Information for ALL Arabian horse owners -
You are encouraged to attend.
A chance for us to show up and represent our breed in Texas.
In a joint effort, Texas HORSE (of which Texas Arabian Breeders Association is a member), TTA, THP, and TQHA are hosting a series of horse industry meetings across the state.
These meetings will discuss how the new gambling legislation in Texas can benefit ALL HORSEMEN in all sports, as proceeds will benefit those in showing and breeding and NOT JUST RACING. The message will be consistent at each meeting, and each meeting will also include a question and answer period. Depending on the venue, there will be a variety of meal/snack options.
Dave Hooper, Rob Werstler, Dr. Rich, Jan Haynes and others are coordinating who will attend specific meetings and will be presenting the information to the attendees. We are announcing the meetings on the Texas Horsemen´s Partnership website, emailing to all members with current email addresses and mailing invitations to members in the districts where the meetings will be held.
You are all invited and encouraged to attend as many meetings as interest you. In addition, please bring industry guests so that our message can be spread throughout the entire state.
Please RSVP to Mary Ruyle at TTA (512) 458-6133 or maryr@texasthoroughbred.com so that the hosts of the meetings can plan accordingly.
Tuesday, March 8 Pilot Point 6:30 pm
Spirit of the West, 100 S. Texas St., Tioga, TX 76271
Wednesday, March 9 Weatherford 6:30 pm
Fairfield Inn & Suites, 175 Alford Dr., Weatherford, TX 76086
Thursday, March 10 Abilene 6:30 pm
Joe Allen’s home: 2582 Potosi Rd, Abilene, TX 79602
Tuesday, March 8 Fredericksburg 6:30 pm
Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, 6476 US Hwy 290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Wednesday, March 9 San Diego Noon
San Diego Downs and Training Center, 1008 Hwy 44 W., San Diego, TX 78384 (this location is in the Valley and would be especially important for our Quarter Horse members in Texas that you may know)
Wednesday, March 16 Athens 6:30 pm
The Cain Center, 915 S. Palestine, Athens, TX 75751
Thursday, March 17 Hempstead 6:00 pm
Lane’s End Texas, 26685 Mitchell Rd, Hempstead, TX 77445
Watch for information soon on a meeting scheduled in Stephenville.
Meeting topics will address:
What is Texas HORSE and who are its members?
What does the proposed legislation mean to individual horsemen?
What does the proposed legislation mean to the State of Texas?
What is the legislative timeline and where do I find resource material?
How can I get involved?
There will also be information on a "Day at the Capital" which is in the planning stages. We are hoping that each of you will make plans to attend this important event. We are hoping to have over 200 people walking the halls of the Capital and visiting with representatives. We will have a bill number before this event.
Arabian horse owners wanting more information may also like to contact Arabian representative Dan Woods, Dan.Woods@coair.com.
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UPDATE - The 82nd Texas Legislative Session begins January 11th
January 5, 2011
Dear Fellow Texas Horsemen & Horsewomen,
The 82nd Texas Legislative Session will be getting underway next Tuesday, January 11th. Many individuals from every aspect of the horse industry have been working to further develop and fine-tune our initiative. With the goal of providing much-needed support to all disciplines within our state’s horse industry, we at Texas HORSE will begin sending regular updates of our progress.
The Dallas Business Journal has an interesting survey out which asks whether Texas should legalize gambling.
Texas H.O.R.S.E will work hard in this session to gain legislative approval for slots at Texas Racetracks in a manner which will be beneficial to the entire Texas horse industry. It’s not just about horse racing, it’s about helping everybody who loves, cares for and is involved in the Texas horse economy.
Thank you for your continued support,
Jacquelyn J Rich, DVM
President
Texas H.O.R.S.E.
Val Clark, Executive Director
Texas H.O.R.S.E.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Talk to us on Facebook! We will be sending out helpful information about our campaign and we enjoy reading your comments and hearing your feedback.
Contact Your Legislator
The time is now for horsemen and women to take action in asking their State Representatives for their continued support! Take a few moments to contact your representative asking for their continued support of the Texas horse industry. It's your voice that makes the difference! Click here to find out who represents you.
Suggested items to discuss with your legislator:
Texas has a rich horse heritage involving racing, showing and eventing
A vibrant, healthy Texas horse industry fosters huge positive agricultural economic impact that translates into more jobs, increased needs for goods and services, and higher real estate values
The Texas racing and breeding industry should not only be competitive with the racing and breeding industries in our neighbor states, but should be the leader
The Texas racing and breeding industry can be No. 1 in the Southwest with the same tools that have helped elevate racing and breeding programs in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
TABA President Ed Wilson has been selected as a Director to serve on the Texas HORSE an organization which became a formal entity with the signing of articles of association by representative of six racing breed and performance horse organizations.
The purpose of the new organization is to utilize the resources of all participating organizations and their members to present a united front in the legislative effort.
Texas Horses' objective is to keep Texas money in Texas to help educate Texas children, enhance health care, provide good roads, address other needs in Texas and stop the exodus of Texas horses and horsemen.
The mission of Texas HORSE is to pass legislation to allow additional forms of legal gaming at the 13 licensed racetracks in Texas, which will create a significant revenue stream to the total horse industry in the state and provide Texas horsemen with the ability to compete on a level playing field with surrounding states that already benefit from having alternative forms of gaming. The performance side of the Texas horse industry, represented by Texas-based AQHA, APHA and NCHA in the new organization, has particular interest in the proposed legislation because of the provision of a revenue stream from alternative gaming to a new Performance Horse Development Fund.
Texas will be the first state to utilize revenue from alternative gaming for a much broader segment of the horse industry. PHDF will direct a specified amount of dollars to non-racing performance horse activities such as cutting, reining, barrel racing, team roping, Western pleasure, rodeo, trail rides and eventing. The six organizations presently comprising the Texas HORSE are the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, Texas Arabian Breeders Association, Texas Quarter Horse Association and Texas Throughbred Association.
Texas has a rich horse heritage involving racing, showing and eventing 
