Minnesota Horse Council

2011 Horse Person of the Year

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:53:30 EST

Minnesota Horse Council Announces 2011 Horse Person of the Year

VeeAnn Wood

VeeAnn Wood was surprised and honored January 21 as she was awarded the 2011 MN Horse Person of the Year. Wood had been nominated by Darla Falk, a long time friend and classmate who is not a horse person at all, but had been keeping track of many of the accomplishments and involvement with horses that VeeAnn had been part of over their 50-plus year friendship. VeeAnn’s son Jay and his wife Jean as well as their son Colin were on hand for the presentation, with Jay even stepping up to the mic to help with the award.

Some of the highlights mentioned go back to when VeeAnn’s parents purchased the Minnehaha Park Pony Concession and she worked there for $1/day to help pay for her college education. The ponies were stabled at a farm on 86^th and Cedar, which just so happens to be the site of the Mall of America today. The Pony Concessions continued in operation through VeeAnn’s college years until it was sold in 1968.

Her next job was as a trail guide at the Minneapolis Park Stables, then located on Park Avenue and Lake Street where the trail rides wound around Lake of the Isles. While still in High School, she was so anxious to immerse herself in ownership, she rented a horse from Shady Valley Stables and kept it in her garage for a whole week, right there on Nicollet Avenue inside the city of Minneapolis. Her folks had told her that if she ever wanted to actually own a horse, she had better go to school and get a good job. She followed their advice and went to the University of Minnesota, receiving her Bachelors in Physical Education and later completing her Master’s in Education.

Eventually, her dream of owning a horse of her own came true as she spent her hard earned money for a half-Morgan gelding named Black Shadow, followed shortly by her purchase of a nice grey quarter horse mare named Jewel. Both horses were very well trained and introduced VeeAnn to the wonderful world of horse shows. For several years her method of getting to the barn was via the Richfield bus company and that particular bus route happened to have a handsome bus driver who took a fancy to VeeAnn. They got to talking about her horses and a true friendship was born. The driver soon realized that if he was going to capture the heart of this special young lady, he had better become a horseman himself. That bus driver, Ernie Wood Senior, would eventually learn to love horses himself and share many years with VeeAnn and her love for horses. Ernie became a graduate of Michigan State University Horse Shoeing School and the two were married in 1960.

VeeAnn’s two horses were kept in a pasture on a farm, owned by Dave and Marianne Naas. One morning she went to the farm to ride her horses only to find both of them had been struck and killed by lightning. She was devastated and in spite of yearning for ownership for so many years was ready to give up on horses. Luckily, the Naas family had a typey black Morgan show mare, who had just had her first colt, a beautiful black stallion named Congodon that they insisted that she purchase.

The rest is history. Congodon won over 400 trophies and blue ribbons in his long career. VeeAnn was the first customer of her neighbor down the road, Judy Jensen (1985 Horse Person of the Year). It wasn’t long until VeeAnn was showing him in Saddle Seat and was just as successful in that division as they had been in the western and driving divisions. To this day, VeeAnn still says Congodon is one of her “hands down favorite horses.”

In 1968, VeeAnn’s family sold the pony business and she and Ernie land in Plato, Minnesota where Westwood Farm was born and still stands today. VeeAnn and Ernie had two boys, Jay and Westin, and both were exposed to horses at a very early age, making their leadline debuts well before we were a year old. The Woods soon built an indoor arena, started training, giving lessons and introduced many new people to the joys of both riding and driving horses. Many of these people are still enjoying this great sport even today.

Just a few of VeeAnn’s major accomplishments include:

Good friend, Art Perry, invited her to ride in the American Morgan Horse Unit of the 1982 Rose Bowl Parade.
WSCA judge for almost 40 years and was recently honored by WSCA recently for her many years of service.
Board member of We Can Ride, Inc Therapeutic Riding program where she also serves as chair of The Equine Management Committee focusing on the care, training, and the acquisition of the therapeutic horses used in the program.
Received the Lois Shultz Award for her commitment to We Can Ride and her outstanding volunteer work of helping people with disabilities enjoy the wonderful world of horses.
Serving on the MN Horse Council Scholarship Committee for nearly a dozen years.
Tri-State Horseman’s Board of Directors for many years, receiving their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Charter member of North Central Morgan Association and served several terms as board member and executive officer.
Co-chairman of Northstar Morgan Americana Horse Show on more than one occasion.
4-H judge since 1973, serving as advisor for the McLeod County Judging Team.
Served on the 4-H Judges Advisory Committee.
Involved with charity functions such as Charity Night for Children’s Hospital. For Several years she would take a horse to the Children’s Hospital where she would let the sick kids have an opportunity to pet and feed carrots to the horse.
Sponsor and promote a dedicated night at the Northstar Morgan Americana Horse show to benefit the Children’s Hospital.

For many years, VeeAnn has been exhibiting horses at the MN State Fairgrounds where the prior recipients of this award are on display. Her late husband, Ernie Wood was honored as the 1991 Horse person of the Year and she often smiles as she sees his photo on this wall of fame.

VeeAnn continues to dedicate her life to the promotion of the horse and the horse world in spite of several personal setbacks including losing her husband Ernie in 1990, having her son Westen be involved in a major automobile accident six months later which left him incapacitated until 1998 when he then joined Ernie.

Recent health problems including an extended hospitalization requiring treatments for a number of complications followed by eye surgery and knee replacements have not slowed this woman down. These seem to be mere bumps in the road and she bounces back like the energizer bunny. She is already looking forward to the 2012 show season and is ready to show and of course to continue her many judging assignments.

VeeAnn has been a true ambassador of the horse world and is well respected by her peers as an owner, trainer, judge, exhibitor and volunteer and most of all a friend to all, for over 50 years.

2011 Horse Person of the Year

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:16:36 EST

Minnesota Horse Council Announces 2011 Horse Person of the Year

VeeAnn Wood

Saturday January 21, 2011 the Minnesota Horse Council announced their 2011 Horse Person of the year recipient.

VeeAnn Wood was surprised and honored as she was awarded the 2011 MN Horse Person of the Year. Wood had been nominated by Darla Falk, a long time friend and classmate who is not a horse person at all, but had been keeping track of many of the accomplishments and involvement with horses that VeeAnn had been part of over their 50-plus year friendship. VeeAnn’s son Jay and his wife Jean as well as their son Colin were on hand for the presentation, with Jay even stepping up to the mic to help with the award.

Just a few of VeeAnn’s major accomplishments include:

Good friend, Art Perry, invited her to ride in the American Morgan Horse Unit of the 1982 Rose Bowl Parade.
WSCA judge for almost 40 years and was recently honored by WSCA recently for her many years of service.
Board member of We Can Ride, Inc Therapeutic Riding program where she also serves as chair of The Equine Management Committee focusing on the care, training, and the acquisition of the therapeutic horses used in the program.
Received the Lois Shultz Award for her commitment to We Can Ride and her outstanding volunteer work of helping people with disabilities enjoy the wonderful world of horses.
Serving on the MN Horse Council Scholarship Committee for nearly a dozen years.
Tri-State Horseman’s Board of Directors for many years, receiving their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Charter member of North Central Morgan Association and served several terms as board member and executive officer.
Co-chairman of Northstar Morgan Americana Horse Show on more than one occasion.
4-H judge since 1973, serving as advisor for the McLeod County Judging Team.
Served on the 4-H Judges Advisory Committee.
Involved with charity functions such as Charity Night for Children’s Hospital. For Several years she would take a horse to the Children’s Hospital where she would let the sick kids have an opportunity to pet and feed carrots to the horse.
Sponsor and promote a dedicated night at the Northstar Morgan Americana Horse show to benefit the Children’s Hospital.

VeeAnn has been a true ambassador of the horse world and is well respected by her peers as an owner, trainer, judge, exhibitor and volunteer and most of all a friend to all, for over 50 years.

2012 Horse Person of the Year

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:13:40 EST

Minnesota Horse Council Announces 2011 Horse Person of the Year

VeeAnn Wood

Saturday January 21, 2011 the Minnesota Horse Council announced their 2011 Horse Person of the year recipient. Criteria for the award includes:

Long term, serious commitment to equine activity in the Midwest
May be professional or amateur.
Should have contributed in many areas, i.e., western shows, English shows, 4-H, Rodeo -- Little Britches and High School, trails, legislation, clinics and other equine related activities.
Usually the individual will have been a horse owner for many years although it certainly is not a requirement. (The person could have worked "behind the lines" to great achievement.)
A mature individual, "long term commitment."
The individual should have excellent character.

The individual will likely be recognized by members of many horse-related groups, and perhaps by the general population.

Just a few of VeeAnn’s major accomplishments include:

Good friend, Art Perry, invited her to ride in the American Morgan Horse Unit of the 1982 Rose Bowl Parade.
WSCA judge for almost 40 years and was recently honored by WSCA recently for her many years of service.
Board member of We Can Ride, Inc Therapeutic Riding program where she also serves as chair of The Equine Management Committee focusing on the care, training, and the acquisition of the therapeutic horses used in the program.
Received the Lois Shultz Award for her commitment to We Can Ride and her outstanding volunteer work of helping people with disabilities enjoy the wonderful world of horses.
Serving on the MN Horse Council Scholarship Committee for nearly a dozen years.
Tri-State Horseman’s Board of Directors for many years, receiving their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Charter member of North Central Morgan Association and served several terms as board member and executive officer.
Co-chairman of Northstar Morgan Americana Horse Show on more than one occasion.
4-H judge since 1973, serving as advisor for the McLeod County Judging Team.
Served on the 4-H Judges Advisory Committee.
Involved with charity functions such as Charity Night for Children’s Hospital. For Several years she would take a horse to the Children’s Hospital where she would let the sick kids have an opportunity to pet and feed carrots to the horse.
Sponsor and promote a dedicated night at the Northstar Morgan Americana Horse show to benefit the Children’s Hospital.

VeeAnn has been a true ambassador of the horse world and is well respected by her peers as an owner, trainer, judge, exhibitor and volunteer and most of all a friend to all, for over 50 years.

Racinos in Minnesota

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:54:52 EST

RACINO legislation will grow the equine industry through the creation of the Equine Development Fund. (EDF) The racetracks will equally contribute to this fund through statutory payments from a portion of video lottery terminal revenue. The Minnesota Racing Commission will be charged with distributing this fund in a manner that maximizes the economic impact of Minnesota's racing and non-racing equine industries.

Purse Enhancement Program will be used to augment purses for live races at the tracks. This plan would make Minnesota's Standardbred and Quarter Horse racing programs among the top 10 in the country and the Thoroughbred program among the top 15 in the country measured by average purse per race.
Minnesota Breeders' Fund Program will supplement the current Breeders' Fund for all breeds racing at a Class A facility. Money in this fund will be used to encourage breeding in the state through purse supplements, county fair grants and more.
Non-racing Equine Program will be a grant program for all non-racing horse groups. Approximately $1.7 Million per year will be available to fund projects such as, but not limited to, equine shows, education, therapeutic riding, construction of facilities and trail improvements.

Racinos will improve Greater Minnesota's economy. Fourteen states already have Racinos, and the results are impressive.

A substantial increase in equine agricultural industry employment and economic activity has occurred. Indiana authorized Racinos a mere three years ago, and the industry now generates $2.6 billion in economic impact , more than double the amount prior to the Racino. They also created 20,000 new jobs. Pennsylvania experienced even greater employment with 64,000 new jobs and $4.6 billion in economic impact. This was an increase of 318 percent when compared to the pre-Racino value of the industry. These are permanent jobs that drive the agricultural economic engine. More horses require more veterinarians, trainers, farriers, and new horse horse farms. They will in turn require more hay, grain, and horse transportation. In 2004, Minnesota's equine industry was estimated at $930 million. According to Professor Brian Buhr of the University of Minnesota, increased racing purses and investing in horse shows for non-racing breeds are the best ways to increase this value in Minnesota.

Racinos create a stable revenue source for infrastructure, economic development, education or other critical state needs. Based on the fiscal note prepared by the MMB, in FY 2015 $120 million will be deposited in the Minnesota First Fund, with another $13 million transferred to the State's General Fund. This provides enough revenue to repay up to one percentage point of the school shift each year, as well as fund the public share of a Vikings stadium.

Go here to review the full proposal:

http://racinonow.com/proposal

Help the cause by writing a letter to MN State Governor Mark Dayton by going here:

http://racinonow.com/sign-up-now

Horse Processing News

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:16:31 EST

The AAEP (American Association of Equine Practicioners) has prepared a summary of the status of horse processing in the U.S.

Congress Passes USDA Appropriations Bill - USDA Inspection of Horse Processing Allowed to Resume

A provision that had prohibited USDA funds being used for personnel inspecting the slaughter process at horse processing facilities was not included in the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture, Commerce/Justice/Science, and Transportation/Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bills signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 18. The appropriations bill passed the House on a vote of 298-121, while the Senate voted 70-30 in favor of the bill. The bill funds a variety of federal programs and agencies and is not solely a bill addressing horse processing.

What does the passing of this bill mean for horse processing?

It means that USDA can now pay inspectors to inspect horses and meat that may be processed for human consumption at U.S. plants.

This bill does not, however, appropriate any new money to pay for these inspections. The USDA would have to find the money in the funds appropriated in the FY' 12 bill.

Is there a federal law that has been reversed?

No. There has been no law passed or changed dealing with processing itself. There is no current prohibition on the processing of horses in the U.S. The federal bills introduced in Congress to prohibit this are still before Congress. The only change is that for the past five years the USDA was not allowed to fund the inspection of horses at the plants - even though no plants were open - and now they are should a plant begin operating.

Will horse processing plants open?

While a plant could open and start processing horses, it should be understood that this appropriations bill is only good until September 30, 2012. In addition, as mentioned above, there are two bills currently in Congress proposing to ban horse processing in the U.S.: H.R. 2966 and S. 1176.

Due to state laws passed in Texas and Illinois, the home of the last plants to process horses in the U.S. in 2007, the processing of horses for human consumption in those states, even with USDA inspections allowed, will not be possible. Horse processing also is banned in California.

Does AAEP support the reopening of processing plants in the U.S?

With challenging economic times continuing to impact the United States, the large number of horses in our country that are considered unwanted and without viable care options remains a tremendous concern. Because of the increased potential for abuse, neglect and abandonment faced by this population of horses combined with the lack of financial resources for their long-term care, the AAEP does not oppose the reopening of processing facilities in the United States provided the facilities meet the following provisions:

1. Strict oversight of operations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Commercial Transport of Horses to Slaughter Act and the regulations there under, including the presence of and inspections by USDA veterinarians at the facilities.

2. Horses are euthanized by trained personnel in a humane manner in accordance with the requirements of federal law and guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

3. Transportation to the production facility is conducted according to the law and guidelines established by the USDA.

When other humane options do not exist, the AAEP supports processing as an acceptable form of euthanasia under these controlled conditions.

Additional Resources:

History of USDA inspection funding

Since 2007, no federal money has been allowed to be used to inspect horse slaughter facilities in the U.S., as stipulated in the Agricultural Appropriations bill over the past five years. Without U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspections, horse processing facilities could not process horses for human consumption because the meat could not be shipped internationally or interstate and a majority of the market for horse meat is overseas. Although this clause had support due to the undesirable idea of horse meat for human consumption in the U.S., many, including the AAEP, believe the ban had "unintended consequences" and this was again emphasized in a June 22, 2011 report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled - "Horse Welfare: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter."

AAEP Position on Horse Processing and Current Bills in Congress

GAO Report - Summary & Full Report (June 22, 2011)

AAEP Statement Regarding GAO Report on Horse Welfare (June 27, 2011)

Farm Information Line

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:05:14 EST

Farm Information Line

The University of Minnesota Extension service offers a free statewide call-in service answering livestock operation questions, including horse-related issues.

Find the phone number and more about the Farm Information Line.

Farm Information Line

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:01:46 EST

Farm Information Line

The University of Minnesota Extension service offers a free statewide call-in service answering livestock operation questions, including horse-related issues.

Find the phone number and more about the Farm Information Line.

Humane Options for Unwanted Horses

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:41:25 EST

Humane Options for Unwanted Horses

This University of Minnesota Extension article by Krishona Martinson and Julie Wilson provides useful information for horse owners including rescues and end-of-life options.

Humane Options for Unwanted Horses (.pdf file)

Minnesota Horse Council Grants MN State Fair $100,000

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:45:24 EDT

$100,000 donation (2011)

In support of the Minnesota State Fair's new horse arena, the Minnesota Horse Council has donated $100,000.

For details, click here: Fair's thankyou note.

Arkansas Hay Shortage

markward@windyridgeranch.com (Mark Ward) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:45:00 EDT

August 3, 2011
Arkansas Horse Council Equine Foundation, Inc. needs your help. They have been rescuing horses, ponies, mules, dogs and cats, etc. all Spring during the flooding but now everything is drying up. They have had this repressive heat wave for so long that the crops are drying up, the springs are almost out of water, but now they have grassfires. Folks down there have to drive 50 miles to or more to find hay even if they have to go to a neighboring state to get it. Farmers have to go to the nearest towns in order to fill up tanks with water to water their stock. Would you help the Equine Foundation out with a donation please? I have and they sure do appreciate it. They’ve been feeding their animals beet pulp. Please make a check out to Arkansas Equine Foundation, inc. and send to (it is tax deductible):
Arkansas Equine Foundation, Inc.
c/o Betty Jones, Pres of Arkansas Horse Council
P.O. Box 251
Kingston, Arkansas 72742
Thank you very much!
Marian Robinson/director of MHC Disaster Response Team