The TWHBEA Executive Committee has unanimously approved the formation of a new committee that will act as a liaison to the USDA and the NHSC in the coming year. Its primary objective will be to maintain the integrity of the breed while working to ensure the consistent and equitable application of the USDA Operating Plan and the regulations pursuant to the Horse Protection Act. TWHBEA President Jim Welch, Senior Vice President Craig Evans and Past President Charles Gleghorn were appointed to the committee. The group will be charged with representing TWHBEA in matters involving the USDA and the horse show interests of the breed. If needed, the committee will also be available to assist the NHSC in its dealings with the USDA.

“The formation of this committee assures continuity with regard to the industry’s ongoing relationship with the USDA,” said TWHBEA Executive Director Bob Cherry. “The executive committee understands the import role these three individuals have played on behalf of the TWHBEA in recent years and the need to keep them in positions of leadership.”

The appointment of this committee was the major item of business conducted at the October 29, 2001 meeting of the TWHBEA Executive Committee.

In his opening remarks, Jim Welch said the association had enjoyed a tremendous year and praised the executive committee for its efforts. Welch cited the creation of the TWHBEA Youth Medallion Class, the success of the Bobby Richards’ clinics and other seminars conducted by TWHBEA, the launching of iPEDS, the in house handling of blood kits and the securing of sponsorships for the TWHBEA Versatility Show as major accomplishments this year.

Bob Cherry reported on the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame located at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. He showed the executive committee a sketch of the newly designed Tennessee Walking Horse exhibit, which will be jointly funded by TWHBEA and the Celebration. Cherry announced that he and Celebration CEO Ron Thomas nominated legendary breeder Charles Brantley to be the industry’s first inductee in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The executive committee formally approved Brantley’s nomination.

Year-to-date registry numbers were included in Cherry’s report. First-time foal registrations decreased 1,071. This resulted in a decrease in revenue of $19,893. Transfers were up 2,566 resulting in an increase in revenue of $91,475. Revenue from memberships is up $25,130. Cherry’s report also included mention of a controversial two-page advertisement recently appearing in Equus magazine. The executive committee asked TWHBEA staff to counter the advertisement with one of its own in Equus’ next available issue.

The results of the 2001 TWHBEA Board of Directors Election were presented to the executive committee and ratified as reported. Ties occurred in five states or regions and the executive committee authorized Sharon Brandon, TWHBEA secretary/treasurer, to notify those individuals involved in the ties and verify their interest in serving on the board. Run-off elections will be held for any unresolved ties.

Charles Wharton, administrative/fiscal vice president, presented the TWHBEA proposed budget for 2002. He called the budget a reasonable one, and the executive committee unanimously approved it. The proposed budget will be forwarded to the national board for review prior to its semi-annual meeting on December 1.

Judy Martin, vice president of the breeders’ division, announced the results of a recent poll conducted in the Voice magazine. Of the 78 respondents, 71 were in favor of continuing to allow fall breeding, while seven were opposed to it. As for placing a cap on the number of mares bred to a single stallion, 73 were opposed to the idea and five were in favor of some type of cap. Jerrold Pedigo, vice president of the performance show horse division, said he was pleased with the level of participation in the TWHBEA Youth Medallion classes. He praised his committee for contributing personal funds to enhance prize money, and credited the gesture for increasing participation in the classes.

Pedigo expressed disappointment in the inaugural Celebration Classic Horse Show held recently in Shelbyville, Tenn. Created exclusively for horses that had not won a blue in 2001, participation was well below expectations.

Ann Kuykendall, vice president of the pleasure horse committee, reminded the executive board that the deadline for submitting written comments to TWHBEA regarding rule change proposals is November 15. Rule changes under consideration include no longer restricting the trail pleasure division to amateurs, no longer allowing time outs in the pleasure divisions and reducing the size of the plantation pleasure shoe. Kuykendall said input helps he committee make recommendations to the NHSC.

Dr. Alan Bachert, vice president of the sales and promotion division, announced that ground has been broken on TWHBEA’s memorial garden. His committee is also looking to initiate a brochure that will allow for participation in the memorial garden at lower price levels.

During Bachert’s report, Bob Cherry announced that the budget committee had recommended reducing the price of all TWHBEA videos to $19.95 effective November 1, 2001.

Sid Baucom, member at large bylaws, presented a motion clarifying language in the bylaws regarding free foal registrations. The new language which clarifies the requirement of current membership at the time of application for the free foal registration was approved.

In the final action of the day, Nancy Lynn Beech, member at-large youth, passed a motion that requires scholarship applicants to have been a member of TWHBEA for two consecutive dues periods or a minimum of 18 months. This is in response to the association’s change to a 12-month dues period.

The next meeting of the executive committee will be December 1, 2001 at 8:00 a.m.