03/20/2024
Both ASHBA and the Hackney Board has spent countless hours defending and protecting our breeds given then surprise notice that the Kentucky State Fair Board voted to change the governing body for our largest show from the nationally recognize United States Equestrian Federation to the growing grass roots Equine Sport Council. I thank ESC for sporting and hosting their Monarch Series and other shows but WCHS is not your place and our power play to pickup this big show for your financial benefit is not appropriate on tha backs of delegitimizing, so many aspects of our breeds on such a grand stage.
You are not the appropriate group to be a startup to take over the 2024 Show and shame on you for knowing the chaos this would cause for your groups financial benefit.
I eat, breathe this as many of us do and I personally have uprooted my whole life to move Ravenscroft from 12 hours from Freedom Hall to just 60
minutes away where I stand stallions and breed young stock to compete in the KY WCHS Futurity Programs. Thank you to all the ASHBA and AHHS Board Members and volunteers for all they do in our prize programs, points, CH designations, drug testing, Safesport Compliance protecting our membership from predators, and so much more.
Much can be improved at the WCHS by adding classes such as open and juvenile hunt seat and western classes among other popular divisions, but much of the current issues faced at WCHS are due to the allocated budget allotted for us to run our WCHS, disrespect for the exhibitors spending millions over favored general fair population, and decisions made by the 18 KSFB members to make this change without including the greater membership or one KSFB NOT communciating this major potential change to the full ASHBA Board PRIOR to KSFB ratifying it.
Folks, some could complain about little items like: In a single year KY futurity fees doubled for entires but that’s small potatoes in comparison to the huge negative effects this ESC management change will cause. You have NO IDEA the slippery “padded walking horse slope” we are now navigating by NOT having USEF as the WCHS governing body k jog forward.
Wake up people, a few years ago, we were defending ourselves to keep a small wedge shoeing pad allowed in our Farrier wheelhouse. Thanks to the UPHA, the Saddlebred Registry, Smith Lilley, and many others we are still able show our horses with a small wedge.
Although to now delegitimize our show away from USEF, you are about to completely destroy any legitimacy we have on the national stage with the United States Dressage Federation and other legitimate organizations that all operate under USEF. This will be your biggest fail and nail in coffin with our controversial cut tails, tail sets, showing pads, etc.
Support our ASHBA Board, demand USEF be reinstated as the governing body for WCHS immediately and remember when changes like this happen follow the money. These major changes are going to benefit a small group it I’m sure it has $$$ consequences in their favor, not ours as the general larger membership.
There is NO way all the positives (few if any I see) for ESC to take over our top show will out weigh all the negatives this change will cause.
Please reach out prior to the KSFB’s March 28th Board Meeting, demanding the Kentucky State Fair Board reinstate USEF as the governing body for the 2024 WCHS.
Please contact the following individuals so your voice can be heard. Our small niche breed can not risk the negative impacts this will have on the legitimacy of our Saddlebred and Hackney breeds on the Kentucky State Fair’s largest money maker.
1. Governor Andy Beshear
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Main Line: (502) 564-2611
governor.ky.gov/contact/contact-us
2. Dr. Mark Lynn, Chairman
801 Edith Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
Office Line: (502) 516-4662
[email protected]
3. David Wallace, Vice-Chairman
1818 Florence Pike
Burlington, KY 41005
Office Line: (859) 586-9200
[email protected]
4. Jonathan Shell, Commissioner of Agriculture
105A Corporate Drive
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Office Line: (502) 573-0282
[email protected]
5. Dr. Nancy Cox, University of Kentucky Dean of Agriculture
S-123 Ag. Science North
Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091
Office Line: (859) 257-4772
[email protected]
6. Secretary Lindy Casebier, Secretary of Tourism, Arts and Heritage
500 Mero Street, Fifth Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Office Line: (502) 564-4270
[email protected]
7. Michael Berry
Louisville, Kentucky
[email protected]
8. Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism President & CEO
401 West Main Street, Suite 2300
Louisville, KY 40202
Office Line: (502) 584-2121
[email protected]
9. Edward Bennett
P.O. Box 527
Taylorsville, KY 40071
Mobile Number: (502) 817-2635
[email protected]
10. John Cox
500 West Jefferson Street, Suite 2100
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Office Line: (502) 589-4215
[email protected]
11. Marshall Coyle
Owingsville, Kentucky
[email protected]
12. Joe Goggin
485 N. Danville By Pass
Danville, Kentucky 40422
Office Line: (859) 236-6570
[email protected]
[email protected]
13. Hans Poppe
8700 Westport Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40242
Office Line: (502) 895-3400
[email protected]
14. Michael Poynter
Stanford, Kentucky
[email protected]
15. Lee Robby
1703 Kirby Road
Adairville, Kentucky 42202
Office Line: (270) 539-5091
[email protected]
16. Billy Ray Smith
Bowling Green, Kentucky
[email protected]
17. Dr. David Williams
1111 Perryville Road
Danville, Kentucky 40422
Office Line: (859) 236-0400
[email protected]
18. David Beck
937 Phillips Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40209
Office Line: (502) 367-5100
Mobile Number: (502) 552-1671
[email protected]
