American Horse Council

11/01/2025

What’s New with the Old Guard

The American Horse Council (AHC) kicks off the new year with a webinar on the inspiring story of an equine program that is steeped in honor and history.

Julie Broadway, President of the AHC, introduces “What’s New with the Old Guard” as she and Emily Stearns, AHC’s Health, Welfare, and Regulatory Affairs Liaison, interview the Army personnel responsible for the horses that serve the Old Guard’s Caisson Detachment.

The Old Guard is the Army’s oldest active-duty infantry regiment, responsible for a variety of ceremonial duties often involving horses. The Old Guard’s horses are iconic symbols of the vital role horses continue to play in American ceremonial and cultural events.

AHC President Julie Broadway said, “It is bittersweet but fitting to release this webinar on the week when our nation pauses to recognize and honor former President Jimmy Carter.” Broadway explained that President Carter’s remains will be moved to the U.S. Capitol by “The Old Guard” Caisson’s Detachment’s horse-drawn wagon and accompanied by a riderless, caparisoned horse. The caparisoned horse is led wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the warrior will never ride again.

The inclusion of the caisson es**rt in the state funeral of President Carter is welcome news as it shows that the serious health and welfare problems plaguing the Old Guard’s horses are being resolved. The webinar explains the intensive rehabilitation and training programs undertaken by the Army to improve and maintain the highest standards of equine care.

The hosts and guests delve into the reasons behind the decline in the horses’ living conditions over the years and highlight how the equine community swiftly stepped in to provide assistance. “Members of the AHC offered help in terms of training, veterinarian care, horse procurement, and other expertise. The Army responded with sincerity and began engaging in proactive steps to improve husbandry practices and saddlery upgrades,” observed Broadway.

Broadway concludes, “The Army is close to fully restoring the solemn and historic tradition of providing military honors to those who have served our country, and we are so very proud of our AHC members who literally took the reins to guide the Old Guard through a period of positive change.”

Read more and listen to the podcast: https://horsecouncil.org/project/whats-new-with-the-old-guard/

10/01/2025

The American Horse Council formally requests USDA delay new HPA Regulations.

Please read this important statement from the American Horse Council on the Horse Protection Act (HPA).

Read here: https://horsecouncil.org/urgent-ahc-special-bulletin-hpa-statement/

08/01/2025

Locations updated 01.10.2025

🔥🚒The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, including the Palisades Fire, have led to mandatory evacuations and the displacement of numerous large animals.

How You Can Help:

➡️Provide Shelter: If you have facilities like barns or pastures, consider offering temporary refuge for evacuated animals.

➡️Volunteer: Assist with animal transportation or care at designated shelters.

➡️Donate Supplies: Items such as hay, feed, water buckets, and medical supplies are in high demand. Donate through your local rescues, sanctuaries, staging areas, and designated LA Sheltering locations.

Current Large Animal Sheltering Locations:

📍Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
📍Antelope Valley Fair 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536
📍Industry Hills Expo 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744
Capacity for 200 horses; not staffed by DACC
📍Pomona Fairplex 1101 W Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
Receiving horses only

Important Resources:

➡️Palisades Fire updates: LAFD.org/alerts

➡️LA County Emergency Information: lacounty.gov/emergency

➡️Animal Care and Control Updates: animalcare.lacounty.gov

➡️Emergency Preparedness for Pets: ready.lacounty.gov/pet-disaster-supply-kits/

Stay Informed:

Follow and on Twitter for real-time updates.

07/01/2025

The American Horse Council invites members of the equestrian community to speak at the 2025 AHC Conference, which will be held June 22-25, 2025, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The AHC Conference provides a unique platform for experts to share information, ideas, and insights with attendees, which includes both members and nonmembers, AHC and equine association/organization leaders, industry professionals, suppliers/manufacturers, and stakeholders.

The theme for 2025 is "Harness the Power of Collaboration for Greater Achievement," which highlights the power of teamwork, collaboration, and consensus to create success. It emphasizes that when individuals, teams, or organizations come together, their combined efforts yield something far greater than the sum of their individual contributions. “We invite all kinds of experts within the horse industry, or those with interesting or important horse-related topics, to speak at the AHC Conference,” said Julie Broadway, AHC President. “We always strive to provide a wide variety of topics from knowledgeable sources. In the past, speakers have covered a range of topics, from science and research to technology innovation, membership and development, etc. Consistent with our theme, we encourage speakers who have bridged disciplines, sectors, and industries to apply."

The AHC Conference is the premier educational conference provided by AHC, where attendees of all ages come together to learn, network, and share ideas to grow the horse industry. Individuals with expertise, passion, and a desire to share knowledge are encouraged to submit workshop abstracts. Presentations can be 45 minutes.

Abstracts for workshops should be submitted to [email protected] no later than January 15, 2025, and should include a workshop title and a short (100 words or fewer) description of the workshop, including the key takeaways the audience will get along with a copy of the presenter's CV/resume.

For more information: https://horsecouncil.org/project/american-horse-council-request-for-conference-speakers/

The theme for 2025 is "Harness the Power of Collaboration for Greater Achievement" which highlights the power of teamwork, collaboration and consensus to create success. It emphasizes that when individuals, teams, or organizations come together their combined efforts yield something far greater than...

25/12/2024

The end of the year brings no greater joy than the opportunity to express how grateful we are for our members, supporters, and partners. Happy Holidays to all of you, and may your new year be filled with happiness and success.

With much joy,

The AHC & UHC Leadership & Staff

24/12/2024

Sharing from

BREAKING: The EXPLORE Act has passed the U.S. Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law! Thanks to the leadership of Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY), Congressmen Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and ORR members across the country, Congress has achieved a groundbreaking bipartisan achievement that cements the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation industry as a cornerstone of America’s economy and a necessity to quality of life for all Americans.

“Today’s passage of the EXPLORE Act will supercharge the outdoor recreation industry and is a victory for our economy, our communities, our quality of life, and our shared connection to the outdoors," said Jessica (Wahl) Turner, President of . "By advancing this transformative legislation, Congress has shown its commitment to ensuring every American has access to world-class outdoor experiences, from our backyard to the backcountry, while supporting the businesses, workers, and communities who make those experiences possible."

Read more here: https://recreationroundtable.org/news/entire-outdoor-recreation-industry-celebrates-the-monumental-passage-of-the-explore-act/?trk=public_post_comment-text

13/12/2024

Happy National Horse Day! 🐴

Today, we celebrate the incredible contributions horses have made to our history, culture, and economy. Did you know that horses contribute approximately $177 billion to the U.S. economy?

As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to think about gifts for the equestrians and horses in our lives. The American Horse Council recently shared a podcast episode featuring unique gift ideas, including books, riding gear, and even experiences like tours of equine sanctuaries.

What's on your holiday wish list this year? Let us know, in the comments below! 🎁

Listen to the podcast now: https://horsecouncil.org/holiday-gifting-for-horses-and-humans-for-december-3-2024/

11/12/2024

☎️Alert: USDA-APHIS Issues Urgent Warning on Equine Health Risk

On November 22, 2024, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Mexico notified the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of a positive detection of New World screwworm in Mexico.

What to look for:
➡️Check your pets and livestock for draining or enlarging wounds, and signs of discomfort such as irritated behavior and headshaking.
➡️Also look for screwworm larvae (maggots) or eggs. Screwworm eggs are creamy and white and are deposited on near the edges of superficial wounds.
➡️This pest can infest a wide variety of wounds, from tick bites to cuts and dehorning or branding wounds.
➡️Infestations are very common in the navels of newborn animals, nasal or eye openings, and genitalia.

Read more here: https://horsecouncil.org/project/are-we-screwed-alert-usda-aphis-issues-urgent-warning-on-equine-health-risk/

05/12/2024

Important announcement regarding the Horse Protection Act Final Rule:

Read more: https://horsecouncil.org/project/usda-aphis-to-host-virtual-webinar-on-horse-protection-final-rule-dec-13th-630pm-et/

04/12/2024

Equestrians share the best ways to share Colorado's trails with cyclists and horses.

If you’re lucky enough to see a horse strutting along on the trails, count yourself lucky – it’s a real show stopper.

Equestrians have the right-of-way on Colorado’s multi-use trails, but a tense interaction recently on a portion of the Cherry Creek Trail in Parker highlights some confusion about how cyclists should approach and yield to horses and their riders.

Read more:

Equestrians have the right-of-way on Colorado’s multi-use trails, but a tense interaction on a portion of the Cherry Creek Trail highlights some confusion among how cyclists should approach horses.

27/11/2024

Before you head off to spend time with family this Thanksgiving, we at the American Horse Council just wanted to let you know how thankful we are to have you as members and partners.

It’s working with people like you that makes our job so rewarding and is just the whipped cream on top of the pumpkin pie!

From us to you and yours, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Julie, Brigid, Emily, Ashley, Kelsey, Andrea and the AHC Board of Trustees

21/11/2024

☃️ American Horse Council’s December podcast on “The best holiday gift ideas for horse lovers!”🎁

The holidays are fast approaching and you’re thinking- “OMG, I need to find the perfect gift for my horse-loving family or friend – where do I start?”

The American Horse Council is here to help you sort this out! AHC’s monthly podcast on Horse in the Morning Radio Network for December 2024 will feature three outstanding guests to talk about gift-giving ideas for all budgets and interests.

AHC President Julie Bradway and Co-Host AHC Staffer, Emily Stearns, will chat with Martha Cook of Trafalgar Square Books, Amanda Bodkin of SmartPak, and John Nicholson of Old Friends Farm about all kinds of amazing gifts for the horse lover. Ideas that are novel, unique, customizable, educational, or heartwarming – we have many suggestions!

Join us starting December 3rd on HITM to hear things in all price ranges that will please and delight the gift receiver.

20/11/2024

We would like to share some invaluable resources from the United Horse Coalition, a vital program of the American Horse Council. Whether you're a horse owner, enthusiast, or advocate, these tools and support services are designed to help ensure the well-being of our equine friends. Check them out and spread the word! 🙌

15/11/2024

🐴Help grow the next generation of horse enthusiasts and encourage some reading time with your little ones. Check out "Power of the Pony" today!

The Power of the Pony details what it's like to have a pony at home—and all the life lessons and character-building that come with having a hooved friend to care for. The book combines rhythmic rhyme stories with notes from a child's perspective and facts about ponies. The amazing Romeo is a white pony who loves to be brushed and groomed by his girl, Savannah. She feeds him daily, grooms, rides, preps for horse shows, and shares her pony with her friends. Join in on the adventure and find out what it's like to have your dream pony.

Hot off the press!
Power of the Pony children's book: The paperback is out!
The hardback and ebook will be out later this week, too! https://store.bookbaby.com/book/poweroftheponypaperback
SAVE 25% with the coupon code:
PonyPowersLaunch


The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
Certified Horsemanship Association
PATH International
American Horse Council

13/11/2024

Watch now!🐎📺

American Horse Council’s November Webinar on “The Value & Importance of Equine Appraisals”

The holidays are fast approaching and that’s a prime time for lots of horses to be bought and sold!

The American Horse Council is here to help prospective buyers and sellers with its November 2024 webinar on “The Value and Importance of Equine Appraisals.”

AHC President Julie Broadway stated, “There are numerous reasons to hire an equine appraiser including proof of value in legal situations, insurance coverage, and for sales purposes. Join us for an in-depth look at why an appraisal provides an ethical, objective, and unbiased value based on research and sound economic practices.”

The guest speaker is Tracy Dopko of Daventry Appraisal Services. Considered one of the world’s leading equine appraisers & expert witnesses, Tracy is a senior equine appraiser with the American Society of Equine Appraisers, certified member with the International Society of Appraisers, accredited senior member with the American Society of Appraisers, and a private investigator specializing in equine cases.

Watch now: https://horsecouncil.org/webinars/

12/11/2024

The American Horse Council invites members of the equestrian community to speak at the 2025 AHC Conference, which will be held June 22-25, 2025 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC. The AHC Conference provides a unique platform for experts to share information, ideas, and insights to attendees, which includes both members and nonmembers and AHC and equine association/organization leaders, industry professionals, suppliers/manufacturers and stakeholders.

The theme for 2025 is "Harness the Power of Collaboration for Greater Achievement" which highlights the power of teamwork, collaboration and consensus to create success. It emphasizes that when individuals, teams, or organizations come together their combined efforts yield something far greater than the sum of their individual contributions. “We invite all kinds of experts within the horse industry, or those with interesting or important horse-related topics, to speak at the AHC Conference,” said Julie Broadway, AHC President. “We always strive to provide a wide variety of topics from knowledgeable sources. In the past, speakers have covered a range of topics from science and research, technology innovation, membership and development, etc. Consistent with our theme, we encourage speakers who have bridged disciplines, sectors, and industries, to apply."

The AHC Conference is the premier educational conference provided by AHC where attendees of all ages come together to learn, network, and share ideas to grow the horse industry. Individuals with expertise, passion, and a desire to share knowledge are encouraged to submit workshop abstracts. Presentations can be 45 minutes.

Abstracts for workshops should be submitted to [email protected], no later than January 15, 2025 and should include a workshop title and a short (100 words or fewer) description of the workshop, including the key take aways audience will get along. Please also include a copy of the presenter's CV/resume.

https://horsecouncil.org/project/american-horse-council-request-for-conference-speakers/

11/11/2024

Restoring a Veterans Day Tradition🐴

This Veterans Day, we reflect on the sacrifices of our service members, especially as we work to restore the tradition of the Army’s ceremonial caisson horses at Arlington National Cemetery. For over a year, these iconic horses have been absent due to necessary health and welfare improvements. The Old Guard, in partnership with equine experts, is working hard to provide better care, modern facilities, and more training for both horses and handlers.

As we honor veterans on November 11th, we also recognize the importance of these horses in symbolizing respect and gratitude for those who served. We stand with the Old Guard in their efforts to rebuild and sustain this sacred tradition.

Read more: https://horsecouncil.org/project/restoring-a-veterans-day-tradition/

11/11/2024

This Veterans Day, we celebrate the courage and sacrifice of our veterans and recognize the healing role that horses play in their journey to recovery.

Equine therapy is helping many veterans find peace and strength, offering a unique way to cope with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. The connection with horses fosters trust, emotional healing, and a sense of calm that’s often difficult to find.

We thank all those who served and the incredible horses who are helping them find peace.