The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration recently attended an industry meeting called by Link Webb, President of the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association (WHTA) and facilitated by Frank Eichler.  The Celebration was an invited guest as were representatives from the Walking Horse Owners’ Association (WHOA), WHTA and Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA).

At this meeting, the WHTA Board of Directors asked The Celebration to consider activating its Horse Industry Organization (HIO) and assume the entire activity of the National Horse Show Commission (NHSC), including its affiliations.  The Celebration Board of Directors has not met on this proposal to date but will consider the request from the WHTA at a board meeting on Monday March 9, 2009.

“The Celebration supports the Walking Horse industry because we are such a large stakeholder in the industry,” said Celebration CEO Dr. Doyle Meadows.  He added, “What is good for the industry is good for the Celebration.  “I commend the WHTA board for their decision to remove themselves from the inspection oversight and look forward to meeting with the Celebration board to consider our options and how we can best help the industry,” concluded Meadows.