Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Gayle Ecker, Equine Industry Vision Award Winner for 2015

Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph, has been awarded the prestigious Equine Industry Vision Award for 2015.

The award, presented at the American Horse Publication Tally-Ho at the Alamo Seminar in San Antonio, Texas on Friday, June 19, 2015, recognizes Ecker’s innovation, vision and commitment to the equine industry.

Sponsored by Zoetis, the award is intended not only to recognize outstanding leadership, creativity and service to the horse industry, but also to benefit the industry by inspiring these qualities in others.

“This award represents an amazing achievement for my dedicated staff who stay focused on the Equine Guelph vision of developing programs to support horse health and welfare for Canada and beyond,” says Ecker. “The recognition from our peers in the horse industry in North America is amazing to have and it is also thanks to the support from the Advisory Council members, our wonderful sponsors and donors, and the passionate volunteers who help us move forward with our vision. I would also like to thank the American Horse Publications Group and Zoetis for developing such an award to recognize achievements in the horse industry in North America and it is an honour to receive this on behalf of Equine Guelph.”

Equine Guelph, a not-for-profit Centre at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, serves the horse and its industry through education, research, healthcare promotion and industry development. Founded in 2003, Equine Guelph is supported and overseen by equine industry groups and is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of horses.

Ecker received the distinction of being ‘short-listed’ for the Equine Industry Vision award from a record number of 25 nominees to one of four finalists. The other three finalists included: EQUUS Foundation, a charitable foundation providing financial support and services to equine charities across the United States; Jim McGarvey, Chairman of the Board, Back Country Horsemen of America; Juli S. Thorson, Editor-at-Large, Horse & Rider.

The AHP Board of Directors, plus a Zoetis representative, select the award winner based on their performance related to their achievements, and demonstration of key attributes, including vision, innovation, leadership, commitment, dedication and willingness to serve, original and effective ideas, services, and programs, as well as high professional standards.

The Equine Industry Vision award has been presented thirteen times since its inception in 2002 to top industry professionals and equine institutes. AHP director, Chris Brune says, “It represents that these individuals and organizations are being recognized for making a real difference in the horse world.”

Ecker has been with Equine Guelph since its inception, and played an instrumental role in its birth. She has dedicated her energies to advancing the equine industry through education and communications of research findings.  Ecker and her team have been leaders in equine education, developing award-winning programs, including over 20 online courses supporting health and welfare, as well as courses in business development – all part of the Equine Studies Diploma.  Another award-winning program, the popular “EquiMania!” has proven to be a favourite with youth and family.  This interactive exhibit, promoting safety, welfare and career opportunities was a popular feature at the World Equestrian Games in 2010.  Other feature programs include large animal technical rescue training, horse owner online tools, equine welfare assessment training, promotion of the new Equine Code of Practice and several other innovative programs.

Many congratulations go out to Ecker from her peers, supporters and the multitude of horse lovers that have been inspired, educated and motivated by her tireless efforts and contributions to the horse industry through her work with Equine Guelph.

Views: 96

Comments are closed for this blog post

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Tariff tools

Multiple tools are available to help Canadians determine tariff levels and what goods may cost

Premier Ford names new ag minister in cabinet shuffle

Sam Oosterhoff takes over for Trevor Jones

Restoring property rights for Alberta farmers

This fall, Alberta’s government will remove Water Act approval requirements for routine agricultural activities involving ephemeral water bodies and temporary and seasonal wetlands on private cropland. “Farmers should not have to spend thousands of dollars and wait on government approval to carry out routine work on their own land. We are restoring private property rights and getting government out of the way where it doesn’t need to be. These common-sense changes will save farmers time and money and give them greater control over how they manage their own property.” Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas The changes respond directly to concerns raised by Alberta farmers and agricultural organizations about unnecessary regulatory burden. Under the current system, routine farming activities can trigger regulatory requirements if they affect a temporary or seasonal wetland. In some cases, a farmer may have to hire a qualified wetland professional, complete an assess

Minister MacDonald announces initial list of 2026 Livestock Tax Deferral regions

Canadian producers and ranchers are on the front lines of climate change, and its effects can significantly impact operations. When extreme weather strikes, livestock producers may experience forage shortfalls and need timely information and support to make effective herd management decisions. Today, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an initial list of regions that will qualify for Livestock Tax Deferral in 2026 due to extreme conditions. The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows livestock producers in prescribed areas, who are forced to sell all or part of their breeding herd due to forage shortfalls resulting from drought, excess moisture or flooding, to defer a portion of their income from sales until the following tax year. The income may be at least partially offset by the cost of reacquiring breeding animals, helping to reduce the tax burden of the original sale. Since 2024, regions that are nearby to drought, excess moisture or

Extinguishing the risk of combine fires

It only takes a small spark to potentially turn a productive harvest day into a costly and dangerous situation. That’s why proactive combine maintenance and fire prevention, both before and during harvest, are essential for preventing machinery fires, which can jeopardize land and lives. Think taking a bit of time during harvest to inspect and clean combines creates costly delays? The reality is that skipping routine maintenance could have significantly higher cost implications if a combine fire were to damage crops or equipment or cause physical injuries. Crop residue, heat, and dry conditions that are typically present during harvest can unfortunately create a perfect storm for combine fires. And considering that some combines can hold upwards of 1,500 litres of fuel, combine fires are a significant hazard during the harvest season that should never be overlooked. Fortunately, combine fires are often preventable with proactive maintenance, a safety mindset, and fire awareness. B

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service