Walking horse industry awaits word from WHOA

This year, all the frenetic activity seems to be taking place outside the ring and beyond the stables. In offices and boardrooms across the state, the trainers, owners and others in the industry are trying to work out the latest wrinkle in a troubled industry.

On March 2, the WHTA board of directors unanimously voted to disband the National Horse Show Commission. On March 9, the WHTA general membership met and backed that decision. It was decided to ask a Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration organization to assume the NHSC duties. That Horse Industry Organization is SHOW (Sound horses, Honest judging, Objective inspections, Winning fairly).

Because the NHSC sanctions the Trainers' Show, and because matters are still unresolved between different agencies, it was decided to cancel the four-day event -- for now -- though there is a possibility the show will be rescheduled.

What triggered it all?

"More than anything -- the inspection process," said Doyle Meadows, CEO of the Celebration. "The biggest thing is, over a period of time, people have fussed over the trainers being part of the inspection process, and to some degree, the owners as well. It's like having the fox guard the henhouse."

Meadows said no decision has been made as to whether SHOW would accept the responsibility the trainers have requested.

"Trainers have agreed to do this, but WHOA (Walking Horse Owners Association) has not," he said. "We can't make a decision until other decisions are made -- hopefully by April."

The eight-member NHSC board has consisted of four members from WHOA and four from WHTA.

The NHSC was established in 1971, a direct response to the Horse Protection Act passed in 1970 that outlawed soring and was dedicated to protecting walking horses -- and other gaited breeds -- from abuse. The primary purpose of the NHSC is "the operation of a USDA-certified Designated Qualified Person (DQP) Program, which includes training, licensing, monitoring, supervising and administering DQPs to officiate at Commission affiliated shows and sales," according to the NHSC website. "Other powers granted to the Commission include the affiliation of horse shows and sales, the formulation and issuing of a rule book and the training and licensing of judges."

"With increased government scrutiny, more demands are being made," said Meadows. "The trainers wanted out of the inspection business."

He said the end of NHSC's HIO would be the end of NHSC.

"If the NHSC dissolves the HIO, that's it, they're gone," he said. "NHSC has not agreed to anything."

Andy Messick, who was recently named the new executive vice president and director of animal welfare and DQP services at NHSC, did not return repeated calls from the Times-Gazette.

If SHOW accepts the new role as the sanctioning HIO, Meadows said the organization would need additional staff.

"We have to have a director," he said. "I'm not sure what we're going to do relative to their staff. I can't say we're going to keep any or all of their staff. It's too premature -- we're waiting to see what the NHSC will do."

Meadows said the circumstances surrounding the Celebration's HIO bears little resemblance to those around the one created by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors Association a few years ago, after the championless 2006 Celebration. That move by TWHBEA failed and cost the organization financially and in reputation and memberships.

"They started the deal and said, 'here it is,' with no buy-in from the trainers," said Meadows about the former TWHBEA administration. "They just did it. This is totally different. The trainers have asked the Celebration to do it, for SHOW to take over. They volunteered to step back -- it was their idea. The concept is totally different."

Walking Horse Advocates, an organization recently formed to promote safe practices in training and exhibiting the breed, is also comprised of members from several leading groups in the industry. Virginia Tharpe, of Gish, Sherwood & Friends, is the media contact for WHA and she helped compile a fact sheet about the issue.

"It's been confusing, so we put it together just for us at first," she said. "Then we realized everyone could use it."

The complete fact sheet can be found at the WHA web site, www.walkinghorseadvocates.com.

The fact sheet listed a statement from trainer Link Webb, who is the WHTA president, as well as the chairman of the NHSC.

"We (The WHTA board) feel strongly that we have made a giant step in moving the industry forward," Webb, who trained the 2008 World Grand Champion, Santana's El Nino, wrote. "We are comfortable that the horse industry will be better as a result of our decision today."

Frank Neal, president of WHOA, had issued a statement previously offering support for NHSC, but the owners met Thursday to discuss the issue and possibly vote on the matter.

"We don't have a comment at this time," said Teresa Owens, WHOA secretary, who confirmed the meeting took place but did not say what happened in it.

"Walking Horse Advocates encourages the ongoing dialogue between the Trainers' Association and the Owners' Association," the WHA fact sheet stated. "We are confident this discussion will result in stronger, better oversight of the industry, whether the NHSC remains as the regulatory arm of the walking horse show circuit or those responsibilities are assumed by another organization."

NHSC will continue to oversee other walking horse shows currently being held around the country, and WHOA's Academy show, scheduled for March 21 at Calsonic Arena, will go on as planned, according to the WHOA website.

WALKING HORSE INDUSTRY GLOSSARY

DQP: Designated Qualified Person, an inspector from HIO. HIO: Horse Industry Organization (a gaited horse organization certified by USDA to perform inspections). HPA: Horse Protection Act, the 1970 federal law that prohibits soring. NHSC: National Horse Show Commission, established as a 50/50 partnership between trainers and owners; an HIO licensed by the USDA for establishing and enforcing industry regulations. OP: Operating Plan, current agreement between USDA and certain signatory HIOs. SHOW: Sound horses, Honest judging, Objective inspections, Winning fairly; an HIO licensed by the USDA for establishing and enforcing industry regulations. TWHBEA: Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. TWHNC: Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration: The 11-day show that names the World Grand Champion Tennessee walking horse. USDA: United States Department of Agriculture. VMO: Veterinary Medical Officer (an inspector from the USDA). WHA: Walking Horse Advocates, a new organization dedicated to promoting safer practices in training and exhibiting. WHOA: Walking Horse Owners' Association. WHTA: Walking Horse Trainers' Association.