The Unity Committee, comprised of representatives from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA), Walking Horse Trainers’ Association (WHTA), Walking Horse Owners Association (WHOA) and The Celebration will meet with the industry’s HIOs on February 3, 2012. The purpose of this meeting will be to share ideas and gather feedback regarding the Unity Committee’s initial goals, which were established at their last meeting held January 6, 2012. The goals established include encouraging industry unification, supporting the promotion of the Tennessee Walking Horse, better educating trainers, owners and inspectors, and creating consistency and predictability in rules, judging and inspections.

Each of the following HIOs have been invited to have up to three representatives at the meeting: Kentucky Walking Horse Association (KWHA), Professional Regulation And Inspection For Dedicated Equestrians (PRIDE), Walking Horse Owners Association (WHOA), Sound Horse Honest Judging Objective Inspections Winning Fairly (SHOW), Heart Of America Walking Horse Association (HAWHA), International Walking Horse Association (IWHA), National Walking Horse Association (NWHA), Oklahoma Horse Association (OHA), Friends Of Sound Horses (FOSH) and Western International Walking Horse Association (WIWHA).

The members of the Unity Committee are TWHBEA representatives Marty Irby, Christy Lantis and Tom Kakassy; WHTA representatives Jamie Hankins, Link Webb and Chris Bobo; WHOA representatives Kim Bennett, Duke Thorson and Tam Brogdon; and Celebration representatives David Howard, Jim Allison and Henry Hulan. All members of the Unity Committee welcome input and may be contacted individually.