Lexington, KY, May 25, 2011 – Representatives of 35 equine associations from around the Commonwealth met at Claudia Sander’s Dinner Restaurant in Shelbyville on May 17, 2011. They participated in presentations and discussions about the future of the equine industry, challenges and threats, and the need for industry wide initiatives. In attendance were Presidents and board representatives from equine breed and discipline associations, Thoroughbred racing organizations as well as university equine studies programs.
The dinner, organized and sponsored by the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), included a video welcome by First Lady Jane Beshear and a kick-off by special guest John Nicholson, CEO of the Kentucky Horse Park. Nicholson commented on the effect that the World Equestrian Games had on uniting various segments of the industry as well as the non-horse community. Nicholson encouraged, “What you start tonight will affect the equine industry ten years down the road.”
Colonel Walter Herd, U.S. Army (RET) and KHC board member, presented an analysis of the threats to American equestrianism, both internal and external. His study was created with the expertise of a military analyst who is trained to assess the vulnerability of military operations.
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