The SHOW HIO has approved its 2012 budget and will reduce its annual horse card from $150 to $75, a 50% reduction.  The day card in 2012 will be $25, also down 50% from the $50 charged in 2011.  A change in 2012 will be a fee of $5 per inspection at SHOW events. Judges’ license renewals and horse show affiliation fees will remain the same as last year.

“We are pleased to announce that the Celebration board has approved the budget for 2012 and will move forward and continue the enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and ensure only compliant horses in our industry’s show rings,” said Celebration and SHOW Chairman Henry Hulan.

The Celebration board has conducted a number of meetings in finalizing plans for the 2012 season, including one on October 20 with Dr. Chester Gipson of the USDA.  “After our meeting with Dr. Gipson and others, the importance of continuing the SHOW HIO was readily apparent,” said Celebration CEO Dr. Doyle Meadows.  “We remain committed to the showing of compliant horses in keeping with the Horse Protection Act.”

Celebration Board Chairman Henry Hulan appointed a finance committee to submit budget proposals for 2012.  Appointed to the committee were Charles McDonald, Meadows, Dr. Steve Mullins, Deborah Williams, Link Webb and Jeffrey Howard.  The finance committee held their final meeting on Monday, November 7, 2011, and prepared four different budget proposals for consideration by The Celebration.   The committee also voted to recommend one budget in particular.

“The Celebration and SHOW board felt strongly that we needed to have input from owners and trainers with regards to the future of the SHOW HIO and Deborah and Link provided great ideas in our meeting,” said committee chairman McDonald.

The following morning, the Celebration Executive Committee met and approved the budget recommended by the Finance Committee, which included a $75 annual card, $25 day card and $5 inspection fee.  The committee also recommended and the Celebration approved that any horse show that has a class schedule comprised  of 80% or more pleasure classes be exempt from requiring either the SHOW Day or Annual Horse Card.

“Our number one goal is to enforce the HPA and assure show managers of compliant horses in their events regardless of the cost.  I am pleased that in 2012 we will be able to do this at a fraction of the cost in 2011 and hope that more horse shows and horses will join our program as a result,” said SHOW President Dr. Steve Mullins.

The SHOW HIO was activated in 2009 at the request of the National Horse Show Commission, the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association and the Walking Horse Owners’ Association.  The goal was to form an HIO that would begin to institute the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) White Paper suggestions.  With that in mind, Dr. Mullins, an AAEP veterinarian, was selected to head the SHOW HIO and implement the White Paper. 

“Those decisions placed a tremendous financial burden on SHOW relative to other HIOs. However the serious threat to the industry’s future required the implementation of the White Paper suggestions,”concluded Chairman Hulan.
  
The 2012 fee structure leaves a significant financial shortfall and will require that all expenses be looked at and addressed in the coming months.  “Just as we were forced to do at the Celebration, we will work to cut our expenses at SHOW in order to provide the industry with a viable solution moving forward,” said Meadows.

Affiliation packets will be sent out soon detailing the changes in fees for 2012 and any questions can be directed to the SHOW office at 931-684-9506.