Page 17 - AEF-AlbertaBits_Fall-2025

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“We’re there because we have
compassion for the animal. It’s
all about animal welfare.”
— Lyle Jackson
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to dedicate time and energy to learning. For
Dopko, if someone only wants to shadow her
one day out of a weekend-long competition,
she won’t take them on — which is true of
most stewards taking on trainees.
“Oftentimes what happens on one day of a
horse show is completely different than what
will happen the next. So it’s really important
to be there for the entire thing,” says Dopko.
“Otherwise you’re not going to be getting the
education that you really need.”
Not only does the training require
weekend-long attendance, but it can cost
money out of pocket for hotels and flights.
One option for aspiring stewards that Dopko
recommends is the Alberta Equestrian
Federation’s Individual Member funding
or the Alberta Equestrian Federation Acera
Continuing Education Bursary, which can be
used towards training costs.
“We’re there because we have compassion
for the animal. It’s all about animal welfare,”
says Jackson.
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