Texas Independent Horse Owners Association

Press Release

September 23, 2006

The American Horse Council recently announced that Dr. Bob Hillman will be a speaker for the AHC Issues Forum, which will address Equine Identification and the National Animal Identification System to be held Monday September 25 th in Austin, Texas.  Dr. Hillman currently serves as the Texas State Veterinarian and Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. According to the AHC website, AHC membership includes representatives from 195 organizations and 1,800 individuals who participate in the equine industry.

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)

While we understand AHC and TAHC is making every effort to bolster support for the highly maligned plan of mandatory premises registration and equine micro chipping by courting the equine elite, we would like to point out that AHC is supposed to represent it's members, not talk down to them as is their current policy on animal ID.

Dr. Hillman is a public servant employed by the State of Texas who works for all Texans. As such he should cock his ear back and listen to all Texans, not bolt and run with those that merely wish to profit from animal ID.

In Texas, families with income levels of less than $60,000 per year own the majority of horses. Texas horse owners should take a hard look at AHC and ask who they truly represent. Their conference requires independent horsemen to pay $100 per person to attend, even AHC members are assessed a $50.00 per person fee for the privilege to attend.

AHC members are asked, "Did the Equine Species Group or it's host AHC" poll your opinion about premises registration and micro chipping your animal or did the cream-of -the-crop formulate the equine recommendations without your input?"

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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