The TWHBEA Executive Committee requested through its HIO that the HIO Committee consider three separate exceptions to the Sanctioning Plan: TWHBEA Medallion Class sponsorship at non-sanctioned HIO events, the GO Program, and the current Versatility Program. The HIO Committee met in person on two separate occasions, once with individuals representing the programs, and numerous times by telephone conference. The HIO Committee attempted to properly balance the interests and desires of all participating parties with primacy given to the Association and its stated long term goals.
1. Medallion Class Sponsorship
The HIO Committee perceives the recent Medallion Class sponsorship at non-sanctioned HIO events to be a violation of the TWHBEA sponsored Sanctioning Plan.
2. GO Program
The HIO Committee understands the underlying purpose of the new GO Program to be the encouragement of the gelding of Tennessee Walking Horse stallions to prevent overbreeding. The HIO Committee suggests that the significantly reduced rates for the transfer of geldings as opposed to mares and stallions will certainly accomplish that purpose. Additionally, the rewarding of those that show geldings would encourage the purpose of the program; however, as presented, the program is a violation of the Sanctioning Plan. The HIO Committee suggests that the same result may be accomplished without violating the Plan by awarding, on a self reporting basis meeting finite criteria, one point to each gelding on each occasion that it is publicly exhibited and one point on each occasion that it is shown. At the end of the year, the gelding that accumulates the most exhibition points could be awarded $1,000.00, the plantation gelding that accumulates the most show points could be awarded $1,000.00, the performance gelding that accumulates the most show points could be awarded $1,000.00, and the gelding accumulating the most total points could be awarded $1,500.00. Structured in such in a manner would not be a violation of the Plan as it would not be high point program equating sanctioned events to non-sanctioned events.
3. Versatility Program
The HIO Committee perceives that the Versatility Program, as presented, is a violation of the Sanctioning Plan. The Versatility Program, which has been in existence for many years, would have been a violation of the NHSC Agreements as well were it not for a specific waiver provision in those agreements and renewals that, in effect, granted it an exception. The Sanctioning Plan has no such counterpart as the Sanctioning Plan Committee believed that the Versatility Program participants would be the greatest supporters of the Plan as it completely addresses their consistently expressed views and concerns. However, no matter how disappointing, it has become apparent that very few, if any, have read the Sanctioning Plan, and most, if not all, have continued to make decisions under the mistaken belief that the Plan contains the same exception and none of its rules would apply to the Versatility Program participants. Accordingly, for the year 2007 only, the HIO Committee grants the TWHBEA’s Versatility Program an exception to the Plan, conditioned upon the TWHBEA granting double points when participants show at sanctioned HIO events in order to encourage the participants to read the Sanctioning Plan, become involved, solicit the affiliation of sanctioned HIOs, and to support the Plan in preparing for 2008.
The HIO Committee perceives that the continuation of awarding points to participants when they show at non-HIO affiliated all breed, 4-H, and saddle club type events in order to encourage the exposure of the Tennessee Walking Horses versatility to those who are not Walking Horse enthusiasts or who have never even witnessed one would not be in violation of the Sanctioning