August 2016 Newsletter - Virginia Horse Council

The Virginia Horse Council
Newsletter
August 2016
Dear Members,
The Virginia Horse Council represents everyone involved in horses throughout Virginia,
from backyard horse owners and trail riders, to breeders, competitors, the racing industry,
and more. We count upon your continued support and your input to enable us to continue
to represent the interests of the horse industry in the Commonwealth.
This year has been a busy one thus far for the VHC. We hosted our annual Legislative Reception for State legislators in Richmond in January, and held the 2016 VHC Annual Membership Meeting and VHC Awards Ceremony at the 2016 Festival of the Horse in April. In
addition to meeting many of you at the VHC booth during the Festival, we elected new
VHC officers and the Virginia Horse Council Foundation supported a series of educational
seminars for horse enthusiasts.
In May, our Legislative Trail Ride introduced State legislators and their families to the horse
community through a weekend of trail rides, demonstrations, and other activities. We are
supporting the upcoming 2016 Liberty Ride at Montpelier in September and hope to offer
another historic trail ride later in the fall.
On other fronts, we recently hosted a meeting of other equine member organizations to
discuss the impact of Virginia’s sales and use tax laws on the equine industry. In addition
we are currently monitoring the proposed revisions to the Horse Protection Act.
The VHC is here to support you and our Virginia horse industry, we welcome and need
your ideas and constructive input. Contact your VHC Board member directly. (contact
information is under “About Us” www.virginiahorsecouncil.org.)
The 2017 Membership Drive starts November 1, 2016. We offer discounts on all membership categories for early membership submissions! Support your passion and our equine
community by joining the VHC.
We appreciate your continued support of the Virginia horse community and look forward
to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
www.virginiahorsecouncil.org
Sue Alvis,
President, Virginia Horse Council
www.virginiahorsecouncil.org
2016 VHC Annual Membership Meeting and VHC Awards
In April, we held our Annual Membership Meeting and annual educational seminars at the 2016 Virginia Horse
Festival at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell. Seminar topics, sponsored by the VHC Foundation, included:
acupuncture, plant identification, emergency horseshoeing and bandaging, equine law, vaccinations and deworming and feeding to optimize performance. The seminars were well attended by both new as well as long
term horse owners.
During the Annual Membership Meeting, the 2016 Slate of Officers was
presented to the membership and voted on. The 2016 VHC officers
are:
President:
1st Vice President:
2nd Vice President:
Past President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Sue Alvis
Nancy Paschell
Glenn Ritchey
Ann Walker
David Lands
Tamla Nichols
Sue Alvis, VHC President
The VHC Awards recognize individuals and groups for significant contributions that they have made on behalf
of the horse community and industry within Virginia. The scope of equine interests and expertise represented
by this year’s VHC Award recipients truly highlights the great variety within our equine industry. The following
awards were presented to members and sponsors of the equine community in Virginia:
Horseman/Horsewoman of the Year Bruce & Staci Griffin, Griffin Sport Horses
Industry Support – Individual
Joe Elton
Industry Support – Individual
Randi Zahn
Industry Support – Commercial
Farm Credit of the Virginias
Industry Support – Individual
Bette Brand
Equine Group
Franklin County Equestrian Club
Lifetime Service Award
Andrea Heid
All of these individuals have contributed significantly to the viable equine community in Virginia. Further information on the contributions of these individuals/businesses and their achievements may be found the awards
section of the VHC website.
Franklin County Equestrian
Club
Page 3
VHC Legislative Trail Ride
The VHC held its annual Legislative Trail Ride
at Graves Mountain in May. The weekend
drew approximately 100 participants. Weekend activities included trail riding, fly fishing,
equine demonstrations, visits to the educational farm exhibit, pony rides, wagon rides, a
Friday night storyteller and Cowboy Church
on Sunday. The annual trail ride is an opportunity to meet with our state (and occasionally
federal) legislators and their families in a real
world setting where they can learn more
about the Virginia horse industry and its place
in Virginia’s agricultural economy.
VHC Legislative Reception
The Virginia Horse Council hosts a Legislative Reception early each year for State legislators in Richmond. This year’s reception, held January 28, drew approximately 100 guests, including 35 legislators, as well as numerous legislative aides and assistants representing legislators who could not attend. The popular reception gives the VHC Board members as well as invited industry representatives a chance to meet and talk with legislators one-on-one and share our enthusiasm about horses.
The VHC appreciates the generosity of Norfolk Southern for arranging use of Old City Hall for
the reception this year. The event was enjoyed by all who attended and helped raise the visibility of
the equine industry among our elected representatives.
VHC Executive Committee Members
Attend Gold Cup
While Kentucky may have its Derby, Virginia has its
Gold Cup. The first Saturday in May, members of the
VHC executive committee attended the Gold Cup
and assisted the Virginia Thoroughbred Association in
promoting their Wage & Win Initiative at the event.
Wager & Win was an initiative to introduce online
wagering to the Virginia betting public in the wake of
the Colonial Downs and subsequent betting parlor
closures. Betting at the online sites will bring racing
revenues back into the Virginia equine industry.
VHIB Grants for 2016-2017
In May, the VHC was in attendance at the Virginia Horse Industry Board (VHIC) grants meeting.
The VHIB is a commodity board within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The VHIB was established in 1994 largely through the work of the Virginia Horse Council.
Through its annual grants process, the VHIB has awarded over $1 million in grants since its inception. Funding for the VHIB comes from the feed check-off program and Coggins tests. This year
grants were awarded in the areas of research, marketing and tourism. For more information on
the VHIB and the grants program go to www.vhib.org .
Andrea Heid Retires from VHIB
Andrea Heid has retired as the Horse Industry Specialist for the Virginia Horse Industry Board. She was actively involved in the promotion of the Virginia Horse
Industry for the past 25 years. Andrea managed the
process to collect and analyze data from more than
44,000 Coggins tests that enabled the successful Coggins Test Referendum of 1994 which established financial support for creation of the Virginia Horse Industry
Beryl Herzog and Andrea Heid
Board. For more than 4 years, Andrea worked tirelessly in
coordination with state agencies, horse industry associations and Virginia-based feed manufacturers, whose joint efforts culminated in a successful Equine Feed Check-off Referendum in 2006. For
the 20 year period from 1995 to 2015, Andrea facilitated the Virginia Horse Industry Board’s investment of more than $2.25 million dollars to the Commonwealth’s Horse Industry in the areas of
education, research and marketing.
Andrea has been the face of the Virginia Horse Industry Board since its inception. She has represented our industry internationally, traveling to England, participating in Equitana, the Smithsonian
Folklife Festival and the World Equestrian Games. She promoted Virginia at the Maryland and
Pennsylvania Horse World Expos, Virginia’s original Horse Festival at the Virginia Horse Center
from 1991 to 1998, and the subsequent change to the Virginia Equine Extravaganza, which has become today’s Virginia Horse Festival now conducted at The Meadow Event Park. Congratulations
Andrea on a retirement well earned!
VHC Attends the Day of the American Cowboy
On Saturday, July 23rd the VHC attended the National Day of the American Cowboy celebration
in Victoria, VA. The event was just one of many held around the country to celebrate the day.
The purpose of the event is to teach, entertain and celebrate the American Cowboy and his commitment to the livestock industry. The Victoria event featured demonstrations as well as an appearance by the Tom Mix Rangers in their vintage western attire.
VHC Members in the News
Earlier this summer via Facebook, we shared a story about VHC
member Art Manger of Breckenridge Carriage. Art was giving a
presentation at a children’s camp held at Oakland Heights Farm in
Gordonsville and has been a vital presence at our Legislative Trail
Rides with his horses and carriage.
In addition, we are proud to announce that Lynda McGarry, VHC
Board of Directors member from Roanoke, has recently been inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2016 Roanoke Valley Horse
Show. Lynda has been a valuable asset to both the VHC and the
Roanoke Valley Horse Show for many years. Congratulations, Lynda!
Art Manger & friend
If you spot a media story on a VHC member, please pass along the information to
[email protected] .
Equine Disease Communications Center
In our last newsletter we introduced the Equine Disease Communications Center. The Center is
intended to serve as the official source of information on equine infectious diseases as part of the
National Health Plan. The Center is posed to provide accurate information in a real-time setting
about disease outbreaks within the equine industry. News about outbreaks are posted on the Center’s website and disseminated through social media.
For more information visit:
http://www.equinediseasecc.org .
Horse Protection Act Updates
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing amendments to the horse protection regulations section of the Horse Protection Act. The proposed changes can be
found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/news/SA_By_Date/
newsroom-2016/SA-07/hpa-changes .The proposed changes, intended to end
the practice of soring, covers all breeds, although violations have typically
been associated with Tennessee Walking Horses and Racking Horses. The proposed changes are
being evaluated by the VHC for impacts to Virginia horsemen and the horse industry in Virginia.
More information is available on the VHC website as well as the USDA website above.
Meeting with VHC Agribusiness Partners
The VHC partners with other members of the agricultural community including The Virginia Agribusiness Council and the Farm Bureau. In May, the VHC attended The Virginia Agribusiness Public
Policy Committee. Federal legislative policies were discussed at this meeting and it gave the VHC
the opportunity to network with other members of the agricultural community. One item of note
discussed at this meeting is the Veterinary Feed Directive which goes into effect in 2017. While
not anticipated to impact the equine industry, it will affect those in the agricultural community who
are involved in livestock production. Effective January 1, 2017, all livestock producers who use antibiotics considered important to human health, such as penicillin or sulfa, will have to comply. The
regulations cover antimicrobial drugs administered via feed or water, but not via injections. It will
affect every retailer that sells these products and veterinarians that service livestock producers. If
you are a livestock producer as well as an equine owner, please be sure to familiarize yourself with
these regulations.
The VHC also attended the Virginia Farm Bureau’s Equine Committee meeting. An item of note
that came out of the Farm Bureau Equine Committee is the number of horse businesses that are
being audited by the Virginia Department of Taxation for non-filing and payment of sales and use
taxes. This area of the tax law is not well understood by the equine community. In the coming
months, through articles on the VHC website and other media, the VHC will seek to educate the
equine community with respect to this very timely issue.
The Virginia Horse Council.
Our mission is to serve as the umbrella organization of the Virginia equine community and to serve as the
lobbyist on issues affecting, horsemen, horsewomen and horses in the Commonwealth.
The vision of the Virginia Horse Council (VHC) is to be recognized as a leader in providing broad
representation to all facets of the equine industry before the Virginia General Assembly and Congress.  The
VHC collaborates with other areas of the agricultural community and helps facilitate communications
between members of the equine industry and state and federal agencies.  The VHC aspires to keeps
Virginia horsemen informed of regulations and pending legislation they may impact them, and to provide
educational opportunities that further enhance the industry.
Visit www.virginiahorsecouncil.org for further information and join us on Facebook
2016 Horseman & Horsewoman
of the Year
Bruce & Staci Griffin
Griffin Sport Horses
with daughter and past VHC
President Ann Walker (center)
Pictured Above, at the 2016 Legislative Trail Ride:
Breckenridge Carriage and Charles Pellham, Cornerstone Horsemanship.
2017 Membership Application
Membership Status:

Renewal
New
Name of Person/Contact: ________ _______________________________________________
Name of Business/Farm/Association, if any:
____________________________________________________________________________
Address (include city, state & zip): ________________________________________________
County: _________________________
Home Phone: ________________________ Work/Cell: _______________________________
Email: ______________________________ Website: ________________________________
Number of Horses owned:______ Breeds:_________________________________________
INTEREST: Please list your horse activities: (i.e. Trails, 4-H, Safety, Legislation, Showing, Breeding, etc.)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Membership Options for 2017
Early disc. Regular
( ) Youth Membership (individuals under 18 years old).................................... $5
$10
( ) *Premium Youth Membership (individuals under 18 years old) …………….. $30 $35
( ) Individual Membership…………………………………………………………… $20
$25
( ) *Premium Individual Membership………………………………………………. $45
$50
( ) Family Membership …………………………………………………………….. $25
$30
( ) *Premium Family Membership .................................................................... $70
$75
( ) Commercial/Business/Farm Membership .................................................... $40
$45
( ) Equine Group or Association:
 Up to 100 Members ........................................................................ $45
$50
 More than 100 Members ................................................................ $95
$100
( ) LIFETIME Membership, all categories: (no discount) ….……………………
$ 500
*Premium memberships include $1,000,000 In Excess Liability Insurance, yearly coverage begins Jan.1
thru Dec.31 .
st
Total $ enclosed: $________
*For Youth and Family memberships, please individually list the Names and Ages of Minors.
*Would you be interested in serving as: ___Board Member, ____Committee member, ___Volunteer
Please return this form with your check to:
The Virginia Horse Council
16157 Pug Swamp Lane, Beaverdam, VA 23015
Or you can go the www.virginiahorsecouncil.org and renew on-line and use the PayPal feature.
st