NATIONAL WALKING HORSE ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
NATIONAL WALKING HORSE ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
February 2026
The Versatility / Dressage Committee has been providing input in the National Championship Show( NCS) Schedule. The deadline for LSAP reports is being added to the website. Lastly, they suggested all three of the NCS judges be involved in each equitation and showmanship class.
The Judges Committee has hosted three virtual training sessions and the attendance has been phenomenal! Topics have included Ranch Horses, All Day Pleasure Division and Racking Horses. More virtual training sessions will be held in the fall. A judge’ s newsletter has also been created and four issues have been distributed in 2026. Since the busy show season has started, the newsletter will be paused until the fall.
The Rules Committee has been working on the definition for Spotted Saddle Horse and hopes to have a final recommendation soon. They also reported two rule changes go into effect for this show season: 1. Pleasure Racking can now be ridden western 2. Ranch Riding / Ranch Horse class has been added. Please see the Rulebook on the website for the details.
The Trail Committee is updating their Facebook page and are hosting two raffles. They are discussing awards for 500-mile increments and plan to post on the NWHA Facebook page for upcoming events.
The Youth Committee plans to use Instagram to communicate and they will be hosting a video contest again this year along with the youth judging session at the National Show. A youth subcommittee of youth members is being created.
The National Show Committee is streamlining the showbill to reduce the show by one day to save money. Alex Ostrum will be leading the exhibitors’ party again and Leah Terrell will lead the auction work. The showbill is currently being finalized.
The Nominating Committee Standard Operating Procedure( SOP) has been updated and approved.
The rule proposal of showmanship being amateur / youth only will be sent to the membership for input.
Region 5( South Carolina), Region 6( Texas) and Region 7( Indiana) showbills were approved.
2026 NWHA Officers
President JoEllen Finerfrock( GA)
Vice President Merleene Pacheco( TX)
Treasurer Alex Ostrum( OH)
Secretary Lori Snyder-Lowe( OH)
2026 Regional Directors Katie Engleman( NC) Sandy Harris( TN) Martie Jacobson( MN) Matt Janish( OH) Dana Kanstul( CA) Emily Mahoney( FL) Leah Terrell( IN) Mag Ranft( OH)
2026 Administrative
Executive Director Kimberly O’ Connor( TN)
NWHA
Phone: 859-252-NWHA( 6942) email: office @ nwha. com www. nwha. com
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Issued by the National Walking Horse Association, a non-profit animal welfare organization established in 1998.
July 2026 | NWHA National Newsletter | 11