May 18 - As of this date, each HIO has signed the following plan: None - NHSC and Western International; 2000-B - HOA and KWHA; 2000 - Missouri Fox Trotters, SSHBEA, Horse Protection Commission, National Walking Horse Association, Horse Instruction Technocracy.
June 6 - Tennessee Representative Bart Gordon writes to USDA Under Secretary Michael Dunn stating that "...2000-B, with these 'notes' seems to be strikingly similar to Operating Plan 2000." The letter includes 16 point-by-point concerns regarding the end notes.
June 20 - Holch sends letter to USDA outlining seven points of contention with the end notes.
June 21 - At the request of the NHSC, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell calls a meeting among USDA Undersecretary Michael Dunn, Tennessee Congressman Bart Gordon, DeHaven and other representatives from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services and representatives from the HIOs. Craig Evans points out four issues that, if resolved, would allow the NHSC to sign the 2000-B plan. Undersecretary Dunn said that the USDA would move quickly to resolve the conflict.
June 30 - DeHaven sends letter to all HIOs stating that Congressman Gordon asked the USDA to study Holch's June 20 letter "with a view to modifying the end notes." DeHaven asks for comments by July 15 regarding the seven points of contention raised in Holch's letter. He also extends the deadline for signing or withdrawing from one of the two plans to August 1, 2000, and invites all HIOs to meet in Riverdale, Md., on July 18 to discuss "these and related issues."
July 18 - Meeting is held in Riverdale among USDA, HIOs and Josh Helton from Tennessee Congressman Van Hilleary's office. Regarding resolution of the areas of conflict with the end notes, DeHaven says that the department will "come up with a proposal in the next few days."
July 21 - DeHaven sends letter to all HIOs addressing several of the points of conflict discussed at the July 18 meeting. The letter contains language in two end notes regarding conflict resolution that is different from language in the original end notes of the 2000-B plan. DeHaven asks for a response from each HIO by July 25, 2000.
July 25 - Holch sends response to DeHaven in which he says that the HIOs he represents (NHSC, HOA and Western International) do not object to the clarifications regarding the conflict resolution process. He says that his clients "remain willing to sign Operating Plan 2000B, with the APHIS interpretations of the Plan from last year." He also asks that the plan be used for more than one year.
July 25 - Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell sends letter to Secretary Dunn. McConnell states that in his opinion the attempt by DeHaven to resolve the issue is unsatisfactory. He suggests that the '99 plan with the '99 interpretations, rather then the new interpretations, be implemented for the remainder of the year. He ends his letter with, "This issue has taken up too much time and energy and should be resolved by the end of this week."
July 26 - Tennessee Representatives Bart Gordon and Van Hilleary each write to DeHaven. Each expresses his dismay over the new interpretations of the end notes and suggests using the '99 interpretations. Short of that, each suggests changes to four end notes in particular: those having to do with (1) the conflict resolution process (#36 and #39); (2) subsequent violations (#31); (3) extension of the operating plan until 12/31/01.
July 27 - In a conversation with WHR, DeHaven says that he has a first draft of the revised plan that is in the approval process at the USDA. As soon as it is approved, he will send it to the HIOs.
July 28 - Dunn responds to Gordon in a letter indicating that the USDA will change endnotes 31, 36 and 39 so that they are the same as the interpretations of the '99 plan. However, he does not agree to extend the plan through 2001. He says that APHIS will work closely with the HIOs to develop a multi-year plan beginning with the 2001 show season.
July 28 - Dunn sends letter to all HIOs outlining the most recent modifications to the 2000-B plan. They are: (1) three joint training sessions for VMOs and DQPs prior to the 2001 season; (2) a single inspection procedures manual for VMOs and DQPs; (3) use of the '99 operating plan interpretations for the conflict resolution process and for punishment for subsequent violations; (4) a commitment to work closely with the HIOs to develop a multi-year plan beginning with the 2001 show season. He states that the deadline for signing or switching plans remains Aug. 1, 2000.
July 31 - The NHSC board of directors votes unanimously to sign the latest rendition of the 2000-B operating plan.
October 4 - The NHSC sends a draft five-year operating plan to the USDA. Craig Evans, author of the draft, describes it as largely the same as the 1999 operating plan as it was written, interpreted and implemented in '99, with minor revisions.
October 17 - Dr. Ron DeHaven tells WHR that the USDA has scheduled a meeting for Nov. 28 among the USDA and all HIOs to discuss an operating plan for the next two to five years. He says that the USDA has also produced a draft multi-year plan that is in the approval process at the USDA. He plans to send both the USDA and NHSC plans to all HIOs prior to the Nov. 28 meeting.
Nov. 28 - Representatives from the USDA, Kentucky Walking Horse Association, National Walking Horse Association, Western International, Humane Instruction Technocracy, Horse Protection Commission, National Horse Show Commission and Heart of America meet in Riverdale, Md., to discuss a multi-year operating plan to begin in 2001. DeHaven says that the HIOs have "divergent and polarized positions in some cases" but still declares, "I remain hopeful that early next year we will have an operating plan that all HIOs will agree to sign." He says the USDA will have a final draft plan to every HIO no later than January 1, 2001. The plan will include the number of years it will be in effect, which DeHaven says will be between two and five years.
**Dec. 27 - Via Federal Express, USDA sends proposed Operating Plan 2001-2003 to all HIOs. He tells WHR, “I think it goes as far as we can go to meet the industry’s needs without compromising the intent of the act...I think it’s the best product we’ve put out yet...” Evans says, “By all appearances it is an improvement over the first plan tendered to the HIOs prior to the Nov. 28 meeting. A number of the issues that we raised are touched upon in changes.” Evans and Holch continue to study the changes and plan to respond to the USDA for the NHSC, HOA and Western International.