ARCHIVE EQUINE NEWS STORIES

Story by: Jackie Bellamy-Zions

EquiMania! would like to thank the organizers, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and the attendees at the Can-Am Equine Expo in Markham, ON and the FEI World Cup in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a busy weekend indeed with both the Canadian and USA exhibit running at the same time during the last weekend in March.

EquiMania! Canada

Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph headed up the team of staff and volunteers manning the education booth and EquiMania! fun zone which catered to eager participants at Can-Am.

With wonderful learning opportunities coupled with entertainment and shopping; Can-Am is always a destination for dedicated equestrians! “We always enjoy coming to this event with educational clinics and events for all disciplines of horse people,” says Gayle. “Ross Miller and his team put on a great show and have long been great supporters of Equine Guelph. We appreciate all the hard work from Janice Blakeney, organizer of the art auction. Last but not least, a big thank you goes out to the artists and auction bidders for their support of Equine Guelph programs.”

In addition to contributing to the auction items in the form of a Heartland gift pack plus meet and greet, Alisha Newton paid a visit to the EquiMania! booth and was immediately surrounded by adoring fans and EquiManiacs.

EquiMania! USA

Four very dedicated EquiMania! supporters were greeted with amazing mid-west hospitality upon arrival at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha Nebraska. Thanks to generous sponsorship from Kiewit Corporation, the EquiMania! display made the trip from Minnesota to Omaha to entertain the multitude of fans enjoying World Cup dressage and show jumping from March 29 – April 2!

"EquiMania! presented an in depth exploration into so many different facets of the world of the horse and we were so pleased to include it in the educational expo. It was enjoyed by thousands of children and their families," said Jacquelyn Vinci, Director of Education Omaha Equestrian Foundation.

Staffed with wonderful volunteers including Dr. Glenn Jackson, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Technology at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and his entourage, the booth was a buzz with lively question and answer periods on horse health, welfare, safety and prosperity. Family’s and famous riders alike had kind words for the award-winning EquiMania! display, enthralled with the fun, interactive equine knowledge gained.

To all the wonderful organizers, volunteers and staff, Gayle Ecker, Equine Guelph director says, “Thank you for bringing EquiMania! to the Horse Discovery Zone at the LONGINES FEI World Cup and for hosting what was truly a world class event in every aspect.”

The strength of great partnerships has made EquiMania! a popular exhibit in Ontario and beyond. Equine Guelph thanks the sponsors and volunteers who make it possible to bring EquiMania! to approximately 2 million visitors every year! Thank you Greenhawk, Kubota Canada, Ontario Equestrian Federation, Ontario Racing, Shur-Gain, SSG Gloves, Standardbred Canada, System Fencing and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services. Special thanks to Kiewit Corporation for making it possible for EquiMania! to present at the LONGINES FEI World Cup in Omaha, NE.

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.