Copyright WHR 2009

The Walking Horse Owners' Association (WHOA) has made its 2009 appointments to the National Horse Show Commission (NHSC).  Serving from WHOA in 2009 will be Frank Neal, David Pruett, Mark Farrar and Bob Medina.  Neal is currently the president of WHOA and Pruett is president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Association.

Alternates for 2009 are Kim Bennett, Ernest Burke, Sarah Dunn and Deborah Williams.

The NHSC is a cooperative effort between WHOA and the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA).  The chairmanship of the NHSC in 2009 will be assumed by an appointment from the WHTA.  The chairmanship in 2008 was occupied by WHOA and began with Frank Neal until his resignation in August.  Both Neal and Pruett resigned over differences in the direction of the NHSC.  Farrar was appointed chairman for the remainder of 2008.

Link Webb, president of the NHSC will be responsible for appointing four trainers to the NSHC board, with one of these four serving as chairman.  In the past, the president has served in this role which makes Webb the likely choice to serve as chairman in 2009.

The NHSC is currently undergoing a restructuring which will include changes to the organizational structure of the NHSC.  An announcement should come soon regarding the new Executive Director, a position that became vacant upon Lonnie Messick's retirement.