There is a vision to promote the Headwaters region as a centre of equine excellence in the province of Ontario and by doing so to support, grow and advocate for this vital sector in the regional economy.  As King is a neighbour to Headwaters and as the equine sector is very much part of our DNA King wants to be an active supporter in realizing this vision.  As we are developing our own economic development plan I was excited to attend a forum focused on realizing this vision.

For me there were a couple key messages. Most are not unique to the equine sector. And they were not new but rather served to reinforce critical issues to consider as we do our own economic plan to be sustainable.  I heard:

• how the equine sector feeds people beyond those who are actually touching the horses.  There is US data showing that there are 3 persons behind every person working directly with the horse.  One prestigious horse farm owner in Headwaters emphasized that all her spending on feed, fence posts, barns, and veterinarian services is local.  Hearing all this only increases my concern about the impact of the Slots at Racetrack decision.

• how lack of broadband limits businesses.  People will truck horses to beautiful areas to ride trails but they need to find those sites on internet, they need to be able to locate horse hotels etc. etc.  Headwaters and King certainly have the beautiful areas and we already  have some good trail, the trails.  But, how are the tourists going to find them?

• how the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is being somewhat successful in saving the landscape from development but it is seriously hindering the ability to use the land productively.  The landscape is great for horses but it is difficult to have horse farms given the prohibitions on new buildings to house necessary farm staff.

• how mutual/common goals between the “horse set” and the “non horse set” cannot be assumed.  e.g. People with a passion to ride horses or promoting a business offering such want gravel roads; others are not so keen.

• And, just as we have seen the pick your own apple or strawberry sector evolve from “pick you own because its fresh and cheaper” to “pick your own because its fresh but it may be more expensive but you also have a rural experience” the equine sector is changing.  Tourists want more than the delight of seeing a horse from their car; they are looking for the opportunity to ride and they want the experience of caring for the horse.  Ag-vacations are not just about living &working on a vegetable farm for a week; they can also be about living/working at a stable for a week.

There are two drivers for the Headwaters vision: the “hunch” that Headwaters is horse country; and that if developed it could create economic sustainability for the total community; there is upcoming infrastructure investment  at the Caledon Equestrian Park to host the 2015 Pan Am Games to leverage for community value far beyond the games.

To inspire making the vision of Headwaters a centre of equine excellence guest speaker was John Nicholson, Executive Director of Kentucky Horse Park. His story as to what has happened at the Park in the last years demonstrates clearly how the equine sector can influence and drive the whole community to be sustainable.