ARCHIVE EQUINE NEWS STORIES

Story by: Jackie Bellamy-Zions

Guelph, Ontario – The Stuart Stocks Memorial Equine Award honours the late Stuart Stocks who followed the world's top racehorses and had a passion for the sport all his life. Applicants from the Ontario horse industry applied by mid-November with a short story detailing their commitment to the horse industry and desire to learn more for the love of the horse. The winners were chosen from a panel of racing industry professionals.

Congratulations to Deborah Corcoran of Mississauga, ON and Cameron Lago of Guelph, ON. Both recipients of the 2016 award will receive two Equine Guelph 12-week online courses to help further their careers in the horse racing industry. The reason for two award recipients is due to a pleasant surprise. An anonymous donation came in, matching the funds for this year's annual Stuart Stocks Memorial Equine Award thus enabling two winners to benefit from Equine Guelph's educational offerings!

Deborah has already decided her first course in January will be Equine Behaviour, most likely followed by Equine Nutrition in May. Originally from St. John's, Newfoundland where she always admired the mounted police brigade, Deborah set that fondness into action taking a horsemanship and groom training program in Ridgeway ON. She has since helped facilitate equine rescues and assisted in re-homing horses, ponies and off-track thoroughbreds. As a horse show volunteer, student of equine law, rider and dedicated horse lover, Deborah says, “I am overjoyed and excited to continue my education. Thank you to the family of Mr. Stuart Stocks for providing this opportunity.“

Cameron, who has cared for livestock his whole life, developed an unexplainable addiction to horses and in particular the racing industry in the past six years after attending a youth camp put on by Ontario Harness Horse Association(OHHA) at Flamboro Downs. This launched a career working in the harness racing industry and a commitment to advocate animal welfare whenever possible. “When you are training horses to their maximum performance level, it is important that you treat them humanely,“ says Cameron who is currently a representative on the Canadian Council of Animal Care. “I look forward to extending my knowledge and thank the Stocks family for making this possible.“

“New champions for the health and welfare of horses will receive training to help them along their journey thanks to the generosity of the Stocks family and this new tuition award,“ says Equine Guelph co-Chair Al Paterson. “To have a second donation to support two winners keen on receiving education for their future in the racing industry is just wonderful and much appreciated.“

Entries for the next Stuart Stocks Memorial Equine Award will be accepted until Nov 15, 2017. See Equine Guelph Tuition Awards for entry details.

Link: http://www.equineguelph.ca/education/tuition_awards.php