The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has been in conversation and negotiations with different industry groups since the end of the 2006 show season to help move the industry forward and possibly take on an expanded leadership role. While much of this activity has taken place since the 2006 Celebration, the past few months have been especially busy.
Celebration CEO Ron Thomas, Chairman David L. Howard, and Past-Chairman John T Bobo have been involved in most of these meetings and are listed in parentheses by their initials. If the entire Celebration Board was involved, it is listed as (BOD). The groups listed by acronyms include Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Walking Horse Trainers Association (WHTA), Walking Horse Owners Association (WHOA), National Horse Show Commission (NHSC).
Meeting Schedule
March 18, 2007 - Lexington, KY - President of TWHBEA & TWHBEA Attorney (RT/DLH)
March 19, 2007 - Lexington, KY – AAEP (RT/DLH)
March 20, 2007 – Shelbyville – TWHBEA Executive Director (RT)
April 2, 2007 - Washington, DC – HSUS (RT/DLH)
April 16, 2007 - Phone Conversation with HSUS (RT)
April 16, 2007 - Phone Conversation with USDA (RT)
April 17, 2007 - Conference Call with HSUS (RT/DLH )
April 19, 2007 – Shelbyville - WHTA Board (BOD/RT)
April 19, 2007 – Shelbyville – TWHBEA President (RT/DLH)
April 24, 2007 - Conference Call with HSUS (RT/DLH)
April 24, 2007 – Murfreesboro – WHOA Executive Director (RT)
April 29, 2007 – Shelbyville - President of TWHBEA & TWHBEA Attorney (RT/DLH/JTB)
May 1, 2007 – Shelbyville – NHSC (BOD/RT)
May 3, 2007 - Conference Call with USDA & HSUS (RT/DLH)
May 7, 2007 - Two Members of WHTA Board of Directors (RT/DLH)
May 9, 2007 – Shelbyville – WHOA (BOD/RT)
May 21, 2007 – Murfreesboro - President of WHOA (RT)
May 22, 2007 – Shelbyville – NHSC DQP Director (RT/DLH)
In addition to the scheduled meetings, there have been numerous meetings and telephone conversations with the President of WHTA Board of Directors, meetings and conference calls with members of the NHPS Board of Governance, meetings and conference calls with National Horse Protection Society, numerous meetings with TWHNC Board of Directors, as well as numerous phone calls and meetings with NHSC personnel.
These efforts by The Celebration will continue.