The American Horse Council (AHC) is a trade organization in Washington, DC representing the horse industry. The organization formed in the late 1960s, and received IRS 501(c) non-profit recognition in 1969, with a committee that became the Coalition of State Horse Councils forming in 1970, now having 43 states participating. American Horse Council Foundation was founded in 1991. It lobbies before Congress and Federal agencies for the interests of the horse industry, and serves as a unified voice for the horse industry.
Membership is open to anyone, but is primarily made up of the following groups: Horse Councils of individual states; breed organizations; horse breeders; farriers; veterinarians; horse owners; rodeos; race tracks; horse industry businesses; individuals.
A subcommittee of the American Horse Council, the State Horse Councils Advisory Committee (SHCAC), is made up of representatives of the individual state horse councils, and works on equine issues at the state level, dealing with state legislation, trails & show facilities, state horse expos, etc.
Van Ness Award This committee annually presents the Van Ness Award, given in honor and memory of Marjorie Van Ness of New Jersey, a long-time leader and friend to the entire horse industry. This award is presented to an individual that best emulates the dedication and commitment of Marge Van Ness to the improvement of the horse industry at the state level. Past recipients have been: + Van Ness Award Winners1990:Richard Woolam of Connecticut1991:Glenn T. Petty of North Carolina1992:the Indiana Horse Council1993:Bobbi Lipka of New York1994:Lt. Col. James Marsh of New Jersey1995:Ruby Holmquist of Illinois1996:Jim Real of California1997:Connie Diedrichs-Kimbrel of Colorado1998:Valerie Cole of New Mexico1999:Lisa Derby Oden of New Hampshire2000: Robert Mowrey of North Carolina2001: Karyn Malinowski of New Jersey2002: Jerry Walker of Indiana2003: Diane Jones of New York2004:Neil Shaw of Ohio2005:David Petrie of Wisconsin2006:Glen Eaton of Minnesota2007:Jane Gilbert of New Jersey2008:Eldon G. Reyer of New Mexico2009:Sally Blount of Iowa2010:Crystal Brumme-Kimball of Maryland2011:Edith Stanger of Idaho2012:Madelyn Millard of Kentucky2013:Beverly Raymond of Maryland2014:Paul Briney of Illinois2015:Yvette Anderson-Rollins of Indiana2016:Ann Swinker of University Park, Pennsylvania2017:Jill Montgomery of Pueblo West, Colorado2018:Tim Capps, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky2019:Jean Ligon, of the Michigan Horse Council2020:Fred Sarver, of Carlisle, Kentucky2022:Lonny Powell, of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association
References
External links
State Horse Councils Advisory Committee website