American Horse Council Press Release

Contact: American Horse Council
bharrison@horsecouncil.org

The American Horse Council’s “Welfare of the Horse” Forum is Now Available on Horse TV’s H-SPAN

On Tuesday June 16, 2009 the American Horse Council held “The Welfare of the Horse” forum in Washington, DC.  The Forum, sponsored by Luitpold, was held as part of the AHC’s National Issues Forum and featured speakers from segments of the horse community as varied as competition, sport, work and entertainment. Speakers and panelists discussed the many welfare and safety initiatives that various segments of the horse industry have in place or are instituting.

“The Welfare of the Horse forum created an opportunity for the industry to provide reports on the welfare and safety initiatives already in place and those that are being undertaken.  It also lets the fans, the general public, the media, and elected officials know how important this is to the horse community,” said AHC’s President Jay Hickey.

The forum is available for on-demand viewing on http://www.horsetv.com/hspan_ahc1.htm.  H-SPAN is a digital channel providing coverage of industry symposiums, meetings, educational presentations and more on its equestrian television portal, HorseTV.com.  It is a continuing service provided by HorseTV for the benefit of the international horse community, and its mission is to inform, educate, empower and unite the industry worldwide.

Dr. Scott Palmer, a nationally-know veterinarian and past-president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, delivered the keynote address. Other featured speakers included Gary Carpenter, executive director of the American Quarter Horse Foundation, Cindy Schonholtz, president of the Animal Welfare Council, Dr. Tom Lenz, chairman of the Unwanted Horse Coalition and Dr. Gail Golab, Director, Animal Welfare Division of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

The forum also included panels on racing, showing, sport, and work.  The panels included representatives from racing, showing, eventing, hunter-jumpers, endurance riding, rodeo, carriage operators, polo, sales/auctions, entertainment and research.  Representatives from national organizations involved in all these activities provided an update on their welfare activities.  “We believe that this was the most inclusive presentation on safety and welfare ever assembled in terms of its breadth and the activities and organizations involved,” says Hickey.

“Viewing the forum online is a great opportunity for those people who were unable to travel to Washington to attend,” said Bernie Uechtritz, chairman of HorseTV.  “It’s important to learn about welfare initiatives in various segments of the horse world and how they might be adapted to one’s own community.  It is also a good step for horse communities in learning how to work together towards the common goal of being good stewards of the horse and working towards that end, regardless of one’s specific interests or activity.”

The forum can be viewed by visiting HorseTV.com and clicking on the H-SPAN icon.

 

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As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.

The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.