Notice to OHHA grooms regarding benefits coverage.

This is a reminder that any grooms that were in the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) subsidized benefits plan are no longer covered effective March 1, 2020. While this is an extremely regrettable situation the fact that Ontario Racing has eliminated all funding to OHHA and directed that funding to the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) has led to the cancellation of this program. We have heard from a number of grooms that are not pleased with being required to join COSA in order to maintain this important coverage. OHHA continues to seek a resolution to the current lack of funding which has led the Association to eliminate this plan. To date, meetings with Ontario Racing and COSA have not resulted in any resolution. While groom members of the National Capital Harness Horse Association (NCRHHA) are having their benefits subsidized through COSA, the board of COSA has refused to offer the same arrangement for OHHA grooms.

If you are affected by this change in benefits and are unhappy with being forced to join COSA in order to maintain your coverage please contact the OHHA office at 905-854-6442.

We apologize for this inconvenience and want to inform you that the OHHA board is actively engaged with Government to find a solution to this situation. OHHA continues to seek a democratic process for horsepeople to determine, for themselves, their representative Association.