For more than a decade, trainer Maude Boulanger-Bouchard has been riding for the cause, spearheading fundraisers big and small and spreading awareness of JustWorld to equestrians in Quebec, Ontario and beyond.

From collecting pennies to organizing horseless horse shows, she’s been creative and committed. 

“When I went to university my aim was to go into human rights,” she said. But the horses called her back into Centre Hippique Anemo, the business her family runs in Mirabel, Quebec. “JustWorld is a way for me to reconcile those two interests.”

She’s especially drawn to the fact that JustWorld’s projects empower generations of families and entire communities. In Guatemala, El Patojismo, which she’s visited a few times, “gives those kids tools for life rather than just pays for something–it educates and teaches leadership, and it’s an opportunity they can carry on and pass on for generations.”

Some of the fundraisers Maude’s helped organize have been small–such as collecting pennies when Canada decided to take the coin out of circulation. But others have taken over the entire showgrounds. She fondly remembers a show in Quebec that offered a JustWorld horseless horse show one afternoon. 

“The in-gate was looking for people, and everyone was horseless horse showing,” she said with a laugh, recalling 350 participants. “We had ribbons and really good prizes. The trainers, riders, parents, were all at the horseless horse show. The show was a final, and everyone works all year to aim for it. But they were so excited about the horseless class, they forgot about the horse show. Everybody joined in; the trainers were videoing. It was like everybody was there–it pulled away so much from the horse show that in subsequent years, they organized it after the horse show because it became too popular.”

After the main horseless class, they often had a puissance, with jump crew participating as well.

Other efforts that Maude, 38, and her students have done include a snow cone stand, cupcake fundraisers, solicitation of donations via a mini horse that would stroll the showgrounds with a purple blanket, and movie nights. More recently, she’s organized a back number fundraiser at the Ottawa shows, with exhibitors making a donation in exchange for a JustWorld-branded number. As an extra incentive, everyone who participates is entered to win drawings for donated prizes. 

“The goal would be with back numbers, to raise awareness and to have a few ambassadors sign on,” she said. “If we can get five to 10 kids, and they become ambassadors in the next years, then all the better.”

When she competed in the jumpers, Maude would wear a JustWorld coat, and she used to braid her horse in purple. She displays a JustWorld drapery when she sets up her tack room at shows.

“If you can raise awareness enough, maybe it becomes generational for riders to give back,” she said. “We’re lucky as riders, and that’s what I loved about Juan Pablo and his project [El Patojismo]. He didn't have a lot, but he made something, little by little. That’s what I’ve done with my business too.”

Maude welcomes riders to reach out to her if they’re interested in getting involved or want information or guidance on hosting a fundraiser. 

“My biggest recommendation to anyone thinking of getting involved is do it,” she said. “You're going to get a great sense of community, of purpose. I’d be happy to answer any questions. We get caught up doing our own thing sometimes, but by reaching out, we can get that much further. The spirit of JustWorld is putting together a lot of people who can each be a piece of the puzzle and help give back.”

For more information about the Ambassador program, or for help with fundraising ideas or execution, reach out to us.