So we'll see what kind of impact Dr. Heird will have that is actually positive toward the TWH.
*******
Walking Horse Report
SHOW Appoints Search Committee
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Mr. Charles McDonald, Chairman of the SHOW Board of Directors, has appointed a Search Committee to fill the permanent position of Compliance Coordinator. This position will be filled by an American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) veterinarian, as recommended in the AAEP White Paper issued last year.
Members of the Committee are Pat Marsh, Chairman; David Howard and Dr. Doyle Meadows with Charles McDonald and Mike Davis serving as non-voting members. Marsh, Howard and McDonald are members of the SHOW Board, Meadows serves as CEO of SHOW and Mike Davis is the Chairman of the SHOW Personnel Task Force.
The Committee is drafting a job description, compensation requirements and a plan to publicize the position to potential applicants. This position will be responsible for the enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and will report directly to Dr. Meadows.
“It is imperative we keep the expertise of licensed veterinarians in our HIO program and this is the first step in that direction,” said McDonald. He added “We have been calling on licensed veterinarians in our area for their help until we could get this position filled and they have been more than generous with their time and expertise. We are thrilled at the additions of Dr. Steve Mullins and Dr. John Bennett as Co-Compliance Coordinators during our transition time.”
SHOW hired Drs. John Bennett and Steve Mullins on Monday June 15, 2009 to become Co-Compliance Coordinators. Mullins and Bennett agreed to serve for two years or until the permanent replacement is named and no longer needs their support. Both veterinarians will keep their current veterinary practices but will have complete authority over the SHOW DQP and inspection program.
SHOW began its HIO program on April 1, 2009 following the dissolution of the National Horse Show Commission. Since that time, they have opted out of the 2007-2009 Operating Plan and introduced a new penalty structure. They are presently contacting prominent horse people across the country to serve on the Independent Board that will manage the SHOW HIO.
Announcement of the head of the Independent Board is expected shortly.
Walking Horse Report
Heird To Head SHOW HIO Independent Board
Thursday, June 18, 2009
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – Dr. Jim Heird, Tennessee native and Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Director of Teaching and Outreach for the Equine Center at Colorado State University, has agreed to serve as the chairman of the SHOW HIO Independent Board.
“SHOW is pleased that Dr. Heird has accepted this position and assignment. He is truly an outstanding horse industry leader and we are proud to have someone of his credentials assisting our industry and the future of our breed,” stated Dr. Doyle Meadows, Celebration and SHOW CEO.
The following is a bio of Dr. Heird. Before his current position Dr. Heird served as Interim Dean of the College of Business; Associate Dean and Director of Resident Instruction for the College of Agricultural Sciences; Director of Instructional Programs for Equine Sciences; Department Head of Agricultural Interdepartmental Programs which includes Agricultural and Extension Education, and the Master of Agriculture Program and as Interim Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Interim Vice Provost of Agriculture and Outreach. He is chairperson of the Y Cross Ranch management committee. He is a tenured professor in the Department of Animal Sciences.
Dr. Heird graduated with his BS in Animal Husbandry Production and his MS in Animal Genetics from the University of Tennessee. He earned his doctorate in Animal Behavior at Texas Tech University. He was an extension specialist at North Carolina State University and a faculty member at Texas Tech University.
Dr. Heird is an approved judge for the American Quarter Horse Association. He serves as a member of the executive committee of the National Western Stock Show. He served on several subcommittees of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. He was a member of the Weld County Fair Board from 1996-1999. He served as the chair of the AQHA judges committee and chair of the United States Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Committee. As faculty representative for athletics he served as chair of the Western Athletic Conference Council and Executive Committee Dr. Heird has an international reputation in the field of Equine Sciences. He has lectured on numerous topics both nationally and internationally. He was a successful judging team coach, as well as teacher and extension specialist. His research in the areas of equine conformation and equine behavior is recognized throughout the equine industry. He has received numerous honors, including the United States Department of Agriculture Honor Award for Excellence in Diversity as Discovery Program Coordinator; the distinguished Service Award from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the Colorado State University Distinguished Service to Diversity Award; the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Animal Science at The University of Tennessee; and the Outstanding Professor-Leadership Award from the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association and the outstanding advisor award for Texas Tech University. Dr. Heird has a history of sincere dedication to fulfilling the land grant mission of helping to make people’s lives better. In 2001 he led the development of a new strategic plan for agriculture at Colorado State University. He initiated a first-year experience course to enhance student retention. He has directed recruitment and retention efforts that have seen an enrollment change from 760 agricultural undergraduates in 1990 to 1324 students in 2002 and an increase in scholarships awards from $68,000 in 1991 to over $400,000 in 2003. He initiated Bachelor of Science and Master of Agriculture degrees in Extension Education and a Bachelor of Science curriculum in Applied Information Technology. He initiated the College of Ag Sciences’ career advising office and the hiring of a college career director; the hiring of the College of Agricultural Sciences diversity coordinator; the College of Ag Sciences Career Fair, Peer Advising Program; developed a computer technology support group; established student computer lab development and computer skills classes; initiated the development of a distance education offering for the Master of Science in Extension Education; and developed a network of junior college leaders who meet annually to discuss articulation. He also established the Summer Discovery Program to increase minority enrollment in the College of Agricultural Sciences by recruiting, particularly in the Southeast, outstanding minority students. He has been active and successful in development activities for the college and several of its programs. He has been instrumental in helping to secure funding for the University’s interdisciplinary program in Integrated Resource Management.
More recently Dr. Heird was named “Professional Horseman of the Year” by the Colorado Horse Council.
4 comments:
Yeah, he has a lot of credentials but none seem to apply to anything concerning Tennessee Walking Horses. Hopefully, he will come into it with a clear mind and see the industry for what it really is. I wish someone that is a REAL advocate for sound horses can get in there.
Off subject, I've been in contact with Lori from FOSH. Do you involved at all with FOSH or any other organizations for sound horses?
Yes, I am involved with FOSH. Lori is a friend of mine and she is really a good person and is all about the sound horse. She is an excellent president because she understands both sides and she listens to everything everyone talks about.
Out here in AZ, all our gaited horse shows are either affiliated with FOSH or they use the IJA rulebook if they don't want to spend the money to affiliate for the small shows.
I am also involved with the National Walking Horse Association. www.nwha.com I am on their trail committee and also served as chairperson for the show committee for one year. Honestly, I like their show venue better than FOSH's (and Lori knows this) only because I do like a more billiant, animated horse when it's natural (of course). I think that FOSH's show venue should reward a naturally animated horse instead of not allow it. I think this leads to a better quality of horses at the NWHA shows. But that's just my opinion--not everyone shares it! :)
I believe that both NWHA and FOSH need our support because NWHA's goal is to provide sound horse venues and a registry while FOSH's goal is to help educate and work with the Feds to help stop soring. NWHA and FOSH both participate in lots of different sound horse stuff and work together when they need to. So they both need to benefit from our support and money.
Thanks for asking!
I also meant to comment on what you said about Dr. Hierd.
I agree--we need someone that is an advocate of the horse to be in there. But I also agree with SHOW in that it needs to be an outside party. Picking a vet either from another show industry or a vet that isn't associated with one horse industry or another is the right thing to do. The problem I see with appointing Dr. Hierd is that he's going from one abusive venue to another. I have been told my numerous quality trainers throughout the U.S. that the QH and the TWH industries are the worse when it comes to horse abuse in the show ring. I think that if Dr. Heird, as a judge for AQHA, has the mentality to place the peanut rolling, dead tail, sluggish, drugged horses at the shows, then he isn't going to mind the same kinds of practices at TWH shows. JMHO.
Kat
"Dr. Heird, as a judge for AQHA, has the mentality to place the peanut rolling, dead tail, sluggish, drugged horses at the shows, then he isn't going to mind the same kinds of practices at TWH shows. JMHO."
agreed.
I hope the horses benefit.
That's the whole Point, isn't it?
Post a Comment