from the American Horse Council

Washington, DC — There is still time to sign up for the American Horse Council’s National Issues Forum, sponsored by Luitpold Pharmaceuticals.

The forum will focus on the “Welfare of the Horse,” an important topic in the horse world today. We believe that this will be the most comprehensive presentation in recent years on what the industry is doing in “Putting the Horse First.”

The forum has now been finalized and will feature speakers from segments of the horse community as varied as competition, sport, work and entertainment. The forum will be held June 16, 2009 in Washington, DC as part of the AHC’s annual meeting.

The forum will be an opportunity for the industry to provide reports on the welfare and safety initiatives in place and being undertaken. It will also be an opportunity to let our fans, the general public, the media, and elected officials know how important this is to the horse community.

Dr. Scott Palmer, a nationally-know veterinarian and past-president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, will deliver the keynote address. Other featured speakers will be Gary Carpenter, executive director of the American Quarter Horse Foundation; Cindy Schonholtz, president of the Animal Welfare Council; Dr. Tom Lenz, chairman of the Unwanted Horse Coalition; and Dr. Gail Golab, Director, Animal Welfare Division of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The forum will also include panels on racing, showing, sport, and work. The panels will include representatives from racing, showing, eventing, hunter-jumpers, endurance riding, rodeo, carriage operators, polo, sales/auctions, entertainment and research.

Representatives from national organizations involved in all these activities will provide an update on their welfare activities. We believe that this will be the most inclusive presentation on safety and welfare ever assembled in terms of its breadth and the activities and organizations involved.

This will be an opportunity for attendees to learn about welfare initiatives in other segments of the horse world and how they might be adapted to their activities. It will be an opportunity to discuss the common goal of being good stewards of the horse and facilitate working together to that end, regardless of one’s particular activity.

More information on registration and hotel information can be found on the AHC’s Web site, www.horsecouncil.org/events.php.