The National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) applauds the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for its strong stand in favor of protecting the magnificent, naturally-gaited Tennessee walking horse. More...

July 27, 2007
 
Regional Championship Shows for 2008

November 15, 2007

Cindy R. Anderson

It is with extreme sadness that I inform you of the death of Cindy R. Anderson of Lenoir City, TN. She was tragically killed in an automobile accident November 14, 2007. A memorial service is scheduled at 5:00 PM EDST, Friday, November 16th, at Click Funeral Home , 11915 Kingston Pike, Farragut, TN , phone 865-671-6100. If you wish to send flowers they should arrive before 3:00 PM EDST.

A memorial fund has been established at NWHA. For those choosing to send a memorial gift , checks should be made payable to NWHA and put Cindy Anderson Memorial in the "for" line. The family will be notified of your contribution. Cindy has been a long time supporter of NWHA. Her most recent contribution was the "Bold Aggression Hunter Hack Challenge Trophy" initiated at the 2007 National in honor of her well know horse, Bold Aggression.

November 10, 2007

The trial between TWHBEA and NWHA concluded on Thursday, November 8, 2007. At the end of the trial, Judge Campbell ordered that both the plaintiff and the defendant, after they have received copies of the transcripts of the trial, submit Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law to him within 15 days, for his review. Once the judge receives the information from both sides then he will render a decision.

October 28, 2007

NWHA Annual Meeting - Update

October 10, 2007

Nationwide Trailering Assistance

With an annual fee comparable to that of other roadside assistance programs, USRider’s plan offers service anywhere in the continental United States, Canada and Alaska and includes the typical flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lockout services. In addition, the Equestrian Motor Plan offers services designed with horse owners in mind, including 100 miles of free towing for the tow vehicle and/or horse trailer, emergency veterinary, stabling, and farrier referrals, and more, for just pennies a day. USRider membership costs just $119 annually, plus a one-time $29 new member activation fee. Associate memberships for family members are available for just $79 each. USRider waives the new member activation fee for members who add an associate member when they join. Join USRider today by calling 1-800-844-1409 or by visiting www.usrider.org

GREAT NEWS

USRider has created a special limited-time program just for the National Walking Horse Association! For any member of National Walking Horse Association who joins USRider between November 1, 2007 and November 30, 2007, USRider will make a donation to National Walking Horse Association of $10.00 for each new primary membership. Call 1-800-844-1409 to join – be sure to identify yourself as a National Walking Horse Association member. If you travel with your horse, USRider is the Equestrian Motor Plan for you.

September 7, 2007

Press Release

JUDGE ORDERS WALKING HORSE ASSOCIATIONS TO DISPUTE RESOLUTION

In a move to halt the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) from registering a horse using its pedigree, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA) filed for a permanent injunction against the NWHA. This was one more volley in the federal lawsuit filed against the NWHA by the TWHBEA. The NWHA is the horse association who is known for its zero tolerance for soring stance. TWHBEA, the breed registry, has been rife with internal issues.

The NWHA has maintained its firm stance that the horse's pedigree is factual information and cannot be copyrighted. NWHA believes the protection of walking horse owner's rights to the use of a horse's pedigree has far-reaching implications for the rights of all animal owners and industries that use, in some manner, an animal pedigree. The judge ruled in February 2007 that the pedigree is factual. Facts are not copyrightable.

Judge Campbell did not rule on TWHBEA's request for injunctive relief but instead issued an Order for the parties to participate in alternative dispute resolution. NWHA embraces the opportunity to resolve the lawsuit and continue in its mission to protect and promote the naturally gaited Walking Horse.

National Walking Horse Association
4059 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 4
Lexington, KY 40511
859-252-6942
Donald Vizi, Executive Director

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Will we continue to be signatories to the USDA Operating Plan for the enforcement of the Horse Protection Act? Two months ago I wrote that our Board unanimously voted to sign the 2007-2009 plan as we felt this one finally had enough “teeth” to warrant our support. I also wrote that if the plan were lessened in any way we would become a non-signatory. Well…. additional language to the penalty structure for scar rule violations has been proposed by Craig Evans representing TWHBEA, HPC and FOSH: “Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, for the purposes of determining penalties for scar rule violations, a subsequent violation will become cumulative in accordance with the table above only if it occurs within twelve (12) months after a suspension is served.” Our Board of Directors voted, again unanimously, not to support this proposal. We do not feel that anyone who has been found guilty of scarring a horse should have his/her slate wiped clean, ever. As I submit this message for publication it is not yet known whether or not the USDA will accept this proposal and change the Operating Plan. If the proposal is not accepted and the plan remains unchanged we will continue to be a signer.

Although it seems as though the year has just begun it is time to begin thinking about our leadership for 2008. Our Executive Director works at the direction of the NWHA Board and you, the membership, elect the people that make up that Board. Being a Director is a serious commitment and only those willing to make that commitment should seek a nomination. Further, it is important to remember that even though one is a Director that does not mean that things will always go your way as the majority rule concept governs the decisions made by the Board. If you wish to be considered to serve in a position of leadership for NWHA in 2008 please look for information about the process published elsewhere in this issue.

From all reports our Horse in the Park, Ebony’s Supreme Bum, owned by DeDe and Steve Marshall, continues to be well received by the visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park. If you are in the area make sure you schedule time to see his twice-daily performances.

Plans for our National Championship Show are moving forward. When you receive your sponsorship request letter please consider offering your financial support in whatever way fits your budget so the success of this show remains secure. Remember, the National Walking Horse Association continues to stand for all things that are good and right for the walking horse. There IS a Difference….it is NWHA!

Juana Grover

2007 NWHA Annual Meeting

November 2, 3, 4, 2007
Was held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, Downtown Lexington

October 28, 2007

March 8, 2007

Bylaw amendment

Article I. / Section 3

Amend to read:

Parade of Breeds at the Kentucky Horse Park

NWHA is proud to announce that EBONYS SUPREME BUM, better known as ‘Dillon’ is the Walking Horse ambassador for the Parade of Breeds for the 2007 Park season. NWHA thanks Steve and DeDe Marshall of NC for allowing ‘Dillon’ to represent the sound naturally gaited Walking Horse in such a prestigious facility as the Kentucky Horse Park.

‘Dillon’s job description is that he will ‘walk his stuff’ once a day at the Parade of Breeds. Then he has to meet and greet the public. ‘Dillon’ arrived at the Breeds Barn at the Kentucky Horse Park last Saturday. And, TODAY, was his first day on the job! Afterwards, dozens of children and adults took great pleasure petting and having their pictures taken with him.

The National Walking Horse Association continues in its mission to promote the general welfare of the Walking Horse, serve as an advocate for the Walking Horse against abusive and inhumane treatment, and increase public awareness of the Natural abilities of the Walking Horse.

For this 2007 season our number of walking horse shows has grown and our location of shows has expanded. As you review the calendar you will see shows in states where none existed before. Our NWHA affiliated clinics and trail rides are on the increase. Our membership is at an all time high. Public opinion appears to be on our side as we continue to enforce a zero tolerance for soring at our horse shows and events.

Many of you have asked about the litigation filed against us by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (Breeders). The trial in this lawsuit has been continued by the court until October 2007. Our attorneys advise that they continue to be committed to NWHA’s cause and business purpose. They ask that NWHA and its members support their efforts in defending the claims filed against NWHA by Breeders as we continue in our mission to promote the naturally gaited walking horse. Our insurer has been steadfast in its commitment to the defense of this case.

To this goal, NWHA’s Board of Directors looks forward to a successful show season and continued growth in our new home at the Kentucky Horse Park. We solicit your support of both NWHA, in its mission, and NWHA’s legal team, in defending NWHA, by exhibiting your horse at an NWHA affiliated show, participating in an NWHA affiliated clinic or trail ride and by settling for no less than zero tolerance for soring!
Juana Grover

2-22-2007

Trail Rider Program

Recognizing that we share a love of naturally smooth-gaited horses NWHA is proud to announce a collaboration with the American Field Trial Association. The TRIP will award a special distance prize to the TRIP member accumulating the highest number of hours at American Field Trial events. This will be a special award at the NWHA annual meeting. TRIP members need only note in their trail logs which rides are field trials in order to be eligible

2-10-2007

The NWHA Officers and Directors regretfully announce the resignation of Connie Fenner from the position of Eastern Region Director. Fenner’s service and dedication as a leader of NWHA over the last eight years is greatly appreciated. Fenner states “Please understand that I am still an avid proponent of NWHA and will continue to promote its mission and work.”

Lori Snyder-Lowe has accepted the appointment to fill the position vacated by Fenner. Her term will run for the remainder of 2007. She resides in Malta, OH.

1-2007

Visit the following website to view the proposed Horse Protection Act Operating Plan http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/hpainfo.html

The proposed 2007-2009 Horse Protection Operating Plan is posted on the APHIS website to afford interested persons an opportunity to comment before further action is taken by the Agency. To ensure consideration of your comments, please submit them before February 5, 2007. Electronic comments should be sent to ace@aphis.usda.gov

Please comment on the proposed plan and let your opinions be known.

When the proposed operating plan was submitted to the USDA in January, the National Walking Horse Association entered the following statement into the cover letter that accompanied the proposed plan:

"The National Walking Horse Association opposes an Operating Plan that does not include a zero tolerance scar rule and the prohibition of pads and action devices."

NWHA members are being represented all Horse Industry Organizations and teleconferences throughout the year by our Director of Designated Qualified Persons and Animal Welfare, Dr. Martha M. Day

1-1-2007

Bonnie Herman, Founding Director of NWHA, Passes Away

Become a member of NWHA and enjoy the ride

NWHA Board Minutes

Check Here - Part 1  / Click Here - Part 2

2006 NWHA National Championship Class Results & Judges Cards

NWHA SHOW HIGH POINT CHAMPIONS

9-22-2006

NEWS FROM THE 2006 NATIONAL

The numbers say it all

Entries: 1635 as of Noon Thursday
Classes: 131
States Represented: 26
Biggest Class: 38
11:30 PM: Classes entering with 20 horses
Multiple classes: Split
Lights out: 1:30 AM
Parties: To many to count
Friday: Lights on - 8:00 AM "The Best is Yet to Come"

It’s Thursday night and the show grounds are popping…

There are 26 states represented in the largest flatshod horse show EVER!!

Tom Gossard’s center ring is magical with carousel horses marking the corners and lights twinkling in the foliage of the trees. Nashville’s “channel two” featured the National on the 6:00 PM news… Check out the station’s website…  Front page news in the Daily News Journal and our natural gaited horses keep walking!!

When you see Connie and Val, please say thanks to the best Show Managers, EVER!!

Good News   Good News   Good News  Good News  Good News

National Walking Horse Association Needs Your Support:

April 2006

Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday

NWHA will conduct more than one DQP Clinic in more than one location this winter. All NWHA DQPs will be notified as to where and when these clinics will be. NWHA needs more DQPs.

March 18 & 19, 2006
Indianapolis, IN
Headquarters - Hampton Inn Airport
Rooms will be available for a special rate of $75 per night for attendees
Rooms must be reserved by February 17 to be guaranteed a room at this price
For hotel reservations 317-244-1221

Saturday March 18 Session will be held at the Hampton Inn Airport
Sunday March 19 Session will be held at the Hilltop Farms Equestrian Center
This is just a short drive from the hotel

NWHA Members can audit this clinic for a $25 fee
NWHA needs more DQPs
 

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Change in Fees for NWHA Affiliated Shows

The NWHA Board approve the change in DQP fees being charged NWHA Affiliated Shows beginning in 2005. The fee for no pay back shows has been raised from $2 to $3 per horse per day. The fee for pay back shows was reduced from $5 per horse per day to $4 per horse per day

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2000 USDA Report

The following is the 2000 USDA Report to Congress on Horse Protection (HP). The USDA has not published an official report on HP since 2000 because USDA says Congress no longer requires it. Upon request by NWHA, USDA has sent out the raw data accumulated for 2003 and 2004 show seasons. NWHA is in the process of formatting this data so NWHA members would better understand it. Upon completion of formatting the data, it will be published in the National News.

Click here for the USDA Report - In .pdf format

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Show Results Database

The Show Results Database is now online

PLEASE NOTE: If there are no results found, it means that we do not have the information entered yet. They are trying to get the results posted as quickly as they receive them, but some of the current shows may not show any results. You might want to contact those show managers to make sure they have submitted the results to the NWHA office.

Search Here

2005 National Judges

Judges for the National have been selected H. T. Derickson, Stanton, KY, Carol Camp, Franklin, TN and Jacqueline Allen, Coloma, MI will judge the rail classes.

This year the National will have a separate judge for the Versatility division. Michelle Marble, Elgin, SC. Additionally, Elizabeth Dyer, Nashville, TN will judge Dressage and WH Over Fences.

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New High Point Category

NWHA High Point Categories now include Keg Shod.  The classes can include English or Western and are 2 or 3 Gait classes. They are open to Adult, Youth and Open exhibits. Shoeing is keg-shod only in this division.

There have also been additional classes added to Plantation; Racking; Versatility and Country Pleasure.
 

NWHA Judges and DQP Clinics Held February, 2005

DQP Clinic will be conducted in Goodlettsville, Tennessee (near Nashville) on February 19-20.
The clinic will be held at the Goodlettsville Best Western on I 65 exit 97, just north of Nashville, on Saturday the 19th beginning at 8:30 AM CST and at Hal Bowden’s Stable on Sunday the 20th beginning at 9:00 AM. The Saturday session will end at 5:00 PM and the Sunday session will be concluded by noon. Rooms are available for $59 per night at the Goodlettsville Best Western. The number for hotel reservations is: 615-851-1067. Tell them you are attending the National Walking Horse Association Clinic.

There may be other NWHA DQP Clinics in other areas depending on the interest. NWHA needs DQPs. If you are interested in becoming a DQP for NWHA please contact the NWHA Office.

Judges Clinic will be conducted in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on February 26 – 28, 2005
Headquarters for the Judges Clinic will be the Murfreesboro Hampton Inn at 2230 Armory Drive.

An extra day will be added to the NWHA Judges Clinic this year. The extra day will be devoted to versatility. NWHA Approved Judges will have the option of attending the versatility session to be certified in versatility.

The Saturday, February 26th, session will be conducted at the Hampton Inn and will begin at 8:30 AM. The Sunday session will be held at the MTSU Livestock Center on campus and will begin at 9:00 AM. The versatility session will be conducted on Monday at the Hampton Inn beginning at 8:30 AM CST.

There will be no charge to NWHA Approved Judges or Judge Applicants for the clinic. People interested in auditing the clinic may do so for a fee of $75 for the Saturday and Sunday session, $50 for the versatility session on Monday or $100 fee for all three days of the clinic.

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NWHA Membership Votes to Eliminate Pads

The NWHA Membership has voted to eliminate the use of pads and action devices on horses at NWHA affiliated horse shows effective January 1, 2005. There will be complete coverage of this change in NWHA policy in the June NWHA National News.

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2004 Annual Membership Meeting in Atlanta, GA

NWHA's 7th Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, GA November 5 - 6 was well attended. The slate of Officers and Directors that were submitted by the Nominating Committee were elected. The "Not So Silent Auction" headed up by Juana Grover brought in over $22,000 to benefit NWHA. The NWHA Tracking Registry's first 10 numbers were auctioned off and brought in over $15,000 with number one and two bringing $3,500 each. These two numbers were purchased by Linda Ritter from Florida.
The two Peter Stone, one of a kind, model horses sold for $1400 each.

2004 National Championship Show Judges

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NWHA MEMBERS TO RECEIVE COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TO TWH BREEDERS’ GUIDE

October 1, 2004 -- Frank and Judy Gassmann, owners of Breeders’ Guide Publishing, have generously offered to place the entire NWHA membership on the mailing list of recipients for the 2005 edition of The Breeders’ Guide.

An annual publication, The Guide is an alphabetic collection of Tennessee Walking Horse breeding stallions. It was first published in 1992 and, since that time, has become recognized as the most comprehensive reference source available to the industry. Each issue includes an index sorted not only by stallion, but also by owner and by state, providing greater exposure for the advertiser and increased options for the subscriber.

“We recognize the fact that NWHA is a rapidly growing, dynamic force within the TWH industry,” commented Frank Gassmann. “The number of flat shod stallion owners utilizing The Guide for promotional purposes is increasing rapidly. We feel the addition of NWHA members to our mailing list will provide those stallions owners with an even greater audience seeking naturally gaited animals to cross with their mares.”

The addition of NWHA members takes the circulation of The Guide over 8,000.

Advertising reservations are being handled this year by Pj Wamble, an equine photographer/graphic designer with 26 years publication experience.

“It was an unexpected pleasure to look up and see Pj at our championship show Saturday morning,” commented NWHA’s Don Bell. “An avid trail rider, Pj’s family raised walking horses during her youth so she brings, literally, a lifetime of experience to the publication.”

Wamble, who was employed at the Voice magazine for a number of years, stepped in to handle sales this year when The Guide’s veteran salesman, Steve Wirts, took a bad fall from a horse mid-August.

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The National Walking Horse Association Election Process

Some NWHA members have inquired about the annual election process - specifically why the ballot contains just one name for each position with a space for a write-in name. First and foremost, the election is conducted according to the guidelines set forth in the NWHA bylaws, which were approved by the general membership.

NWHA is a 501(c)3 tax exempt, charitable organization. Several members of the Board of Directors studied 501(c)3 organizations - why they succeed and why they fail. (501(c)3 organizations have an average life span of five years. Board members asked the question, “why?” After much research, the Board was able to come to some conclusions based on what some of the most successful non-profit organizations have done. Regarding annual elections, the Board noted the practices of these organizations were very similar to NWHA’s election process. References are listed below.

One can consider several ways to get a slate of directors for consideration by the membership. One method is a recommended slate prepared by a nominating committee, another is a popular vote format with two names on the ballot and a third possibility is to put any member’s name on the ballot who wishes to run. Let’s consider the nuts and bolts of those methods:

The Slate: A nominating committee is voted on by the Board of Directors and should consist of active, knowledgeable, supportive members from diverse geographical areas and interests who are willing to serve in this arduous, often thankless capacity. They work independently of the Board, gathering potential names for the slate, talking to members, and meeting by teleconference. After several months and much analysis, they present the final slate, confident that their recommendations will best serve the interests and future of NWHA. In a national-level organization, a member usually knows only a small percentage of the entire membership. Thus the nominating committee does the legwork and is charged with presenting an effective, competent slate.

This method is