Equine Guelph has announced that Ruleen Lilley and Renée Kierans have been selected to represent the horse racing industry as Industry Ambassadors of an online training initiative this winter – a series of free short courses offered exclusively to the racing community in Ontario (AGCO licensees).

Trainers, grooms and owners will reap the benefits of learning the latest in equine healthcare through free access to three online courses developed by Equine Guelph to address industry-identified healthcare priorities in racehorses: respiratory, lameness and gut health.

As Industry Ambassadors, Lilley and Kierans will represent the Standardbred and Thoroughbred sectors, respectively, as peer helpers in the three courses. They will be online to assist course participants, ask practical questions to industry experts on behalf of their sector and encourage lively, robust online discussions between students from the different racing sectors.

Standardbred Ambassador, Ruleen Lilley, is a partner of Mac Lilley Farms and throughout 2022 will be celebrating the farm’s 50th year of breeding and racing Standardbreds.

“This life has shown us struggles and thrills, and I wouldn’t have chosen any different path,” said Lilley. “I look forward to being your Standardbred Ambassador and learning even more about the horses we are privileged to work with each day.”

Renée Kierans, Thoroughbred Ambassador, has been involved in the horse racing industry for close to 40 years. She has worn many caps such as exercise rider, pony rider, outrider, starting gate crew, groom school instructor, trainer and owner. She worked for 12 years as an on-air broadcaster and handicapper for Woodbine and Mohawk, covering both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing.

“I'm excited to be your Thoroughbred Ambassador, and we can all learn more about the horse together,” said Kierans.

Free racing-exclusive courses include:

• Racehorse Respiratory Health: January 24-February 4, 2022 (free to AGCO licensees) – www.TheHorsePortal.ca/OR

• Racehorse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care: February 21-March 4, 2022 (free to AGCO licensees) – www.TheHorsePortal.ca/COSA

• Racehorse Gut Health & Colic Prevention: March 7-March 18, 2022 (free to Standardbred Canada members) – www.TheHorsePortal.ca/SC

Sponsored by Ontario Racing, Central Ontario Standardbred Association and Standardbred Canada, the three free courses will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 100 to register for each course. For those who have never taken an online course before, no prior online learning experience is required.

(Equine Guelph)