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The Greater Houston Horse Council is a non-profit organization formed to promote the interests of the entire horse industry, especially in the Greater Houston area.
HOW TO JOIN THE GREATER HOUSTON HORSE COUNCILFill out the application form (Join Online!, to the left) and print it out. Mail it with your check to the Greater Houston Horse Council at PO Box 132592, The Woodlands, TX 77393-2592.Unfortunately we are not set up to allow for on-line payments at this time.
MEETING PLACESince January, 2006 we have been meeting at the Carriage House Restaurant. Begining with the January 2007 meeting, the meeting time is changed to 7:00 pm. Check the "GHHC Meetings" page (to the left) for details.
Texas H.O.R.S.E. and the Horseman’s BillJuly, 2008 By Pauline SingletonIf you missed the July meeting of the Greater Houston Horse Council, you probably missed the most important meeting of the year. Dave Hooper, Executive Director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA), and Rob Werstler, Executive Director of the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) were present, and Dave Hooper outlined plans to introduce legislation during the next session of the Texas Legislature which would benefit the horse industry in Texas.A new coalition has formed, Texas H.O.R.S.E., to promote the interests of horsemen and horsewomen across the state of Texas. “Texas HORSE” is short for Texas Horse Organizations for Racing, Showing and Eventing. Presently, member organizations include the AQHA, TQHA, TTA, American Paint Horse Association (APHA), National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), and the Texas Arabian Breeders Association (TABA). They have worked together to develop the wording for a “Horseman’s Bill” which would benefit, not just the racing industry, but other segments of the horse industry as well. Their goal is to generate new revenue streams by gaining the approval of VLTs (video lottery terminals) on Texas racetracks. I repeat, this is not just for the benefit of the racing industry—there are provisions that would channel funds to other groups as well. Dave Hooper outlined the main features of the proposed bill:
For more information, contact Dave Hooper, TTA, at 512.485.6133 or davidh@texasthoroughbred.com. All horsemen should watch the progress of this issue when the next session of the legilature convenes this January.
The First annual GHHC Christmas Party was an unqualified success story.The gathering of GHHC Members and their guests on Dec 21, 2007 at the Carriage House Resturant in Houston was a joyous occassion. Special appreciation goes out to both Alvie and his daughter Alicia, owners of the Carriage House for making their establishment available to us on a Monday evening, when they are normally closed to the public!) Better then 75 people RSVP'd that they would be attending so we went into high gear to make sure all was prepared and ready when the holiday crowd arrived.The tables were beautiful in their Red and Green table cloths & holiday flowers...while Christmas decorations hung throughout the restaurant. Holiday music played in the background while party attendees enjoyed a nice selection of food and beverage. We had "White Elephant" Gift, Grab and Go exchange (Don't ask, it must be a Southern thang!) but everyone there left with a nice surprise... Many attendees who participated in the Karaoke Contest, appeared to be having a blast. Darolyn presented Carter with a smart looking cowboy hat from Santa, so we know he will be styl'n at this years Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The organizing committee consisted of Carol Holloway, Richard Levine, Melodie Cleveland, Marcella Bonny and Cathy Stroble. Judging on the many thank you notes received in the week following the party, there is no doubt, this gathering will become a regular event on the annual calendar for GHHC.....if you did not attend in 2007, make sure it is a must do on this years holiday plans... A special note of appreciation to Melodie and Chris for the design and distribution of the Christmas party flyer....it surely put a professional touch to the event preperation.... Cheerfully reported by: Richard M Levine, Member BOD GHHC Our September 22 Event Was a SuccessOur thanks to Kathy Strobel and Southern Breeze Equestrian Center for hosting our recent clinic. We welcomed 20 new members, freeze-branded two horses, microchipped a dozen more, and witnessed presentations on several good topics.Butch Davis did the branding and micro-chipping. Joe Mask spoke on the subject of horse theft prevention, and Scott Campbell spoke on the subject of equine nutrition. Wes White discussed training techniques and gave a round pen demonstration. Chiropractor Dr. Jackie Doval gave a live demonstration and discussed chiropractic methods as they apply to horses. Joyce Dickson showed us how the Impression Pad is used for saddle fitting. We also got to see some hunter/jumper and dressage horses work. We are grateful to all of our presenters. There surely was something of interest to all attendees.
Horse Slaughter Article(Aug. 08) President Carter Miller requests no links to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association on the subject of horse slaughter.
Horse Slaughter in MexicoOctober, 2007Now that the horse slaughter industry in the United States has been shut down, more horses are being sent to Mexico. Slaughter numbers in Mexico are up 300 per cent. Those horses meet an extremely brutal death. Their spines are severed with daggers to render them quadriplegic. They are then hoisted up by a hind leg and their throats are cut. Nothing renders them unconscious, until they finally bleed out. We have delivered them into the hands of barbarians (Editor's opinion).
HORSE SLAUGHTER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION ENDS IN THE UNITED STATESMay 28, 2007 U. S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear an Appeal on Slaughter Issue Earlier, the Fifth Circuit Court ruled in favor of the Texas anti-horse slaughter law. The Supreme Court has decided that that ruling shall stand. This means the end of the slaughter of horses for human consumption in Texas, unless the Texas Legislature passes a law re-instating the practice. As the current legislative session comes to a close, efforts to pass legislation making slaughter of horses for human consumption legal again have failed. The Illinois Legislature just passed legislation prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption, thereby closing Cavel International, the last remaining slaughter plant.
Animal Cruelty Bill PassesHB 2328 (the Animal Cruelty bill) passed. It makes it easier to prosecute someone for killing a horse in those cases where the horse was tortured. “Torture” is broadly defined in this bill as “any act that causes unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering.”If torture is not involved, someone who kills your horse will be prosecuted under the criminal mischief statute (Section 28.03 of the Texas Penal Code).
GHHC Members: We need you!We have a need for volunteers of various kinds. At the present time, we have a particularly acute need for a membership chair and others to volunteer on the membership committee. Contact any officer or director if interested.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPEAKERS!We hope to have speakers at most GHHC meetings this year. Do you have a presentation that would be of interest to horsemen and horsewomen? Do you know someone else who does? If you are interested in speaking to us at one of our meetings, contact Marcella Bonny |
Greater Houston Horse Council info@GHHC.com |
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