Trainers meet to kick off banquet weekend
Friday, February 14, 2025

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association kicked off its annual banquet weekend with their first general membership meeting of 2025. One of the most important action items on this meeting’s agenda is the election of officers and board members. Spencer Benedict was elected president, stepping into the role that was held by Bill Young. Young has been president of the WHTA during a very critical time and led the association through some turbulent years and leaves the WHTA in a very strong position moving forward.
Edgar Abernathy was elected First Vice-President and Clay Sanderson was elected to serve at Second Vice President. The membership was asked to vote for four open board seats and those went to Rodney Dick, Scott Beaty, RM Kellet and Brad Beard. Waye Dean updated the association’s financials. The WHTA has $259,956 spread across accounts they manage including just over $100,000 in a CD. The horse show account currently sits at $124,838.
Lobbyist Jeff Speaks opened the meeting with an update on the legislative and regulatory actions concerning the industry. It has been a very active year on the regulatory front with the industry winning the lawsuit challenging the rule amending the HPA regulations. Speaks also updated the WHTA on the ongoing investigations from House Oversight Committee into APHIS.
Jeffrey Howard also spoke at the meeting updating the membership on the lawsuits in both Texas and Tennessee. Howard brought everyone up-to-date on the next steps and the projected path forward and options in the Tennessee case which should begin to see movement in the coming months. Judge Kacsmaryk’s order in the TX case contained language that will be used by industry attorneys in the Wright case in Tennessee.
The annual Horse of the Year banquet will wrap up the weekend on Saturday night at the Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tenn.
More Stories |
-
Read More
-
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — After decades of loyal service and fundraising efforts, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5019 in Shelbyville has announced it will no longer operate its food booth during the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, beginning in 2025.
Read More
-
On June 30, 2025, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association (“Association”), along with horse owners Tom Gould and Ann Mills, sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA” or “Agency”) challenging multiple USDA decisions disqualifying horses in past shows and challenging the USDA rules that were applied to disqualify those horses.
Read More
-
Todd Grider, 54, of Columbia, Kentucky, died Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:54 A.M. at TJ Health/ Columbia Emergency Room.
Read More
-
Ms. Neva La Fleur will mark the cards for the very first Equiskill Challenge Cup Equitation Championship class.The International Championship Show will host the class on July 19, 2025, at Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN.
Read More
-
Tullahoma, Tenn. – The Phoenix Charity, a 501(c)3 dedicated to providing service and companion dogs for veterans, successfully placed its first dog, Claire, a German Shepherd, with Iraq War veteran Roger Wagner.
Read More
-
Robert Clayton “Clay” Avent of Brick Church, Tennessee, passed away Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2025, at his home in Giles County. Born on May 16, 1970, in Memphis, Tennessee, he was 55 years old. Clay was a lifelong farrier, blacksmith, and cattleman.
Read More
-
Christmas In July Update: Please note that the final performance tonight will now begin at 5:30 PM, instead of the originally scheduled 4:30 PM.
Read More
-
It is with deep gratitude for a life well-lived that we announce the passing of our beloved Mary Ellen Areaux. Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, she was a trailblazer in many ways. Best known as the owner and operator of Walkers West, a renowned Tennessee Walking Horse breeding and training facility in Kaufman, Texas.
Read More
-
Read More
|