Equestrian Canada (EC) will receive an additional $828,500 in federal funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with the largest share directed toward Safe Sport initiatives, improvements to Canada’s competition system and high-performance athlete development.
The allocation is part of a $60-million federal investment in 62 National Sport Organizations announced on October 22 by Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden. The additional funding brings EC’s total federal Sport Support Program allocation to $1,745,500, an increase of approximately 90% over its previous allocation of $917,000.
EC applied for $2.4 million in additional support, submitting ten activities for consideration. Eight received funding, representing approximately 35% of the organization’s original request.
“We have been allocated $828,500 in funding that will support 8 of the 10 activities that we submitted,” said James Hood, EC’s Director of High Performance, Chief of Staff and Interim Operations Lead. “These funds are a combination of cost recovery and enhanced projects.”
Of the total allocation, $595,500 has been designated for able-bodied sport and $233,000 for para-equestrian activities.
Where the Money Will Go
The largest allocation, $200,000, has been directed toward Safe Sport initiatives, with $120,000 designated for able-bodied programming and $80,000 for para-equestrian activities. Proposed projects include updating concussion education materials to reflect evolving national and international standards, as well as supporting Safe Sport education and complaint management.
Another $150,000 has been allocated to Pathway Implementation, which focuses on modernizing EC’s relationship with Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and improving Canada’s competition system. Projects proposed under this activity include Phase 2 of the Competition System Alignment Project and a National Organizational Effectiveness Forum. The latter would examine the roles and responsibilities of EC and the provincial organizations, along with their governance structures and voting delegate relationships.
A further $135,000 has been allocated to Sustainable Sport Financing and Legacy Development, including initiatives aimed at strengthening sponsorship, donations and other revenue opportunities.
Support for High-Performance Athletes
Three activities associated with international competition and athlete development have received a combined $293,500. Of that amount, $140,500 has been allocated to costs associated with Canada’s participation at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, including $40,000 designated for para-equestrian sport.
Another $60,000 has been allocated to NextGen Activation, intended to enhance development programs for emerging athletes and Under-25 riders in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
The remaining $93,000 has been allocated to National Team Programs, with proposed initiatives including additional training camps, clinics, visits to athletes’ daily training environments and integrated support team services. These activities are intended to provide Canadian riders with more opportunities to develop their skills and improve their competitive performance.
Grassroots Participation and Data Improvements
The Learn to Ride and Drive program has been allocated $25,000 to support the continuation of educational resources and program tools designed to introduce participants to equestrian activities and help develop their riding and driving skills.
Another $25,000 has been designated for a National Participant Data Framework, focusing on improvements to EC’s systems for collecting, tracking and managing participation information.
Two proposed activities received no funding: Shared Vertical Services and AI, which would have supported shared technology between EC and the PTSOs, and an equestrian economic impact tool intended to improve the measurement of the economic benefits generated by equestrian competitions and events.
Final Spending Details Still to Be Confirmed
Although Sport Canada has verbally confirmed the amounts allocated to each of the eight approved activities, EC is still awaiting its formal contribution agreement to determine precisely which projects and expenditures will be eligible for funding.
For example, the $150,000 allocated to Pathway Implementation could support the Competition System Alignment Project, the proposed National Organizational Effectiveness Forum, or a combination of both, depending on the terms of the agreement.
EC has indicated that project leaders will work with stakeholders to establish priorities and implementation plans aligned with the organization’s Strategy 2028 objectives.
The new funding offers a substantial financial boost to EC, although the extent to which it will support new programming, rather than offset existing costs, will become clearer once the final contribution agreement is in place.
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