WHTA holds meeting prior to annual show
Thursday, March 18, 2021

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association held its first general membership meeting of the year at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club on the eve of its National Trainers’ Show. New President Jamie Hankins presided over the meeting and updated the membership on happenings throughout the first part of the year.
Hankins introduced the new office manager of the association, Melanie Bryant, who has been in place since earlier this year and will attend her first Trainers’ Show in her new role. Wayne Dean updated the membership on the finances of the association highlighting three accounts with positive balances. The sale account contains just over $25,000, the horse show account has approximately $228,000 and the operating account has $17,000. The horse show has commitments for $64,000 in sponsorships with $50,000 of that already collected.
The Riders Cup account is just getting up and going for the 2021 show season and currently only seven of the 23 categories are sponsored. Hankins urged each trainer to look within their own barns for potential sponsors of the program which has been so well-received by horse shows and paid out substantial winnings to trainers over the years.
Hankins welcomed guests Thom Meek, Jeffrey Howard and Tim Hatfield who all updated the membership in their respective areas. Meek, who is the trainers Vice President at TWHBEA will focus on the creation of a new joint venture Trainers’ Directory and continue to push clinics which Meek mentioned might be best done by allowing trainers to conduct those clinics in their own areas rather than always having the clinic in a singular location.
Howard updated the trainers on the current legislative and regulatory landscape passing along information from industry lobbyist Jeff Speaks. Currently no new legislation nor any new rule has been put forth although the industry should expect movement in both prior to the end of the year. In addition, Howard impressed upon the trainers the need for all horses to pass the USDA/HIO swabbing protocols in 2021. “We are requesting scientific, objective testing which the swabbing is and we must show our compliance in this area in order to move forward and defend our horse,” said Howard.
Hatfield updated the membership on the inspection process and changes for 2021. The horses will walk a slightly different pattern as part of the figure 8, will be required to have their numbers with them prior to inspection and will continue to be swabbed on a random basis.
Hankins finished the meeting by again urging the members to endorse the swabbing and meet the requirements of the prohibited substance testing. The trainers have purchased additional swabs that a custodian can require for a second swab in case they want to appeal the findings of the original swab. The swab must be conducted at the same time, will cost $150 to be paid at the time of inspection and will be sent to the same lab as the original swab at Texas A&M University.
More Stories |
-
The United States Department of Agriculture proposed a rule on August 20, 2023 that would have devastating impacts to the Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse. The rule would prohibit pads, action devices and bands while also eliminating all industry Horse Industry Organizations (HIO) and turning all enforcement over to the USDA.
Read More
-
Please see below for the Gold Strike discount code, class schedule information and more for the United Fall Finale that will be held November 16-18, 2023, in Tunica, Mississippi.
Read More
-
The North Carolina Championship is scheduled for October 5-7, at the Western North Carolina Ag Center in Fletcher, North Carolina. Brent Grider, Newton Parks and Amy Trimble were the original slate of judges. Due to recently being diagnosed with covid, Newton Parks is no longer able to judge the show and Johnny Puckett will now take Parks’ place on the panel.
Read More
-
Read More
-
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has selected Scotty Brooks, Jamie Lawrence and Chad Williams to judge the Celebration Fall Classic. The Fall Classic will be held November 2-4, 2023 inside Cooper Steel Arena.
Read More
-
Mrs. Rhonda Cheryl Holt Ingle, age 67, wife of Rickey Ingle, of 432 Police Club Rd., Union, passed away doing what she loved the most, Monday, September 25, 2023, at her home.
Read More
-
Beloved husband, father, brother, and friend Lee Clement Williams died on September 25, 2023 following a recent illness. Lee is now free from the pain that has dominated his life for the past weeks. A fighter until the end, he was determined to beat his cancer and gave the dreaded disease a battle like it had never seen.
Read More
-
Ella Kline would appreciate your support as she seeks a positions representing Tennessee on the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Board of Directors. Kline is a write in candidate and isn’t listed on the ballots that were mailed out.
Read More
-
United States Congressmen Scott DesJarlais, John Rose and David Kustoff from Tennessee as well as Representatives Hal Rogers and James Comer from Kentucky sent a letter on September 20, 2023 asking USDA-APHIS officials to extend the comment period on the new proposed rule issued in August.
Read More
-
United States Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty from Tennessee as well as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky sent a letter on September 21, 2023 asking USDA-APHIS officials to extend the comment period on the new proposed rule issued in August.
Read More
|