Status of the Operating Plan
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

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Copyright WHR 2007

Editor's Note: The Report contacted Craig Evans relative to the current status of the negotiations regarding the Operating Plan. He provided The Report with a copy of this letter.

June 14, 2007

W. Ron DeHaven, DVM

Administrator

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Administration Building

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

Subject: Horse Protection Operating Plan - Proposed Amendments

Dear Dr. DeHaven:

Representatives of the Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) met on May 7, 2007, and developed three proposed amendments to the 2007-2009 Horse Protection Operating Plan. These proposed amendments are attached.

Participating in these efforts were representatives from the following eleven HIOs with USDA-certified Designated Qualified Person (DQP) programs:

Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH)

Heart of America Walking Horse Association (HOAWHA)

Horse Protection Commission (HPC)

Kentucky Walking Horse Association (KWHA)

Missouri Fox Trotters Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA)

National Horse Show Commission (NHSC)

National Walking Horse Association (NWHA)

Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (SSHBEA)

Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA)

United Mountain Horse Protection Association (UMHPA)

Western International Walking Horse Association (WIWHA)

At the May 7 meeting, representatives of the above-mentioned organizations were asked to seek the approval of their respective boards and governing bodies regarding the attached proposal. The following represents a report of these HIOs, some of which have not signed the 2007-2009 Operating Plan.

1. Friends of Sound Horses. FOSH is a signatory to the Operating Plan. FOSH opposes these proposed amendments, as presently drafted. FOSH may withdraw its signature from the Operating Plan if these proposed amendments are adopted by the Department.

2. Heart of America Walking Horse Association. The HOAWHA Board has met and supports the proposed amendments. The HOAWHA Board has not discussed the issue of whether the Association will sign the Operating Plan should the Department approve these proposed amendments.

3. Horse Protection Commission. HPC is a signatory to the Operating Plan and supports the proposed amendments.

4. Kentucky Walking Horse Association. KWHA supports the proposed amendments to the Operating Plan. KWHA will poll its directors about signing the Operating Plan after the Department has made a firm commitment regarding these proposed amendments.

5. Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. MFTHBA is a signatory to the Plan and supports the proposed amendments.

6. National Horse Show Commission. NHSC supports the proposed amendments. NHSC does not have a position on whether it will sign the Plan should the Department approve these proposd amendments.

7. National Walking Horse Association. NWHA is a signatory to the Operating Plan. NWHA opposes these proposed amendments, as presently drafted. NWHA will withdraw its signature from the Operating Plan if these proposed amendments are adopted by the Department.

8. Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association. SSHBEA is a signatory to the Operating Plan and supports the proposed amendments.

9. Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association. TWHBEA is a signatory to the Operating Plan and supports the proposed amendments.

10. United Mountain Horse Protection Association. UMHPA is a signatory to the Operating Plan. UMHPA opposes these proposed amendments, as presently drafted. NWHA will withdraw its signature from the Operating Plan if these proposed amendments are adopted by the Department.

11. Western International Walking Horse Association. WIWHA supports the proposed amendments and will sign the Operating Plan if the Department approves the amendments.

Dr. DeHaven, many thanks for your consideration of these proposed amendments to the 2007-2009 Operating Plan.

Sincerely,

R. Craig Evans

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