Southeast Regional Directors
Sandy Harris | Lewisburg, TN Rules Committee
Sandy is honored to serve and excited to support the NWHA through thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and a shared commitment.
Horses have been a central part of her life for more than 65 years, shaping both her personal and professional journey. She became involved with the walking horse community in the late 1980s and has been a proud member of NWHA since 2000. She participated in NWHA’ s first show in Lexington, VA, in 2001. She has served on many committees including Show, Versatility, Judges, Marketing, and Rules.
Sandy is a licensed judge with NWHA, WHOA, and SSHBEA. Highlights of her career include the NWHA Nationals and International twice, the SSHBEA Fall Championship three times, and many competitions across the country. She has served as PWHAT president, vice president, secretary, and show organizer. She has also served on the WHOA Board of Directors and on the Versatility Committee.
As a longtime amateur and AOT exhibitor, she is active in the show ring and currently partnered with two young horses preparing for Versatility and AOT Rail competition. She operates a Magna Wave therapy practice serving barns in middle Tennessee.
Ali Merritt | Woodruff, SC Lifetime Member
Ali, a sound horse enthusiast, is from Woodruff, SC, located between Atlanta, GA & Charlotte, NC.
She is delighted to serve as a Southeast Regional NWHA Board member this year. She sees potential for great growth and sound horse awareness.
As a 32-year Real Estate Professional, the Tennessee Walking Horse has helped her keep her sanity. She enjoys introducing new riders to the breed and watching them grow in love with it, as we all did.
She ' s proud of her horses, young and old, who LOVE to show. Our 24-year-old mare, Coppertop’ s Covergirl, took home Reserve National Champion honors in Trail Obstacle in 2024, and our 3-yearold stallion, Daddy’ s Outta Cash, was the National Champion Junior Horse this year.
Ali is eager to celebrate the versatility and longevity of this wonderful breed with everyone she meets.
Family is important. She shares three children with her late husband and is eagerly anticipating the arrival of her tenth grandchild. At home she shares her days with a dog, Rocky, and a cat, Tigger.
March 2026 | NWHA National News 15