Source:  News Release/Julie Cull

Canadian-bred Horses and Canadian Breeders to be Honoured by Equine Canada

Ottawa, ON—Equine Canada is pleased to announce the addition of two new national awards for 2011 — Canadian-bred Horse of the Year and Breeder of the Year.

The Canadian-bred Horse of the Year award will be presented to the breeder or owner of a horse who has raised the profile of Canadian-bred horses with exceptional competition results. To be eligible, the horse must be foaled in Canada and registered with any of Equine Canada’s member breed associations. The award is also eligible to an outstanding sire whose offspring have accumulated national and international victories.

The Breeder of the Year award will recognize a Canadian breeder for their contribution to the quality of Canadian-bred horses. Nominees must be members of an Equine Canada breed association.

These new national awards are in addition to Equine Canada’s annual awards which are

• Equine Canada Equestrian of the Year — The Doctor George Jacobsen Trophy
• Equine Canada Junior Equestrian of the Year — The Gillian Wilson Trophy
• Equine Canada Media Award — The Susan Jane Anstey Trophy
• Equine Canada Volunteer of the Year, Presented by BFL Canada
• Equine Canada / Just Add Horses Environment Award

The deadline for these two new awards is December 16, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. EST. A reminder that the nomination deadline for the remaining national awards is November 25, 2011. It is important to nominate those you feel are worthy of such recognition.

Full award criteria and nomination forms can be found on Equine Canada’s website at equinecanada.ca/ecconvention/ or by calling 613-248-3433 x 111.

The winners of these prestigious awards will be honoured as part of the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala which will be held at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John’s on Friday, February 3, 2012 as part of the Equine Canada Annual Convention. This fantastic evening is dedicated to acknowledging the Canadian equestrian accomplishments of 2011 and thanking those who make it all happen.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism.  A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry.  Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.