The MFTHBA Board of Directors recently met to discuss and approve several initiatives. Below is a summary of some key items from the Board Meeting. After they are approved at the next board meeting, members can access the full meeting minutes on the Members Only site.

Committee Appointments: The board approved new members for the Historical, Membership, Affiliate, and Sponsorship Committees. Thank you to all who have volunteered their time to serve!

Youth Seminar: The MFTHBA Youth Committee will host a Youth Seminar on June 10 before the Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity. We encourage youth of all ages to attend and take advantage of this educational opportunity.

Promoting the Fox Trotter in Pennsylvania: The North East Fox Trotter Affiliate will represent our breed at the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA, at the end of this month. The board approved cost-sharing support to help with their attendance.

Judge Training Seminar: The Judges Committee will host a Judges Seminar on May 3 during the Spring Kickoff Horse Show in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. This seminar will provide real-world judging experience. Watch for details on how to register soon!

Judging System for Spring Show & Celebration: The board approved the Judges Committee’s recommendation to maintain the pool system with five judges for model and performance competitions at the Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity and the World Show and Celebration. The committee aims to have 15 judges available per night and will minimize the use of carded committee members unless necessary.

New Classes at the Spring Show:  Two new versatility classes will be added to the Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity schedule: In-Hand Trail and Open Trail – No Canter.  These classes have been available at the World Show and Celebration, and the Versatility Committee hopes their addition at the Spring Show will encourage further participation and growth.

New Employee Handbook: The board approved an updated Employee Handbook to provide clear guidelines and expectations for staff.

IT Committee Established: A new IT Committee, chaired by Lori Reed, was formed to support and troubleshoot technology operations in the MFTHBA office.

Horse Sale Committee: The board approved Ty Chapman as chair of the Horse Sale Ad Hoc Committee, with Brian Land as the board representative. This committee is working on developing an independent horse sale at the showgrounds. Watch for details!

Show Committee: Ricka Mathews and Debbi Levillie will co-chair this year’s Show Committee. If you are interested in helping plan the performance and model competitions, please contact them.

501(c)(3) Committee: The board voted to establish a committee to review and update the drafted documents for potential nonprofit status. As this effort progresses, more details will be shared.

We appreciate everyone’s dedication to the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse and look forward to another successful year!