Roseneath resident Jane Little, a member of the local Arête de Chêne Pony Club, has been awarded a $1,000 Ontario Equestrian Federation bursary to pursue further equine training and/or education. Ms Little, 17, is a grade 12 student at Cobourg District Collegiate West. Although she does not own a horse of her own, she has ridden at the High Pointe Equestrian Centre for five years. She is coached by Gwen Boyles and rides High Pointe school horses Lacy, Winston and Cash.

In addition to her activities in Pony Club, Ms Little is an honour student and takes part in a long list of volunteer activities, including helping with therapeutic riding programs for the disabled, church camps and the Terry Fox run.

She plans to use her bursary funds to help offset the costs of attending a college with programs in veterinary technology.

In her application for the bursary, she wrote, "Ever since I was little, my dream was to work with animals. I was introduced to the equine scene when I was six and came to realize I had to have a job working with horses. I would love to give back to the equine industry which started this passion of mine, horses, horses, horses. I hope to continue riding through College. I want to become a veterinarian technician and specialize in equine. I just love horses plain and simple."

The Ontario Equestrian Federation awards ten bursaries a year to deserving young riders. For 2007, four of the ten awards went to members of Pony Club branches in the Central Ontario Region, with another two going to members of Western Ontario Region branches.  Six out of ten ain't bad!

The Ontario Equestrian Federation is a not-for-profit sport governing office that provides education, leadership and support to individuals, associations and companies in Ontario’s horse community. It provides its members with a variety of services, programs, and benefits, and represents their interests to the general public, affiliated organizations and to varying levels of government. In short – the OEF stands for all things equine.

Committed to youth, the OEF offers five bursaries annually to Junior OEF members wishing to pursue an equine career and/or further their competitive goals. Applications for 2008 OEF Youth Bursaries will be available beginning July 1, 2007. If you will be between 14 and 17 years old (as of January 1st, 2008) and attending a high school in Ontario in 2008 DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY!! For more information please visit the OEF website www.horse.on.ca or contact the OEF Office at 1-877-441-7112 or 905-709-6545.

For more details e-mail Bob Inglis, Central Ontario Regional Communications Chair, or call him at 416-493-1223 (office) or 416-491-4230 (home).