FAST finalizes board of directors

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Foundation for the Advancement and Support of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse (FAST) has finalized its board with the appointments of Bruce Vaughn, Eugene Ray and David Landrum.

Vaughn is a long-time owner and exhibitor of Tennessee walking horses and also serves on the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association Executive Committee. Vaughn is from Valley City, Ohio.

Ray, mayor of Bedford County, and has been a supporter of the Tennessee walking horse for many years.

Landrum is a World Grand Champion walking horse trainer from Franklin and a past president of the Walking Horse Trainers' Association, currently sitting on the board of directors.

Landrum, Ray and Vaughn join Brenda Carlon, Bob Ramsbottom, Lee McGartland, Jeffrey Howard, Kathy Zeis, Secretary/Treasurer, Kasey Kesselring, vice president, and Mike Inman, president, on the board of FAST.

FAST's mission statement is to engage in fundraising initiatives to provide financial support via tax deductable donations for the advancement and support of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse in the areas of education, equine welfare, the promotion and preservation of the Tennessee walking horse shows and exhibitions, preservation of the breed and scientific research and development.

FAST is a 501 (C) 3 charitable organization and donations are tax deductible. You can visit the FAST web site at www.FASTWalkingShowHorse.org.

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Let me get this right, our tax money is trying to STOP abusing walkers with inspections for the sake of the high step for the wealthy abuse loving owners, and now these wealthy owners and a king of "how to sore and make my rich clients happy without anyone knowing about it" is heading a group that will get further tax deductions to pull the "fixin soaked wool" over the public's eyes about the sored "SHOW" horse. A Show horse is padded. It HAS to have it's feet soaked in GO-JO or Kerosene to lift. Sorry kiddies that IS the way it IS. And we are going to tax deduct support for support for them. Personnally I don't care if thier critters come crawling laced in razor blades, just don't deduct it on my nickel. I will be contacting the gov about this.

Mr. Ray you ought to be ashamed of your self.

-- Posted by East side on Wed, Aug 26, 2009, at 5:09 PM

I'd be ashamed if I didn't care if an animal "come crawling laced in razor blades" so long as my money wasn't subsidizing it.

One would hope we aren't paying for animal abuse,sweatshops,torture in the name of science or national security,prostitution,drug abuse or a thousand other atrocities.

But,we do pay every time a life is diminished due to our greed,hate,fear or indifference.

Our institutions and leaders should be held to at least as high a standard as we hold ourselves.

So long as the Walker bears the name of our state and is closely identified with this community,we are as obligated to protect these equine performers as thoroughly as Nashville would its country music artists,Annapolis would its officers or New Orleans would its Krewes.

Selfishly,this would protect our own interests.

But,even if reputations and livlihoods were not on the line,being respectful of our animals,our atheletes,etc. is more than good stewardship.

It is the only choice for decent people.

Any industry (science,commerce,politics,religion,entertainment or what) that ignores or exploits another's welfare for its own profit will fail and come to ruin in a way that puts it in disgrace.

They would deserve no less for their cruelty.

Unfortunately,they would take too many innocents with them when they fall.

We can't have too many people looking after the best interests of the Tennessee Walking Horse and,by extension,the image and financial success of Bedford County.

If some of the people operating within a given group are foxes put in charge of poultry protection,they might look to see if others might be examining them to see if their pelts would make a nice muff or stole.

We can keep our enemies close IF we put wise friends in power and give them all the support they require.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Wed, Aug 26, 2009, at 9:31 PM

Let the games of Smoke n Mirrors begin, afterall, it is "Celebration Time In Tennessee"

-- Posted by leader_not_a_follower on Wed, Aug 26, 2009, at 10:55 PM