The event, now 25 years old, pits 10 breeds against one another in trail riding and barrel racing. The trail course at the Spruce Meadows equestrian complex features a huge inflated ball, ditch jumping, bridge and water crossing, flag bearing, bucket carrying, and even fetching a phone book from a telephone booth.

Pigtails flew in the wind and rain, and feathered fetlocks dashed through the unseasonable snow as horses and riders, donned in their best of tack and outfits, vied for the championship crown. The interbreed battle included mules, quarter-horses, Arabians, Appaloosas, pintos, Shetland ponies, Morgans, Canadians, paints and Gypsy Vanners. Each team consists of three members and riders could compete in either Western or English style.

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• Historical perspective: Too early to assess flood’s impact on Alta. farmland: AgMin

From striped stockings and angel wings  to ribcage landscapes of flooded farmland, the equines were painted with spirit and a vibrant pallette.

Each of the 20 organizations, selected from 58 applicants, receives $1,000. The public is also invited to bid on each horse, with proceeds going to the organizations. Bids can be made through to September by going to www.sprucemeadows.com.

Also, cash prizes were awarded to those judged to be the most innovative equines. A first-place cheque for $10,000 went to the SHARP Foundation (which provides care both medically and spiritually for people living with HIV or AIDS). Literacy for Life Foundation received $7,000 for second place and Special Olympics Calgary and the Bowness Community Association tied for third, each winning $3,000. A special Pegasus volunteerism award of $10,000 went to the Opening Gaits Therapeutic Riding Society.

“So many organizations are suffering from donor and volunteer fatigue,” said Southern-Heathcott. “We chose those that were struggling and needed a leg up.”

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Just as a polo pony, show jumper or barrel racer must know how to do its job, so must the ranch horse that earns its hay by being an equal partner in helping its rider tend to livestock chores.

A horse that is easily spooked, runs off without its rider, or balks at flapping rain jackets or twirling ropes won t make the cut as a working cow horse.

The Working Ranch Horse competition, held November 8 in the Edmonton EXPO Centre as part of Farmfair, tests the mettle of these equine cow hands, as they are put through their paces to simulate the challenges faced by the everyday ranch horse. The competition attracts proven ranch horses four years of age and older from across western Canada. Some of the horses are also entered in the Heritage Ranch Rodeo, held November 6-8.

Each of the approximate 15 horses entered in the competition are for sale, put up for auction following the contest.

Horses must show they can be easily bridled, ground-tied, have their feet inspected without making a fuss, and then stand quietly while being mounted. The horse then shows off its manoeuvres in a reining pattern. They are asked to change leads, circle, spin, and do rollbacks, said David Fiddler, Northlands Farmfair show manager. Horse and rider then work a cow, boxing it in, and then running it down the fence, showing it can be turned in the opposite direction. The horse shows off its ability in tracking while the rider ropes a cow that may be swerving or ducking. Finally, the horse is asked to drag a log, showing it isn t phased by a object chasing it from behind. This can be tricky since the log is partially in the horse s blind spot. A rider then has the chance to show off anything else it can do. It is their chance to wow the crowd, Fiddler said. Riding with one hand is preferred, but two-handing it would just cost in terms of scoring, not disqualification.

The competition highlights the versatility of the working ranch horse, with some turning in amazing performances, said Fiddler. Some of these horses are ridden by professional trainers who can ride anything with hair, he said. They can make the horse look really good.

Last year s ranch horse champion was ER Uvalde, a Quarter Horse gelding owned by Don Edey of Longview and ridden by Jesse Thomson. The pair scored 302, just four points ahead of My Midnight League owned by Frehlick Quarter Horses of Estevan, SK.

Any horse that is trained to do the herd, rein and fence is unequivocally a well-broke horse, said Edey. Add the roping element and you have an all-around stock horse that is handy for any ranch work.

Uvalde was an eye-catcher even as a weanling, he said. He is what we like in a horse. Good conformation, trainable, good temperament and athletic. And pleasing to look at. He was our pick as a snaffle-bitter as a three-year-old. His full sister was a champion reiner and cow horse and he had that potential as well. He was shown in the futurities as a three-year-old.

But the horse is just the raw material, he noted. It requires the proper training to excel in competition. A top trainer, Jesse Thomson is also an accomplished roper, said Edey. All of his horses get experience getting used to a rope. He also uses some of the show horses to work off of in the summer while doctoring heifers. So the horses get everyday ranch horse experience outside of the day-today arena work. .

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If you re out to sell a top ranch horse, the Working Ranch Horse competition and sale, to be held November 8, are ideal venues, said the owner of last year s champion ranch horse. It s a win-win venue to market a well-broke stock horse, said Don Edey of Edey Ranches in Longview, AB. Edey s horse, ER Uvalde, won the championship and brought in the second highest bid at the sale, which follows the competition. The brown gelding went for $6,000, with My Midnight League, a black mare from Frehlick Quarter Horses in Estevan, SK, receiving the top bid of $6,500. She placed second in the competition.

The winning horses don t always fetch the highest price, depending on the order of bidding and what the purchaser wants, said Northlands Farmfair show manager David Fiddler. Sometimes there is quite an upset. There may be a horse that tugs at someone s heart strings, or they just want a quiet horse.

For Crystal Ference, of Gibbons, AB, Uvalde was the horse for her. Even if he hadn t won the competition, that is the horse I wanted, she said. I d seen him in the sales catalogue, and liked the results he had. I would have bid on him even if he hadn t won the competition. It was just an added bonus that he won.

The sale attracts buyers looking for working horse prospects and some who are eyeing experienced mounts as 4-H candidates, said Fiddler. Buying a horse through an auction can be tricky if you haven t had a chance to chat with the owners or see the horse in action, said Ference who uses Uvalde in team penning and reining. He is also a great prospect for her children, she said. I may use him as a gymkhana horse.

Ference was looking for a horse that was sound with good training, experienced around cattle and a horse she could advance on. At this sale, you get to see what they can do. You know you are getting an experienced horse. You have a chance to preview them.

The sale will also broadcast by Direct Livestock Marketing Systems (DLMS). Edey takes great satisfaction in matching his horses with the right owner. I love to produce good horses and see people eventually own them and enjoy them as much as we do in their development, he said.

Fiddler expects sale prices to be equal to or more than last year s average of $3,807. Cattle prices are up, canola is nearing record prices and the oil business is strong, he said. At a sale Fiddler held in September in Saskatchewan, prices were the strongest they ve been since 2002, when Alberta s cattle industry was crippled after its first cases of bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) So things are now looking good, Fiddler said. I think we will have a very strong sale. .

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Rodeos have always been part of the cowboy way of life. In the days of long cattle drives, a rider would select his horse from a remuda, ready to be tossed about in the saddle before getting on with the day s work. The horses were often half-broke and the range riders got things sorted out as they headed down the trail to market. Wranglers were handy at roping, cutting cattle, and tending to animals that got sick along the way.

These are the skills the 7th annual Heritage Ranch Rodeo, held November 6-8 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, will showcase as 16 ranches from across western Canada compete for the honour to be named top working ranch.

It s an opportunity for traditional ranches to showcase their skills, said David Fiddler, show manager of Northlands Farm and Ranch Show. These cowboys take great pride in their horsemanship and stock handling abilities. The rope is their tool.

Events include sorting, doctoring, branding, wild cow milking, a wild horse race, and bronc riding. There are no bulls breaking out of the chutes and riders are not racing down the arena throwing a loop after a speedy calf. These events are not typical of everyday ranch life, as ranch hands know that the best way to move and work with cattle is at a slow and steady pace, said Mike Sears, captain of the Mesabi Ranch. The Nanton Base r Ranch won last year s rodeo event.

Even the heritage rodeo introduces speed to determine winners, noted Sears. The real difference between rodeo and the real ranch life is the stopwatch. The horse race does not happen on the ranch. That s not how you go after a horse, he said. Whether horses or cattle, if you rush them, it won t work well. Time is for entertainment, he said. It is the only way you can compare two teams.

While a ranch horse will occasionally buck, it s not as accepted as it was in the days of horses greeting each day with a snort or two, he said. Back then cowboys didn t care if the horse bucked or not. They were tough-minded and tough-bodied. We have horses that buck but I have no interest in that. I don t like it. I try to prepare them so that does not happen, but back then, they didn t care. They were tougher than me.

Today s horses are started younger and are around people every day, Sears said. The training methods are also more considerate of the horse, with trainers such as the late Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance believing that gentler methods result in a more trusting mount. Their influence changed the way horses are handled, Sears said.

Ranches invited to participate in the Heritage Ranch Rodeo must practice traditional methods, and members have to be employees or family members of the ranch. In other words, you can t bring someone in from the CFR to ride the bronc, said Fiddler. Last year, it was the bronc riding that made the difference between top and bottom placements. Two ranches had a rider bucked off.

Just like on a ranch, all of the events, except for bronc riding, are a team effort.

Very few places get by with just one person. It s usually a husband and wife, or husband, wife and children, or a husband, wife and an employee, Sears said.

Sears and his team compete each year for the social aspect, but also to see how they stack up against similar outfits. It s the satisfaction of making sure your skills are comparable.

One goal of the Heritage Ranch Rodeo is to preserve the skills that are part of Alberta s ranching history. Cattle are now trucked to market instead of overland trail drives, and some ranches are turning to ATVs instead of horses. But not Sears. I like the horse. It s a preference. If you re not comfortable with a horse, then I guess you can switch to an ATV. But horses can go anywhere a cow can go, through thick trees that an ATV can t get through, and mud and water. And if you need to treat an animal, there s no way of restraining it if you re on an ATV.

The Mesabi Ranch, which grazes, backgrounds and finishes cattle, returns this year to defend its title. Other ranches expected to compete include the R Bar Ranch (Bluffton, AB), Bar U Ranch (Longview, AB), High Plains Ranch (Carnduff, SK), Roseburn Ranches (High River, AB), the Porcupine Quill Ranch (Pincher Creek, AB), the Douglas Lake Cattle Company (Douglas Lake, BC), the Gang Ranch (central BC), the Nicola Ranch (Merritt, BC), the River Ranch (BC), Wineglass Ranch (Cochrane, AB), Sleepy Spring Ranch (Winfield, AB), and the Coldstream Ranch (Coldstream, BC) .

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Spins. Rollbacks. Sliding stops. Circles. Flying lead changes. These spectacular moves, once part of a working ranch horse s day, are now packaged as the western horse event called reining, one of the fastest growing equestrian sports. Riders guide their horses through precise patterns, exhibiting athletic prowess as they execute such powerful and dynamic manoeuvres as abrupt stops and furious spins.

Reining is one of three disciplines held as part of the Canadian Supreme (CS), a major western show that began in 1976 and has been held at Westerner Park in Red Deer since 1983. The Canadian Supreme runs September 25 to October 1, with reining running from Thursday through Saturday.

Reining has been described as being like figure skating. It has required patterns and is a judged event, said Colleen Wallace, a former reiner and Canadian Supreme board member. It can be really exciting to watch, with fans cheering and hooting over a good run. There s a lot of action and drama because of the speed involved.

Reining was first recognized as a sport in 1949 by the American Quarter Horse Association, which sets the patterns for the Supreme. The sport s popularity has spread to Europe and Australia, and it became part of the World Equestrian Games in 2002.

A good reining horse exhibits a natural willingness to carry out the moves, all done at a lope and gallop. Cues from the riders are almost invisible, and judges are looking for smoothness and precision, said Wallace. A good reining horse has to have heart and desire. You can have the most physically adept horse but if it doesn t have heart and a willingness to work with you, it s like hitting your head against a wall. Overall, judges are looking for a pleasing picture, Wallace said. They want to see a level top line with the head carried nicely.

A rider can t force the moves, said reiner Diane Latrace, of Brooks, AB, who first began competing in the Canadian Supreme in 2001. A horse can have all the ability in the world, but it has to have the right attitude. You can t make it want to do it.

In judging, any resistance to any move is considered a fault, and marked accordingly. A rider is in control of the horse s every move. Wallace even puts attitude over conformation. They have to have strength and good legs, but I would take a good-minded horse over a well-built one. Riders also have to approach the sport with the right attitude, she said. It takes a lot of patience and dedication, and you re putting yourself out there to be judged. Success is not going to happen overnight. It s all about commitment, said Latrace. You have to ride every day. And you have to know what works with your horse.

Sliding stops and 360-degree spins are signature movements and crowd favourites, performed in patterns that include several movements. Sliding stops can be so abrupt, with the horse s hindquarters well beneath its rounded back and body, that arena dirt goes flying. Spins are

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Reining has been described as being like figure skating. It has required patterns and is a judged event.

COLLEEN WALLACE

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Call it stallion networking. If you own a terrific stud, but no one knows anything about him, chances are no mares will come knocking at his stable door.

The Canadian Supreme (CS) Breeders Group hopes it can make a difference in getting word out on quality stallions that are producing solid performance offspring, and by doing so, continue to offer significant prize money at its annual Canadian Supreme event in Red Deer.

To be able to tell customers that a yearling they are considering purchasing is eligible to compete for substantial prize money is an attractive incentive, said Colleen Wallace, a Canadian Supreme committee member. And the foals are worth more because they have the potential to be at the show and earn money.

Lisa Anderson, of Springbank, AB, is a big fan of the program, having subscribed horses since 1996. It s a huge benefit to be able to showcase your horses at the Supreme in three different events, which is highly unusual, she said. I m in cutting, but I ve had horses in reining and cow horse.

Anderson credits the program for many of her horse sales. If horses are nominated into the program, they re way easier to sell because there s a place to show them, she said. There are people who won t consider buying a horse if it s not nominated.

To subscribe a stallion to the program, owners pay $800 a year, of which $450 goes towards cash prizes in three-and four-year-old classes. The remaining $350 goes towards advertising, operating costs and added purses. This year, there is a purse of $80,000 for 12 classes: four classes in each of cutting, cow horse and reining.

The program helps the Supreme be one of the best paying shows for competitors, said Betty Gardner, who runs the CS Breeders Group Stallion and Foal program. When it was initiated in the early 80s, there were three to five subscribed stallions, she said. As of last year, there were 108.

And not all are from Canada. There are subscribed stallions in Texas, Montana and Florida. With Americans selling a lot of horses (most are Quarter Horse breeders) to Canadians, it s worth it to have horses in the CS program, said Anderson. All of a stallion s yearling offspring, regardless of breed or pedigree, are then entitled to be nominated. This gives their owners the opportunity to compete in the classes for nominated horses only. This year, money from stallion subscriptions and yearling nomi- nations will go towards the 2013 Canadian Supreme purse.

Since reiner Diane Latrace began competing in the CS in 2001, she has earned more than $17,000. And in 2009, her stallion Isle Slide Wright On was named the leading reining sire at the CS, with reining earnings of $22,000 and offspring earnings of more than $50,000. We nominate all of our offspring, she said. It s a great way for anyone wanting to see how the offspring of a stallion competed, and helps people who are wanting to purchase a promising horse. My success in selling has been because of the promotion.

Don Edey of Edey Ranches in Longview, also nominates all his stallions and offspring to the program, and is among the top breeders who have bred horses earning money in the Open Snaffle Bit classes of the CS Futurities. The Canadian Supreme has been the event in Western Canada to showcase your breeding program, he said. Our program got its footing from a Reserve Championship on ER Pepi Kola in 1999 with (rider) Brad Pederson. The title and the start to earning lifetime earnings morphed into a complete passion for us to focus on competition horses. Since then, with (riders) John Swales and Jesse Thomson, it has been one hell of a ride.

It is important to promote Canadian studs at a time when many horse owners still think the best quality horses are in the U.S., Edey said. We have proven many times at U.S. shows that our Canadian stock competes extremely well on the international scale, so any movement not to showcase our awesome Canadian stallions would be a backward step for sure.

Nominating foals is the ideal way to promote the stallion, Edey said. It is my belief that if you have a great stallion, the proof of the pudding is the get. By nominating foals, you validate the fact you have sons and daughters that achieve. For example, Pepi Kola s first daughter went on to become Reserve Limited Three-Year-Old Reining Champion. Over the years, numerous other ER horses have won decent dollars in the CS classes.

This year, ER Ranches is entering a Snaffle Bitter out of its ER Spitfire stallion. So we have high hopes for his legacy to unfold, Edey said. A nominated baby adds to the interest of the purchaser wanting to take a shot at the CS Supreme additional purse, he noted.

The reputation of his breeding program has been strengthened by the fact his horses can be observed by the thousands of horse enthusiasts who attend the annual CS event. It is a world-class event that draws interest from an audience that cuts across the lines of disciplines of cutting, reining and reined cow horse, said Edey.

When a stallion is subscribed, the owner also provides a breeding report from two years previous, listing mares that produced foals that are yearlings in the current year. The yearlings can then be nominated for $80. Junior stallions that do not yet have eligible yearlings can be subscribed for $250 a year.

So what else do stallion owners get in return for their annual dues? Perks include having stallions showcased in the Breeders Group booth during the show, and advertised in the show program and on its website. Stallion ads also are run in a number of equine publications.

For people who follow pedigrees, the program is an important resource, said Wallace. To breed a winning horse takes a lot of planning and thought, she said. It s about hope and a prayer. After breeding, it takes four years for the foal to be in the arena. .

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It s about hope and a prayer. After breeding, it takes four years for the foal to be in the arena.

COLLEEN WALLACE

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Offering what clients want and learning to be flexible can attract customers and keep them coming back, says Jacquie Bosch of Bosch Farms, a breeder of Dutch Warmbloods and a training centre near Red Deer, AB. “It has to be give-and-take. People have to give a little bit more. Keep the customer happy,” she explained. “Some people only think about one thing and that’s making money. They charge the customer for every minute they talk to you.”

Jacquie and husband John are in the finishing stages of converting their dairy farm to a state-of- the-art horse complex which includes a hot walker, indoor and outdoor training rings, spacious stalls, and wash stands. But they are not just after high-end clientele.

“Whatever someone wants to accomplish with their horse, we will help them along. If they just want to come and learn how to ride better, that is okay. We help them deal with the horse they have and see what they can make of it. Not everyone can afford an expensive horse. If you give good service and make people happy, they will come back.”

The Boschs came from Holland 18 years ago, and brought with them a European approach which includes flexibility in handling horses and clientele. They encourage riders to seek input from other riders and trainers. “You don’t learn from just one person,” said Jacquie. “People are free to approach any trainer and rider for help. That is how it is in Europe.”

A “unique” factor also is crucial in increasing a business profile, so the Boschs made their new facilities wheelchair accessible. “Sometimes grandparents like to come and watch their grandchildren ride,” Jacquie said.

By importing live animals and frozen semen from Europe, they also can provide proven bloodlines, so customers don’t have to travel to Europe to find quality horses.

Business owners have to be able to offer something not easily found elsewhere, said Jacquie. And they have to promote what they are selling. Her daughter Femke trains and competes in show jumping, a way of showing off the quality and athleticism of their horses. Good business plans rarely sprout overnight. The Boschs had the idea of expanding their horse stables 25 years ago, and toured farms in Holland to fine-tune the project.

Diversification also is at the root of the 7P Ranch near Longview, AB, where Jesse and Elyse Thomson began their colt-starting business seven years ago, expanding into breeding three years later. They now have two Quarter Horse stallions and about 20 broodmares. The young couple also run cattle and offer clinics, and private and group lessons from beginner to advanced. They have a focus on the working cow horse, but will start and finish any horse for any discipline.

Versatility is the key to much of their success, from their training to breeding program. And it is what has carried them through the down times, said Elyse. “We don’t deal with just one discipline. Jesse shows cutting and working cow horses, but we get everything in here from Warmbloods to Thoroughbreds to Quarter Horses to Friesians. That means ranch horses to English to roping horses. We stay very diversified. Some people do strictly cutting or reining, but that’s hard for these times.”

While many trainers will take in older horses to fine-tune or train for a specific discipline, few are prepared to put in the time and patience required for breaking colts, said Elyse. Starting colts, however, allows the Thomsons to accept any breed. “It doesn’t matter what discipline you do. All horses need the same start, whether you want to do Grand Prix dressage or basic riding.”

Like the Boschs, the Thomsons also want to breed and provide quality horses in Canada so that customers don’t have to travel to the U.S. for a good Quarter Horse. But with North American breeding numbers down, they are careful about which horses they breed. “If we were only riding show horses, we would not have made it through,” she said. “There’s more to a horse than what’s on paper.”

In Canada, where there are few large purses, it makes little sense to spend $50,000 to $60,000 for a top broodmare, because it could take up to eight years to make a profit, said Elyse. “To get $10,000 to $15,000 for a yearling is tough. Then you have the training on top of that. It’s not long before you’ve spent $30,000 for a $10,000 purse.”

So the Thomsons hunt for a horse that has about $15,000 in show earnings. “What I want is a good bloodline, a good mind and good conformation. That’s what goes into our breeding program.” The result is usually an all-around versatile horse which is suitable for ranch work, trail, 4-H, English or barrel racing, Elyse said. “With people not wanting to spend a lot of money right now, you have to be able to offer that all-around horse. I don’t want a horse that can only cut, because then I’m stuck with it. I want horses that can do anything.”

And if need be, prices have to be dropped. “A good horse will still bring a good price, but the average horse is bringing in way less money.” Young horses that once fetched between $4,000 and $5,000 are now going for half that amount, she said. “You have to be realistic in your prices and value of the horse. You have to offer horses in all price ranges.”

Because fewer horses were bred in the economic slump, Elyse predicts in a few years there will be a shortage of good horses. And that will prove positive for their business. “You will start to see better quality animals, and prices will start to rise again. At least that is what I am hoping for, and we want to be ready for that.”

Dewy Matthews of Anchor D Guiding and Outfitting couldn’t agree more that variety brings value and helps pave the road to success. “It’s huge,” he said. His business, west of Turner Valley on the border of Kananaskis Country, offers a wide range of horseback trips from a couple of hours to a day trip to a week-long vacation. There are also rental guest cabins, hunting trips and sleigh rides in the winter. Switching tracks is also a must, he noted. As the market demand changes so must your business or else you will be left behind, he said. “You have to grab a glove to get in the change.”

When the economy slumped, Matthews recognized people were booking shorter trips, so he adjusted his work crews so he wasn’t spending wages on half-booked trips. “Seven-day trips used to be the big deal, but not anymore. People still want to take their family and do a mountain ride, but the two to three hour trips are what is now getting to be big.”

While visitors from the U.S. have dropped, Matthews has marketed his horseback vacations in Central Canada, recognizing that many people in southern Ontario have relatives in Alberta. And he also promotes within his own backyard. Almost half of tourism in Alberta is intraprovincial, he said. “So I get a lot of people from all over the province. And there are a lot of new Albertans.”

In the outfitting business, it’s all about giving people “a good day,” he said. “That means good food, a variety of it, a lot of it, and having it served well. And people need a good night’s sleep. They don’t want to be on the ground. And they’re in a guest tent so they have some time to themselves.”

Being savvy to what people want, and not being afraid to shift direction when trends change is smart business, he said. “You’ve gottodothetapdance.” t

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“It gives undergrad students a chance to have hands-on practice. They get to see wire-cut horses, calvings and a dog with porcupine quills.”

DR EUGENE JANZEN

ASSISTANT DEAN, UCVM

Veterinarians may know a horse or cow inside out, but what about their stall-side manner? Do they know how to handle owners when it comes to euthanizng a barnyard pet? Can they handle the farmer who challenges their diagnosis? Can they deal with the dog owner who goes into a tailspin while watching their pet fall sick?

These are just some of the real-life scenarios that the faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary (UCVM) presents to its students as mock situations. As part of its curriculum, the program brings in actors to stage diverse reactions from clients – from tears to anger and lies. Students are evaluated on their responses, while their classmates watch and video the exchanges. Communications is a large component of the program, recognizing that the relationship between animal owners and their vets can be crucial in providing proper diagnosis and successful treatment.

“This program is so profound,” Dr. Eugene Janzen, assistant dean of clinical practice told a recent tour of the impressive modern facility. “This is stuff you used to learn by osmosis.” By integrating theory, clinical knowledge and communication skills, the program is a trailblazer among vet colleges, said Janzen.

“It’s great. This is what we are going to have to deal with once we are practising and it’s a good way for us to be prepared,” said third-year student Kelsey Shacker.

The UCVM is Alberta’s first veterinary college, and began accepting grad students in 2006 and undergrad students from Alberta in 2008. By the summer of 2012, it hopes to have graduated 120 students from the four-year program.

Beyond theory

Hands-on work is a key element, said Janzen. Unlike other vet schools, UCVM students go beyond theory in their first year, receiving practical experience in the $65-million Clinical Skills Building which was completed in 2009. Most other vet schools don’t offer clinical experience until third or fourth year. Fourthyear UCVM students work in the community, at private vet clinics, federal and provincial agencies, non-governmental organizations, and with other animal-industry partners.

It is also the only vet school in Canada that does not have a campus hospital. Instead, students spend time in existing vet clinics throughout the province.

“It gives undergrad students a chance to have hands-on practice. They get to see wire-cut horses, calvings and a dog with porcupine quills,” said Janzen,

noting clients may not be as willing to bring an animal to a vet hospital, so students at an outside clinic experience a broader spectrum of cases.

For Janzen, the new Clinical Skills Building on the Spy Hill Campus northwest of U of C is a far cry from his days as a vet student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, where he graduated in 1972. “It’s pretty newfangled for an old guy like me,” he said.

The 80,000-sq. ft. building includes a pathology suite, anatomy labs, animal-handling areas and classrooms. Students work on animals that at first appear to be no more than stuffed toy dogs and cattle. But they are simulators, fitted with internal parts that also give respiration and heart rates.

At a time when the public is sensitive to the use of live animals in research, the models are the ideal solution. Whether palpating a cow or dealing with the intestines of a colicky horse, the models allow students to safely perform examinations. “We can fine-tune how we do the procedures, and at the same time, not worry about being kicked or bit,” said Shacker.

“It’s a learning building and is unique to North America. It’s a deluxe facility,” said Janzen. “They’re getting hands-on skills right from the beginning. Vets tell us not to send them students that can’t find the jugular in a horse.”

No treadmill needed

Equipped with the latest technology, UCVM is the first in Canada to have a dynamic respiratory scope that allows researchers to see inside a horse’s upper airway while it is exercising. “The rider puts it in a backpack and it transmits the video. It’s unreal. So we don’t need to have a treadmill here,” said Janzen.

The DRS has been used at Bar None Ranches, a training facility for Thoroughbred race horses near Okotoks.

Even applying to the college differs from entry into other vet schools. Interviews are held before panels, with students judged on problem-solving. Each is given two minutes to come up with a solution to a presented case. “It’s a series of interviews set up to elicit empathy and problem-solving,” Janzen said. “It’s stressful, but it really does prepare you for the rest of the program,” said Shacker.

One unique area of emphasis is the interface between animal and human health, evident in new and emerging diseases that originate in animals and are transmitted to people, such as West Nile virus, H1N1, SARS and avian flu. Research areas include public health, ecosystem health, stem cells and regenerative medicine, equine health and wildlife and zoo medicine. UCVM is one of five vet colleges in Canada. Prior to its opening, Alberta students interested in vet studies attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Canada’s other vet programs are in Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island.

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