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Equine Guelph has set a date for its fifth birthday party! On Tuesday, September 30, Equine Guelph will host a Celebration of Partnerships dinner at Tralee Estate near Caledon, Ontario. Over one hundred industry leaders and partners will join together to celebrate the accomplishments of Equine Guelph and discuss its plans for the future.

Founded in 2003 at the University of Guelph, Equine Guelph is the horse owners' and care givers' Centre at the University. It is a unique partnership dedicated to the health and well-being of horses, supported and overseen by equine industry groups.

In five short years, all facets of the equine industry have come together – sitting around one table – to benefit horses and the people who love and work with them, from the child’s pony to the high-performance athlete and every discipline in between. Equine Guelph has become the epicentre for academia, industry and government – for the good of the equine industry as a whole.

"We are dedicated," says Gayle Ecker, Senior Manager of Equine Guelph, "to improving the health and well-being of horses by fostering the interrelated areas of research, healthcare and education. Our successes depend entirely on the enthusiastic involvement of all sectors of the horse industry."

Five-year industry partners are: E.P. Taylor Research Fund, The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario, Ontario Equestrian Federation, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario Racing Commission, Ontario Veterinary College and the University of Guelph. More recently, Standardbred Canada and Equine Canada have joined the meeting group.

The Celebration of Partnerships will recognize the outstanding contribution of these collaborators on a night to remember. The backdrop for the special evening is the stunning 140-acre estate owned by Dr. Ray Cormack, set in the Hills of Caledon. Plans for the event include: networking, the unveiling of the special Equine Guelph 5th Anniversary edition of Research Magazine, a gourmet meal, and 'mystery' guests who will join each table at appointed times throughout the evening. The concluding program will celebrate and acknowledge the partnerships that have made Equine Guelph possible.

"It is important to stop, reflect and celebrate five years of partnerships and progress," says Ecker. “We want to say thank you in a very special way.”

Tickets are limited and available at a cost of $175 through Equine Guelph (all proceeds go to Equine Guelph) at 519.824.4120 ext. 54205 or horses@uoguelph.ca