By Jocelyn Adams Plasman

Horseplay Program

We want to encourage you to learn, practice good horsemanship, and play! We have launched our Horse Play Program that allows members to record their horse activity whether they are watching a clinic, cleaning a stall, or taking their horse on a trail. This is a FREE all-inclusive program for Horse Council BC (HCBC) members ages 13 and up, and enters members into draws to win monthly, quarterly, and yearly prizes. Prizes include gift cards from BC-based equestrian businesses!

Download the app by searching “Horseplay” on the App Store or Google Play to get started. Also available online if you don’t have access to a mobile device.

We are three-quarters of the way through the first year of Horseplay! The final draw will be our biggest with monthly, quarterly, and the yearly prizes being awarded. Have you heard what we are giving away?

• Adult Category Yearly prize: $500 gift card!*
• Youth Category Yearly prize: Pivo Prize Pack!
• Youth Category Yearly runner-up prize: $150 gift card!*

*Gift cards are the winner’s choice selected from our list of BC-based equine business partners.

BC Summer Games

It’s never too early to start setting your sights on competing at the BC Summer Games. Maple Ridge Equi-Sports Centre will once again be the site of a BC Games competition. The 2024 BC Summer Games Equestrian Competition will take place at Maple Ridge Equi-Sports Centre July 18 to 21 2024.

If you are an equestrian athlete competing in Dressage, Stadium Jumping, Eventing, or Equestrian Vaulting and will be 13 to 18 years old as of December 31, 2023, or if you are a Para-Equestrian athlete participating in Dressage and are 13 to 30 years old as of December 31, 2023, make competing at the 2024 BC Summer Games your goal!

Technical Packages and declaration forms will be available soon!

Trail Markers

Trail riding season is upon us! To help with trail maintenance work, order your trail markers today. For HCBC clubs, affiliates, and businesses, the first 50 trail markers are free! Additional trail markers are available to purchase at $1.00 each plus tax and shipping. To order: Email recreation@hcbc.ca, or Call 604-856-4304 (toll free 1-800-345-8055) ext. 1009.

Provincial Championships

• New for 2023, HCBC will be tracking points from multiple disciplines at designated Provincially Sanctioned Competitions and Bronze Equestrian Canada Competitions, as well as double points from the 55+ Games and BC Summer Games in three age categories:
• Junior 14 years to 18 years
• Adults 19 years to 54 years, and 
• Masters 55 years and over

Awards will be given in each separate discipline with the year-end Champion and Reserve Champions announced at the end of show season.

Visit our website for more information — more disciplines to be added soon!

Photo: Shutterstock/Shawn Hamilton