Ten sport horse breeders from around the country have worked together to form the U.S. Sport Horse Breeders Association. Their intention is to provide representation for American breeders of sport horses, to increase support for American sport horse breeders and young horse development initiatives, and to serve as a resource in promoting the interests of the American sport horse community.

The USSHBA will provide an avenue for the voice of breeders to be heard on issues of equestrian sport governance and work with other groups and associations to increase support for breeders through education, cooperation and general engagement.

Mary O’Connor will be the interim president with Tish Quirk as vice president, Timothy Kammerer as treasurer and Diane Halpin as secretary. Other steering committee members include Natalie DiBerardinis, Diana Dodge, Maryanna Haymon, Anne Hedge, Judy Hedreen and Dr. Rachel Kane, DVM.

The USSHBA will be a membership organization. Inaugural membership applications are now being accepted for the 2014 USSHBA Membership year. The three levels of USSHBA membership include: a) Individual/Farm (breeder); b) Associate (non breeder); and c) Affiliated Group (organization/association).

Members of the USHHBA’s steering committee will attend the upcoming annual meetings of several discipline groups and of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. They will share information and answer questions about the mission of the USSHBA, listen to the concerns of breeders and supporters of young horse development in the USA, and speak about issues of concern to breeders, such as the enforcement of positive horse identification rules, tracking of pedigree information and access to competition results for horses in all sport disciplines.

For information about becoming a USSHBA member, and/or volunteering to work on a USHHBA committee, send email to USSHBA@gmail.com, on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/USSHBA or call (516) 769-5142.