from the American Horse Council

Washington, DC — The American Horse Council Board of Trustees announced today that James J. (Jay) Hickey Jr., who has served as the president of the American Horse Council since June 1993, will retire on June 30, 2016 and that a search committee has been formed to select his successor.

The AHC represents all segments of the horse industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies.

“In his quiet and unassuming manner, Jay Hickey closely observed every issue that could have some effect on the American Horse Council’s constituents and then provided them with astute guidance for more than two decades,” said Dr. Jerry Black, the chairman of the American Horse Council and the Director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory and the Equine Science Undergraduate Program at Colorado State University. “He has been a beacon of integrity, a trusted colleague and a good friend to countless people in the horse industry and he has been equally well regarded by Members of Congress and their staffs.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Jay Hickey, who has served as the president of the American Horse Council since June 1993, will retire on June 30.

Hickey, who grew up in Washington, DC and is a longtime resident of Chevy Chase, Md., received an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Georgetown. He joined the American Horse Council staff in 1989 and succeeded the late Rich Rolapp as president in June 1993.

During Hickey’s tenure, the AHC has been involved in virtually every major federal law and regulation that affected the horse industry. This includes breeding, racing, showing, health and welfare, and recreation.

Under Hickey’s direction, new committees were formed to represent specific segments of the horse industry. The AHC also coordinated economic impact studies on the state and national level and was a driving force behind the formation of the Congressional Horse Caucus, the Congressional Cavalry, the Unwanted Horse Coalition, and the AHC’s marketing alliance, known as Time to Ride. Hickey will be receiving a USTA President’s Award from President Langley at the USTA Board of Director’s Recognition Luncheon at the Hilton Columbus at Easton (Ohio) on Sunday, February 28.

“The horse council’s success flows from the great support it receives from the horse industry and the hundreds of people who have served as trustees, committee chairs, and committee members,” Hickey said. “It has been a great experience being involved in the horse industry, primarily because of the people I have been able to meet and work with. But now it’s time to ride off into the sunset.”

The AHC has formed a search committee to identify candidates to succeed Hickey. Interested applicants may send resumes to the following site: http://www.indeed.com/job/president-be177ebd7b8212e9

The American Horse Council’s 2016 annual meeting and national issues forum is scheduled for June 12-15 in Washington.