Like the rolling currents of the ocean, the tides continue to pommel the Walking Horse industry. The waves rolling to the shore, however, are not just the hand of outside forces but from within the industry itself.

In an all-day meeting Monday, the executive committee of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) in Lewisburg, headquarters of the breed registry, fired Executive Director Charles Hulsey for inappropriate registration policies and personnel actions only moments after voting to proceed with their plans for the November horse show to crown a 2006 World Grand Champion. The Murfreesboro show has been named the Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational, despite letters stating overall disapproval from many of their own state directors.

Bruce Vaughn, director from Ohio, stated by letter that "the decision to host this show (the Invitational) and name a World Grand Champion for 2006 are at the best misguided, and at worst, self-serving. How is this World Grand Champion part of the mission that the TWHBEA has been actively striving toward?"

According to horse show committee reports, the two-day event, slated for Thanksgiving weekend, will award over $150,000 in prize money with the final class naming a World Grand Champion and paying over $15,000 to the winner. Reserve through 10th place winners will divide the remaining $38,000.

"This is obviously dividing the industry further," said Tommy Hall, executive director of the Walking Horse Owners' Association (WHOA) that will host the annual International Grand Championship this weekend at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro.

"Throughout the years there has always been an understanding between the International and the Celebration -- the industry in general -- that the two shows were similar and both important to the industry. But we've always said the Celebration was the crowning point of the year."

Hall explained the first crack in the unification of the breed came this summer when the TWHBEA moved away from the inspection process currently directed by the National Horse Show Commission, an organization founded by TWHBEA, WHOA and the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) in the early 1970s to bring unification and regulation to the breed in one rule book and inspection guide. The registry adopted its own platform for judging and inspection called HIO.

"No one can have their own agenda and represent the good of all the industry," said Hall. We all have to stick together and work in unison."

Neal Holland Jr., chairman of the Unification Task Force of the industry organizations, sent a letter to Jerald Pedigo, TWHBEA president, calling for the efforts to bring the industry under one umbrella and goal. Members of the Task Force include trainers Ronnie Spears and Allan Callaway, WHOA President David Pruett and members Frank Neal, Charles Gleghorn, Jackie Brown and Neal Holland Jr.

"It is our desire to reach out to you and the TWHBEA and make every effort to truly become a unified industry. Such common and unified efforts will enable the Tennessee Walking Horse and all associations to reach it true potential," the letter read.

Holland and members of the Task Force requested a meeting with the TWHBEA to discuss issues, but at press time no meeting had been scheduled nor had a response from the TWHBEA been received.

"The importance," said Hall, "is that the industry is one complete circle of trainers, owners, judges, breeders and fans. One can't work without the other. They all have to work hand-in-hand for the industry to be successful. In that same light, we all have to recognize one industry-crowning event. That has traditionally been the Celebration and it will continue to be."

"I want to go on record," stated Vaughn, "that I oppose this ill-fated adventure. The members of the Breeders' Executive Board are smart, well educated, horse loving people who have a viewpoint that is viable. Not all the members of the TWHBEA stand behind the decisions that have been made this summer."

Moving ahead with plans for the show, the TWHBEA voted unanimously to send two representatives, Rhonda Martocci and Jamie Hankins, to meet with Celebration officials to ask that the Celebration sponsor, co-sponsor or in some way work with the TWHBEA in the final class to crown the World Grand Champion.

Only Nicole Carswell of Kentucky is presently listed as a judge for the show. Two other names were announced but have since declined the invitation due to jeopardizing their judges' licenses with the NHSC. Because the TWHBEA show will be judged by those certified by their committee begun this summer, many judges are ineligible to participate.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational is scheduled to be held Nov. 24-25.