Coalition of State Horse Councils Fall Meeting Held in Denver November 2-4, 2012

American Horse Council Organization

AHC Spring Meeting

The spring meeting is in conjunction with the Annual meeting of AHC in Washington, DC.  In the spring, member organizations come together for the AHC issues conference and committee meetings of AHC & CSHC. In addition, AHC members attend a Congressional reception with federal legislators and the Congressional Calvary where they make appointments with their legislators to present and discuss issues related to the horse industry.

Coalition of State Horse Councils

The CSHS’s structure as a subcommittee in AHC has responsibilities similar to that of the AHC: to gather information and decide on actions put forward to the AHC for consideration in federal legislation and regulation. Additional committees within CSHS are charged with managerial responsibilities, which allow the Coalition to operate as an autonomous group.

Although others may attend CSHC meetings, they don’t have voting right, only the designated CSHS voting delegate and an alternate from each member group in good standing. However, non-voting members may work or chair other CSHC subcommittees. There are times at the spring CSHC meeting in DC that a delegate is at an AHC committee meeting; therefore, the alternate can vote in his or her place. For Pennsylvania Equine Council, Ann Swinker is voting delegate and Bud Wills is the alternate.

New members on CSHC

This year AHC has welcomed some members of CSHC’s to sit on AHC Committees. Maggie Romano from NJ Horse Council holds a Racing Committee seat; Ginny Grulke of Kentucky Horse Council holds the Show Committee seat, and Jean Ligon of Michigan Horse Council holds the CSHC seat on the AHC’s Issues Committee. In past years Dr. Ann Swinker has held the CSHC seat on the AHC Un-Wanted Horse Committee and International Relations Committee, and Gwen Wills has represented the CSHC on the AHC Recreation Committee, as well as being a member of the CSHC Issues Committee. 

Fall Meeting "Putting the Pieces Together"

• The fall meeting, themed “Putting the Pieces Together,” opened Friday afternoon with a four hour strategic planning session designed to complement work done in recent years and to frame future movement towards the CSHC efforts to be more proactive in helping struggling state horse councils, streamlining communications, and sharing vital information between the councils. Ms. Diane Lesher, Pres. of Equisure, Inc. led a Q & A session on “Protect your Passion, Member Benefits” and “Personal Excess” liability insurance.
• Following a networking session at the hospitality suit sponsored by Equisure Inc., members attended a reception where remarks were made by the host Colorado Horse Council, updates from Ben Pendergrass of AHC were provided, and a wonderful presentation by the world renowned, bestselling author and consultant to the livestock industry Temple Grandin was enjoyed by all.
• Programs on Saturday morning at 8 am began with “Equine Welfare: Separating Fact from Emotion” by Cindy Schonholtz, followed by Jill Montgomery’s “Unwanted Horse-The Lessons to Teach Our Youth.” Also on the program, were presentations on “Equine Liability Case Studies: Guidelines for Horse Safety” by Wayne Hippsley and on “Building a Better Future for the Horse Industry” by Sue Wallis, US Chairman of International Equine Business Association. The lunch break featured Equine Volunteer Programs at Colorado State University.
  

Afternoon Programs included the following:

• “Combining Small Business with Grass Roots to Grow the US Horse Industry” - Colleen Pase, American Association of Riding Schools, AARS
• “Equine Rehab –The Holistic Horse Sector”-Tracy Vroom
• “Marketing of the Horse Industry,” Christy Landwehr, CEO of Certified Horsemanship Assoc. CHA
• “The Value of knowing the Value of your Industry-Horse Power,” Kyle Fenner, Colorado Horse Park
• “Legal, Legislative and Liability” A Round Table Discussion
  

Sunday: CSHC Business Meeting

    Presentations, programs, and networking discussions prior to the business meeting shaped the discussions regarding key issues. “Putting the Pieces Together” and the forward movement will continue with a Task Force charged to streamline committees.