Ontario Equestrian Federation 25th Anniversary Conference a Success

Source :  Ontario Equestrian Federation

The 25th Anniversary Conference of the Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF), held November 22-24, 2002 at the Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston, experienced a phenomenal increase in attendance. The almost 400 delegates to this year’s meeting exceeded last year’s attendance by more than 150 equine enthusiasts.

"Excellent speakers and facility" … "A great opportunity for the horse enthusiast!" … "Well organized. Knowledgeable speakers" … "Excellent venue. The Conference was well run" … are just some of the numerous comments made by registrants.


The Conference was opened by Mother Hildegard, a Benedictine nun living in the San Juan Islands, who spoke on how horses can help children coming from abusive or disadvantaged situations to look deeper into nature and develop a more significant respect for all life. By popular demand, Dr. Marvin Beeman of Colorado was returned to the podium to speak on Conformation - The Relationship of Form to Function. Dr. Beeman also gave the Luncheon Address on Pre-Purchase Examination.


This year’s educational sessions were as varied as ever and included seminars such as Saddle Fitting, Taxes, Introduction to Driving, Hippotherapy, Dressage, Sponsorship and PR for the Equestrian Athlete, Equine Medications, Avoiding the Arena Blues, and Breeding, among others. For the first time, an NRHA Reining Judges Applicant Seminar (with clinician Ollie Griffith of Columbus, Ohio) was held on Saturday and witnessed over 40 reining enthusiasts, trainers and coaches in attendance. Fifteen of those returned on Sunday to undertake the NRHA Judges Test.


Other special sessions such as Winning in the Hunter & Equitation Ring, and the annual First Aid Course were extremely popular, along with the Equine Canada Learn to Teach module which was in such demand that the OEF was forced to arrange for an additional clinician in order to handle the large number of registrants.


The OEF was most pleased to host the Annual General Meetings of two of its affiliate organizations -– the Ontario Therpauetic Riding Association and the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association. At its own Annual General Meeting, the OEF membership returned Dr. Paul Cary, Roz Farber, Al Patterson, Sandra Sillcox, and Arthur Tateishi to the Board of Directors as Individual Directors. Representing the Advisory Councils will be Allan Ehrlick (Chair, Associations), Gay Harper (Vice-Chair, Associations), Bruce Brown (Chair, Industry), and Jack DeWit (newly elected as Chair of the Competitions Advisory Council). Completing the remainder of their 2-year term will be Dr. Mary Bell, Jennifer Coleman, and Peter Gisborn. The Officers of the OEF remain unchanged for the coming year … Al Patterson, President; Bruce Brown, Vice-President, Sandra Sillcox, Treasurer; Wendy Dyer, Secretary; and Allan Ehrlick, Past-President.