The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association (WHTA) met on March 1-2, 2009 and has voted unanimously to recommend to the National Horse Show Commission (NHSC) board of directors to remove their Horse Industry Organization (HIO) and ask SHOW, the HIO of The Celebration, Inc to assume its functions.  The decision was made after two days of meetings focused on the best strategy to move the Walking Horse industry forward.

The WHTA has relinquished their input on policy making of the HIO, including horse inspections and judging.  “We (the WHTA board) feel strongly that we have made a giant step in moving the industry forward,” said President Link Webb.  He continued, “We are comfortable that the horse industry will be better as a result of our decision today.”

The NHSC is made up of an eight-person board consisting of four WHTA representatives and four Walking Horse Owners’ Association (WHOA) members.  The vote today taken by the WHTA board is a recommendation to the NHSC board.

“We are committed 100% to support SHOW and to move forward in a positive way,” said Webb.  “The industry and USDA have asked us to remove our input from policy making and today we have committed to take that step for the betterment of the industry.  I commend the WHTA board for making this difficult and important decision,” concluded Webb.