More Exciting Events Added to the 2007 Equine Canada Annual Convention

Ottawa, Ontario – The 2007 Equine Canada Annual Convention will take place February 5 – 12, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa, ON, and features a wide variety of events for all types of horse enthusiasts.

Equine Canada is pleased to announce that Reining Canada will host an exclusive ‘Meet and Greet’ with the Silver Medalist Canadian Reining Team from the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) on February 10. Taking place from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., just before the Equine Canada National Awards Banquet, the Meet and Greet will feature Silver Medalist Team members Lance Griffin, Francois Gauthier, Luke Gagnon, and of course Team anchor and 2006 WEG Individual Reining Gold Medalist Duane Latimer.

For those wishing to attend the Equine Canada National Awards Banquet after the ‘Meet and Greet’, Banquet tickets will be available for purchase until 5:00 pm on February 8. The tickets are $60 per person and include a full plated dinner to be served during the awards presentation, with a dance, to follow. Join us for this full evening of fine dining and entertainment, and help recognize local contributions to the industry as we honour our National Award winners. Equine Canada’s most prestigious awards – Equestrian of the Year, Junior Equestrian of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and the NEW Media Award in memory of Susan Jane Anstey. For more information, and the registration form, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/EquineCanada/EVENTS/national_awards.html A limited number of seats for the media are still available, for more info please contact Jessie Christie, Tel: 613-248-3433 Ext. 136, E-mail: jchristie@equinecanada.ca.

The convention will also feature a variety of clinics throughout the week for the general public, those interested in becoming an Equine Canada official, and those who require clinics for 2007 officials updating. Equine Canada regrets to inform you that the General Performance Judges’ Clinic previously scheduled for February 11 has been cancelled. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email officials@equinecanada.ca for further information. Scheduled clinics include:

• Jumper Judges’ Clinic with FEI ‘C’ Judge Lisa Cieplucha and FEI ‘I’ Judge Marjorie Dennis
• Hunter, Hunt Seat/Equitation and Hack Judges’ Clinic with FEI ‘C’ Judge Lisa Cieplucha and FEI ‘I’ Judge Marjorie Dennis
• Stewards Clinic with EC/FEI Steward Jan Stephens
• FREE Dressage Canada Information and Rules Forum

Please note that although ‘walk-ins’ are welcome to the clinics, for those participating for the purpose of becoming an official, or updating their status, pre-registration is required. For a full list of prices, more info or to download a registration form, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/EquineCanada/EVENTS/clinic.htm

Join us on February 10 for a full day of Education Sessions. Priced from $15 – $35, with day packages and group rates available, the Education Sessions offer a wide variety of topics and feature knowledgeable and prominent experts. Although the pre-registration deadline has passed, registration for the info sessions can be done in person at the Crowne Plaza Hotel right up until the start of the event. The information sessions are as followed:

• The University of Guelph presents ‘Equine 911: First Aid for Your Horse’ with The University of Guelph’s Equine Centre Instructor Dr. Cavanagh
• Cavalor presents ‘Nutritional Management and Realistic Supplement Requirements’
• Equine Medications Information Session with Dr. Mary Bell, DVM, Chair Equine Canada Equine Medications Control Committee
• ‘Awareness and Prevention of Colic’ with Dr. Cavanagh
• Galaman’s Zamar Equine Therapy presents ‘Identifying and Managing Lameness’ with Dr. Howard Dobson, a graduate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in England

Equine Canada is also pleased to announce that a silent auction will be held during the convention. The auction items will be on display from February 5 –10, with the auction closing during the Awards Banquet on the evening of February 10. Don’t miss out on your chance to bid on a wide range of items, including Spruce Meadows merchandise, a variety of tack shop items, gift certificates, a riding lesson from Canadian Dressage Grand Prix rider, Gillian Sutherland, and a beautiful tack case from Clydesdale Custom Cases. If you would like your company’s products or services highlighted in the silent auction, please contact Marketing Coordinator Cheryl Tataryn, Tel: 613-248-3433 Ext. 111, E-mail: ctataryn@equinecanada.ca.

To reserve a hotel room at the Crowne Plaza, please call 1-800-2CROWNE. Equine Canada is also pleased to offer discounted car rental rates courtesy of Hertz from January 29 through to February 19. Car rental reservations can be made online at hertz.com or by calling 1-800-654-2240. For more information, visit www.equinecanada.ca/EquineCanada/EVENTS/hertz_rate.pdf.

For full convention info, please visit
www.equinecanada.ca/EquineCanada/EVENTS/conference.html.

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