Following closely on the heels of the nation’s first-ever Unwanted Horse Summit in Washington, DC, on April 19, a National Steering Committee has been named to perform the organizational work necessary to keep the project moving forward. In a conference call on June 8 involving all participants in the Summit, the following representatives were selected to serve on the Steering Committee:

-Dr. Tom Lenz, American Association of Equine Practitioners (chair)
-Dr. Andrew Lang, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (vice-chair)
-Remi Bellocq, National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association
-Dr. Jim Cook, American Veterinary Medical Association
-Dr. Lydia Gray, Hooved Animal Humane Society
-Pennell Hopkins, Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
-Herb Moelis, Thoroughbred Charities of America
-Ward Stutz, American Quarter Horse Association
-Russell Williams, United States Trotting Association

The newly formed Steering Committee will operate on an interim basis until a final organizational structure is adopted. Steering Committee duties include proposing one or more organizational structures for continuation of the initiative, developing a definition of the unwanted horse and a mission statement for the initiative and preparing an agenda for the next face-to-face meeting of the entire committee.

A second summit has been planned for September 21, 2005, at the American Veterinary Medical Association headquarters in Schaumburg, IL, and will be made up of representatives of the original 25 equine industry organizations and individuals invited to the first Summit.

"The plight of our country’s unwanted horses touches every facet of the horse industry," said Tom Lenz, DVM, chairman of the Steering Committee. "I continue to be pleased with the cooperation and work ethic of the various equine groups working to resolve the unwanted horse issue and am confident that our efforts will bear fruit for America’s horses."

For a copy of the Unwanted Horse Summit report, visit www.aaep.org/pdfs/Unwanted_Horse_Summit_Report.pdf or contact the American Association of Equine Practitioners at (859) 233-0147.


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