Here it is the beginning of a New Year, and we all start thinking about longer days and eventually warmer weather for riding.  I just want to remind you that we do have a number of equine related activities coming up in these cold dark days of the New Year.  

This Wednesday a Manitoba Horse Council (MHC) Council of Clubs meeting takes place from 5:30 pm at the Cindy Klassen Recreation Centre, Winnipeg and I am looking forward to seeing as many clubs represented at that meeting as possible.  I realize that for those clubs not centred in and around Winnipeg it may be difficult to attend (we were asked not to hold it on a weekend), but it is an opportunity for the clubs to meet with each other and to bring any concerns they may have to the Horse Council.  That does not mean the MHC Board does not want to hear from you at other times, we do, but we think it is important to meet face to face as well. And, if we are to act on any of your concerns that require changes to the MHC By-Laws, we must have a quorum at these meetings.  So, we need at least 50% of the clubs in attendance.   If you cannot be there at the start, that's OK, the doors are always open to your club's rep. 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Council of Clubs meeting, the Board needs your help.  Before the next meeting of all the clubs at the AGM in April, the Board would like to address the issue of representation for non-club members of the Horse Council.  We currently have a significant number of individual members with no club affiliation and therefore no voice on the Council of Clubs.  We are keen to hear your suggestions for rectifying this. Suggestions can be submitted by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

This year promises to be a busy one for MHC and its members, and as such I would encourage you to check the website regularly in order to keep up to date with all that will be happening over the coming months. New clinics and programs are planned for this month and beyond, details of which can be found in the Events and Competitions section of the website. 

I do not make any promises about a monthly president's message, but I am going to try.  I just want anyone who is a Horse Council Member to know that they can contact me, or any of the MHC Board for information, or with requests and concerns or offers of help.  Whatever your equine-related question, ask the Horse Council, if we do not have an answer we will try to find one. 

Happy New Year everyone 

Geri Sweet
President