The Can-Am Hall of Fame, launched in 2013, was designed to recognize world-class contributions to the equine industry. The program welcomes nominations from the public in a variety of categories. Submissions are narrowed down by an elected committee comprised of knowledgeable industry professionals. This year’s inductees were honoured at ceremony on March 28th.
2014 Can-Am Hall of Fame Inductees
The Horse Publications Group – Media
Jennifer Anstey is the owner/publisher at Horse Publications Group, based in Aurora, Ontario, which produces the top equestrian publications in Canada. She said, “I’m so happy to have the Horse Publications Group magazines recognized as the best in Canada’s equestrian industry.”
• Horse Sport has been Canada’s authoritative voice of equestrian competition for almost 50 years.
• Horse-Canada, which includes Horsepower, a magazine for horse crazy kids, has the highest distribution of any equine magazine sold in Canada.
• Canadian Thoroughbred is the only national source on thoroughbred racing and is the leading magazine for breeders, owners, trainers and farm managers who make thoroughbred racing their business.
• Canadian Horse Health Annual is a guide for new and experienced horse enthusiast and includes the largest equine directory in the country.
• Horse Sport International, distributed primarily in the USA, delivers the most intriguing news and reports on the politics and people that shape international equestrian sport.
Jennifer is also the treasurer of the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists, on the horse show committee of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and helps coordinate the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.
Gayle Ecker, Equine Guelph – Builder
Gayle Ecker is currently the Managing Director of Equine Guelph and has been its leader since its inception in 2003, as well as playing an instrumental role in its birth. She has dedicated her energies to advancing the equine industry through education and communications. Gayle created the ‘pyramid of education’ model – an educational approach that provides learning pathways for career development at all levels (youth education > industry skills > Equine Science Certificate > higher education Diplomas) in the equine industry. In collaboration with the Office of Open learning, Gayle developed the Equine Science Certificate, the Equine Business Certificate, the Equine Welfare Certificate and the Diploma in Equine Studies – all on-line programs targeted to the equine industry. She also acts as an instructor in the program. Combining the science-based knowledge from the research programs to support the health and welfare of horses is an important passion in her life and one she encourages in the members of the horse industry.
Gayle started riding before she could walk! A dappled grey Shetland pony named Pogo was her first mount. Known as the ‘show junkie’, Gayle spent her youth competing at Arabian shows. A former researcher, Gayle’s expertise is in the area of exercise physiology. She has been the Assistant Chef d’Equipe for the Canadian Endurance Team, traveling around the globe with the team to international events like the Pan-Am, the World Equestrian Games, and World Endurance Championships. These days, Gayle takes pleasure in riding her two Quarter horses through the wooded trails of her country home.
The Carter Family – Official / Builder / Rider / Coach
Carters Training Centre is nestled amongst green rolling hills and century old trees in St. George, Ontario and is home to the renowned Carter family. Joe Carter and his wife Pat established Carters Training Facility over forty years ago and it where they, along with daughter Patti, launched their iconic careers. Through hard work and determination the Carter family, each in their own right, has earned national and international recognition throughout the quarter horse and western horse industries.
From humble beginnings, Joe has worked tirelessly to establish his career as an all-around horseman. Today, he is a farrier, judge, horse trainer and sought after clinician. With all of his vast equine knowledge and experience Joe’s expertise really shines in judging. This fact is proven in the ten judging cards that her currently holds. Joe’s services as a clinician and judge is sought out international and his resume includes events all over twenty countries including all the major world shows two of which are the Al American Quarter Horse Congress and Reining Futurity where he has judged several times. As a matter of fact, Joe is so busy that he is unable to join us this weekend as he is giving a clinic in Germany.
In 1962 Joe met his wife Pat, a young professional working to establish her career in the horse industry as a riding instructor, trainer and exhibitor. Pat was fortunate to be offered a job managing Gil and Molly Henderson’s 1,000 acre farm where she was able to ride and win many prestigious titles. In the early 80’s Pat’s focus changed from training and showing horses to teaching western horsemanship at Humber College, a position that she held for 10 years. It was her involvement as an instructor at Humber College that led Pat to become an integral founding member of the Western Coaching Program in Canada. Her vast knowledge and experience helped the committee and the Canadian Equestrian Federation, now Equine Canada, develop the initial western coaching program. After her time at Humber College, Pat went on to become Master Course Conductor for the Western Coaching Program in Ontario, a title she held for over twenty years.
After reviewing Joe and Pat’s credentials, it comes as no surprise that their daughter Patti is also a respected rider, trainer and coach. Being exposed to horses from birth, Patti Carter-Pratt knew from a young age that horses were going to be one of the most important things in her life. She began riding seriously when she was nine years old and entered her first competition at the tender age of ten. When she competed at Quarterama for the first time and won her first class, “that was it for me,” says Patti. At the start of 2011, Patti began one of her most exciting challenges to date; she accepted the position of Director of Shows with the AQHA.
Joe, Pat and Patti have all found their own success and when asked what has helped make their family so successful in the horse industry Pat says it’s because “this is a family deal, two is always better than one when you are training. The other person can see the things that you don’t. People have different styles of training, and horses respond well to that.” Two is better than one, and in the Carter family there are four! Patti’s daughter Paige is the third generation of Carters to take the horse industry by storm and is already garnering her own successes as a competitor and volunteer. The horse industry will have to wait to see if she plans to continue the family legacy – we can only hope!
More from Horse Sport:
