Letter to the Editor from Stephen Brown
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The following is a Letter to the Editor received from Stephen Brown.
Letter to the Editor:
I have read with interest the online Walking Horse Report press release about the United Horse Show Development Program. The information in this article, especially, "the UHDP ... will encourage horse show development with any HIO that has not accepted the mandatory penalties from the USDA", was NOT presented at our TWHBEA E/C meeting. Neither was the name shared. This was referred to as an attempt to develop horse shows, not an attempt to further divide our ailing industry while using rhetoric like 'unity' and 'unified'. I will NOT serve as a volunteer for such an organization and regret being misled. I will be sure to ask many clarifying questions in the future. I am a supporter/fan/promoter of the fabulous Tennessee Walking Horse in every way and am absolutely in favor of compliant horses being shown in every division (although I can't keep up with the scar rule part of the equation).
The Western International HIO began using the current penalty structure last year when it was first recommended by the USDA and we had a wonderful show season with very few issues.
Let's all work to promote this great breed.
Sincerely,
Stephen Brown,
Washington