Northernhorse.com Blog

The Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation Alberta Athlete of the Year program recognizes the significant achievements, performances and contributions of amateur athletes at the international level.  Nominations for the 2009 Athlete and Team of the Year Awards are now being accepted until January 31, 2010. Any association, organization or individual may submit nominations.

Award recipients will be honoured at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on May 28, 2010 in Red Deer.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2008 Alberta Athletes of the Year award.  The athletes were chosen based on their performance during the 2008 calendar year.  The 2008 recipients are:

• Paula Findlay, Triathlon, Athletics, Cross Country – Junior Female Athlete
• Thomas Hickey, Hockey - Junior Male Athlete
• Kristina Groves, Speed Skating – Open Female Athlete
• Jeremy Wotherspoon, Speed Skating – Open Male Athlete
• Kevin Martin Team, Curling – Team

–>Under this program, awards will be presented to one team and to one male and one female athlete in each of the following categories:

• Junior category of under 21 years of age
• Open category 21 years of age and over

Since the initiative of the award, 28 individuals and five teams have been honoured.

Click on these links to download the pdf file:

2009 AOTY Nomination Form

2009 Award Brochure

2009 Award Teaser

We get calls from folks having trouble putting their photos on their classified ads because the images that come from their cameras are too big and get “timed out” by their email programs. Mark has tracked down a really good solution to this problem and we are posting it here to help you out. This will work not only if you want to upload to our classifeds (or your own website that has our “Easy Forms”) but also if you just want to email a photo to a friend. It makes them much more user friendly.

If you are using Microsoft Vista

• http://blogs.vertigo.com/personal/jatwood/Blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=20

If you are using Microsoft XP

• Microsoft has made a really simple and free utility for resizing images in XP. Here is a direct download link:

• http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/ImageResizerPowertoySetup.exe

• Run the program when you are done downloading it. When setup is complete, you will be able to right-click on any picture file on your computer and select ‘Resize Pictures’ from the pop-up menu.

Be sure to let us know if this is helpful by commenting below.

The American Quarter Horse Journal, November 24, 2009 – The 2009 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show came to a close in Oklahoma City November 21, following 16 full days of competition. As the dust settled in Jim Norick State Fair Arena, 100 world champion trophies had been distributed among 3,464 entries, which came from 46 states, six Canadian provinces, Brazil, France, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Exhibitors and owners competed for more than $2.7 million in cash and awards. Continue Reading »

Just a note to let you know how the Canadian Classic Sale went on October 31. We had 58 horses catalogued with 54 going through the ring and selling for a total sale average of $3739. High seller was Lot #8, Smalltown Zip, a 2001 mare finished as a barrel horse. She was consigned by Gaugler QH and sold to Jamie McIldoon of Vermilion for $10400. Reserve high seller and high selling gelding was Lot #9, Harlans Peppy Jac, a 2003 gelding that had a lot of pasture experience and a solid heading horse. He was consigned by Rafter H Livestock and sold to Irvine Carson, Maidstone, SK for $10000. Continue Reading »

You know you’re from the prairies when this kind of record amazes you.

Record setting harvest was done in Biggar Sask , Canada .
160 acres was harvested with 100 combines and several grain trucks in 10 minutes and 15 seconds.

This record will be entered in the Guiness World.

Proceeds of this crop is to be sent to a kids camp.

That’s how we get it done in Canada !

Winter Water…and we’re not talking about that white stuff

Horses require access to free choice, clean water at all times and in all seasons, and will drink an average of 30 litres of water per day. Many horses’ diets see an increase in dry feed matter, like hay, during the winter months. As a horse requires 3 litres of water for every kg of dry matter they eat, although horses drink less in cold weather, adequate water consumption remains a priority. Continue Reading »

The onset of winter means horse owners need to ensure their animals have adequate water, feed and shelter. “Our Alberta winters from north to south have a great deal of variance, but there is one thing that is common: Our livestock need to be fed,” says Bill desBarres, chairman of the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada and member of the Alberta Equestrian Federation – the Alberta Equine Welfare Group and the Alberta Farm Animal Care Association (AFAC). Continue Reading »

The Horse Industry Association of Alberta has confirmed that Lindsay Grice will be one of the presenters at the 2010 Horse Breeders and Owners Conference, being held in Red Deer on January 15 to 17, 2010. Grice is a coach, equine advice columnist and judge. She trains horses and riders for both English and Western events. In over 20 years as a professional coach, her students have won, and continue to win at AQHA shows in the United States and Canada. As a competitor, Grice is frequently in the winner’s circle. Continue Reading »

2010 Wild Horse Calendar Cover

DO NOT ENTER THIS DRAW. IT IS ALL OVER.

Check on the front of Northernhorse.com or check under the Categories on this blog for Free Draw to find the current one.

We have a nice prize for our free draw. A 2010 Wild Horses of Alberta Society Calendar. Not only do you get to enjoy some of Bob Hendersen’s wonderful photography, they have included lots of information about the herds and the individuals. It is just a treat to turn to the new month.

We always have a question for you to answer to enter the draw. You can enter by clicking on the Comment link below and putting in your answer. The question?

Have you ever seen a wild horse in the wild?

This draw will end the end of the year. Appropriate for a calendar. Good luck everyone.

Would you like to get a calendar or two as gifts for somebody who might really enjoy some nice photos and information about Alberta’s wild horses? Maybe a T-Shirt with a wild horse on it? Just go to the WHOAS (Wild Horses of Alberta Society) http://www.northernhorse.com/wildhorses/. Lots of information there about the wildies. You can even buy a DVD of the documentary about the Wild Horses of Alberta. Lots of good ideas for Christmas gifts and you get to avoid the rush and crowds and help some wild horses.

http://www.northernhorse.com/wildhorses/

It is but a rumour that I hear. But… I hear that another organization is picking up the Alberta 50/50 Pot O’ Gold Sale & Futurity. I am a fan of  the Pot O’ Gold. We were there when it started. It gets some nice young horses started and it allows some of our top trainers and amateurs to strut their stuff. It is not breed specific in fact it has had a large diversity of bloodlines within breeds in the past.

We really enjoyed the young horses we brought up for the Pot O Gold. Some of them went on to win other honors, I think every one found a really good home.

If anyone knows more details about this  please give me a call or email lynn@northernhorse.com.