Directors
The MHC is guided by up to 17 directors who each serve a three-year term.
President
Mark Ward
(651) 436-6557
2700 Manning Ave. S.
Woodbury, MN 55129-9256
Email Mark
Mark Ward grew up in Rochester, MN where he kept a horse and took lessons at Jack Brainerd’s Diamond B Ranch. Besides riding his horse for hours, Mark joined Jack’s rodeos as a teen, riding broncs, bareback and bulls.
After completing a B.A. from Stanford University and while writing his dissertation and teaching in the Philosophy of Science Dept. at the University of Minnesota, Mark turned his attention in 1979 to horses and teaching riding lessons. What was once a hobby became his full-time career. He has owned and operated the Windy Ridge Ranch in Woodbury since 1979, teaching countless youngsters and adults how to ride, take care of horses and have fun while doing it. Mark’s English and Western lessons are based on dressage, thanks to his training with dressage instructor Anne McKay.
During 2009, the Windy Ridge Ranch will be celebrating its 30th year of business.
In the 1980s, Mark started the Windy Ridge Riders Horse Club, as well as their Drill Team and Junior Equestrian Team. Both teams perform at the Washington County Fair and MN State Fair every year. Mark has been the leader of the Valley Shamrock 4-H Project for over 20 years.
Mark is a past-president of the MN Horse Expo (in the mid-1980s) and led the effort to move the Expo from the Minneapolis Convention Center to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
In 2008 Mark headed the effort to create the new website for the Minnesota Horse Council and to create the online Minnesota Horsemen's Directory.
Mark has two grown sons and three grandchildren. He and his wife, Katie Clapp, live in Stillwater, MN and together take care of the Windy Ridge Ranch, 49 horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats.
1st Vice President
Darrell Mead
(763) 420-3697
15421 70th Pl N
Maple Grove, MN 55311-3246
Email Darrell
Committees: Trail Blazers (Chair), Expo, State Horse Council, Promotions, Nominations, Inventory/Storage, Horseperson of the Year, Grants, Budget, Budget Review/Expo, Annual Meeting
Darrell has been riding all his life. He actively participated in trail riding and trail development for many years. In 1990 he became a director for MHC and focused on work with the Trail Blazers Committee.
Recently, his special contribution to Horse Council came in the form of renovation of the horse trails in the Chippewa National Forest. In addition, Darrell has committed horse power and long hours to the success of the pony rides at Horse Expo.
Darrell is a baker by profession, and owns the Old Fashion Donut Shop in Crystal. Darrell is married and he and his wife currently own two mules.
2008:
- Second Vice President MN Horse Council
- Chairman of Trail's committee
- Helped to initiate new horse camps in MN
- Other committees: Budget, Horse Person of the Year, Grants
- Expo Board Member
- MN Horse Expo Barn Manager
- MN Horse Expo Campground Manager
- MN Horse Expo Security
- Board of Directors of MN Recreational Trail User's Association (MRTUA)
- Member of Equine Advisory Group (Oversees money from Trail Passes)
- Business owner for 30 years
- Former President and Vice President of MN Horse Council
2nd Vice President
Tracy Turner, DVM
(651) 351-7206; (763) 441-3797 (w)
10777 110 St. N.
Stillwater, MN 55082-8402
Email Tracy
Committees: Legislative (Chair), Expo, Direct Funding, Scholarships, Grants, State Horse Council
Tracy Turner was raised around horses on a small ranch in Southwestern Colorado and he has had a love for horses since. He apprenticed with a farrier in 1972 and used these skills to help finance his education.
He received his DVM degree from Colorado State University in 1978, received post graduate education at the University of Georgia and Purdue University. He has served on the faculty of University of Illinois, the University of Florida, and the University of Minnesota. He left the University in 2004 and joined Anoka Equine Veterinary Services. He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and by the American Board of Thermology. He has spoken nationally and internationally on lameness topics.
Turner is a member of the AM Vet Med Assoc., the AM Assoc of Equine Practitioners, the Minnesota Assoc of Equine Practitioners, the AM Farrier's Assoc, the Minnesota Farrier's Assoc, and the Minnesota Thoroughbred Assoc.
Turner rides and competes at combined training, he is also a member of the United States Eventing Assoc, the United States Dressage Federation, Minnesota Thoroughbred Assn and served on the board of directors of the Central States Dressage and Eventing Association from 1998-2001. He has been a member of the MN Horse Council Board of Directors for the past 6 years. He serves on the Facilities/Show, Direct Funding, Scholarships, and Grants committees. He is chair of the Legislative committee. His goal for the Horse Council is to have the council become the voice in Minnesota for the horse industry and for the Horse Council to be the leading advocate in the state for Horse welfare.
Treasurer
Tim Bonham
(612) 721-1007
4309 30th Ave So
Minneapolis, MN
55406-3710
Email Tim
Committees: Web Oversight, Communications, Grants, Budget, MN Horsemen's Directory, Nominations,
Tim has been around horses all his life. His parents were successful breeders and trainers of Morgan horses, operating the Bonnie-Lee Farms in Willmar, MN. Horses were a significant part of his growing up years, and he continues working with them.
Tim came to the MN Horse Council after serving on the Board of the North Central Morgan Association as Treasurer for 9 years. He still works with the North Star Morgan Show, and serves as Ringmaster at some Morgan Horse Shows, and at the State 4-H horse show.
He began working with the Minnesota Horse Expo back in 1987, when it was held in the Auditorium in downtown Minneapolis. He worked as 'stage director', seeing that the horses were ready to enter the arena and that the announcer had the script for those horses, and that the matching music was ready, etc. He continued that for many years when the Expo moved to the Fairgrounds, as well as creating the schedule of arena events for the weekend, and has worked on computerizing some of the Expo office activity.
From the Expo, Tim moved to the parent organization, the Minnesota Horse Council, where he was first elected to the Board in 1988 to fill a vacancy. In 1991 he was chosen to be Treasurer, and he still serves in that office.
He also serves on the Legislative, Communications, and Horseperson of the Year committees. As Treasurer, Tim chairs the Donations & Grants committee, and serves on the Financial committee. He also works on maintaining the Council website.
Tim says that his main goals in serving on the Minnesota Horse Council are:
- First, seeing that the Council Board understands where the Council is spending it's money.
- Next, seeing that the money is spent on projects that benefit most of the horse owners in the state.
- Then, seeing that the Council money is invested as 'seed money' to help local horse groups start projects in their area -- the Council can't do everything, it must cooperate with local horse groups (and one of the ways the ways we can cooperate is by using our financial resources).
- Finally, seeing that the Council stays focused on activities that provide specific benefits to horse people in the state. We should be a functional organization, not a research group!
Secretary
Dawn Moore
(952) 949-6659
PO Box 1095
Minnetonka, MN 55345-0095
Email Dawn
Committees:Horseperson of the Year (Chair), Pioneer Award (Chair),Web Oversight Committee, Annual Meeting, Nominations, Scholarships, Certified Stables, Budget, MN Horsemen's Directory
Dawn grew up near Mound, MN and had horse and ponies as a young child and throughout her high school years. She was an active member of Trista Riders, a now defunct WSCA saddle club based out of Minnetrista. She showed her grade horses at local open shows, fun shows, Parkdale Riders shows, and other smaller WSCA shows in the area. Then off to college, she took a sabbatical from the horse industry.
Her return to the horse industry was in 1998, when a neighbor introduced her then 11 year old daughter, Ashley, to American Saddlebred horses. Ashley and Dawn started riding lessons and driving lessons at Westwood Farm in Plato, MN. Today, they own 1 American Saddlebred and enjoy riding him at the barn and letting others use him as a lesson horse to fall in love with this great breed.
Dawn is a member of MSHA (MN Saddlebred Horse Ass’n), Tri-State, and the MN Horse Council. She has also volunteered at several horse shows, F.A.S.H, (Friends of the American Saddle Horse), Northstar Morgan Americana Horse Show, MN Futurity Show and other horse related events. She volunteers with her daughter on a regular basis for WE CAN RIDE, INC therapeutic riding program.
Her main involvement with the MN Horse Council focuses on the Annual Meeting, which continues to grow each year. She currently serves as Secretary for the Council. She has been involved in several ad-hoc committees over the years, as well as on the Certified Stable committee. She has volunteered at the Aisle of Breeds and the MN Horse EXPO as well throughout the last few years. Dawn has been a board member sine January 2002 and looks forward to working with the Council as the horse community continues to grow in MN.
Expo President
Glen Eaton
(952) 356-2090; Expo: (952) 922-8666
4328 France Ave. S.
Edina, MN 55410-1343
Email Glen
Committees: Expo (President), State Horse Council (co-chair), State Fair/Aisle of Breeds, Inventory/Storage, Budget Review/Expo.
Glen has been a member of the Minnesota Horse Council since about 1982 and a Director since 1989. Glen became the Exhibit Director of the Minnesota Horse Exposition, Inc. in August of 1988 and has held that position to the present time. He has also served as President of the Minnesota Horse Expo since 1991. The Minnesota Horse Expo is Glen’s primary function for the Minnesota Horse Council but he serves on other committees as well.
Since moving to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in 1989 the Minnesota Horse Expo has become one of the best known and largest Horse Expos in the United States and Canada. Glen enjoys every minute of the work and challenge that goes into making a successful Expo (not only in size but quality). Of course this could not have been possible without the many dedicated Minnesota Horse Expo Directors and Staff members who have continued their efforts over the years.
Glen enjoys working the Directors and Staff, meeting people and talking with them over the telephone, but the most satisfying time is at the Minnesota Horse Council Annual meeting where the profits from the Expo are distributed as grants, scholarships, and to the other areas such as the Trail Blazers, etc.
Glen is a member of the Zuhrah Shrine Horse Patrol and is a Past President of the Midwest Shrine Horse Patrol. He is the present Secretary and Treasure of the Midwest Shrine Horse Patrol that meets once a year in various cities throughout the Midwest and Canada. He also holds a full time job with the E. Weinberg Chemical and Supply Co., in St. Louis Park. On a national basis, Glen has been active member with the States Horse Council Activities Committee (Committee within the American Horse Council in Washington DC). Glen is the present Chairperson of the Horse Fairs and Expos Sub-committee. In April of 2006 Glen was awarded the annual American Horse Council Van Ness Award for the volunteer work he has done in the Equine Industry.
Glen hopes to be involved with the Minnesota Horse Exposition and the Minnesota Horse Council for years to come.
Carol Dobbelaire
(763) 684-0709
5438 Fairhill Drive SE
Buffalo, MN 55313
Email Carol
Minnesota Horse Council member for many years
Disaster Response Team member
1) Assisted with Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts
2) A contact person for Wright County disasters
3) One of the MHC representatives at MN Animal Disaster Coalition
4) Make myself available to aid in moving horses
5) Make myself available to aid in setting up emergency relocation sites
Grants Committee member
1) Two years as a member of the committee
2) Participate in reviewing submissions for grant monies
Volunteer at Minnesota Horse Expo
1) Eleven years as a volunteer in various capacities
2) Three years work at the MHC booth representing the MHC to the public
3) Assist with set-up and tear down of booth
4) Assist the public by providing MHC literature to them
5) Sell MHC merchandise at the booth and keep track of money
Other areas where I would like to volunteer
1) Publicity: I have experience in non-profit publicity efforts
2) Horseperson of the Year: I am able to objectively review information
3) Membership: I'd like to help MHC grow and to see it truly represent MN horsepeople
Minnesota 4-H
A) Hennepin County 4-H leader and volunteer for twelve years
1) Hennepin Hoofbeats 4-H Club
a) Chaired Tack Sale committee for ten years
b) Coached Horse Bowl team to National competition
2) Wind Riders 4-H Club
a) Leader assisting with formation and club development
b) Coaching teams in Hippology, Horse Judging, and Horse Bowl
3) Member of the Hennepin County Horse Project Development Committee
B) Member of the Minnesota 4-H Horse Association
1) Joined in 2007
2) Member of the Grants Committee
3) Looking forward to additional volunteer opportunities
C) Green Blood Award recipient in 2008
Other equine activities
A) Co-owner of Willow Ridge Equine Refuge and Sanctuary
1) Established in 1999
2) Provide a final home for retired and semi-retired equines
3) Provide opportunities for youth to bond with senior horses
B) Owner/breeder of Arabian and part-Arabian horses
C) Maintain a herd of horses for use by 4-H youth
D) Education of adults and youth to develop a lifelong relationship with horses
E) Trail riding
F) Reading and other studies to learn more about equine nutrition, care, and activities
Judy Jensen
(763) 972-6397
5758 Ehler Ave. SE
Delano, MN 55328-8154
CTPointe@aol.com
Committees: Horseperson of the Year, Pioneer Award, Promotions
Judy Balfanz Jensen was born into the horse business. As a youngster she both gave lessons and showed extensively in almost all disciplines, competing on almost every breed of horse. She turned professional at 18 and continued to work in the family business -- Kanttell Stables, a large all breed boarding and training stable in Hamel, Minnesota. She was always comfortable working horses whether it was using a hunt saddle, a western saddle or a cutback saddleseat saddle. With then husband, professional trainer, Bob Jensen, they continued to operate Kanttell, competing on a local, regional and national level. In the early 70's they parted ways and both went on to establish large training stables on their own.
Judy is especially proud of the fact that her father, Verlin Balfanz was named Minnesota Horse Council Horseman of the year in 1977. Much to her surprise, she was given the same honor in 1985. Dale Froyum, presented the award to a speechless, sobbing, and hiccupping Judy. Speaking for her, he said, "I think she wants to say 'I am surprised and thank you for this great honor'" as Judy nodded in agreement.
Judging, clinician work, seminars and workshops and writing articles are all of special interest to her. She has worked hard to lobby for the interests of Canterbury Park at the legislature over the past couple of years. She continues to operate and teach at a large stable, Centre Pointe Training Stable, with trainer and business partner, Todd Perkins. Judy serves as the current president of the Tri State Horsemen's Asdsociation. She is a member of the United Professional Horsemen Association, United States Equestrian Federation, American Saddlebred Association, and Minnesota Saddlebred Association. She has served on the boards of many breed organizations over her long career.
She has always been interested in the Minnesota Horse Council and has been a member since the 70's. She exhibited and helped in many capacities during the first 10 years of the Minnesota Horse Expo when it was still held in downtown Minneapolis. Judy feels that it is important to give back to the horse community that has been so good to her through volunteering her time and experience to industry associations.
Trina Joyce
(612) 729-7798
3035 34th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406-2103
Email Trina
Committees:Scholarships (Chair), Grants, Direct Funding
Trina Joyce has been riding since about the age of four. She is a graduate of the former Hennepin County Vo-Tech’s Horse Care and Stable Management Program. Once upon a time she taught individual and group lessons through Community Education and the University of Minnesota horseback riding physical education class at the Vo-Tech. She is also a graduate of Cheff Center in Michigan, where she learned to teach riding to people who have disabilities and that has been a primary interest of hers. She founded and was the first instructor for We Can Ride, Inc., co-founded and was an instructor for Cloud 9 Therapeutic Horsemanship. She was involved with Courage Riders from the beginning and now volunteers with River Valley Riders. Trina’s been involved with the MHC and has attended monthly meetings for about twenty years. She has been chair of the Scholarship Committee since its inception and is now Chair of the Philanthropy Committee; which includes scholarships, grants and direct funding.
She maintains an updated list of all of the handicapped riding programs in the state and another of all the horse-related educational opportunities.
Trina has been at every Horse Expo since it started as a volunteer and/or presenter. She has written articlesand taken photos for the MHC newsletter and volunteered at the Aisle of Breeds at the State Fair. As Secretary of the MHC for the past two years, she has helped develope the first Policy and Procedures for about 15 committees and processes and provided direction for the Administrative Assistant. Trina currently trailrides on her twenty year old Arabian.
Sue McDonough
(651) 699-8117
1314 Fairmount Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105-2703
Email Sue
Committees: Certified Stables (Chair), Direct Funding, Disaster Response, MN Horsemen's Directory, Grants, Horseperson of the Year, Pioneer Award, Scholarships, Web Oversight
Sue was introduced to the Minnesota Horse Council by a Director who invited her to a meeting and also to accompany this director to re-inspect a Certified Stable. She was hooked. She assumed the role of chairperson for the Certified Stable Program and attended meetings for 3 years before agreeing to become a director. The CS program had 15 stables when Sue started and currently has 65 and growing. Sue takes pride in "Promoting Pride in Ownership" through inspecting, re-inspecting and certifying qualified Stables and Farms. She does not have a problem giving up her weekends in the summer to drive the many miles required to do the inspections.
Sue has been an active participant at the Minnesota Horse Expo helping in the Horse Council booth and Aisle of Breeds. Sue was president of the Grant Trail Rangers for five years, and was an active participant at meetings pertaining to the development of the Willard Munger Gateway Trail system. Sue has taken Horse Management classes and other horse related classes at the University River Falls. She has loved horses all her life, and has owned horses for the past twenty five years. Sue has her two horses Brio and Binaca at Oak Meadow Farm in Grant Township.
Sues goals she would like to see for the MHC
• Continue to "Promote Pride in Ownership" through the Certified Stable Program
• Give a voice to all horse owners and enthusiasts in Minnesota
• Continue to promote programs and decisions that benefit all, not just a select few.
• Continue to be available to listen to horse owners, stable owners and enthusiasts throughout MN , while assisting them in finding solutions to best fit their needs or concerns.
Marian Robinson
(763) 588-0297
4630 Golden Valley Rd.
Golden Valley, MN 55422-4162
Email Marian
Committees: Disaster Response (Chair), Horseperson of the Year, Grants, Certified Stables
Marian's first experience with ponies was at a very young age, screaming and kicking all the way, but when they tried to take her off the pony she didn't want to get off. She has ridden saddle seat, western, hunter/jump, dressage and cross-country eventing.
She has been a volunteer with the Mustang Adoption Program for many years and a volunteer with Horse Expo since 1997. When the devastating floods hit the Red River Valley, Marian stepped in to help with the Equine rescue efforts organized by the MHC & WSCA. From that activity was born the MHC Natural Disaster Team which Marian now chairs.
The Minnesota Horse Council has many diverse personalities, and Marian states that being on the Board is a positive experience. Marian has been on the Board since 2007.
Jan Schatzlein
(612) 825-2459
413 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Email Jan
Jan has been working at the Schatzlein Saddle Shop since 1967. The store has been in the family for 101 years. She has been a saddle club member for 25 years and has long been involved in horse related organizations and activities, including being a member of DNR trail development work groups. Her dedication to volunteering for improving the infra-structure for horse riding in Minnesota is exemplified by the fact that she has been the MRTUA (MN Recreational Trail Users Association) treasurer for the past twelve years.
Jan has shown horses, but her passion is now trail riding. One of her current goals is to ride in every MN state park and state forest.
Through her business, Jan has made and maintained a lot of contacts with people across the broad spectrum of horse interests. Jan is interested in serving on the board because she believes she can help us in our mission to provide a common voice for Minnesota horsemen. According to Jan, “people from all different types of horse-related businesses and organizations should come together under the umbrella of the MN Horse Council and represent a strong front for the horse-related interests in this state.”
Missie Schwartz
612-868-6041
24700 Tucker Rd.
Rogers, MN 55374-9707
Email Missie
Committees: Communications (Chair), Expo, State Fair/Aisle of Breeds, Budget Review/Expo,Web Oversight, Trail Blazers
Missie has been involved with horses for many years. Her first horse was a Pinto Welsh the family had while they lived for a short time in Nebraska. When her father was transferred back to Minnesota, he chose not to pay for the shipping charges so Speckles stayed in Nebraska. After five years of a little girl pleading, her grandfather took her to a farm one day and had her ride a few horses. That weekend her dad picked up "Jubilee" and the farm owner threw in a Shetland, "Jip", for company. When Missie later wanted a foal, she walked beans to earn the fees.
Many years later, Missie is still doing those extras for her horses and other equine enthusiasts. She is a current board member and past ride manager, newsletter editor and President of the Minnesota Distance Riding Association, member of Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive Ride Association, American Quarter Horse Association, International Arabian Horse Association and American Endurance Ride Conference. Missie and her husband enjoy trail riding and compete in team penning, team sorting and ranch rodeos. Together they own and operate Tucker Road Stable, a member of the Minnesota Horse Council Certified Stable program since 1997.
In her spare time Missie enjoys training young horses and assisting her boarders with problems. She also works as a part time equine vet technician.
Thomas Tweeten
(952) 226-4190; (952) 226-4192
4190 190th St. E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-8703
Email Tom
Committees: State Horse Council (co-chair), Trails, Expo, Budget Review/Expo, Grants, Horseperson of the Year, Legislative
Tom Tweeten, PhD, is a scientist with more than 38 years of experience in Analytical Chemistry. He has worked with industrial chemicals and human and animal nutrition to develop chemical testing procedures to insure product quality and integrity.
Tom grew up on a large farm in Southeastern Minnesota. During his early childhood horses were still used to work the farm. Horses, hogs, beef, soil conservation and youth leadership were key activities in his youth 4-H experience.
The Tweeten family owns a small farm where they train American Saddlebred and Morgan horses. Family members show both regionally and nationally. The horse experience lead Tom and a couple of young entrepreneurs to begin a small business in 1996 that has developed a line of horse care products that are sold in the US, Canada and Europe. In addition Tom has become a recognized clinician giving talks around the country on how grooming is an important part of building a relationship with the horse.
Tom is on the Board of Directors for the Tri-State Horseman’s Association serving as a liaison to the Minnesota Horse Council. His experiences on the Minnesota Horse Council Board of Directors include being on the Trails Committee, Budget Committee, Grants Committee, and Legislative Committee as well as being chairperson for Direct Fund and the Board Nominations Committee. He served as 1st Vice-president for two years and Council President in 2006. He represented Minnesota at the national States Horse Council Advisory Committee Meeting twice and once at the American Horse Council Meeting in Washington DC. Through these positions, responsibilities and experiences, Tom has developed a broader sense of how the Minnesota Horse Council can serve the Horse Industry of Minnesota.
Christie Ward, DVM
(612) 625-6733
1355 Arona St.
St. Paul, MN 55108-2413
Email Christie
Committees:Direct Funding (Chair),Grants, Scholarships, Web Oversight,
Dr. Christie Ward is a veterinarian at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, where she specializes in Internal medicine of horses and other large animals.
Christie was raised on the Canadian prairies, where she was an avid participant in Pony Club. Though family finances were never sufficient to allow Christie a horse of her own. she found that she was able to advance her horsemanship and riding skills by training and showing junior hunter/jumpers for other people. Before going to veterinary school, Christie spent 5 years in the Thoroughbred racing industry, working her way up through the ranks as hot-walker, groom, pony girl, exercise rider, and finally assistant trainer. One of the most memorable periods in her racetrack career was the summer she spent racing horses at Canterbury Downs, now Canterbury Park, during its exciting 1985 inaugural season.
In fact, it was this experience that called Christie back to the Twin Cities for a one-year internship program in large animal medicine and surgery following her graduation from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. From 1992-1995, Christie returned to Canada to undertake specialty training in the field of large animal internal medicine. She returned to the University of Minnesota in 1995 to work in the Large Animal Clinic and complete a PhD program.
Like many of the veterinarians at the University, Christie divides her time between clinical veterinary practice, research, and teaching the new generation of veterinarians. Her research interests include equine respiratory disease, infectious diseases, nutrition, and immune/inflammatory responses. Christie has also taken on an exciting new project this year p she is working with the Department of Animal Science to develop the new undergraduate program in Equine Science.
Lynn Wasson
(320) 398-8085
33532 730th Ave.
Kimball, MN 55353-2711
Email Lynn
Committees: Web Oversight, Promotions, MN Horsemen's Directory, Certified Stables
Lynn has been riding longer than she could walk, and was the proud owner of her first horse when she was four. Since then she has been active in the horse industry throughout her life.
Lynn has competed successfully with her horses throughout the United States at National Shows for Quarter Horses and Paints. She visited and observed shows in Europe. She served as the Western Saddle Clubs Association, Inc Queen and traveled in the five state area representing that Association.
She has judged for 4H and conducted clinics all on a volunteer basis donating her time, skills and talents to help others succeed. She has served on innumerable boards and committees throughout the industry.
She and her husband have a training facility that has been a certified stable with the horse council for over 10 years. They both continue to be involved in the horse industry in Minnesota.
Lynn works in the computer field as an engineering manager. She has traveled worldwide to coordinate the efforts of all company groups under her supervision.
She is interested in improving the horse industry for individuals and professionals. There are many opportunities to assist with the development of the industry and providing assistance to those that make their livelihood working with these magnificent animals.