Climate change is increasingly affecting horses, horse properties, and their owners across Canada. In recent surveys, nearly 90 percent of Canadians reported noticing the impacts of climate change in their communities. Horses are facing rising health risks, including respiratory diseases from wildfire smoke and dust, skin conditions and hoof damage caused by unpredictable weather, and new parasites and diseases. Horse owners are also dealing with higher hay costs, unexpected veterinary expenses, and challenges related to weather disruptions, such as riding limitations. Meanwhile, owners of horse properties are working to repair damage from severe storms, flooding, droughts, and high winds.

After a long day at work, you finally arrive at the barn, eager to unwind and spend time with your horse. But as soon as you enter the tack room, you’re greeted with chaos. Fallen off its bar is your saddle pad from yesterday, still moist and now dirty from the floor. One of your gloves is missing, everything has a layer of horse hair, and the dust is causing your allergies to kick in. A disorderly tack room can quickly kill the mood and derail your ride before it even begins.

Each year, I host a unique and transformative event with one simple idea: variety creates purpose. Purpose camp at James Creek Ranch introduces diverse experiences into our horses’ training keeps them engaged, confident, and willing to learn. Repetitive drills can lead to sour attitudes, but when exercises have meaning, both horse and rider benefit.

Do you sometimes yourself leaving the mounting block, fixing your stirrups, and unsure of what to focus on in your next training session? When your coach asks about your progress since your last lesson, do you often admit that you’ve mostly just been riding without a clear goal in mind?