Veterinarian, volunteer, and equine welfare leader recognized for decades of service to horses and the Alberta equestrian community.
The Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) is pleased to announce that Dr. Mary H. Bell, VMD, of High River, Alta., is the 2025 recipient of the AEF President’s Award.
Presented at the discretion of the AEF President’s Suite, the President’s Award is not granted every year. It is reserved for individuals who make an extraordinary and enduring contribution to the Alberta equestrian community and whose work advances the vision and mission of AEF.
“Mary has dedicated her life to the health and welfare of horses at the provincial, national, and international levels,” says AEF President Jason Edworthy. “We are fortunate that her dedication has extended to AEF, strengthening our organization and the work we do on behalf of equines.”
Dr. Bell is a third-generation horse person with a distinguished career in equine veterinary medicine and equine industry leadership. Raised in New Jersey, she earned her Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris degree from the University of Pennsylvania before relocating to Canada in 1973. She worked at the Ontario Veterinary College and later established Mannington Equine Services, a highly respected equine veterinary practice.
Her involvement in the equestrian world spans every angle of the sport. Dr. Bell has been a horse breeder and owner, competitor, and the parent of a competitor. She is a nationally licensed Steward, a role critical to protecting horse welfare, enforcing safety regulations, and ensuring fair play at Equestrian Canada competitions.
Internationally, Dr. Bell serves as an FEI Official Veterinarian, FEI Treating Veterinarian, and Level 1 FEI Jumping Steward. The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) is the international governing body for equestrian sport, and these roles reflect a high level of trust, expertise, and professional distinction.
Alongside her professional accomplishments, Dr. Bell’s commitment to volunteerism has been a defining constant. “My parents volunteered extensively and encouraged me to do the same,” she shared in her nomination during her tenure on the AEF Board of Directors.
Her volunteer leadership includes service as a Board Member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, President of the Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners, and President of the Halton-Peel Equine Practitioners.
At the national level, Dr. Bell has served as Chair of Equestrian Canada’s Health & Welfare Committee and Chair of the Medication Control Committee. She was also Co-Chair of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Equestrian Canada initiative that developed Canada’s National Equine Biosecurity Standard. Her leadership ensured the standard was practical, inclusive, and broadly adopted across the industry.
After relocating to High River, Alberta, in 2019, Dr. Bell was elected to the AEF Board of Directors. While no longer serving on the Board, she remains actively involved through the AEF Industry Committee and the Equine Emergency Fund Task Force.
Notably, Dr. Bell played a leading role in developing AEF’s Equine Welfare Position Statement and helped establish random drug testing at AEF Wild Rose competitions. She is widely respected for her insight, enthusiasm, and compassionate advocacy for horses.
Through her teaching, clinical practice, and extensive volunteer service, Dr. Bell has advanced disease management strategies, high-performance horse health programs, emergency animal management guidelines, and national biosecurity standards.
Her many honours include the Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners Distinguished Lifetime Member Award, the Ontario Equestrian President’s Distinguished Recognition Award, and the Equestrian Canada Volunteer of the Year Award. In 2017, she received the Equestrian Canada Health & Welfare Award in recognition of her significant and long-standing contributions to horse health and welfare in Canada.
“Horses have been wonderful to me over the years,” says Dr. Bell. “As long as I am able, I want to work to ensure a solid future for horses in our world.”
The 2025 AEF President’s Award is a testament to Dr. Mary Bell’s lifelong dedication to that future.
“The AEF is proud to recognize Mary’s outstanding contributions to our members, our community, and Alberta’s herd,” says Edworthy. “We are immensely grateful for her generosity of time, knowledge, and heart in service of our beloved horses, donkeys, and mules.”