The American Horse Council (AHC) has announced that several Members of Congress will speak at the AHC National Issues Forum during the AHC annual convention on June 14, sponsored by Luitpold Animal Health, in Washington, DC. The decision falls in line with this year’s theme of “Putting More Horsepower in Congress.” Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is confirmed as the leadoff speaker, and Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has also been invited.
“We would be very fortunate to have the chairmen of both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees address us,” said AHC president Jay Hickey. “The $102 billion equine industry is an important sector of the agriculture community, not only when horses are in their breeding life, but also when they move into their racing, showing, work, or recreation careers. The equine world is still regulated by the US Department of Agriculture in terms of disease control, import/export, interstate movement, and research. The Congressional agriculture committees are important to the horse industry.”
The Issues Forum will feature a panel including representatives of the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) and The Jockey Club to update the industry on their plans to require the microchipping of horses beginning in 2017. Mary Babick, Vice President of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), Summer Stoffel, who serves on the USEF Horse Recording & ID Task Force Committee, and Matt Iuliano, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of The Jockey Club will all speak on the panel.
The AHC convention will also host the inaugural meeting of executive directors of national equine organizations. Julie Broadway, the new president of the AHC, and David Foley, executive director of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), will host the meeting, which allows the top staff of horse associations to join together to discuss internal, administrative-type issues that each may face in their day-to-day operations.
Complete information on these Forums and the entire AHC annual meeting, including registration and hotel information, can be found on the AHC’s website