Local horse facilities are set to shine this year, capitalizing on an international presence during the 2015 Pan American Games.
As part of Horse Experience 2015, organized by Equine Canada, horse facilities within an hour’s drive of the OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park and the Pan Am Cross-Country Centre (Caledon/Mono) have been asked to host events to showcase the best of what the country has to offer and take advantage of the expected 10,000 international visitors for the games.
Three facilities in Wellington County were on board at press time to host Horse Experience 2015 events.
Forest Gait Farm
The first event in the county will take place at Forest Gait Farm in Centre Wellington. Nestled along the Eramosa/Garafraxa Townline, Forest Gait is home to paso fino horses, including a world champion mare and a Canadian and U.S. champion stallion.
Paso fino horses have Latin American roots, making their showing during the Pan Am Games fitting. The breed is unique in its gait; instead of having the more traditional walk, trot, canter, gallop movements, the paso fino has a four-beat gait, instead of the trot that’s faster than a walk and is akin to speed walking for humans.
“They’re like an equine Sports car,” said Forest Gait Farm owner Marijean Harris. “They are people oriented, they like to go forward, and they have all these gears and you can ride them all day because of the smooth gait.”
On July 11, as part of Horse Experience 2015, Forest Gait Farm will host a free open house from 11am to 5pm. Harris said the day will be like a party.
“I want to introduce the breed to anybody who wants to come and find out about them and they’ll have free test rides, there will be some Latin music, food, festivities,” she said. “Basically showing what the horse can do and there will also be horses for sale.“
Harris is anticipating the event will be a hit because of the countries participating in the games.
“A lot of the Pan Am countries are Spanish speaking or Latin countries, so there will be a lot of interest in the paso fino because of that,” she said.
Due to their smooth and even gait paso finos are especially appealing to young riders just learning and to older riders who may shy from the somewhat bouncier trot, Harris said.
If a rider is aspiring to show in the Pan Am Games or in the Olympics, a paso fino does not have the size or ability required to compete at that level. They do, however, excel in endurance competitions Harris said.
For those interested, Harris offers lessons with qualified coaches at Forest Gait Farm and, though she is slowing down on breeding, she does have horses for sale.
Grand River Raceway
Elora’s raceway is also on board for Horse Experience 2015 and offering an exclusive night. The Horse Racing Dinner and Tour Experience at Grand River Raceway will take place on July 13.
Ticket holders will be served dinner in the raceway’s tiered dining room and will be able to watch the racing while enjoying their meal. Once finished, participants will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the paddock building, where horses prepare for races and return once the race is complete.
“Aside from seeing the horses and the people involved, it’s also a good opportunity to see the real nuts and bolts of what happens on a race night behind the scenes,” said Kelly Spencer, manager of marketing and communications for the raceway. “It’s a unique opportunity.”
Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with horses, drivers and trainers.
In addition, participants will receive a DVD of the biography of Cam Fella, the Secretariat of harness racing, Spencer explained.
A rep from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame will also give a presentation.
The event will cost $25 per person and adult participants will also receive a $10 slots gaming voucher. To purchase tickets (sales close July 6) call 519-846-5455 x247 or email bookings@grandriverraceway.com.
Myrddin
Equestrian Centre
Taking place just after the Pan Am eventing competition, Myrddin Equestrian Centre will host a grassroots eventing showcase on July 22 from 9am to 3pm at the Town of Erin farm.
The day will feature an eventing competition between teams from stables in the area, explained head coach Margaret Godson.
“I would like six to eight stables to bring a little team of riders … and they will be participating in the competition,” Godson explained.
“So the competition will basically be the riders of the coaches that are available on the ground so people can see the riders and if they see somebody and think ‘oh that’s really a nice rider’ … they can go and talk to the coach. That’s the whole point is that people will be able to actually link up with the people on the day rather than just gather pamphlets.”
The competition will not be a full course; riders will complete a dressage test and then a combined show jumping and cross country course. In conjunction with the competition, coaches will be making presentations throughout the day, providing information for those hoping to try the sport.
“For instance, how to ride a jump up and down hill as opposed to riding on the flat, how you would correctly gallop the horse, how you would ride a dressage test,” explained Godson. “It’s basically a full day of information for people that might want to get into eventing or who are already sort of involved in the sport but want to know more at the lower levels.”
She said she hopes the Pan Am Games pique the interest of eventing spectators and they come to the Myrddin event to learn more.
“If people actually go to the Pan Ams just out of interest and then they think, ‘gee I’d like to get involved,’ but they don’t know how, this offers the opportunity,“ Godson said.
The Myrddin competition is open to all spectators and is free to attend.
Possible additions
Though unconfirmed at press time, Strategic Equine representative Kelly Counsell mentioned the Angelstone International Show Jumping Tournaments in July will likely join the ranks of Horse Experience 2015.
She added the Ontario Veterinary College may also be participating.
Horse farm tours
At the same time Equine Canada is facilitating Horse Experience 2015, Headwaters Horse Country is offering farm tours during the games.
One of two farms participating in Wellington County (as of press time) is Hidden Meadows Farm located in the Town of Erin. The stable exclusively breads and raises the Canadian Horse. Owner Brenda Pantling offers tours to bring awareness to Canada’s national horse.
“We usually have a wagon pulled by a team of Canadians just giving rides around the field,” Pantling said. “There’s plenty of people here to answer questions.” The barn tour is free and the dates had not been set as of press time.
The other county barn participating in the Headwaters Horse Country farm tour is Rustic Meadow in Hillsburgh, which primarily features reigning techniques and riding sidesaddle, explained owner Joanne Milton.
The farm tour will vary from day to day.
“It depends on who comes,” Milton said. “I’ve always done these kinds of things kind of by the seat of my pants … and I try to answer any questions that anybody comes with and I usually have students here that will do demonstrations at any time.”
Rustic Meadow Farm will have stable tours on July 18, 19, 25 and 26 and will be open from 10am to 4pm each day.
“I’ll have a saddle rack set up where you can sit on a sidesaddle and see what it feels like and I’ll have some costumes set up because I have a couple of period costumes,” Milton said.
Horse Experience 2015 and the Headwaters Horse Country farm tours will be occurring concurrently with the 2015 Pan Am Games and additional venues may still be added before July.
