ARCHIVE EQUINE NEWS STORIES

Story by: Jackie Bellamy-Zions

Guelph, Ontario — Equine Guelph’s new Horse Health Check poster is an indispensable tool for any horse owner who wants to give the best possible care to their horse. This handy reference tool provides a quick and easy 16-point systematic method to check vitals, figure out normal baselines and alert you when potential health problems are brewing.

Equine Guelph Director, Gayle Ecker notes, "This resource can advance horse owners from the 'ain't doin' right' approach to the pro health assessment."

The Horse Health Check poster makes a welcome addition to any stable wall and is available at 10 select Greenhawk stores beginning in June 2014. Posters are available for $9.99 at the following Greenhawk locations: Mississauga, Ottawa, Gormley, London, Beamsville, Barrie, Orangeville, Campbellville , Whitby and Toronto (Avenue Road).

The laminated poster uses simple red-yellow-green signs to guide horse owners through the systematic checklist. Not only does it inspire confidence in care takers, knowing what the warning signs are, but they are also able to provide their veterinarians with important information. In some cases, this information can make the difference in a life or death situation. The Horse Health Check can be performed in five minutes by amateur horse owners and experienced professionals alike.

Greenhawk is well known in the equestrian community for its support of numerous events and grass roots shows. They believe in today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders in the sport. They also believe in the welfare of all their faithful partners – the horse. Joining Equine Guelph on the 2014 Full-Circle-Responsibility welfare campaign, 100 per cent of all Horse Health Check poster proceeds will be donated to Equine Guelph. These funds will assist Equine Guelph in continuing to offer welfare education to the equine industry and the posters will help educate horse owners, ultimately benefiting the health of their horses.

Sign up for our free e-newsletter, which delivers monthly welfare tips throughout 2014 and provides tools to aid all horse owners in carrying out their ‘Full-Circle-Responsibility’ to our beloved horses. In partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Equine Guelph is developing a 'Full-Circle-Responsibility' equine welfare educational initiative which stands to benefit the welfare of horses in both the racing and non-racing sectors.

Visit Equine Guelph’s Welfare Education page for more information.

This project is funded in part through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of GF2 in Ontario.

Other partners include: Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare; Equine Canada; Farm & Food Care Ontario; Greenhawk Harness & Equestrian Supplies; Omega Alpha Equine; Ontario Equestrian Federation; the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food; Ontario Racing Commission; Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Standardbred Canada.

Equine Guelph is the horse owners’ and care givers’ Centre at the University of Guelph. It is a unique partnership dedicated to the health and well-being of horses, supported and overseen by equine industry groups. Equine Guelph is the epicentre for academia, industry and government – for the good of the equine industry as a whole.

For further information, visit EquineGuelph.ca.