The American Horse Council’s 2025 National Issues Forum will be June 22-25 in Washington, DC, Omni Shoreham Hotel
Conference registration and hotel block are now closed. If you have any questions, please e-mail info@horsecouncil.org
Conference Schedule
American Horse Council 2025 National Issues Forum Speakers
Sunday, June 22
| Time slot | Sponsor | Location | Moderator | Topic |
Speaker | |
| 11:00 – 5:00 | Registration desk open | |||||
| 1:00 – 3:00 | United Horse Coalition | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway |
Open Outsourcing Aftercare: Non-profit organizations dedicated to aftercare often face challenges in accessing and utilizing the resources needed to operate efficiently and effectively. This session will focus on the power of open sourcing and collaboration to create a centralized library of existing tools, templates, and strategies that can benefit aftercare organizations of all sizes. By pooling resources and knowledge, Thoroughbred non-profits can enhance operational efficiency, improve outcomes for retired racehorses, and allocate more time and energy to their mission.
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1:15-2:15 Diana Bezdedeanu, founder of Horses Offering People Education (aka HOPE in MA), and Kyle Rothfus, co-founder of Mareworthy Charities and Horse Husband Stables 2:30-3:00 Scott Beckstead – Chief Equine Program Director with with Wild Horse Refuge |
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| 3:00 – 4:00 | Coalition of State Horse Councils | Hampton Ballroom | Justine Staten – CSHC Chair |
Using Partnerships to Strengthen a State Equine Industry: In 2020, members of the Louisiana equine industry and state legislature collaborated to establish a sustainable funding source and grant program to boost the economic impact of the equine industry. This partnership required extensive advocacy and stakeholder engagement to highlight the industry’s significance to the state’s economy. In 2024, a permanent funding mechanism was secured, ensuring improvements in infrastructure, education, and marketing initiatives. The grant program has awarded resources to improve operations, expand programs, and attract tourism. This collaboration enhanced the economic impact of the equine industry and strengthened its role as a cornerstone of Louisiana’s agricultural and cultural heritage.
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Dr. Neely Heidorn, PhD Associate Professor, Equine Ext Specialist, LSU | |
| 4:00 – 5:00 | AHC Membership Working Group | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway – AHC President |
The Digital Landscape of Horse Culture: Collaborative Technology to keep pace How can harnessing the power of existing technology advance your organization and the industry? The speaker will present market trends, engagement by demographic, strategies to drive growth, and smartly leveraging technology to advance and preserve horse culture. With 20 years’ experience in the animal health & equine space, he provides insight into concepts like mobile device support, user analytics, and how artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful force in transforming your business. This collaborative technology conversation helps participants discover practical ways to make meaningful improvements that enhance the member experience. |
Tyson Hartshorn, Founder & Equine Technologist | |
| 6:00 – 7:00 | AHC Foundation -Cocktail reception | |||||
Monday, June 23
| Time slot | Sponsor | Location | Moderator | Topic |
Speaker | |||
| 8:00 – 5:00 | Registration desk open | |||||||
| 8:00 – 9:00 | Continental breakfast | Assorted Fruits; Muffins, Danishes, croissants, pecan sticky buns; Fruit preserves, jams, and sweet butter; Individual flavored yogurts; Cage-free hard-boiled eggs, served chilled and peeled | ||||||
| 8:30 – 9:30 | AHC | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway – AHC President |
Keynote: Collaboration, Conflict Resolution and Culture
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Jaime Notter, Global Keynote Speaker, Author of “Culture Change Made Easy,”, Consultant and Culture Scientist | |||
| 9:30 – 10:00 | AHC | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway – AHC President |
Legislative and Regulatory Update
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Julie Broadway & Brigid Shea | |||
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Break | |||||||
| 10:15 – 11:30 | AHC | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway – AHC President |
Emirates International Endurance Village – Supporting Equestrian Sports with a vision for the future and their promotion of the Society.
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Mr Mohamed Al Hadrami, Event Director, Emirates International Endurance Village (EIEV); Dr. Jorge Lohse, DVM, MSc, PhD, Equine Sports Medicine Advisor (EIEV); Baraa Bnaian, Eng. Timming System (EIEV). | |||
| 11:30 – 1:00 | AHC | Hampton Ballroom | Award Luncheon – Buffet | Join us as we recognize and thank our 2025 Award Winners Maryland crab soup; Bakery-fresh bread rolls with sweet butter; Deconstructed baby gem lettuce, spinach mix, cherry tomato and raw julienned yellow beets, apple cider vinaigrette, olive oil and balsamic vinegar Raw vegetable salad | Carrots, bell peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and baby corn with dill vinaigrette, Russian potato salad, peas, carrots, egg, and creamy dressing Sweet potato chips; Roasted chicken, berbere spice rub, DC sweet and sour mumbo sauce on the side; Grilled beef burgers, sautéed mushrooms and onions Vegetable-black bean burgers: Bib lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion, bread and butter pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard, and mayonnaise Classic and gluten-friendly burger buns; Go-Go macaroni and cheese—plus a variety of mini cupcakes & mixed fruit salad |
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| 1:00 – 2:00 | AHC Racing Committee | Hampton Ballroom | Joe Wilson – committee chair |
Data-driven partnerships advance equine welfare: The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will demonstrate how our partnerships with data collection services have made a significant contribution to the decrease in Thoroughbred racing fatalities. Prior to HISA’s efforts, equine medical records were never shared. Now, with data and innovative technologies, they follow the horse from time of registration through retirement. HISA’s implementation of uniform rules, and partnerships with world class technologies including Palantir and Amazon Web Services, have made great strides for equine welfare, and the data shows that Thoroughbred racing fatalities have decreased year over year since HISA’s inception. HISA’s workshop will highlight how the partnerships and technologies work to make a difference in equine welfare. |
Lisa Lazarus HISA | |||
| 2:00 – 3:00 | AHC Health Committee | Hampton Ballroom | Dr Katie Flynn – committee chair | Disease Mitigation: Screwworm | Dr. Cody Egnor, USDA APHIS VS | |||
| 3:00 – 3:15 | Break | |||||||
| 3:15 – 4:15 | AHC Equine Welfare Committee | Hampton Ballroom | Kathy Alm – committee chair | Social License To Operate | David O’Connor (USEF), LTC Jason R. Crawford (Commander, US Army, Caisson Detachment), LTC Derrick S. Draper (Deputy Commander 3rd IN Regiment, “The Old Guard.”) | |||
| 4:15 – 5:15 | AHC Show & Competition Committee | Hampton Ballroom | Billy Smith – committee chair |
Donkeys & Mules are equine too – creating equality from the clinic to the show arena Over the past decade, there’s been an increase in interest in donkeys and mules from veterinary clinics to first time owners. Donkeys and mules are equine like horses and ponies. They have similar health care needs of horses such as dental and hoof care, vaccinations but sadly they may be ignored or misdiagnosed. The focus of this workshop will dive deeper into comparing physiology, uses of donkeys and mules from dairy industry to show animals and species considerations to help improve and discourage species inequality. Donkeys and mules despite what some may think they are equine too. |
Dr Amy McLean, PhD Univ of California, Davis | |||
| 6:00 – 7:00 | AHC Foundation – Welcome Reception | Julie Broadway- AHC President | Meet our 2025 Scholarship Winners | |||||
Tuesday, June 24
| Time slot | Sponsor | Location | Moderator | Topic |
Speaker | ||||
| 8:00 – 1:00 | Registration desk open | ||||||||
| 8:00 – 9:00 | continental breakfast | Sliced melon, pineapple, grapes, seasonal berries, passion fruit yogurt sauce; Mini doughnuts, muffins, croissants, Danishes; Fruit preserves, jams, and sweet butter; Individual cereals with 2% milk and soy milk; Irish oats, steel-cut oatmeal, light brown sugar, golden raisins | |||||||
| 8:00 – 8:30 | AHC Marketing Alliance | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway AHC President | Hear the results of the recent surveys and the next steps | |||||
| 8:30 – 9:30 | AHC Recreation, Trails & Land Use Committee | Hampton Ballroom | Randy Rasmussen – committee chair |
Recent Impacts on Public Recreation Changes to staffing levels and funding in key federal agencies could have potential impacts on public recreation. Learn how those changes can affect user experiences and the long-range accessibility and shape of public recreation spaces. |
Whitney Potter Schwartz, SVP at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable | ||||
| 9:30 – 10:30 | AHC Regulatory Committee | Hampton Ballroom | Tom O’Mara – committee chair | Labor/Workforce Challenges | John Boatwright, Dir Govt. Affairs American Farm Bureau Federation | ||||
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Break | ||||||||
| 10:45 – 11:15 | AHC | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway AHC President | Agency & Congressional Office Orientation | Julie Broadway & Brigid Shea | ||||
| 11:15 – 1:00 | Lunch on your own | ||||||||
| 1:00 – 5:00 | AHC | Hill Visits | See your personal schedule for offices and locations | ||||||
| 1:00 – 3:00 | AHC | Hampton Ballroom & Governors Room | Agency Meetings | ||||||
| 3:00 – 3:45 | AHC Racing Committee Meeting | Hampton Ballroom | Joe Wilson | closed session | |||||
| 3:00 – 3:45 | AHC Welfare Committee Meeting | Governors Room | Kathy Alm | closed session | |||||
| 3:45 – 4:30 | AHC Regulatory Committee Meeting | Hampton Ballroom | Tom O’Mara | closed session | |||||
| 3:45 – 4:30 | AHC RT&LU Committee Meeting | Governors Room | Randy Rasmusen | closed session | |||||
| 4:30 – 5:15 | AHC Health Committee Meeting | Hampton Ballroom | Dr Katie Flynn | closed session | |||||
| 4:30 – 5:15 | AHC Show & Competition Committee Meeting | Governors Room | Billy Smith | closed session | |||||
| 6:00 – 8:00 | AHC Board of Trustees Meeting | Governors Room | Marilyn Beterea | closed session | |||||
Wednesday, June 25
| Time slot | Sponsor | Location | Moderator | Topic | Speaker |
| 8:00 – 9:00 | breakfast | egg & cheddar cheese filled croissant; turkey sausage, cage-free egg on buttermilk cheese biscuit; fried egg, smoked gouda cheese on GF bagel | |||
| 8:00 – Noon | AHC Foundation, AQHA Foundation, and Equine Network Foundation | Hampton Ballroom | Julie Broadway, Melissa Kitchen & Chris Sitz | Grant Funders Summit | Stephen Belenky, Co-Founder of Hiddn |
| 8:00 – Noon | Agency & Hill Visits |
