by Linda Scrivner

            SHELBYVILLE, Tenn.– The National Horse Show Commission (NHSC) met at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 22, and moved ahead with several new programs for the 2007 show season.
            Those in attendance at the meeting were George Greenup, Frank Neal, Jaclyn Smith, David Landrum, Steve Hankins, Link Webb, WHTA President Wink Groover, WHOA President David Pruett, Lonnie Messick, alternate Chris Bobo and Secretary and Treasurer Rachel Reed. Others in attendance were Rollie Beard, Suzy Johnson, Scott McGregor, Kim Bennett and Walking Horse Report representative Linda Scrivner.
            Since there was no other WHTA alternate present, David Landrum requested that Kim Bennett, who was a member of the board last year, be allowed to represent the WHTA. The other alternative would be that the trainers have one less vote. The board voted for Kim Bennett to participate on the board.
            Following the approval of minutes, Lonnie Messick gave the NHSC report. The entries checked in 2006 were down slightly at 56,602. There were 983 violations, which was up. The number of shows affiliated with the commission, 285, was also up. The USDA was in attendance at 23 shows compared to 19 in 2005. They are normally at about 22 of the NHSC shows. There are lots of activities planned for this year. The new DQP Clinic will be held Jan. 26-27, for the 14 new DQPs. This will give more time for the new ones and most of them will return for the joint training. On Feb. 9-10, there will be the annual VMO/DQP joint training for all HIOs. There were several veterinarians that planned to attend this session. Many new ideas and points were brought to this session.
            Wink Groover said according to the regulations, a veterinarian checking horses is also protection for show management, just as DQPs are.
There will be a Judge’s Applicant School on Jan. 27.  There are already two or three shows scheduled in February, one of which is a show in Florida. The Florida Association will continue to affiliate their shows with NHSC.
            There were 91 hearings from the Celebration. Seventy-two of these appealed. NHSC will have more hearings on Jan. 25 although the majority had been heard. There will need to be one day for hearings in February and NHSC should finish these up. One appeal was heard during a closed session of the NHSC board Monday.
            Frank Neal reported on the TWHBEA HIO meeting in Nashville. He said the article about it could be read in the Walking Horse Report. Neal said that the first part was an update on the USDA. After that, the thrust was to entice everyone to go with TWHBEA. Neal related that the Western International would not go with TWHBEA unless the NHSC did. Neal also said that TWHBEA was still unsure as to with whom they will affiliate their National Futurity.
            Neal related that he thought that there was to be another meeting of TWHBEA with the HIOs, perhaps on Saturday. Kristi Lane was to notify of the time and place.
Neal also discussed the meeting with the Facilitation Group and WHOA.
            David Pruett thanked everyone for their support for the last year and handed the reins over to Wink Groover. Groover commented, “I’m very, very confident that I can’t do as good a job as David did.”
            Groover then asked for executive session. The meeting was voted into executive session, which concluded around 5:30 p.m. 


NHSC conducts board meeting.