#equinepublicpolicy

[akaashmaharaj]

Equestrian Coach Licensing and Certification in Canada

Much has changed since my interview with Horse Community Journals, on Equestrian Canada's plans to regulate all coaches.

I hope my contribution remains relevant: horsepeople are fiercely independent, and any system to govern us will succeed only if it done by us and in our interests, instead of imposed upon us.

🐴 https://maharaj.ca/coaching

[akaashmaharaj]

Bringing the Equine Community Together

I enjoyed moderating the University of Guelph's Equine Industry Symposium this past weekend.

Canada's equestrian community deliberated on how to effect progressive change, while we draw so much of our identity from our traditions. How can we build on our history, rather than be prisoners of our history?

Participants came from across the horse sectors, and speakers from around the world. I congratulate Guelph's student, faculty, and volunteers, for achieving the rare feat of drawing together our notoriously (and proudly!) fractious community.

See the symposium horse portal at https://maharaj.ca/horseportal

[akaashmaharaj]

The Equine Industry Symposium

At the University of Guelph

The University of Guelph will host its fourth annual Equine Industry Symposium, this Sunday 17 November.

It is the one gathering that brings together Canada's grassroots horsepeople, horse welfare advocates, equestrian professionals, and equine researchers, to unite around our shared priorities.

I am looking forward to moderating the discussions again this year.

Read about the symposium at https://fb.com/EIS2019/

[akaashmaharaj]

State of the Equestrian Nation

Margaret Evans wrote quite a wide-ranging overview of the state of the equestrian sector, in Canadian Horse Journal.

I know that some readers were surprised by my view that the overriding priority of governing equestrian institutions should be recruitment, development, and retention of young riders, and not short-term medal results.

I have had the honour to ride for Canada at my discipline’s international championships, and those experiences were undoubtedly amongst the high points of my life as a horseman.  But if I had to choose, I would happily give up my brief moments on the podium, to keep my long years with my horse in the fields.

Far more importantly, I think that a sustainable equine sector can only be built upon a broad foundation of grassroots horsepeople, rather than balanced on the narrow summit of international competitors.

The full article is available online, behind a paywall https://maharaj.ca/ceg2019

[akaashmaharaj]

Animal Welfare in Ontario

The courts have ruled that the Ontario SPCA's powers to enforce anti-cruelty laws are unconstitutional.

I joined a panel on The Agenda with Steve Paikin, on what this will mean for animal welfare in Ontario.

TV Ontario will broadcast our discussion tonight, at 20h00 EST.

See The Agenda’s web site at https://maharaj.ca/2T8Q87j

[akaashmaharaj]

2018 Equine Industry Symposium

I look forward to co-moderating Guelph's Equine Industry Symposium tomorrow.

It will bring together Canada's equestrian community to discuss how to advance standards for professional services and horse welfare.

This is a vital but fraught subject: who will set and enforce the standards; how can we guarantee that standards are based on credible research; how do we ensure that any regulator is competent and accountable?

I suspect there will be much passion and few easy answers.

See the original post at https://maharaj.ca/symposium