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ONTARIO University EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION
THE EXECUTIVE
The OUEA is student-run by an elected body of executive members.
PRESIDENT
KATIE BLUM
president.ouea@gmail.com
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PASSIONATE. Katie Blum is a fourth year Rotman Commerce student at the University of Toronto. Having started riding horses in a summer camp at the age of 8, Katie currently has two show mounts, Carnell and Zam Zam, who you’ll see around the jumper rings on the A circuit throughout the summer months.
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Katie has done pretty much all there is to do during her time as a part of the OUEA. Having been convinced by a friend to join the U of T team in first year, her love for the sport, people, and horses involved in the association quickly took over. Katie started captaining the team from second year to present, also joining the executive in her second year as the West zone representative. As third year rolled around, U of T was transferred during the zone split and Katie took on the role of the Central Zone representative to help get the new zone up and running. What drove Katie to run for president this year was her desire to give back to the association in every way possible.
One of Katie’s favourite things about the OUEA is the sense of community within the zones, but one of her goals this year is to create this sense of community across the entire association. She hopes to m
ake this possible by getting to shows across all three zones throughout the year, and by being the smiling face that makes those early horse show mornings easier to manage in every way possible. Be it questions, concerns, or general conversation, Katie wants to hear it all and can’t wait for the 2016-2017 season.
VICE PRESIDENT
CAYDEN HILL
vicepresident.ouea@gmail.com
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INNOVATIVE. Along with organized, innovative is a great word to describe your Vice President for 2016-2017, Cayden! A 4th year Management and Organizational Studies student at Western University, he is currently leasing a horse to compete in the CET and OHJA medals.
Cayden has competed on the Western team for two of his past three years at university, using last season to focus on captaining the team. This will be his first year on the executive after taking on the leadership role at Western University for the past two years and he is extremely excited! His goals for the upcoming season include developing stronger standards and regulations to better the value, ethics, and competitive atmosphere of the OUEA.
TREASURER
TORI BRICK
treasurer.ouea@gmail.com
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HARDWORKING. Tori has been riding for as long as she can remember, and purchased her first horse this past year. He is a youngster and she hope to compete in the hunters with him someday.
It seems she is becoming somewhat of an “OUEA lifer.” Originally a member and captain of the Guelph team, she have since graduated and is now an alumni exec member. She have been treasurer for the past two years. With my hard work and commitment to the OUEA, I hope to make this coming season the best yet!
SECRETARY
RILEY BOYES
info.ouea@gmail.com
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COMMITTED. As any equestrian will know, this is a quality that is required at any level of the sport – but for Riley it is something she lives and breathes. This is a serious requirement for someone taking on Secretary! Riley has spent the last few years in the Equitations, Hunters and Jumper rings in the South East Trillium Zone, along with many hours spent on the Synergy horses (you lucky East Zone Ducks!). Never owning her own horse, she has had the opportunity to ride several great horses over the years.
Riley may look like your average OUEA’er but she actually is the best co-pilot/roadside singer out there. She will literally sing along to ANYTHING, even if she’s not entirely sure she can carry a tune. Now her fifth year of OUEA activities, this is her second year as an executive member, fufilling the East Zone Rep role in 2015-2016. Showing novice in her first year, she has since been showing intermediate the last three and can't wait for the season to arrive.
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Riley's goals for the 2016-2017 season include meeting people outside of the East Zone, promoting circuit unity between zones, and to continue to help the circuit spread and grow.
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
JESSICA BLACKWOOD
web.ouea@gmail.com
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ENGAGED. Jessica Blackwood is a fourth year Health Sciences and Religion and Diversity student at McMaster University. She currently owns four OTTBs and three miniature horses and can be found on the southwest trillium and Hamilton area schooling show circuits this summer. She is very thankful for a opportunity to be involved with horses in a team environment with the OUEA! Two of her geldings made their OUEA debut this year at the McMaster show and had a great time in the novice and entry divisions.
This upcoming year will be her fifth year of being involved with the OUEA and her first as an executive member. She is extremely excited to be able to serve as Communications Coordinator after being the McMaster Equestrian Club President, and hopes to use that experience to accomplish several goals for the 2016-2017 season. These include connecting our large circuit with tools such as social media, providing technological support to teams, and to further develop the OUEA brand to suit its changing needs.
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If you ever have questions at a show look for her large maroon onesie! She will be at every West zone show and as many Central and East as possible this season!
OFFICIALS
COORDINATOR
DEIDRE DENGO
officials.ouea@gmail.com
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VIVACIOUS...and more! As an officials coordinator, being outgoing is certainly an asset. Deidre has been riding for over twenty years with experience in everything from saddle seat, reining, western pleasure, dressage and finally hunters.
Currently campaigning an Adult Amatuer gelding (fondly known as the orange dragon) who also doubles as a derby contender. It doesn't end there, with a coming 4 year-old DWB filly Deidre spends a lot of time in the tack - not to mention helping run her family farm in the infinate spare time!
Beginning her OUEA career as the Captain of the UOIT/DC Equestrian team, Deidre has been integrated into the OUEA from the very start. In her final year competing, she finished with Open Rider Champion East Zone, Overall High Point Rider, East Zone High Point Rider and East Zone Supporter. Not ready to hand up her spurs yet, she took on an executive role and plans to continue to contribute to this organization.
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Her hopes for the 2016/17 season are to help support the growth of the OUEA with the addition of Colleges, and to create a higher standard for our Stewards and Judges so that there is consistency across all three zones.
You might catch this exec member doing impressions of the equine thought process on the sidelines! Feel free to stop her to discuss anything - if she doesn't know the answer, she will get it for you!
TEAM RECRUITER &
SUPPORTER
BENJAMIN TURNER
trs.ouea@gmail.com
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DIPLOMATIC. Ben Turner recently completed his undergraduate degree at McGill University majoring in English Literature and Communications studies and will be starting a Master of Industrial Relations program at Queen’s University in the fall. Ben’s equestrian passion began as a child showing ponies, and has developed into competing with his horse Candy in the hunter and equitation classes.
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Ben was introduced to the OUEA in his first year of university, and quickly became more involved as the McGill team captain the following year. The OUEA figured largely during all of his undergraduate degree such that he never missed any of the East Zone shows! Ben’s OUEA career culminated during his senior year when he won both the year end Open champion and the East Zone reserve high point rider. Not wanting to give up intercollegiate riding, Ben decided to contribute to the OUEA executive during graduate school. Ben is looking forward to this opportunity to give back to the circuit.
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As TRS Ben’s primary aim is to successfully introduce and develop the new college teams who will be joining the circuit. Ben will also serve the entire association as a system of support for both captains and competitors. Ben hopes to foster camaraderie, sportsmanship, and cooperation both within and between all three zones.
CENTRAL ZONE REPRESENTATIVE
REBECCA HAMEL CARASSI
centralzonerep.ouea@gmail.com
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CONSTRUCTIVE. This is the best word to describe Rebecca, a fourth year Human Resources Management student at York University. Constantly thinking of new ideas and concepts, she is very excited to use these to help move the circuit forward, to see it grow and improve. Though unfortunately this summer she is horseless and will not be showing (for the first time in 13 years!) you will definitely see her ringside supporting her friends and teammates, so say hi if you see her!
Though this is only Rebecca’s first year on the executive team, this will be her fourth year with the OUEA. Competing in open her first year, she decided to step up and take on the role of captain for her second and third year of university while still competing. Rebecca helped the York University team grow, not only in numbers but in spirit as well. With a commuter school it is always hard to build a feeling of community, but Rebecca was able to do that with the new ideas she brought to the team.
For the 2016/2017 season she hopes to do the same with the Central Zone. Her goals are to help smaller teams become stronger and find their voices among the larger schools and continue to unify the zone, as it is still new. But the most important thing, is she likes to have fun. She looks forward to seeing everyone at the shows, make sure you always say hi and ask any questions you may have!
CENTRAL ZONE MEMBERSHIP
LUCY GILBERT
centralmembership.ouea@gmail.com
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UNCONVENTIONAL. This is a word that is used commonly about Lucy as she truly is a free spirit. Something that each new OUEA member will notice, especially if you are in Central Zone, as you can easily spot her unique hats (think Fox and the Hound) and her kaleidoscopic hair! Lucy’s journey with her horses has been as varied as her own brand of quirky as she has had both triumph and heartbreak this past year with two equine family members. The OUEA was saddened to lose one of the most loved draws, Jade, a special mare who had SASS in capitals for a middle name.
Thankfully, horses are the animals that continuously give back to us as partners, riders and owners; this is the path to healing for Lucy and her new mount- Heidi. She also has some high hopes for this 2015/16 season that encompasses BOTH OUEA goals as well as personal ones:
In the OUEA, I will be lending a hand wherever is needed and am hoping to have the most amazing NEW Zone to be a part of. I still bleed Blue and Gold though because I come from the Ryerson team.
Outside the OUEA, I will be side-kicking at the A circuit and Trillium horse shows as a groom and helper. I hope to maybe get my new horse Heidi out to her first horse show!
It’s going to be an incredible year and just remember – look for the ears, and if you can “hunt” me up, I’d be happy to help!
EAST ZONE REPRESENTATIVE
BLAIR SHAULE
eastzonerep.ouea@gmail.com
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WITTY. A perfect word to describe Blair Shaule, who is in her third year at Trent University studying Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Riding since she was 9 years young, she grew up showing a number of different horses on local circuits, making catch riding a familiar concept. She currently spends her summers showing on the Central West Trillium Circuit with several of her coach's horses, she is (and always will be) a hunter princess! *insert hair flip*
In her second year on the OUEA, Blair was the assistant captain of the Trent team. Now moving into her third year, she will co-captain with the wonderful Emily Templeman, showing intermediate with the Trent team and their awesome coach Kevin!
Blair is extremely excited to be a part of this amazing executive team, hoping to help all captains and team members of the East zone make this season the best yet! Her goals include growing the OUEA family and meeting new friends along the way. If you ever need something or just want to chat horses you can always find her laughing away with her awesome team or taking selfies with the ponies!
EAST ZONE MEMBERSHIP
JUDITH MINIALAI
eastmembership.ouea@gmail.com
ENTHUSIASTIC. Judith Minialai is a second year Political Science and Economics student at McGill University. Over the years, Judith has had the opportunity to ride in various different countries and is eager to start working with the amazing people that make up the 2016-2017 executive team and share her experience in a beneficial way with the OUEA.
It is Judith’s second year being involved with the OUEA and her first as an executive member of the OUEA and the McGill Equestrian Team. Getting involved was as scary as it was exciting but now she cannot wait to start! As the new East Membership Coordinator, she is very enthusiastic about getting to know everyone, both new and returning members. She wishes to help make this year as pleasant and successful as possible for every member and wishes for everyone to enjoy these amazing Sunday mornings as much as she does.
Someone once told her there was nothing worth waking up early for on a weekend; she laughed and replied: “You’ve obviously never been to a horseshow, they’re worth every minute”.
Photo by Andree-Anne Brunet Photography
WEST ZONE MEMBERSHIP
EMILY GAYNOR
westmembership.ouea@gmail.com
OUTGOING. Basically, Emily is the loud girl! If there’s a crowd, she can generally be found in the middle of it. Emily is a fourth year biology student at Wilfrid Laurier. She owns a miniature pony and a Belgium x Arab x Paint horse and an exceptionally bred Morgan gelding, Phenton, who has earned her two Provincial Awards and three National Awards. One of which the Canada Bred Sport Horse Morgan of the Year 2014. Both her horses made their OUEA debut last year in the open and intermediate divisions and they cannot wait to make it to more shows this year!
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Emily cannot wait for her fourth year on the OUEA, and second year on the OUEA executive team. She is very excited to be the West Membership Representative again because she loves meeting all the new members and reuniting with the returning members. Emily’s 2016-2017 goal is to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe season and she hopes to see many new and old faces on the various teams and she will do everything she can to help others have great memorable OUEA experiences like the ones she have had.
WEST ZONE REPRESENTATIVE
AMBER STAFFORD
westzonerep.ouea@gmail.com
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SUPPORTIVE. Amber is your gal' when needing direction or just to bounce ideas off of! She is always willing to lend an ear and give you her thoughtful opinion. This will be her second year on the executive team, and she can't wait to share her ideas and lend a hand when needed. This past summer, due to not having a horse of her own, Amber spent a ton of time at the horse show doing the glorified job of horse show groom! That being said, it also had a few perks as she got her rear in gear and back in the ring. Unfortunately, she's a touch rusty so is looking forward to the coming season and getting her pony lovin' in wherever she can! #ponysquishing !
Amber's hopes for the 2015/2016 season are: NONE! She is a total 'go with the flow' type of gal and can't wait to see where she is needed to innovate and lend a helping hand.
Funny, and little known fact is that Amber has a twin and they have gone from spending every single day together to living close to 400km apart! So lets bring some OUEA love to her (along with our equine partners) whenever we possibly can!
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