About Us

Mission Statement

To represent, protect and foster a unified equine industry in Wisconsin through leadership, education, service and communication.

Vision Statement

To take a pro-active role in the future growth and development of the equine industry.

Our Bylaws

Click here to access our Bylaws

Wisconsin Horse Council Directors Only

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wisconsin Horse Council?

WHC is a non-profit organization representing horsemen and women and the equine industry in Wisconsin. We promote the horse through leadership and education. Our role is to Support, Serve, and Protect our equine industry in Wisconsin.

Who is WHC?

You and me - we are the Horse Council through our membership, our participation in our districts, and our involvement in WHC committees and programs. We are the force of the horse in Wisconsin.

Why should I belong to WHC?

This is the only organization that is here for the horse and the people who own them or simply love them. We are not a breed organization, a saddle club, or a riding discipline. We exist solely for the welfare of the horse and the betterment of our industry as a whole. Membership in WHC connects you with other horse people who share your concerns and brings you to a broader view of the equine industry. The strength of our voice is in direct proportion to the size of membership. How many members we have is what always matters to officials. Often, people belong to organizations in relation to their profession; you should belong to this organization in relation to your passion. WHC represents the horse people of Wisconsin, and the horse people of Wisconsin need to support their state organization through membership.

What else does WHC do?

We own and produce one of the largest and most successful horse expos in the U.S. - the Midwest Horse Fair.

We conduct a Certified Show Judge Program, improving the level of open show judging through educational seminars and certification.

Annually we award Sponsorships and Trail Grants at levels that provide significant financial help to equine charity events and clubs who are building and improving trails for recreational riding, etc.

We encourage and sponsor recognition of the people who have invested their time and money in growing and developing our industry through mentoring young horse people, initiating new programs, providing leadership in various equine/equestrian areas, and promoting responsible use of horses through our Annual Awards Program.

We conduct educational seminars and clinics for horse owners.

We conduct an annual 4-day Trail Design School on designing and building recreational trails for horse people.

We take an active role in legislative matters affecting both the state and the national equine industry.

We encourage a strong connection with our ag/livestock partners by participating in Ag Day at the Capitol.

WHC Board of Directors

See the list of our board of Directors & our Executive Board of Directors below!

WHC Executive Board of Directors

Learn more about our WHC Executive Board of Directors ...more

Board of Directors

November 25, 2024•0 min read

WHC Board of Directors

Learn more about our WHC Board of Directors ...more

Board of Directors

November 25, 2024•6 min read

WHC Committees

Would you like to serve on one of our committees? You don't need to be a WHC Director, just a WHC Member! The WHC could use your time and talent in its pursuit of carrying out its mission statement. Please consider serving on one of the many committees listed and described below. The name of each chairperson (if one is available) is listed under each committee. Their e-mail address is linked to their name, so simply click on their name to contact them via e-mail for more information. If a committee currently has the chairperson position listed as OPEN, simply contact our office for more information. Thank you!

If you would like to view a listing of our committee and board members, please click on the link below.

WHC COMMITTEE & BOARD MEMBERS - (PDF) - Updated: 10-17-24

Awards

Administers the Annual Awards Program for Horse Person of the Year, Judge of the Year, and WHC Director of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement or Special Recognition awards as requested by the Board.

- Chairperson: Pat Stevenson

Bonus Bucks

Horse show assistance for WHC Level III Member Organizations

- Chairperson: Pat Miller

Bylaws

Responsible for initiating and updating new bylaws as needed, reviewing bylaw amendment submissions, and presenting them for voting at the annual meeting.

- Chairperson: Dana Sechler

Certified Judges Program

Developed in 1979 in response to recognized need in the Wisconsin horse show industry for better qualified judges for Open, All Breed, and 4-H shows. Certification requires proven judging skills and a commitment to ongoing education and evaluation. Committee plans and coordinates all aspects of the annual Certified Judges Seminar, held annually in March. Program is administered solely by WHC.

- Chairperson: Dana Neary-Panella

Districts

Educates and assists the five WHC Districts in how to better serve their counties.

- Chairperson: Katie Bachhuber

Legislative

Responsible for oversight and direction of professional lobbyist who provides crucial representation by actively lobbying when proposed or amended legislation would impact equine owners and businesses in Wisconsin.

- Chairperson: Dana Sechler

Member Services

Recommends annual membership fee structure and application form for approval by the WHC Executive Board. Reviews and approves all new Level III memberships, presenting them to the Board of Directors. Collaborates with the WHC business office to ensure renewal notices are sent out to members early in June of each year. Collaborates with other WHC committees to identify and deliver member benefit opportunities that serve the needs of WHC membership. Examples may include group liability insurance, purchasing programs, etc.

- Chairperson: Mike Kroll

Policy and Procedures

Responsible for collecting and developing a manual of Policies and Procedures for processes followed by committees, the Board, and the business office. Committee brings proposed or revised policies and procedures to the Board for approval and inclusion in the manual. Committee recommends when a proposed or revised policy should be presented for adoption as a By-Law.

- Chairperson: OPEN

Public Relations

Responsible for collaborating with other committees to increase public awareness and participation in Wisconsin Horse Council. Oversees participation in trade show opportunities that are in alignment with the mission statement of WHC. Assists in the identification, development, and promotion of new programs to benefit the members of WHC.

- Chairperson: Bonnie Shepherd

WSHCEF Scholarships

Responsible for selection of program recipients and oversight of scholarship program available to WHC Level I members who are majoring in equine related professions, including vets; farriers; etc. Program provides assistance by funding tuition costs. Recipients are selected annually.

- Chairperson: Linda Ernsberger

Sponsorships

Responsible for review of sponsorship applications from WHC Level II or Level III organizations seeking funding assistance for project-specific costs, not including salaries or normal operating expenses. Recipients are selected bi-annually.

- Chairperson: Kricket Jewett

Technology

Responsible for reviewing and recommending equipment, hardware, and software for use in the business office. Collaborates with other committees to identify new ways that technology can assist WHC in its mission statement.

- Chairperson: Dana Sechler

Trails

Collaborates with other WHC committees to promote trail riding, trail advocacy, and trail etiquette. Oversees several programs, including:

Trail Directory - has been moved to an online version – WHC now uses http://trailmeister.com/ as our exclusive provider of up to date maps and information. Downloadable maps for your ,mobile device are being added as they become available.

Trail Grant Program - a program designed to provide matching funds to improve or create new public use equine and multi-use trails in Wisconsin. Equestrian organizations that are members of the Wisconsin Horse Council are eligible for grants. Grants are awarded annually with application deadline of February 1.

Trail Riding/Driving Award Program - annual program that awards program participants with recognition for hours spent riding or driving on trails.

- Chairperson: Floyd Finney & Kricket Jewett

Wisconsin Horse Council also sends representatives to several key equine organizations to represent the interest of WHC and its mission statement. These are:

American Horse Council

Recreation Best Management Practices Advisory Committee of the Governor's Council of Forestry

State Horse Councils Advisory Committee

Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium

Governor's State Trails Council

WHC Districts

Which District Am I In? - understanding the WHC Districts

As WHC membership has increased, so too have the challenges of connecting a widespread member base with the decision-making Board of Directors. In order to overcome some of those challenges the state was split into 5 Districts, each of which has its own set of member-elected officers and up to 2 member-elected representatives that it sends to the Board. These "District Directors" are the voice of the District within the Board.

Districts hold meetings and events which typically follow a monthly schedule. Although most meetings may be of the conventional sit-down type, there might also be speakers, seminars, demos or such. Trail ride/camping meetings are popular as well. Decisions about District meetings are entirely member-driven, so it is really up to you, the members, to participate and decide what you want to do.

The counties that make up each District and the District Map are listed below.

District 1

District 1 Counties:

Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Iron, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor and Washburn counties.

General Information:

If you reside in any of the counties in District 1 and would like to become more involved, please contact an officer listed below.

District Officers:

Contact any of the following people to find out more about District 1 meetings or events:

District President: Paulette Adair (715-554-2904)

District Vice President: Jo Dee Lochner (715-641-0152)

District Secretary: Michelle Nelson (715-557-0166)

District & Executive Board Representative: Chris Nelson (715-557-0169)

District Representative: Sarah Rank (651-246-1323)

You can find a listing of upcoming meeting dates and times below. Wisconsin Horse Council has a wide variety of committees and projects, some within our district and others that are statewide. We encourage you to find one or more to become involved in!

Meetings:

District 1 will meet the 3rd Thursday of each month.

Meeting Date: 10/17/24

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Luck Saddlery - 113 Main St S, Luck, WI 54853

Events:

TBD

District 2

District 2 Counties:

Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano and Vilas counties.

General Information:

If you reside in any of the counties in District 2 and would like to become more involved, please contact an officer listed below.

District Officers:

Contact any of the following people to find out more about District 2 meetings or events:

District President: Shaughn Novy (715-610-1065)

District Vice President: Carol Lese (715-627-4123)

District Secretary: OPEN

District & Executive Board Representative: OPEN

District Representative: Richelle Beene (715-282-5619)

Meetings:

Meeting Date: TBD

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Events:

WHC District 2 Youth Equine Education Day - Check back later for more info and the WHC District 2 Facebook page

District 3

District 3 Counties:

Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties.

General Information:

If you reside in any of the counties in District 3 and would like to become more involved, please contact an officer listed below.

District Officers:

Contact any of the following people to find out more about District 3 meetings or events:

District President: Katie Bachhuber (920-539-0601)

District Vice President: Lee Sackett (920-210-3848)

District Secretary: Diane Sackett (920-689-2625)

District & Executive Board Representative: Bonnie Shepherd (262-370-8322)

District Representative: Linda Ernsberger (920-960-0662)

Meetings:

Meeting Date: March 17th, 2025

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Events:

TBD

District 4

District 4 Counties:

Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth and Waukesha counties.

General Information:

If you reside in any of the counties in District 4 and would like to become more involved, please contact an officer listed below.

District Officers:

Contact any of the following people to find out more about District 4 meetings or events:

District President: OPEN

District Vice President: OPEN

District Secretary: Sandy Rogers (920-723-1710)

District & Executive Board Representative: Floyd Finney (608-868-4543)

District Representative: Mike Kroll (608-795-2321)

Meetings:

Meeting Date: TBD

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Events:

TBD

District 5

District 5 Counties:

Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, Vernon, and Wood counties.

General Information:

If you reside in any of the counties in District 5 and would like to become more involved, please contact an officer listed below.

District Officers:

Contact any of the following people to find out more about District 5 meetings or events:

District President: OPEN

District Vice President: OPEN

District Secretary: Ivy Gaffron (Youth Member Intern) Supervised by Logan Sechler (920-905-3552)

District & Executive Board Representative: Dana Sechler (608-963-2380)

District Representative: OPEN

Meetings:

Meeting Date: TBD

Time: TBD