The Executive Committee met by telephone conference on Monday, June 30th, 2008 to discuss the issue of suspensions of Directors from the TWHBEA International Board when any Director receives a suspension from an HIO for an HPA violation pursuant to the Horse Protection Operating Plan (2007-2009).   TWHBEA is a signatory to the Operating Plan. 

The relevant section of the Operating Plan (2007-2009) is as follows:

VI (B) (2) Conflicts of Interest.   Each HIO shall develop and enforce, at a minimum, regulatory conflict of interest standards of conduct for HIO officers.   Individuals may not serve on an HIO board while on suspension.   Individuals are prohibited from serving on an HIO board at any time if they have been found to have violated the pressure shoeing rule in Article VIII, Section D.

Accordingly, the following motion was unanimously approved:

It is acknowledged that TWHBEA is currently a signatory to the 2007 - 2009 Operating Plan and therefore pursuant to the provisions of the Operating Plan, when a TWHBEA Director obtains a suspension pursuant to a ticket issued by an HIO for an HPA violation under the Operating Plan, that Director will be suspended from his/her position as a Director of TWHBEA for the duration of the suspension.   Further, when the length or timing of the suspension is such that the Director will be required to be absented from one or two TWHBEA Board of Directors' meetings, any such absences shall be deemed to be unexcused absences pursuant to the TWHBEA Bylaws.  Also, in accordance with the Operating Plan, any individual who is found to have violated the pressure shoeing rule in Article VIII, Section D (that section referring to an HIO pressure shoeing violation) shall be barred forever from serving on the TWHBEA Board of Directors.

This policy is effective immediately, and in accordance with the terms of the Horse Protection Operating Plan, 2007 – 2009, will remain in effect for the 2008 and 2009 show seasons.

 The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, headquartered in Lewisburg, Tennessee, is the oldest and most prestigious organization devoted to the promotion and protection of the breed. Founded in 1935, the breed registry was established to record the pedigrees of the Tennessee Walking Horse. Its goal is to maintain the purity of the breed, to promote greater awareness of the Tennessee Walking Horse and its qualities, to encourage expansion of the breed and to help assure its general welfare.

For more information on TWHBEA visit www.twhbea.com or call (931) 359-1574