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MULE CROSSING: The Equine Industry

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By Meredith Hodges

The highest recognition available for equestrians in this country is to be chosen for the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team. Obviously, this honor is reserved for a select few, but this doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t reach this stage of Horsemanship in our lives and reap other kinds of rewards for our performance. These rewards can be found in many places: winning placements in equine shows, inspiring other riders to continue to learn and maintaining an industry in which our children can grow. Sometimes in our own exuberant competitive spirit, we lose sight of the things that are really important in our industry, like learning together with a spirit of camaraderie, and presenting what we’ve learned in such a way that everyone can share in our success, including those who may never have seen an equine.

To most of us, the idea of promoting a whole breed can be quite overwhelming, so instead, we try to promote our own animals in hopes of complimenting the entire breed with our personal successes. In theory, this works well, however, over the years it has proven to be the source of a lot of conflict in the industry itself. Unethical training methods began to arise in an effort to assimilate the performance of show champions. Amateurs had to compete against professionals and a shortage of judges for shows allowed non-licensed individuals to begin setting the standards on the basis of their own personal opinions rather than making educated selections in their show placements.

All of this opened our shows to the political arena, devaluing quality training and hard work, while emphasizing gimmicks and popularity of individuals for the sake of monetary gain. The original intent of promoting the breed began to take a backseat to economics and personal gain. The result of this was a decrease in the number of people willing to compete in the shows, a lot of artificially trained animals produced and a decreased number of spectators attending the shows. Seeing the same individuals win over and over again, from one show to another, deserving or not, became boring and uninteresting to the general public. Thus, a lot of spectator support and amateur competitors were lost.

Since 1967, Longears have once again begun to gain popularity in this country. Those who felt they had been treated unfairly in the horse circles turned to Longears for fun and fair treatment. In developing our industry, we have attempted to learn from the mistakes of the horse industry and have tried to devise our shows and promotional events with the integrity of our equine history kept in mind. Personal achievements are honored, but positive promotion of the entire Longears industry is foremost in our hearts.

To continue to grow and prosper, our industry must keep several things in mind. We need to appreciate what our shows can do for Longears, as well as what they cannot. Large shows do bring in a lot of spectators, but those who attend shows usually already have a certain interest in equines. They will spread the word throughout the equine set in our society, but if we wish to promote new interest, we need to be more creative in our promotional thinking and target those who are unfamiliar with equines.

Taking into account some basic human characteristics, this doesn’t need to be difficult. It is the nature of human beings to like to be entertained by the unique or unusual. After a while, spectators become bored watching the same animals compete in the same classes show after show. To spice up the shows, individual exhibitions and demonstrations, done with a “Hollywood” flair could do the trick. Decorations and props to help the audience transgress reality and enter the fantasy of the moment can make a tremendous difference in their reaction to a performance. Variety from act to act will hold their interest and that momentary release from the everyday pressures of society will guarantee their return, if it is done effectively! Spectators do not derive the same kind of pleasure that we exhibitors do from our own progress. This is a very personal thing to each of us and our animals, and among all of us as competitors, but it does not effectively recruit spectator support. We need to realize the limitations of shows as a vehicle for promotion and cater to the needs and desires of those who would know nothing except for our efforts.

The Longears equine division, inspired by the United States Dressage Federation, has begun a movement toward better learning in their development of fun learning clinics over the past three years. This has spurred the horse industry to increase their clinics ten-fold. The Colorado Donkey & Mule Society, in an effort to facilitate fun and goodwill, as well as learning, has one-day clinics, with one-hour classes of three to four students each. The classes are video-taped, everyone brings potluck, then after the clinic, we watch the videos, discuss what we’ve learned, and enjoy some great food! In this relaxed atmosphere, we have found that people get more personal attention, learn more quickly and develop a true attitude of good sportsmanship. Different clubs all support and attend the Longears shows, but maintain their individuality through specialized events and exhibitions that we can all appreciate.

The entire equine industry seems to understand the value in considering our potential spectators when developing promotional events. We are seeing more and more exhibition shows where different breeds and disciplines exhibit their specialties. This absence of judges allows the spectator to observe and be the judge himself, allowing him to become an active part of our industry, giving him not only entertainment, but involvement, increasing his personal feeling of commitment to the industry. As we investigate this avenue of promotion, we find many more new and interesting ways of promoting our equines. In Kansas City, riders have been asked to join the symphony orchestra in an evening of classical entertainment with a fantasy of visual equine aids. This surely targets people who would otherwise, not necessarily see equines perform and may gain future support from their interest.

In an effort to gain such support, the Colorado Classic Equine Show, held at the National Western Stock Show Complex in Denver the last weekend in April, is going to try this same approach. Riders will pay to exhibit with the Denver Symphony orchestra in an effort to expand support and interest in the equine sports; the performance would take place on the first evening of the show. The Colorado Donkey & Mule Society will be sure to see to it that mules are duly represented in a Dressage and Combined Training Exhibition to music. Developing and implementing creative ideas such as these can only increase the appeal of our industry to the public and bring our members together in a mutual effort of goodwill and sportsmanship. We need our shows to measure our progress and to honor our exceptional individuals, but we also need to balance it with creative, positive promotional ideas that will entertain and capture the hearts and support of the general public. By utilizing our individual talents, we can ensure an equine future for our children that will be fun, exciting and educational!

To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com, MEREDITH HODGES PUBLIC FIGURE Facebook page, or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Pinterest, Instagram, MeWe, YouTube and Twitter.

Covered in TRAINING MULES & DONKEY: A LOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAINING, TRAINING WITHOUT RESISTANCE and EQUUS REVISITED at www.luckythreeranchstore.com.

© 1989, 2016, 2024 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

AHC Latest News- November 2021

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The following is from the American Horse Council:

November 2021

Former members

Copyright © 2021 American Horse Council
The AHC News is published monthly and we’d love to recruit you back as a member. Don’t miss out on the latest legislative and regulatory updates, along with news and industry efforts.

 

AHC Annual Congressional Fly-In October 28th  – Highlights & Recap

  • Helping American’s veterans with Equine Assisted Services.  Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) spoke to how evidence-based research has proven the effectiveness of EAS in helping youth, veterans, and the disabled community, Adaptive Sports Program through VA initially helped with funding for EAS with $1.5 million which was increased in 2020 to $5 million in grant appropriations.  Barr urged the attendees to contact Senators about keeping this 5 million dedicated to EAS and to improve upon that.  Barr also spoke regarding the Suicide Prevention Bill, John Scott Hannon Mental Health Care and Improvement Act.  Data shows that 21 Veterans take their lives every day in USA.  Only 14 of those had any sort of interaction with the VA in the previous 2 years – thus we need other entry points and access points for Veterans who are not utilizing the VA.  Barr offered an amendment for non-VA organizations, which passed and made it into the final bill.   Barr again asked attendees to talk to Senators to keep the house amendment on a dedicated budget.
    Kathy Alm of PATH Intl. and Ruth Dismuke-Blakely of AHA mentioned that EAS for veterans should all fall under the umbrella of mental health and keeping the boundaries clear regarding treatment for Veterans when it comes to EAS.  When it’s under Adaptive Sports, it undermines EAS as a treatment strategy when asking for reimbursement and confuses the public. Barr agreed to have further discussion and investigate strategies.
  • Guest Workers – We need them, but can we get them?  Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) who is the lead on H2B Visas, shared how we need temporary workers to help fill the vast need for farm workers and the returning worker exemption is one option or exempt/remove some from H2B.  Rep. Harris asked attendees to help his colleagues on the hill learn and understand the difference between immigration vs guest workers, as the penalties are strict for temporary work visas.
  • House Ag Committee Update Rep. GT Thompson (R-PA) shared his goal of being a strong voice for American Agriculture.  The House Ag Committee is blessed with opportunities to help Agriculture rebound from these crisis (COVID, natural disasters, etc.).
  • What’s happening with Tax policy? Jordan Harris and Mason Foley of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) office spoke about the new framework for reconciliation package which was recently released.  AHC staff asked about the Build Back Better – looking to get this reevaluated and would like suggestions on raising the awareness.
  • Can another state’s legislative issues affect me? Case Studies… 11:30 AM Julie Beeman spoke regarding CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feed Operations) Challenges in CA and shared San Jan Capistrano Case Study.  Scott Dorenkamp of PRCA spoke of potential rodeo ban in Los Angeles CA. Concern that this movement will move up and down the state of CA and into CO.  With potential impact on future equestrian events that involve fixed spurs.  If Rodeo is banned, others will not be far behind, so it is in everyone’s interest to pay attention to this.
  • Senate Ag Committee Update  Kyle Varner of Sen. Deb Stabenow’s Office (D-MI) shared that thus far this year the committee has been working on confirming any administration nominees, turnover of secretary positions at USDA.  28 Nominees.  COVID relief package passed, monitoring the USDAs release of those assistance programs.  Kinks in the supply chain.  Varner also spoke about climate change and Introduced Growing Climate Solutions Act, 94-6 vote passed out of the Senate.  Intended to help USDA put more structure around carbon markets that producers are taking advantage of.  Helps provide more certainty for farmers/ranchers in getting involved with that, certification process for USDA.  Certification process for verifiers on the ground, so farmers know who to trust.  One stop shop website for producers who are interested in participating in the carbon markets.  Varner stated that the committee will start turning to more formal review of 2018 Farm Bill. Current bill doesn’t expire until 2023, so there is time for industry input. AHC staff mentioned the Equine Industry is consistently underrepresented in the USDA census data.  Making that large gap in numbers critical to address for future changes to the Farm Bill.
  • What is the status of the PAST Act?  Rep Steve Cohen (D- TN) shared that the PAST Act was introduced in June, with 209 co-sponsors initially, 234 now, which is majority of the house.  Cohen also noted that in 2017, USDA submitted a role to the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) that would take the language from the Past Act and codify it in a way that the USDA could take action on it now.  This rule change gives USDA the teeth they need to enforce the Horse Protection Act.  If this rule was to be introduced, it would likely be adopted.
  • What is the Congressional Horse Caucus and what are its priorities?  Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) noted that the Equine Industry contributes over $50 billion to the US economy annually and plays a key role in conserving agricultural land.  The Caucus Is made up of bi-partisan members who are aware of and support the Equine Industry as well as the health and safety of horses in the racing industry.   Tonko urged the attendees to use storytelling as a tool to help get PAST Act over the finish line.  And AHC offered its services to help grow the Horse Caucus and its mission – outreach, build by consensus.
  • Updates from the US Dept. of Agriculture
    Oscar Gonzales, Asst. Secretary USDA spoke about his 3rd generation connection to the horse industry and efforts underway by National Security Council, to bring in workers from Ecuador, El Salvador & Guatemala to help with season work and address labor shortage.  Gonzales also spoke about keeping eyes out for legislation to unleash a substantial amount of funding in rural areas.  Making sure that children are fed and that the needs of rural America are being met.  Reaching out to small business owners, most families in agriculture have some form of supplemental small business.  Providing workshops to find out what the needs of small business owners are. AHC staff asked if there is any discussion about reintroducing the rule change in the Horse Protection Act – Specifically realigning the language around testing procedures and protocols related to the PAST Act. Gonzales said he was not up to speed on this and would make inquiries.  AHC staff also noted that the Farm Bill is an important part of the USDA’s program funding, and the equine industry is looking to include more provisions for better horse census numbers.  AHC would like to see the USDA to find a better solution to this problem, and better realize the equine population in the United States.  Lynn Coakley of Equus Foundation asked if Gonzales had any idea why the number of horses being exported for slaughter appear to have decreased significantly in the past year?  Discussion about possibilities followed including potentially more awareness about the issue, less demand, and COVID possibly reducing the number of horses crossing the border.
  • How to get the biggest bang from Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)?  Sherry Reaves & Brenda Yankoviak of USFS spoke to the GAOA.  The GAOA provides funding through Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF).  Forest Service is the largest agency under the Department of Agriculture. National Parks and Public Legacy Restoration Fund, authorized up to $285 Million annually.  Used to address deferred maintenance (maintenance that was not performed when it was scheduled or should have been accomplished and which, therefore, was put off or delayed for a future period.  Yankoviak suggested what makes a successful GAOA project includes Priorities:  deferred maintenance reduction, visitor access and experience, supporting undeserved communities, mitigating climate change, leveraging partnerships.
    Creating story maps and connecting people to these projects.  Promoting these improvements across the country.  The more people see the impacts, the more they are willing to support and contribute.  Share your stories!
    How to get involved:  Leverage funding, collaborate on project development, provide feedback on projects, assist with data collection, and volunteer!

Thank you to all our participants and speakers.

Barr Leads the Charge on Legislation to Spur Investment in Equine Industry

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) reintroduced legislation to incentivize investment in Kentucky’s signature equine industry.  The Equine Tax Fairness Act would make the three-year depreciation schedule permanent for racehorses, regardless of their age when put into service.  Currently, Congress must reauthorize this provision in the tax law on an annual basis. 

Additionally, this legislation would reduce the holding period for equine assets to be considered long term capital gains, putting them on a level playing field with other similar assets.  Congressman Barr’s bill is endorsed by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Keeneland, and the American Horse Council.

AHC welcomes new Government Affairs Liaison – Mark Riso

AHC President, Julie Broadway, is pleased to announce the addition of Mark Riso to the AHC Team effective November 15th.
Mark is a public policy professional and national lobbyist, with over three decades of public policy – advocacy experience on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. – with an expertise in the legislative, regulatory, and political processes. Mark served as Legislative Director to two senior Members of Congress and as a professional staff member on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (U.S. House of Representatives, House Banking Committee). Following his work on Capitol Hill, Mark has served as a senior lobbyist for past twenty-five years for industry associations, and passionate about advocacy.

Horse Week Re-Releases Available

“Just like your passion for horses never fades, neither does Horse Week’s brilliant video content. That’s why The Equine Network is re-releasing your favorite Horse Week classics each week from now until Christmas!

The Horse Week re-releases will be streamed each Tuesday night, at 7pm ET. Head on over to horseweek.tv for a full video lineup. Tune in from the barn, office or comfort of your couch—Horse Week videos can be watched on any smart device by visiting horseweek.tv or the Equine Network YouTube channel. Once a video has been released, you will have until the week of Christmas to watch it as many times as you like for FREE!

Climate Change & the Equine Industry
Cliff Williamson, Director Health & Regulatory Affairs

Weather has always been an important variable to the operations of the horse industry, regardless of breed or activity.  But the horse industry is facing new and unique challenges in the form of unpredictable climate. Whether it is “climate change” in the fundamental sense caused by an increase in greenhouse gasses or simply a temporary shifting of weather patterns can be left to the scientists and politicians to debate.  But it is hard to disagree with the idea that “something is happening” with weather wherever you live. Most climate scientists believe that fundamental changes in weather may be the new norm.  Like all industries, the horse industry should be alert to potential changes and their harmful ramifications.  It may be that these changes are beyond our control, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be considered and prepared for.

Climate change is generally associated with drought, higher temperatures, swings in heat and cold, changes in rainfall, increases in extreme weather events, like hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding, and stronger and more frequent storms. These changes have the potential to influence how the horse industry operates day-to-day.  Such changes can also have broader effects, such as a rise in invasive species, the movement of ticks and mosquitoes, the costs of feed and hay, and increasingly intense wildfires.

Persistent drought conditions in California have created annual wildfire situations that have not only posed a real threat to local citizens and their horses, but have also impacted air quality, event space availability and forage production resulting in cascading negative impacts for the region. The hurricanes that were once considered once in a lifetime events now occur with such consistancy that traditional naming practices had to be revisited. Particularly in the last decade, the number of significant climate events that have affected the equine industry has increased to such a degree that scores of organizations have felt the need to publish materials concerning the avoidance of, preparation for, and response to wildfires, blizzards, flooding, drought, extreme heat and extreme cold.

The equine industry serves as a critical player in the preservation and protection of green space in urban, suburban and rural areas. More than 80 million acres of open space is preserved for equestrian use according to the 2017 AHC Foundation Economic Impact Study. These spaces are capable of facilitating positive environmental efforts in their respective communities, as long as they are allowed to remain in place. Because of the unique methods in which horses are cared for in comparison to other livestock species, our impacts on water, air and soil quality are generally minimal, if not mitigated completely.

The equine industry not only needs to continue to be good stewards, it also needs to be proactive and prepare. The AHC recently offered a webinar on eco-friendly equestrian facility designs (see our website for that recording). We also are working to seek avenues for climate smart solutions to help our 80 million acres of equestrian lands in the US. As part of that effort, the AHC is encouraging the USDA to include the equine industry in their discussions with farmers, ranchers and rural communities so that together we can develop innovative climate-smart practices.

Tax Consideration for Charitable Contributions in Equine Industry

If a horse or other property is given as a charitable contribution, the donor may generally deduct the fair market value of the property. However, when property given to a charity would result in ordinary income to the donor if the property had been sold instead, the amount of the gift must be reduced by the amount of the ordinary income that would have been reported by the donor had the property been sold instead of donated. Also, if a horse that is eligible for capital gain treatment has been depreciated and is then donated to the charity, the amount of the gift is the value of the horse reduced by the amount of depreciation recapture. The deduction amount must also be reduced if gifted tangible personal property does not in some way relate to the purposes that give rise to the charity’s tax exemption

To read more go to : Tax Bulletins For Members – American Horse Council

United Horse Coalition (UHC), A Home For Every Horse (AHFEH) &

Purina mail out Fall 2021 Feed Coupons

We are delighted to announce that the fall mailing of feed coupons were shipped Tuesday, October 26th  to hundreds of deserving rescues across the US, reported Carly Barrick, AHFEH Program Coordinator.  “Thank you for the hard work you do for these deserving animals! ”

The United Horse Coalition is a proud partner with AHFEH and Purina to make this happen!

P.S. We love when you tag us in your posts so we can stay up to date on your hard work and successes. Remember to follow and tag @ahomeforeveryhorse on Instagram and Facebook!

CARLY BARRICK
Tier Program Coordinator |  Equine Network
A Home For Every Horse Manager | AHFEH
New Email: cbarrick@equinenetwork.com

 

AHC Latest News- April 17,2020

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The following is from the American Horse Council:

​April 17, 2020 – Special Issue

White House Releases Guidelines to Re-Open the U.S. Economy

On Thursday, April 16, the White House released “Guidelines for Opening Up America Again,” a 20-page document outlining a tiered and regionally-based roadmap to get back to business.   The guidelines are voluntary and authorize governors to implement either state-wide, or “county by county” timetables for easing restrictions on personal and commercial mobility.  Importantly, the guidelines establish so-called “gating criteria,” enumerating health-based benchmarks that serve as a prerequisite for different classes of business establishments to re-open.

Mass gatherings including racing events and horse shows would fall under “Phase 3,” which Administration officials are identifying as a state of relative control over risks associated with COVID-19 exposure.  Talks between various private sector stakeholder advisory committees are underway to discuss tactics to comply with the spirit of the guidelines while limiting potential tort liability arising from new risks.  These advisory committees include horse industry partners in the agriculture and sports communities.  AHC will share details related to next steps as they unfold.  To view a copy of the guidelines, go to the following link:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Guidelines-for-Opening-Up-America-Again.pdf.

Details: Bryan Brendle at bbrendle@horsecouncil.org.

 

We’re all doing a lot of video conferences so here’s a novel idea .

INVITE A HORSE TO YOUR NEXT CORPORATE MEETING OR VIDEO CALL
Need a fresh face to brighten up your video conference meetings? Want a fun experience for an online Happy Hour? Looking for a virtual tour? The Pennsylvania Equine Rescue & Retirement Foundation
Ambassadors Penn & Penny are here for you.
CALL TODAY!!    724-777-4747 or   EMAIL!!    info@perrf.org
We’ve got a number of great options.

Check out our COVID-19 Resources for
Horse Owners, Non-Profits, Equine Businesses, and Industry Employees – PLUS state specific resources
at

https://unitedhorsecoalition.org/covid-19-resources/

A Screen Shot is shown below

 

Paycheck Protection Well Runs Dry, For Now

Since enactment of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, the Small Business Administration (SBA) on Thursday, April 16 depleted $350 billion of loan commitments under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), hitting the maximum amount authorized by the massive economic relief package.  Because Congress is officially out of session until Monday, May 4, lawmakers would have to pass legislation to authorize additional funds under rigid “pro forma” procedures prior to that date.  Last week, the Senate passed in pro forma session a narrow bill adding $250 billion to the PPP.  The House, however, rejected the proposal, and countered with a bill that would authorize $250 billion to fund municipal governments and hospital networks, in addition to Paycheck Protection aid.  The Senate subsequently rejected the House proposal, initiating behind-the-scenes talks to move past the stalemate.  With both chambers having reached an impasse on specific dollar amounts and the scope of additional economic aid, a near-term path forward remains uncertain.

Much of the confusion arising from Paycheck Protection stems from the two-tiered roll out for loan eligibility.  On April 3, the SBA began processing loans for small businesses and sole proprietors.  A week later, on April 10, the agency opened the program to independent contractors and the self-employed, thereby extending the program to large segments of the horse industry.  SBA had not previously operated large-scale loan programs for these two classes of borrowers, therefor creating an environment of uncertainty for borrowers and lenders.

Many members of the horse industry have reported long waiting times from their banks to learn details related to their applications.  To give perspective on the bottlenecks, the Administration reported earlier this week that it had processed approximately 1.4 million applications and disbursed slightly over $70 billion to banks. While policymakers intend the program to operate on a “first come, first served” basis, the depletion of funds should not necessarily dissuade potential borrowers from moving forward with an application.  Many banks, especially larger institutions including Wells Fargo, for example, have stated that they will continue to process Paycheck Protection loans, pending additional funds from Congress.   AHC will continue to keep members informed of guidance and developments related to small business loans and other economic relief measures.  For a detailed overview of Paycheck Protection, go to the following link:  https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP%20–%20Overview.pdf.

Details:  Bryan Brendle at bbrendle@horsecouncil.org.

 

Survey COVID-19 Economic Impact on Equine Industry
___________________________________________

The American Horse Council is conducting a brief survey (14 questions which take less than 10 minutes) to determine the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the equine industry. We would very much appreciate your assistance with collecting this information. The only thing you need to have handy is your total horse related income and expenses for March 2019 and March 2020 so we have some comparison.
It’s important to note that for statistical reasons we are sending this survey to a predetermined 1,000 people. Please do NOT forward this or share this survey with others as statisticians will be scaling the responses and we must preserve the sample size .This survey will close April 20, 2020, and depending on the pandemics length we will reissue each month to get up to date numbers and data.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AHCCOVID19Impact
Thank you. Be well and Be Safe. #HorseStrong
National resource database
available to help at-risk horses.

UHC has pushed up the release of its resource database questionnaire in the wake of COVID-19, in an effort to compile a listing of all known safety net programs available in the nation to help owners who are in need, as well as the rescues and sanctuaries that help them.  It is our hope, that by having one centrally located area to access these resources, we will help owners keep their horses from becoming at-risk during these trying times.

The brief questionnaire can be completed by going to our website here:  https://unitedhorsecoalition.org/resource-database/

The AHC News is provided to you as a benefit of your AHC membership, and we hope you find the articles informative and useful. While the AHC does grant permission for newsletter articles to be passed on, we hope you will encourage those you are sharing the articles and information with to join the AHC so they can stay informed and up-to-date!
Permission to pass on the AHC News articles to your members, readers, or others is granted on the condition that it is forwarded in its original form or directly linked with the AHC logo and a link to the AHC website.