January 9, 2007



Mr. Mark Taylor

WHOA

Tennessee Miller Coliseum

304A West Thompson Lane

Murfreesboro TN  37129



Dear Mark,


 
Since you have chosen as a means of communication to write me at the Walking Horse Report as opposed to my actual address at the TWHBEA (250 N. Ellington Avenue, Lewisburg, TN  37091) or email at klane@twhbea.com, I suppose my only option is to join you in the publicity stunt “Jerry Springer” style antics. 


First, I was not insulted by your call but rather what you said on the call.  I was insulted when you chose to address me as “honey” and “sweetheart”; I was insulted when you said “if I want to put a knife in your back and kill the TWHBEA program, I will schedule the WHOA shows right on top of your shows”; I was insulted that you chose the Friday evening before your first show to contact me and make the claim that you were doing it in the spirit of partnership when in fact all you wanted to know really was if the TWHBEA had chosen not to affiliate with the NHSC.

Specifically, you told me that the affiliation with the TWHBEA discontinued the partnership arrangement because WHOA had to protect their interest in the “Commission”.

 

So there it is; it is not about building or developing the Academy and introducing new children and adults to the industry; it is not about developing, supporting and promoting an Instructor Certification Program; it is about affiliation, or lack thereof, with the NHSC.

 

Additionally, I did not make the quote you referenced in your letter but rather asked you why WHOA would want to start a war with the Academy by having conflicting shows.  Your statements that the shows are not conflicting because they are on alternating weekends does not have merit; clearly participants cannot attend shows every single weekend for the next 12-14 weeks for logistical reasons as well as financial reasons.  I did say that it will obviously be the Instructors prerogative which shows they attend.    I might also add that I have checked on your claim that the instructors have asked you to have these shows because they do not want to participate with TWHBEA.  I have found that one instructor, and one instructor alone, has written a misleading letter and made intimidating calls to all the other instructors on behalf of WHOA.

 

I want to make sure I am very clear, TWHBEA did not make the decision to end our previous partnership, in contrary, a note was sent to David Pruett on December 12, 2006 confirming we would welcome continuing the past arrangement of supplying ribbons and trophies for the WHOA Summer Tournaments and WHOA providing ribbons and trophies for the TWHBEA Winter Tournaments.  Please recall that I have a memorandum from you date February 2006 that indicates the affiliation is not an issue in the partnership.

 

I do agree with the point in your letter regarding the need to cooperate for the benefit of the children and for the purpose of introducing our breed to new entrants.  The TWHBEA is firmly committed to the Academy and Instructor Certification program and is providing significant resources to develop on a national level in spite of any undermining or divisive efforts by anyone else.

 

Mark, in the future please communicate with me via any of the methods set forth above and, if you need an audience, please bring as many people as you would like to my office in Lewisburg, Tennessee.



Sincerely,



Kristi M. Lane

Managing Director