Equine Guelph, a leader in equine research and sports medicine, headlines a group of Ontario educators extolling the merits of the Youth Literary Derby.

The Youth Literary Derby is a juried, horse-themed writing contest that carries $2,000 in prize money. The derby, which is designed to encourage writing and literacy skills, has been constructed to reach out to horse-loving kids that are in the provincial education system and possess a literary flair. The derby calls for students’ evaluations and perceptions of the Standardbred. It challenges students to express – in prose and verse – their up-close encounters with Standardbred foals and to articulate the unspoken bond between man and horse that has existed through the years. For complete information, click here.

“The Derby is a wonderful initiative encouraging youth of Ontario to express themselves, engage and celebrate in the wonderful world of horses,” said Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph. “As an enthusiastic partner in the promotion of the Youth Literary Derby and a strong supporter of education for budding horse enthusiasts, Equine Guelph is pleased to provide online Horse Behaviour and Safety courses for the winners of the Youth Literary Derby.”

The Youth Literary Derby challenges the educational system to draw the attention of today’s youth beyond the world of computers and into the world of nature, and the horse, that has had a major impact on the history and development of this planet.

Equine Guelph, well known for its support of the grassroots of the horse industry with its award-winning travelling display, EquiMania!, recently added the short course for youth 14 – 17 years old: Horse Behaviour and Safety.

“We hope the Derby winners will enjoy furthering their interest in horses and learning the language of the horse during this highly interactive course,” Ecker continued.

(With files from Equine Guelph and the Youth Literary Derby)