LEWISBURG, Tenn. (Sept. 27, 2006) -- The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association announced today that Kristi M. Lane, Director of Industry Development, will serve as Managing Director for an interim period. She will assume the responsibilities of Charles M. Hulsey, who served as Executive Director for the past four years.

Lane joined the Association earlier this year and has been instrumental in making changes to ensure a strong, fair and equitable show industry for the Tennessee Walking Horse. The TWHBEA Executive Committee voted late Monday afternoon to name Lane its acting Managing Director.

“Mr. Hulsey made valuable contributions to the Association in his four-year tenure,” said TWHBEA President, Jerrold Pedigo. “We look forward to Kristi moving forward with many of the great initiatives started during his service to the industry.”

TWHBEA recently announced it will host a world-class fall horse show, The Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational, at which the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association 2006 World Grand Champion will be crowned.

“Our first priority is to protect and promote the Tennessee walking horse – a great breed for show and pleasure,” said Lane. “We look forward to hosting the Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational in November and promoting a strong future for the Tennessee Walking Horse show industry.”

The Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational will be held Nov. 24 and 25 at Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tenn.  The show will be comprised of more than 50 classes over the two-day period and will culminate in the final class from which the TWHBEA World Grand Champion will be named.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational will be the richest two-day event in the industry with a total purse of $150,000. The TWHBEA World Grand Champion receives a $15,000 prize.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association^SM (TWHBEA^SM), headquartered in Lewisburg, Tenn., is the oldest and most prestigious organization devoted to the promotion 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, visit www.twhbea.com.