The results of the recent EHC officer election are in, and we are pleased to announce that Holly Heartz has been elected as the new EHC Secretary! Holly will be taking over the Secretarial reins from Lonneke Delpeut, who has done a wonderful job in the role of Secretary for the last two years.**
About Holly
I am honoured and excited to have been chosen as your secretary. While my professional background is in nutrition as a Registered Dietitian, my journey has led me to explore various interests over my 25-year career. Among these interests include a deep fascination for horse behaviour and history, as well as fashion and textile design.
My husband and I have 2 dogs (Rally a Bernese Mountain Dog and Little Man, a rescued whippet terrier cross) and 3 horses (Gigi, my first “owned” horse, a thoroughbred, Rooster, a draft mix, and Asher, a Clydesdale). I have always lived with and had a passion for animals. I started riding at around 8 years of age and into university, including a stint in Pony Club. I took a hiatus from riding until about a decade ago.
Besides a master’s in exercise and sports science, I have studied at Equine Guelph to obtain certifications in Equine Welfare and Equine Science. Beyond the classroom, I have hands-on experience in equine behaviour through collaboration with certified equine behaviourists. My studies in equine behaviour and psychology allow me to appreciate the horse-human relationship that has occurred through time.
I love the diversity of the Equine History Collective. From my previous executive committee experience (Dietitians of Canada, New Brunswick Association of Dietitians, the Public Library, International Wool Textile Organisation), I wish to improve performance and usability of the website and provision of more education opportunities.
I look forward to working with everyone and contributing to the growth and success of the organization and celebrating the rich history of our equine companions.
**We are still looking for someone to take on the role of Vice President, as our current VP Miriam Bibby will be stepping into the role of President. The VP is responsible for assisting the President as well as stepping into/substituting for the President as needed. The VP also serves as the Chair of the Program Committee for the Annual Conference, which involves planning and presenting the program of the Annual Conference, developing a theme, contacting speaker candidates, soliciting and reviewing session proposals, and coordinating with the local conference committee of the host institution. The VP automatically becomes president at the expiration of the current president’s term. This is a three-year commitment: year one is spent as VP, year two as President, and year three as Past President (an ex-officio member of the board). If you are interested in joining the EHC officer team as VP or know someone who would suit the role, please email us at admin@equinehistory.org to submit a nomination!
