Silver Phoenix Ranch - What is Soring? - TWHBEA Semi-Annual Mtg Continued

Understanding Soring References and Articles

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After the luncheon Christy Lantis made a motion to amend the agenda to move Old and New business ahead of the remaining committee reports. Such a change in the agenda required a 2/3 majority vote and the motion failed with a 30-35 vote.

Thus Pat Stout resumed committee reports with her report from the Horse Show Committee. She announced that TWHBEA had affiliated 15 shows so far this year in Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Utah, Missouri, Virginia, and other states.

Stout presented the motion that passed the Executive Committee earlier that day (See separate story Executive Committee Grapples With Celebration Issues.)

The motion said that by June 8, 2007, the TWHBEA staff in conjunction with Stout and her committee would find a suitable venue for the National Futurity to be held in the few days preceding the Celebration in a geographically convenient location for those members coming to the Celebration.

“People are wanting to know when we are going to have this. We would like to still have with Celebration, if this is not going to happen, we need to know that now, and not 30 days before the show is scheduled to start. People are already setting up their plans to take vacation and show at the Futurity that week. If it’s going to be at the Celebration on Wednesday, great. If it needs to be at the Ag Center on Tuesday night, that’s fine. But we can’t wait any longer. We can’t let this drag out. We’re asking questions continually and not getting an answer,” said Stout.

Stout also recommended that Tennessee Walking Horse papers be changed to indicate if a horse is futurity nominated.

“In other breeds, it is a fantastic selling point. We need to have this Futurity grow and we need to have an importance for a Futurity nominated weanling. I think we’ll get it accomplished this year and it would be a great value for our horse,” said Stout.

Stout also explained that Marty Irby had proposed that two and three-year-old park performance classes be added to the Futurity this year. Stout concluded that her committee would compile data on the division and consider adding it in 2008.

Stout also proposed a new computer software program to help show managers utilizing current technology to help with show management.

Christy Lantis questioned what the holdup on the plans for the National Futurity were.

“The holdup has been, now that we have the Sanctioning Plan and have a contract with an HIO with our Sanctioning Plan, our horse show should be run through TWHBEA with our Sanctioning Plan. The problem is that the Celebration has not said who they are going to affiliate with, so we don’t know where we stand,” explained Stout.

“Does our Sanctioning Plan exclude us from using another HIO,” asked Lantis.

“Yes,” responded Stout. “We are in contract under our Sanctioning Plan.

Marty Irby presented the marketing report. He presented the plans for the Voice magazine including new celebrity articles featuring artists like Sheryl Crow and their Tennessee Walking Horses. The plan calls for eventually putting some of these people in publications outside the industry as well.

Irby addressed the recent issue of the Voice. “It’s the smallest Voice I’ve ever seen. We’ve seen a lot of resistance from performance horse people - we have a $76000 difference in revenue from last year to this year. I can understand some of the reasoning behind people not buying advertising in the Voice. But we are trying to promote performance horses in the magazine, and if they don’t advertise, then we do not have them in there,” said Irby.

Irby also gave reports on a new membership benefit product evaluation form to be used in acquiring new sponsorships. He gave positive information on the GMC Sponsorship, the Walk This Way tour with Nicole Carswell and the Best of America by Horseback program.

Sally Fleck recommended “I always hear the TWHBEA is only for the performance horse. I think it’s because of all the padded horse advertising in the magazine. I think it would be helpful to put PAID ADVERTISING on all the ads.”

Tracy Boyd expressed his feelings about the recent newsletter which was done without input from the marketing committee. “I take exception to the expenditure of the newsletter.”

Irby clarified that there were no plans for an additional newsletter at this time.

Kristi Lane next gave Jack Haefling’s report including a description of the Celebration clinics that have been planned.

Bob Ramsbottom was hesitant in confirming the clinic he was scheduled to host. “The reason I said maybe is whether or not the breeders had withdrawn their corporate sponsorship money from the Celebration and whether we would be able to have the clinics during the Celebration or not.”

Pedigo responded, “As we discussed yesterday in the committee, no decision about changing the corporate sponsorship has been made by the association in any way. It’s budgeted and part of the budget the national board approved. That rumor is a result of a communication between Ron Thomas and Chuck Cadle that was misinterpreted. No change has been made.”

David Landrum asked Chuck Cadle, “did you say in the email that TWHBEA would only be sponsoring horse shows that came under their sanctioning plan?”

“Yes. As of this moment, that was correct. I told Ron we would get together and discuss this. This relationship goes back for a number of years and we do a lot of things together,” responded Cadle.

“The email does sound like we aren’t going to sponsor the Celebration,” concluded Landrum.

Bruce Vaughn then presented the report from the Performance Show Horse Committee.

“It’s been a very interesting and trying year for the performance horse. Some of our programs have been altered by our HIO. The youth medallion program that was very successful and starting to gain steam has been placed on hold. One of the shining stars is our Academy program. We went from 6 shows to 12. Entries were down, although we are still fighting the scar rule, so some of our best horses cannot participate, but hopefully that will improve as time goes on,” reported Vaughn.

Billy Strickland raised a general question in response to Vaughn’s report.

“Everyone keeps saying it is against our HIO. My question is to the board in general. When we got the plan, we read the plan and we enacted the plan, I did not read anywhere that this body signed authority over to HIOC to make decisions for us. It is bothering me to no end. Everybody keeps saying we can’t do this because of this HIO. Or we can’t do that because of this HIO. My question one is, is that what we voted on as a body. Who are the members of the HIOC? How did they get appointed?”

Pedigo reminded everyone that the Sanctioning Plan needs to come up under old business but to specifically answer his questions, Pedigo responded. “The HIOC is composed of myself, Craig Evans and Donna Benefield per the Sanctioning Plan that allows each HIO to send up to two representatives from each HIO under the plan. TWHBEA has agreed to underwrite the expenses of the plan. The plan is unchanged from what you looked at last year in May. It creates a mechanism by which everyone can be a part of the whole in making decisions,” explained Pedigo.

It was also brought up that recently two new HIOs have made application to the USDA including an organization founded by Jack Haefling in Indiana which has already received certification from the USDA. Pedigo indicated there were an additional two organizations preparing to be HIOs in other states and regions.

Strickland continued with his line of questioning.

“The original statement of the plan was to take nothing away from any organization that was willing to join this plan. But that’s not what’s coming true. The Go program, counting points from results, sponsoring organizations. I believe this is taking away from an organization. From TWHBEA. I don’t see that that’s what we voted on,” said Strickland.

Pedigo compared participation in the Sanctioning Plan to TWHBEA’s former participation in the NHSC. “We would vote on issues at TWHBEA, and there are issues that we might see as a benefit from TWHBEA’s viewpoint, and it would still be subject to NHSC’s final determination that that program we wanted to initiate was approved or not. We delegated that authority to the NHSC. We had the same responsibility then. We had the same position in that we had to be part of the final decision that came out of the NHSC.”

Craig Evans clarified the discussion relative to the show results. “I think some people lost focus in terms of whose show records they were. In the contract with the NHSC, it said that the show records belonged to TWHBEA. The NHSC contract had an exception in the non-compete clause for the versatility programs. As a result, the versatility program had already been outside the NHSC Contract.”

A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the status of a binding contract between TWHBEA and the HIO, the HIOC, the HPC, etc., etc.

Sally Fleck concluded, “I thought the reason we pulled out of the NHSC was because we wanted to count all the points, and now we still can’t count all the points.”

Kim Bennett asked if the Voice had implemented any restrictions in the magazine for advertising performance horses.

Bruce Vaughn responded “There are no written restrictions. There has been some discussion about encouraging the front page to have a more friendly type atmosphere.”

Darren Gray was up next with his Pleasure Horse Committee report. He reported on the World Versatility Show which is moving to a three-day format and returning to the Celebration grounds for its tenth anniversary on August 2-4, 2007.

Gray also reported on the Host-A-Ride program whereby TWHBEA partners with local clubs to help fund organized trail rides across the country. Eleven rides have been scheduled for 2007, but there is additional money in the budget if additional rides are organized.

Gray attested to the value of trail riding programs with his own story of being introduced to the Tennessee Walking Horse via the trail. “Our horse is the best out on the trail. This is how we can get people hooked on our horse. It’s how I started in this business,” said Gray.

Wayne Dean presented the report from the Training division.

“Horse shows have been a great success. I commend horse trainers that have stepped up to put these horses in the ring. I’ve talked to a number of leaders in the industry. They are really pleased we are presenting a more positive image in our show ring. We’re going to have to keep that up.”

Dean is working on a group insurance program for trainers and breeders as well as developing a directory of trainers for the Voice magazine and the website. He is also investigating a high point program for trainers within TWHBEA and workshops for trainers.

Sid Baucom presented the by law changes that had been approved by his ByLaw committee and the Executive Committee. There were five changes that will be presented in the July Voice and will be voted upon in the fall of 2007. Those changes include:

1. To get more continuity to the Executive Committee, is to provide for a term to coincide with the term for which the director was elected. So if you are serving a 3 year term and you are elected to the Executive Committee after your first year, you would have two years on the Executive Committee.

2. To change the secretary/treasurer from elected to appointed office.

3. To change the period of time that a director may qualify for election or be removed from office for HPA violations.

4. Have President rather than directors appointing secretary of the meeting.

5. Change the right of the Executive Committee to contract an Executive Director term of more than one year to up to three years.

Baucom also made some general comments. “The Futurity. I am assured and am aware of almost continuous meetings with Pedigo and the Celebration. They are optimistic it will be worked out for the Wednesday before the Celebration and I am truly hopeful that will occur. If it isn’t, the Executive Committee set a date by which the time and date must be set. But I am confident it will occur. WE have to compromise,” said Baucom.

“My father used to tell me there is no such word as can’t. There is won’t and try. We are going to try and get this done properly.”

“This is really a serious problem. We have these groups with divergent views. Even with divergent views within the groups. No one has been willing to compromise. We are talking about the industry. We are talking about the horse. If we don’t get this solved, we are going to lose the performance horse. The economic backbone of this industry,” stressed Baucom.

Holly Reynolds gave the final committee report on the Youth. She announced the scholarship winners which include graduate school students Melissa Burnette and Daniel Starnes and undergraduate students, Rachel Galeski, Mathew McMurtry, Blair Morton, Sarah Rowland , Ashley Scott and Mary Jo Williams.

Reynolds also expanded upon the statistics that Meredith gave regarding the aging population. She further commented, “We have a lot of new attitudes to deal with in the industry. We are no longer looking at our horses as livestock. They are pets. We are going to have to address those new attitudes.”

The meeting finally reached the Old Business portion of the agenda where the HIO Sanctioning Plan was to be properly addressed.

Pedigo began the discussion by referring to the bylaws and the need for a bylaw change if TWHBEA did not wish as an association to be an HIO or to establish rules governing HIOs.

“Then we need a by law change,” Sally Fleck remarked.

Of course by law changes had to be submitted prior to April 1 to be voted upon this year.

“I don’t see where in that it says we are precluded from doing business with other HIOs. For example, the Celebration that might be affiliated with the NHSC,” remarked Christy Lantis.

Billy Strickland added, “It has occurred to me. I was in the NHSC when some of these battles ensued. I was in NHSC when we argued the versatility exception. ..Now we are in the HIOC and we can’t get these three people, two of whom are appointed by TWHBEA to make an exception for some of these programs?”

Evans clarified that there are now four members of the HIOC including Jack Haefling from the newly formed HIO in Indiana.

Marty Irby expressed his frustration, “We had a heated election in December… I ran that I was against the HIO and the Sanctioning Plan. I want to tell you how I feel. So many of you have told me that you didn’t know what you had voted for. To put the horse first, we have to keep this business running. If a business can’t sell it’s product , then you get rid of the product. That’s the way I feel about this plan. I feel like the EC has no power to do anything.”

“I think we should vote to pull out of the HIOC,” said Sally Fleck.

“I think we lost $100,000 last year and this year we’ve got another loss of $200-300,000. We’ve seen the Voice reduced to a pamphlet. I think it’s time to take a look and see can we really afford to participate as we are, and take the beating on our financial statement. There are a lot of indications that something is wrong,” worried Bob Ramsbottom.

Kathy Zeis added, “I voted for the Sanctioning Plan. There was nothing on paper. I thought we were going to bring unity and include all the members and all the horses. In December there was only an outline. Nothing was ever mentioned about excluding members from programs. I voted to come out of the NHSC because it excluded members from some of the programs. Now I am totally against this. I think we are now excluding many more members.”

Donald Longest was offended that members of the Executive Committee were speaking out against the plan. “When this Executive Committee votes on something and they decide something, I think you are obligated to support that. I don’t think members of the Executive Committee should be opposing actions of that Committee.

Bill Strickland continued “My opposition is not to the plan or to bringing people under this. My opposition has always been that you go from thousands of people, down to 100, down to 11 (EC), and then we went to the NHSC and argued about 9 people in control. Now we have 3 people in control, four people in control. I believe in the Exec Board process, but you cannot convince me that I voted to instill the power through the plan to that small a group of people.”

Jerrold Pedigo responded “there are various reasons for people to participate in the decision making process. We wanted to share that power. TWHBEA only has a 1/3 vote in this plan.”

Craig Evans continued “Any HIO that signs up has seats. The only thing that stops any HIO from having a voice is sending a letter in to say they are a part of the process.”

Chuck Cadle added, “David Landrum and I have talked more today than since I‘ve been onboard. We’ll continue to talk and maybe we’ll find that compromise that Sid talks about. We can’t talk around it. I’m your representative. I’ll listen. I’ll analyze and I’ll take this to the people who will make these changes.”

“ If you don’t back me,” Cadle continued, “ If you don’t want me to do my job, then maybe you don’t need me onboard. Maybe this wasn’t a commitment of this association. The first time we talked, we talked about being cause-driven. If we’re cause-driven, let’s stay the course. Things aren’t perfect. But let’s get the people to the table. This is not a plan that takes over anybody’s HIO. It’s a voluntary, self-policing plan.”

Craig Evans then gave a run down of all of the motions taken since December 4, 1999 relative to the HIO Sanctioning Plan.

Tracy Boyd interjected “I want to quit talking around this issue. The HIO Sanctioning Plan has successfully killed the Youth Medallion, the GO program, and our results programs. And it will kill the National Futurity if it affiliates with the HIOC.”

Boyd made a motion to rescind the HIO Sanctioning Plan. His motion was met by a legal opinion by John T. Bobo. Apparently Daniel Starnes had contacted Sid Baucom regarding the legality of a motion before the National Board regarding the Sanctioning Plan. Baucom had involved John T. Bobo in an effort to address Starnes questions.

When Pedigo announced he would not recognize the motion Bob Ramsbottom responded, “that’s a surprise.”

Pedigo responded, “There’s been a lot of madness over these issues. We need to have respect for each other and the opinions they have. We’re not going to agree. But there’s no reason for this bitterness. Let’s agree to disagree. I’m not going to recognize the motion based on general legal counsel.”

The basis of Bobo’s opinion was that the National Board could not overturn the actions of the Executive Committee. The Board had delegated the power for these type decisions to the Executive Committee by way of the bylaws.

Again there was a great deal of discussion regarding contracts with third parties and the terms of TWHBEA’s contractual agreement with the HIO and HIOC. After much legal wrangling, Marty Irby was able to structure a motion that Bobo did think was permissible.

Irby said “I want to know what this board wants. I would like the national board to pass a resolution to make a recommendation to the Executive Committee to rescind the Sanctioning Plan. John Fikes seconded the motion.

Dan Holmes gave his opinion as a part of the discussion. “I’ll tell you why I voted for the Sanctioning Plan as a new member of TWHBEA but a long-time lover of Tennessee walking horses. The involvement of the USDA became increasingly apparent. The culmination of that happened the first week in August at the Belfast-Wartrace weekend. That’s where the proverbial shit hit the fan.

“Whether you like it or not, the government lost faith in the NHSC and the DQP process as we knew it all these years. It was my hope that at the time the Sanctioning Plan was presented that it would have been equal representation from TWHBEA, the national registry of the Tennesee Walking Horse, the Trainers Association, and WHOA. With all three pulling the same direction we could have gotten where we needed to get. We all three pulled in different directions. Whatever happened - a lack of communication, wrong timing, personalities, or differences of opinion the plan did not work,“ Holmes said.

“I have to give the trainers a great big hand of applause since that time because I have seen them bring in clean horses presenting a good image. I’m proud of what we’re seeing today. But it’s not enough if the USDA doesn’t endorse it. The only plan that the USDA has endorsed and stood behind is the Sanctioning Plan. Isn‘t that right,” continued Holmes.

Chuck Cadle clarified, “Two days ago Chester Gipson read me a letter endorsing TWHBEA’s plan, but they also have an OP with other HIOs.”

“They endorsed that plan as it was written and if we could administer it like it says, they would go away. That hasn’t happened, but I think the involvement of all three, if we all get on the same plane, I don’t care if it’s the Sanctioning Plan or a new one. We need to get over the missed timing, the control issues, whatever it is. My only intent is to further this breed. Without the performance horse show and the performance horse, we can’t survive. It’s a smaller portion of the membership but it’s the highest percentage of the dollars. It’s not whether our points are counting today or the troubles we’re going through at the futurity. Keep in mind what your vote is going to do for the Tennessee Walking Horse itself for the next ten years,” concluded Holmes.

Charles Wharton asked Irby to consider an amendment to his motion to allow input from the entire board of directors by a certified letter. Irby declined to accept the amendment.

“We’ve sat here long enough. We want to know today,” argued Tracy Boyd.

Jack Doss responded angrily. “Do you know the problem with us? We are selfish. We are full of pride. And everybody wants their own little game. Anybody that tells me that he is interested in the horse in here, is lying bigger than hell. I don’t know how many thousands of dollars have been spent in the last six months, but we’re further apart today than we were at the end of the Celebration. We don’t have any credibility. We have credibility in our own little group. But out here on the highway, we don’t have any credibility.”

After the question was called, the vote was taken by roll call. The motion failed with a 36 to 32 vote against the motion.

Bob Ramsbottom tried to followup with a motion to remove the funding for the Sanctioning Plan. Bobo responded that the motion would be out of order due to that power being delegated to the Executive Committee.

Walt Chism returned the discussion to his questions regarding show records. “Is it the position of this committee that to keep show results from other HIOs would be in violation of the Sanctioning Plan?”

“Yes, I believe it would be,”said Pedigo. “I would suggest that the Executive Committee get counsel as regards to that and find out what we can and can’t do. I think we hear this board loud and clear.”

Sally Fleck pointed out, “I don’t really want the plan abolished, but I think we have to do something to get the plan to allow us to use our programs. That’s what I would ask you to do.”

Billy Strickland brought up the issue of the sponsorship of the Celebration. “am I to understand, that if we sponsor the Celebration that we would be in violation of our agreement to the HIOC?”

Pedigo responded, “I can’t say that today for sure. I think it would violate the spirit of the agreement. I think we are obligated to support sanctioned events. If the Celebration chooses an HIO not affiliated with this organization, I think we will have to evaluate and review that.”

Dee Dee Sale added, “We have Celebration clinics planned, it’s an olive branch. Your sponsorship of $25,000 should be a no brainer.”

Moving onto new business, Barney Denney proposed two motions that passed unanimously that TWHBEA put out positive press releases on the Tennessee Walking Horse and that they work to expand into other markets and other countries.

With this the meeting adjourned.

TWHBEA Semi-Annual Meeting Coverage

Saturday, May 26, 2007