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Mission Statement
The Minnesota Horse Council, a Minnesota not-for-profit Corporation, was founded in 1935 to provide a vehicle for horse owners and exhibitors to coordinate horse activities with the Minnesota State Fair Board. From this humble beginning the Minnesota Horse Council has evolved to be an umbrella organization uniting and supporting all statewide equine activities. The Minnesota Horse Council shall encourage and support equine related activities, concerns and education. |
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Our History
Minnesota Horse Council History (1935-2005) The Minnesota Horse Council is a non-profit corporation organized in 1935 as the Minnesota Saddle Horse Owners & Breeders' Association. Its original purpose was to represent the interests of horse owners at the Minnesota State Fair. Although generally inactive for many years, the organization not only filed annual reports and maintained its membership in the State Agricultural Society, but it began showing interest in becoming involved in other areas. In 1966 a meeting was held by various Minnesota equestrian interests who unanimously recommended that the Council be representative of all horse interests and horse people in Minnesota. The general purposes were to be (1) the promotion of recreational areas for horse trails, (2) promotion of legislation favorable to horse people at local and state levels, and (3) education and dissemination of information to horse people. During the next three years the MSHO&BA successfully lobbied for the opening of several trails in state parks and forests. Through financial contributions of many horse enthusiasts, a feasibility study for the eventual acquisition and development of the Minnesota River Valley Trail System was made which resulted in a dedication in October 1972 -- 38 years after the state of Minnesota ordered the entire Minnesota River Valley to be surveyed as a potential as a potential multi-use park area. In 1970 the MSHO&BA established the Minnesota Horsemen's Hall of Fame (see below). In 1973 the name of the organization was changed to the Minnesota Horse Council to parallel that of its national counterpart, the American Horse Council, and to reaffirm its industry-wide interests. The MHC joined the AHC for the first time in 1977. During the intervening period, the Council prepared and drafted a model village ordinance to guide horse owners, horse oriented associations and municipalities in drafting regulations pertaining to the keeping of horses in residential areas. The various sections provide controls whereby municipalities can prevent the keeping and use of horses from becoming public or private nuisances and still protect the horse owner from abuse by others; further, it guides the horse owner in the maintenance of his horses in a healthful manner. From 1975 to 1985 the MHC sponsored or co-sponsored up to three annual endurance and competitive rides in Minnesota for the benefit of the MHC, charitable organizations or equine research. Minnesota Horse Council - Current Activities (as of 2005) The Affairs of the MHC are guided by up to 19 directors who each serve a three-year term. The Board of Directors, officers and committee chairpersons meet at least once a month September through July). Until 1983, the Council functioned on an annual budget of less than $2,000. With added funding and a larger board, the MHC has become more actively involved in Minnesota equine activities and interests. Major committees include: • AHC/State Councils; • Disaster Response • Education, Special Interests and Handicapped Riding; • Fund Raising; • Industry & Public Relations; • Legislative; • MN Citizens for Animal Care; • MN Horse Exposition, Inc.; • MN Horseman of the Year; • MN Pioneer Horseman Recognition; • MN State Agricultural Forum; • MN State Agricultural Society; • MN State Fair; • Membership; • Newsletter; • Olympic Activities; • Pari-mutuel; • Stable Certifications; • Trails; • U of M Veterinary Advisory Committee; • U of M Veterinary Teaching Hospital ("Partners"); • Website Although the membership in the MHC for 2005 totals about 200, the actual count of individuals represented by those member breed organizations, saddle clubs, certified stables, tack shops, businesses and individuals is estimated at over 7,000. The MHC maintains contact with its members through its newsletter (For Horses Sake), which is also distributed to other state horse councils, state and national newsletters and magazines, tack shops, certain federal, state and local governmental officials, libraries, local newspapers and other individuals. In April 1982 the MHC produced its first annual Minnesota Horse Expo in downtown Minneapolis. With the help of numerous volunteers -- members and non-members alike -- that event has become a major equine attraction for thousands of spectators and exhibitors alike. Each year the MHC looks for way to improve this event to bring added monies to its coffers so that additional activities may be funded -- all to the ultimate benefit of the Minnesota horse industry. The 2004 Expo attendance was well over 40,000. For more information, contact: MN Horse Expo, Inc., Glen Eaton, President 4328 France Ave So, Edina, MN 55410-1343 952-922-8666 Cell: 952-356-2090 Fax: 952-922-6788 MnHorseExpo@horses-mn.org Some years ago the Minnesota legislature enacted laws to "protect the family farms" from investment by the well-to-do as tax shelters. In 1983-84, the legislature ultimately included all horses operations under those provisions -- an action which would have severely curtailed the horse industry in this state. In 1985 the MHC, with the help of an administrative law firm and substantial financial assistance from various Minnesota horse organizations and individuals, lobbied for successfully deletion of "horses" from those laws, thus saving many thousands of dollars in state income taxes for Minnesota horsemen. The MHC has had a history of working for horseback riding trails in Minnesota. In early 1989, a new committee was formed (the MHC Trailblazers) to better address state trail issues. A temporary organization, the Minnesota Racing Association, was formed in 1981 to promote pari-mutuel horse racing in this state. Members of the MHC took an active part in the MRA and participated in its legislative activity. In 1982, Minnesota citizens voted for parimutuel horse racing and, in 1985, Minnesotans witnessed their first pari-mutuel Thoroughbred race at Canterbury Downs in Shakopee. In December 1986, the MHC testified before the Minnesota Racing Commission in support of Quarter Horse and Standardbred horse racing in Minnesota. The MHC will continue to monitor and support all forms of horse racing activities in Minnesota and to speak out on behalf of our various racing breeds. Seventy years after incorporation, the Council remains a member of the State Agricultural Society, entitled to three delegate votes at each meeting and on all questions arising for determination by the Society. The Council's primary interests in this are the MN State Fair Horse Show and other equestrian usage of the State Fair Coliseum. The MHC participates as a member of the University of Minnesota Veterinary College's Advisory Committee and the UofM Veterinary Teaching Hospital Committee ("PARTNERS"). The MHC also participates as a member of the Minnesota Forum for Animal Agriculture which was formed in 1985 to promote and improve communications and legislative support between the various agricultural groups in Minnesota on related concerns. In 1986 the MHC, in cooperation with the UofM/CENSHARE, completed drafting of guidelines for a stable/carriage operation in a metropolitan setting to be used by any city in the drafting of related ordinances. The MHC hopes to someday finish drafting the second half of those guidelines (carriage driver testing standards) and similar guidelines for riding stables in the future. From 1985 through 1987, thanks to the sole effort and expense of former director Verne Greenlee, the MHC was represented at annual meetings on a national scale between other state horse councils and the American Horse Council to discuss and suggest answers to related problems. The MHC has continued to maintain this contact. Thanks to a large bequest by former director Tony Gasser, the MHC was able to award its first $ 200 annual educational scholarship from the Tony Gasser Memorial/MHC Scholarship Fund in December 1985 to a selected student interested in the pursuing education in the equine field. Since then, the amount of the scholarship has been raised and the number of scholarships rose each year. In March 1986 the MHC co-sponsored (with the MN Horse Expo and a tack shop) a one-half hour (equestrian-related) radio event on Twin City radio station WMIN (1030 AM). This program specialized in interviews of people involved in the horse industry and public service announcements of equestrian events throughout the State. The program has been discontinued for lack of necessary funds but with hopes of restoration in some form in the not too distant future. On March 14, 1988, and October 25, 1988, the MHC arranged meetings with officials of the Minnesota State Fair to discuss ways of improving its show facilities and relationships with horsemen. These were very successful and were continued for many years. With the changes as suggested, the meetings are currently not held on an annual basis. Individuals interested in becoming involved with MHC activities should consider attending one or more of our meetings. Membership in the MHC is encouraged by anyone interested in promoting horses in Minnesota -- a multimillion dollar industry in Minnesota and growing! STABLE CERTIFICATIONS The MHC has developed a program of merit rating stables. Volunteers trained in the essentials of running a safe and sound horse business will inspect any public or private stable (upon request). Qualifications for certification include: (a) condition of horses -- proper nutrition, medical and farrier program; (b) equine living conditions -- clean stabling, proper watering and feeding, safely maintained stalls of adequate size and ventilation, safe fencing, and protection from the weather: (c) sanitation -- clean water, restroom facilities and good manure disposal; (d) safety measures -- fences, gates, fire fighting equipment and prevention, and tack in safe condition, etc. Upon certification the member receives a large wooden "MHC Approved Stable" sign, a certificate with the name of the stable imprinted, and a certificate (suitable for posting) offering a $200 reward to anyone giving information leading to the conviction of any individual(s) stealing a horse from the CS stable. Periodic rechecks of the stables are made to maintain certification. Special meetings are held to work out common problems. Other avenues and benefits are being explored to the mutual advantage of CS members. HORSEMEN'S HALL OF FAME MHC annually awards this title to an outstanding individual in this state's horse industry. The purpose of the program is to recognize and honor a Minnesota horseman or horsewoman whose contributions have favorably impacted on our industry. The candidate selected is not to be considered the "best" horseman, but is representative of the many individuals around us who daily influence our lives. These people help focus public attention to the importance of horses in Minnesota as well as increasing our knowledge, interest and involvement in the equine world. |
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