Posted March 25, 2002
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association held its general membership meeting, Tuesday, March 19 at 1:00p.m. at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club on the Celebration grounds. The pre-meeting lunch was provided by World Champion Horse Equipment and the Walking Horse Report. The meeting began with WHTA President Bill Young calling the meeting to order.

President Young called Lonnie Messick to the microphone. Messick discussed this past weekend’s training clinic for VMOs and DQPs. He reported that main concerns of the DQPs and VMOs were mostly technical violations, including the Scar Rule, heel and toe measurements, and band placement. Messick stated that the DQPs for the Trainers’ Show would be a rotation of DQPs from the Celebration. Messick also expressed the importance of the back of the foot and watching lines or ridges and making sure that they could be flatten with the thumb.

Trainers’ Show Chairman, Benny Johnson reported that the all the sponsorships were made and that the association was planning on a great show. The MASCUP Program was briefly discussed. In the Two, Three, and Four-Year-Old divisions being held at the Trainers’ Show, the WHTA is paying half of the entry fee of anyone who enters the MASCUP competition. Also, Young reminded everyone of the 50/50 drawing and stressed the importance of half of the proceeds going to the building fund. The meeting adjourned with high aspirations for a successful 2002 Trainers’ Show, as well as a great show season.