Strong Start To Educational Partnership

Published: April 18, 2021 11:51 am EDT

Standardbred Canada (SC) and Equine Guelph’s (EG) educational partnership was officially launched with SC’s sponsorship of the Racehorse Respiratory Health Course, made available free to SC members from March 22 – April 2.

More than 125 SC Members took part in the course which delved into reducing risk of respiratory issues in racehorses with daily management routines and improving the horse’s performance on the track.

The course featured respected industry experts as the course instructors - Dr. Melissa McKee from Ontario, and guest expert, Dr. Patty Hogan from New Jersey.

In the 2016 Ontario Horse Racing Industry Survey conducted by Equine Guelph, ‘respiratory issues’ was ranked the number one health issue. Racehorses are elite athletes and best performance can only be achieved with optimal health. Given the demanding life of the equine athlete, a high number of racehorses are at risk of several different respiratory concerns.

"I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this course. Having been around Standardbred racehorses most of my life I thought I knew a great deal about this subject but I was surprised there was so much more to learn. I highly recommend taking this course," commented Frank Reid, Standardbred owner.

“We were extremely pleased with not only the high numbers of SC members registering into the Respiratory Course, but with the level of enthusiasm and engagement,” said Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph.

If you took part in the free Racehorse Respiratory Course, the course will remain open and you will have access to the material until Sunday, May 2. Equine Guelph encourages students to complete the course exit survey before May 2. Survey feedback will assist Equine Guelph with future course planning and changes.

The Standardbred Canada-Equine Guelph partnership also provides a discount on all future courses for its members to receive online industry training on The Horse Portal. The discount offers all SC members including trainers, grooms, owners and drivers, 15% off short online courses that aim to give their racehorses a competitive edge.

Here is a roster of the upcoming short courses available at TheHorsePortal.ca/SC to members at the discounted rate:

  • Equine First Aid – Spring ’21
    May 3 – May 10

  • Fire & Emergency Preparedness – Spring ’21
    May 17 – May 25

  • Horse Care & Welfare – Fall ’21
    Sep 20 – Oct 1

  • Sickness Prevention in Horses – Fall ’21
    Oct 18 – Oct 29

  • Horse Behaviour & Safety – Fall ’21
    Nov 15 – Nov 26

Equine Guelph has been a pioneer and global leader in online education for equine professionals since its inception in 2003. The Horse Portal was launched in 2017 and became a national success, partnering with 10 English-speaking provincial equestrian federations across Canada. It is a partnership platform for the equine community, available to everyone in the equine industry. The Horse Portal has quickly grown to include youth organizations, international safety associations, and horse racing partners including Standardbred Canada, Ontario Racing, Horse Racing Alberta and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

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