to coach riders, they become a powerful force. In tandem, Cox and Amlin demonstrated their teamwork when they coached three riders with different horse-riding issues. Amlin gave an assessment of the horse’s movement and Cox gave her view of the rider’s self-carriage and its influence on the horse’s way of going. Together they greatly influenced the improvement of these riders – the results were noticeable and significant!
The key to working successfully with horses is to make them think it’s their idea to do the things you ask of them. Farrier John Pouliot demonstrated a simple apparatus and some techniques to aid in the handling of horses’ feet in Helping your Horse to be Farrier-Friendly. Carolyn Barabash gave a practical session on the ‘Ins and Outs’ of Practical Trailer Loading. Ken Schmuland watches and then influences a horse’s decision-making process with his attention to their behaviour in the round pen. During his session, Quality Groundwork and How it Relates to Riding, he discussed and demonstrated his approach; emphasizing the importance of having the horse respond with respect, not escape through fear.
Other practical and well-attended sessions over the weekend were Equine Dentistry with Shorty Olson and What the Judges are Really Looking for with Cherrie Merril-Pavao. Olson has been serving the dental needs of equines for 12 years. He trained in 1993 at a clinic in Nebraska, USA and has trained off and on in Texas. Learn more about Shorty at shortyolson.com
Merril-Pavao has shown on the Quarter Horse circuit for nine years and is a clinician and judge. She has judged many open shows in Alberta and was a member of Team Alberta Judging at the AQHYA show, placing third in the world. It’s a treat to have such qualified practitioners and representatives together locally for the weekend!
A Photo Workshop with Tina Leonard was also well-attended and yielded some sound advice for camera buffs. Early morning and early afternoon offers the best lighting for outdoor photos. If you’re going to the trouble of taking a photo, take your time to get the best shot. Interactive and casual shots are nice; kids and horses is a nice topic. Candid pictures of horses can provide both relaxed and humorous results. The eye of the horse is so expressive – try to keep it turned towards the camera. And lastly, watch out for shadows being cast on the horse and elsewhere and be aware of distracting background items - some very good advice!
Eastern medicine is proving to accomplish wonderful things in the realm of human healthcare and many humans are seeking the same benefits for their equine companions. Reiki and Horses: The Power of Gentleness was an enlightening presentation by a local mother and daughters team: Pamela Junck and her two daughters - Kristin and Leah. Together, with the help of a pony named Danny, they explained the meaning of the Japanese word Reiki and how it works with the energy present in all life forces. It was pointed out that Reiki does not take the place of veterinary attention but compliments it and, in doing so, aids in the healing process. Pamela led the audience in a simple exercise to discover the energy present within each of them. The seven main energy centers (Chakras) and the colours associated with them were described. It was at this time the spectators realised that Danny was more than just a ‘painted pony’ as each colourful paint splotch on him corresponded with a Chakra. Audience participation produced some amazing and interesting results as everyone had an opportunity to participate in exercises that enabled them to experience the tangible results of their energy flow. Reiki is not attached to any religion and the principles on which it is based seem to be good ones to live by:
“Just for today do not worry
Just for today do not anger
Honour your parents, teachers, and elders
Earn your living honestly
Show gratitude to every living thing”
The final session of the weekend was Theft Prevention by Strathcona County RCMP officer Dan Corfield. Corfield’s talk centred around Rural Property Crime Loss Prevention and, although his session competed with the forum for the attention of conference-goers, he had a rapt audience of about 40 people while he covered anti-theft topics and what to do if your horse or tack go missing.
There are a few things property owners should think about that would help prevent or alleviate problems with theft:
- Employ stumbling blocks for thieves (ie. gates/dogs) before they get to your barn/residence door
- Report suspicious persons to the Police in your area
- Join your local Rural Crime Watch organization
- Mark horse tack and your horses
- Secure trailers at home and on the road
Corfield also covered what to do when a theft does occur and what information may be required to law enforcement agencies to help in the recovery of the property/horses. He discussed civil agreements and how to avoid Police intervention (by seeking a lawyer's advice before making verbal agreements).
Linda Botterill from the Alberta Brand Inspectors Office-Edmonton supplemented Corfield’s information with a talk on Brands, Tattoos, Micro Chips and what is the best to use in Alberta. She also advised the difference in the branding procedures and where to get them done. She advised what the Brand Inspectors do in this Province and how they serve the Horse/Cattle industry.
A very important forum on the proposed new Alberta Veterinary Professions Act closed out the weekend and was attended by about 65 people; some came to the venue just for the forum!
Shorty Olson gave a brief overview of the status of the move to change the current Alberta Veterinary Professions Act. The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the body that oversees and disciplines the veterinarians of Alberta, is bringing about this change. (To learn more about the proposed changes to the act, refer to those listed at the end of this article.) Special guests at this meeting were Dan Backs, MLA for Edmonton – Manning Constituency and Louis Pequin, who flew in from Germany especially for the forum; Pequin currently practices equine dentistry in Germany. Many more guests were invited to attend but declined.
Olson explained that the AVMA took Pequin to court in 2000 for practicing equine dentistry. The AVMA lost in the Court of Queen’s Bench and were denied the right to take it the Supreme Court of Canada. They are moving to replace the current definition with a new one to “fully reflect the range of services supplied by the veterinary profession”.
It appears that the proposed changes to the Alberta VPA, as they are currently worded, may greatly affect Alberta’s pet owners, veterinarians and para-professionals (equine dentists, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc.) It seems many of these stakeholders are unaware of this proposed change and have not been consulted about the process. Pet owners and para-professionals won’t learn of this unless it is specifically brought to their attention; veterinarians are too busy working in their field and don’t have the time to do more than pay their dues to the AVMA. MLAs are not being properly informed about the issue.
It is felt by many that veterinarians don’t practice most alternative therapies and therefore do not have the knowledge to replace those para-professionals that are currently supplying these services. It is feared that there will be a monopoly if the proposed change to the Alberta VPA is allowed to pass. In the USA, due to veterinarians taking over all aspects of animal care, the Florida Alliance for Animal Owners Rights (FAAOR) has been established (see www.faaor.org).
Louis Pequin, whose case the change to the Alberta VPA appears to be based upon, stated “They don’t want to just take over equine dentistry, they want to take charge of all animal care … You horse owners are the ones that are going to have to band together and stop this.” Pequin repeatedly emphasized the need to be well-organised and professional with regards to any protest against the proposed changes to the Alberta VPA. “My law firm has donated all of its time to make this right.” He went on to say that he would only be associated with protests against the proposed change to the Alberta VPA if they were done in a professional and well-organised manner.
What can stakeholders do to let the governing bodies know how they feel about these changes?
MLA Dan Backs said that e-mails to MLAs and other government officials don’t work, “too many come in and they often receive auto-replies or are filtered out automatically and get put in a ‘kill-bin’. Faxes will probably work because there are legitimate documents that come through and fax machines are still manned … Petitions are okay but have to be passed by two lawyers and I will help to have this done.” Backs went on to offer more suggestions to draw attention to concern over the proposed change:
- a media event at the legislature can bring this to the attention of the government; it is very important to be seen as being not just one or two people;
- organization of individual meetings with MLAs, “Most MLAs will act on a request for an individual meeting.” He went on to say that Friday is the best time to book one of these and that the impact is stronger if it’s coordinated with people in other centres.
Meetings to discuss the ramifications of the proposed change to the VPA are occurring and a Website is underway to keep interested persons informed. Watch for more information on aaaor.skylinedesign.ca in the near future (or call Sonja at 780-922-0752).
Attendance at this year’s conference was down from previous years; the weather just prior to the weekend of the conference was, indeed, the worst in the area in recent history. Also, there were no veterinarians presenting this year (last year there were four).
Christopher had a reason for not inviting veterinarians to present this year, “I didn't want to have any vets presenting this year and possibly put them in an uncomfortable situation being confronted with questions regarding the changes to the definition of veterinary medicine.” Representatives of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) were asked to attend the Forum on Sunday but did not respond nor attend. “For future conferences, vets will definitely be apart of the presentation line-up as I truly believe health is a multi-faceted partnership with vets being an integral part of that. My vision is to have veterinarians, non-veterinarians and animal owners all working together in a synergistic relationship with the main goal being animal welfare …animal welfare in its broadest sense including mind, body and even spirit.”
Christopher usually directs all proceeds to a non-profit organisation for the betterment of people and animals. Unfortunately, as attendance was down and operating costs up, there were no proceeds this year.
All in all the conference was another success and many look forward to next year’s conference.
Exhibitors at this year’s conference were:
Alberta Equine …On-Line
Best of the West, Sunny Brook Stables
Canadian Clicker Centre/ Ilse de Wit
CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association)
Go-4-It Optimum Health
Masterfeeds
Mopsy Tucks - for all your equine sewing needs.
Namasté
Northern Oaks Tack
Photography by Tina Leonard
Rafter Diamond K/ Ken Schmuland
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