Latest News

• Oversight Committee asks Trump Administration to abolish HPA Rule

  The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and its Chairman, James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to the Trump-Vance Transition team pointing out the major flaws in the Horse Protection Act Rule that was finalized during the Biden Administration and is set to take effect February 1, 2025. Read More

• Trump Executive Order gives agencies discretion to postpone effective dates

  President Donald J. Trump signed multiple executive orders yesterday, one of which could apply to the Horse Protection rule set to go into effect February 1, 2025. In his executive order President Trump allows agencies, including USDA, to postpone rules already published in the Federal Register for further review prior to their effective date. In order for this to apply to the rule impacting the Walking Horse industry, the agency would have to take this action to review the Horse Protection rule. Read More

• 2025 WHOA Horse Show reminders

  New HPA requirements are going into effect Feb, 1, 2025 and show managers are required to have even more accurate record-keeping than in the past. We will need your help and cooperation to make sure we are in compliance at all of our shows! Read More

• Latest Issue 1 20 25

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• Smoky Mountain Walking Horse Association offers scholarship

  The Smoky Mountain Walking Horse Association wishes to announce the offering of a college scholarship of $500 to qualified applicants. The scholarship will be awarded May 17.2025 at the Smoky Mountain Show, and is available to candidates meeting the following requirements: Read More

• Obituary – Wayne Conkle

  Joe “Wayne” Conkle, 74, of Bushnell, Florida passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025. He was born on March 14, 1950 in Sand Rock, Alabama to the late Joseph Samuel George “Joe” Conkle and Era Lamander Watts Conkle. Read More

• Travis Emore Honored

  Cooper Steel Arena Director, Travis Emore, has been inducted into the League of Equine and Agriculture Centers Hall of Fame. The League reserves this honor for individuals who have devoted invaluable service and support to the equine facility management industry.  Read More

• WHTA Horse Of The Year electronic voting

  We are excited to announce that we have again launched electronic voting for this year's Horse of the Year awards. With this voting, it is our hope that we have made the process easier for you and that as a result we will have a greater participation in our voting process. You will be able to login using your trainers' license number, and once in the system you will create a login and password that will allow you to vote.  Read More

• Obituary – Marcia Glessner

  At 6:00 am, the morning of the 23rd of December, Marcia Glessner, passed away. She had gone through a long, hard battle with congestive heart failure. She was an only child of Ray and Doris Hazel of Johnstown, PA. She was a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital in Johnstown, PA for many years before she started training plantation horses such as Thunder’s Lavish Lady, The Power Source, Coll’s Lady H, Sweet Swirl and many more in Denver, PA.  Read More

• Judge denies motion to change venue and HSUS intervention

  United States District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a decision denying the United States Department of Agriculture motion to change venue from the Amarillo division to the Dallas division. The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and Tennessee Walking Horse owners Kimberly Lewis and Tom Gould filed a lawsuit challenging the Horse Protection rule that is set to go into effect February 1st . Read More