Texas Independent Horse Owners Association

Press Release

October 1, 2006

American horse owners turned their backs on the American Horse Council's Issues Forum, which addressed Equine Identification and the National Animal Identification System held this past Monday September 25 th at Austin, Texas. The AHC and TAHC had hoped to bolster support for the highly unpopular and unnecessary plan of mandatory premises registration and equine micro chipping by courting the equine elite.

Roger (Buck) Johansson stuck his head in the upscale Marriott in Austin where the Forum was held Monday and reports that there were less than 30 people in attendance. He said it looked to him like most were State Of Texas employees. To quote Buck "if there would have been turkeys in that room and I was a hunting them, I might have only bagged one or two if I pulled off both barrels. Not many listeners were around just a few talkers, very few people showed up ". Apparently even the equine elite thinks little of AHC and Dr Bob Hillman (public servant, head of the Texas Animal Health Commissions) sales pitch on NAIS.

Texas Animal Health Commissions implementation plans for NAIS here in Texas was a complete and utter failure, thankfully. Failure to sway Texas livestock owners to submit to this un-American and certainly un-Texan plan by NAIS proponents like Dr. Hellman dooms the proposed USDA NAIS plans, because Texas is home to the largest population of livestock owners. All eyes are on Texas and Texas livestock owners.

According to the AHC web site, AHC membership includes representatives from 195 organizations and 1,800 individuals who participate in the equine industry. However according to Texas A&M University, Texas is home to 1 million horses, which accounts for 15% of all horses nation wide. Texas has 950,000 horse industry participants and more than 289,000 individuals who own horses in Texas. ( Source TAMU (http://animalscience.tamu.edu/main/equine.html)

TIHOA asks that all owners of equines, be responsible and proactive Texan's and ask all livestock associations you belong to if they support NAIS. If they do support NAIS do what's right - given them one chance to drop their support for NAIS, if they don't then drop your membership with them. When their membership and revenue dwindle trust me they will come around and see the error of their ways.

Errol Banta

President

PO box 573 Cedar Creek, Texas 78612

NAIS has two meanings;

Those who implement, provision and control, NAIS = Money Power and Control

Those forced to comply, NAIS = Cost, Burden, Liability and Loss of Freedom

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