April 26, 2010

The Slide-In has been cancelled due to a Cardston Agricultural Society Board Decision based on the following information:

1. 30% drop in Provincial Grant Money for added purses for 2010 Show
2. Number of horses competing has dropped from 160 to 100 in the last 4 years.
3. Announcement of my retirement after the 2010 Show.

Thank you for your past support.
Marilyn Smith
South Country Slide-In
Show Manager

December 21, 2009

NRHA / North American Affiliate Championship NEWS . . .
READ MORE click here

SEPT 4th, 2009

Thank you to the Beckley Family of Three Bars Guest Ranch!
(They had donated a stay at their guest ranch for the door prize of the 2008 AGM)

We had a great time at the Three Bars Guest Ranch. It is a very beautiful and relaxing place to stay. Our family enjoyed the swimming pool, hot tub, mountain bikes, trail riding, hiking trails and the reining lessons. As well, we all looked forward to the delicious home cooked meals.
We really appreciated the Beckley family’s hospitality and thank them for their generous donation to Reining Alberta.

I know our family will definitely be going back. THE KOLSUN FAMILY

JULY 25, 2009

ALBERTA REINING TEAM WINS BRONZE at 2009 NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR and YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS

REINING ALBERTA presents a "Town Hall Meeting" to Discuss the Issues and Challenges Facing the Sport of Reining in 2009

To be held on Wednesday June 3, 2009 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Westerner Grounds in the Reining Building at the RA Spring classic Show, RA has been fortunate to bring together representatives from the NRHA, Reining Canada, and Equine Canada to meet directly with the Reiners in Alberta.

For Complete Details - click here

April 9, 2009

NRHA Responds to Reining Alberta letter dated February 26, 2009

Following a meeting of the NRHA Board of Directors the following letter was sent to the RA Board of Directors.
Read More - click here

April 28, 2009

The Canadian Reining Committee Announces Selection Criteria for the 2009 Reining Kentucky Cup

Youth reiners across Canada are competing at qualifying classes for the opportunity to compete as part of the Canadian team at the 2009
North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC)
Read More - click here

April 29, 2009

Reining Alberta responds to NRHA Letter dated April 9, 2009

Reining Alberta is Hosting a North American Young Rider Championship Qualifier Class

On May 17, 2009 the Reining Alberta South Branch Circuit Show will be holding a NAYRC qualifying class for Alberta Youth Reiners.
Read More - click here

MARCH 27

REINING ALBERTA SENDS LETTER TO RC click here

March 18, 2009

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS about RA, NAA, & NRHA

To Reining Alberta Members:

In an attempt to clarify misinformation that is being circulated regarding Reining Alberta’s request to remove National Affiliate Association (NAA) status from Reining Canada (RC), we feel the need to assure the Reining Community in Alberta that Reining Alberta strongly supports the NRHA. We are very proud to be the largest NRHA affiliate in Canada. We believe that NRHA membership and participation will increase in Alberta once mandatory dual membership is eliminated.

Read More - click to open pdf document

March 6, 2009

Equine Canada Announces New Canadian Reining Committee

Ottawa, Ontario—Equine Canada is pleased to announce that a new committee has been appointed within the Equine Canada structure for the discipline of reining.

The Canadian Reining Committee (CRC) is now responsible for the development and implementation of reining programs in Canada. This initiative aligns reining with the other FEI disciplines, which are each managed by discipline committees within Equine Canada.

Populated with individuals who have experience and expertise in the reining industry, the CRC is charged with establishing a plan to advance the discipline within the Equine Canada framework. The inaugural CRC members include: Bob Thompson (Chair), Wendy Dyer, J.P. Forget, Lee Foster, Christine Hassell, Holly MacDonald, Wendy Robinson, and Gary Yaghdijan.

“We are very fortunate to have such a diverse group of reining experts on the CRC,” said Bob Thompson, the chair of the CRC. “The first committee meeting was very positive and each of the members are committed to fostering the growth of Reining in Canada.”

A number of sub-committees have also been formed and populated to develop and deliver specific programs such as: international selection criteria, officials programs, competition rules and regulations, and coaching initiatives.

In the upcoming weeks, the CRC will finalize the governance documents for the discipline, which will provide information on the operation of the discipline including the election processes for the committees. The CRC will also evaluate programs developed through the sub-committees, and approve selection criteria for upcoming FEI international competitions.

For additional information on the CRC and its programs, please visit the Equine Canada website atwww.equinecanada.ca where additional information will be posted as it available.

March 5, 2009

INFORMATION for REINING ALBERTA MEMBERS:

The Reining Alberta (RA) Board of Directors appreciates the concerns that RA members have brought forward regarding our recent letter to the NRHA asking for National Affiliate Association (NAA) status to be removed from Reining Canada (RC) and the mandatory dual membership to end. We were elected by the RA membership to act on their behalf, and after careful consideration of all the recent information supplied to us by Equine Canada, RC, and the NRHA , we made a unanimous decision, which we determined to be in the best interests of the entire RA membership.

We have been told that the NRHA Executive Committee will review our letter and other relevant information and then discuss the matter with the complete NRHA Board of Directors in as timely fashion as possible. When we receive a reply from the NRHA Board we will update the RA membership at that time.

If you have specific concerns with the North American Affiliate Program, RA would like to share with you these facts:

The RA Affiliate Circuit is hosted, organized and paid for by Reining Alberta. It is a program approved by the NRHA, between the NRHA and RA. Reining Canada has never been involved in the Reining Alberta Affiliate Circuit.
The Western Canadian Affiliate Finals are being organized and paid for by the Central Canadian Reining Horse Association (a regional affiliate) - not RC.

We understand how members would assume that RC had a lot to do with the success of the Western Canadian Regional Affiliate, especially since a RC membership was required to compete in the circuit in 2008, however it appears that RC had no significant role, as a host, organizer or sponsor within the North American Affiliate Program.

We have no reason to believe that RA members participation in the North American Affiliate Program would be jeopardized if RC loses the NAA status and the mandatory dual membership comes to an end. The United States does not have a NAA and the North American Affiliate Program is successful in that country.

We will continue to make every effort to communicate with the entire membership in an accurate and timely fashion. Please check the Reining Website frequently for updates and we will continue to converse through use of email.

Please direct any comments or concerns to:

Libby Laycraft, Vice President, Reining Alberta

libbysally@shaw.ca 403 257 3885 or 403 850 9564

February 28, 2009

REINING ALBERTA REQUESTS NRHA TO REMOVE NATIONAL AFFILIATE ASSOCIATION (NAA) STATUS FROM REINING CANADA AND END MANDATORY DUAL MEMBERSHIP

In a unanimous decision, the Reining Alberta Board of Directors have sent a letter to the NRHA, requesting them to revoke NAA status from Reining Canada and end the mandatory dual membership effective immediately.

This action was taken in response to our members concerns on recent developments within the Canadian community.

Reining Alberta was recently made aware that in April of 2008, a decision was made by Equine Canada to part ways with Reining Canada. Effective that date, Reining Canada was no longer involved in international Reining competition at the FEI level. Reining Canada appears to have no clear mandate now that the international program is delivered through Equine Canada’s Canadian Reining Committee.

Secondly, our members continue to voice concerns regarding the mandatory NRHA/RC dual membership from both cost and benefit perspectives. We live in difficult economic times, and the $175 mandatory dual membership imposed by Reining Canada is being labelled by our members as a deterrent to participate in competition at the NRHA level.

On the basis of these two points, and the concerns expressed by our membership, the Reining Alberta Board of Directors has acted on behalf of our membership, to request the NRHA remove Reining Canada as the NAA for this country and eliminate the mandatory dual membership.

For further information contact:

Garry Boan, President of Reining Alberta
garry.boan@devitt-forand.com
403 938-3492

Beryl Jarrett, RA Staff Secretary
ra_staffsecretary@yahoo.com
780 372-2183

Dear NRHA Board of Directors,

We are the Board of Reining Alberta. We are the largest regional affiliate in Canada representing the interests of over 500 Reiners in Alberta, Canada. We have enjoyed steady growth in our reining community over the past 5 years despite all the political upheaval. We have grown our membership by offering educational programs and opportunities to show, for all levels and ages of Reiners in Alberta. We have done this without any assistance from Reining Canada (RC). We are an organization of reining enthusiasts and we are very proud of our sport but fear animosity towards Reining Canada and being forced to buy a dual membership will inhibit future growth.
Due to recent developments in the Canadian reining community and discussions we have had with our members, we are unanimously compelled to inform you of our concern with the NRHA continuing to support Reining Canada as our country’s National Affiliate Association.

Reining Canada is no longer recognized by Equine Canada, our national governing body, as the committee in charge of international competition and sport development. As a result, Reining Canada currently does not and in the foreseeable future will not hold a legitimate role in the future of our sport at any level. (See attached letter from Equine Canada to on one of our Reining Alberta members which was presented to our Board)

In addition, our membership has expressed concerns regarding the mandatory dual RC/NRHA membership. Currently the cost of this membership is $175 (broken down as $95 for NRHA and $80 for Reining Canada). In these difficult economic times, it is particularly hard to understand why our members are being forced to buy a membership to an organization that is irrelevant and redundant. When recently asked what Reining Canada will do in 2009, Reining Alberta was informed that Reining Canada “will aid in communication between regional affiliates and the NRHA” .This costly tool for communication is completely unnecessary and has proven in the past to hinder communication rather than help.

Reining Canada is a poorly supported and controversial organization, with no clear mandate. Reining Alberta has received requests to not approve our three NRHA shows this year because of controversy surrounding Reining Canada. The animosity towards RC is now being directed towards the NRHA, because of the apparent lack of concern for its Canadian NRHA members regarding this issue.

Reining Alberta urges the NRHA to remove Reining Canada from the position of National Association Affiliate for Canada and stop the mandatory dual Reining Canada/NRHA membership effective immediately. In doing so, we are confident that the NRHA will benefit not only financially but more importantly by regaining respect for the NRHA.

We appreciate your prompt consideration of this request and we look forward to working together with the NRHA Board and staff, to develop a solution to this matter that would benefit our common membership. We know that Reining Alberta and the NRHA working in partnership will continue to deliver first rate opportunities and programs to the reining community in Alberta.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors for Reining Alberta

Garry Boan, President 403 938-3492 garry.boan@devitt-forand.com
Libby Laycraft, V.Pres. 403 257-3885 libbysally@shaw.ca
Trish Rasmussen, P.Pres. 403 637-2418 mightymare@nucleus.com
Isabel Gimber, Treasurer 403 932-1206 hoofprints@xplornet.com
Giselle Aebly, Secretary 403 938-0542 jenner@platinum.ca
Leslie Eagleton, Dir. 403 931-2116 leslie.eagleton@hotmail.com
Carolyn Schmidt, Dir. 780 967-5555 carolyn@sunwestservices.com
Ken Goodbrand, Dir. 780 354-3273 wapati@telusplanet.net
Darren Kolsun, Dir. 403 887-6640 wlmach@telus.net
Llana Malmberg, Dir. 403 684-2394 llanamalmberg@yahoo.ca
Craig Mannix, Dir. 780 875-1522 ct.mannix@hmsinet.ca
Marnie Hamilton, Dir. 250 479-3050 mehamilton@shaw.ca