The Equine Land Conservation Resource has strengthened the organization and its leadership team by adding two individuals to the board of directors—Ken Haddad and Susan Harding—and one to the advisory council—Jane K. Beshear.

Harding, Bethesda, Md., a recreational rider and driver, is a well-known U.S. equine industry professional. She is a publishing consultant with Active Interest Media, a special interest media company, and former vice president of Source Interlink Media’s Equine Network. Harding has spent more than 20 years in the equine publishing industry.

Prior to entering the horse world, Harding worked at Newsweek magazine in New York City, the Congressional Research Service in Washington, D.C. and McKinsey & Co., in London, England. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Harvard Business School.

In addition to her involvement with horses through her employment, Harding has served as President of American Horse Publications and on the board of trustees of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. She currently is on the board of Horse and Humans Research Foundation and serves as chairman of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Marketing Committee and on their board of directors.

Harding will play an active role on ELCR’s marketing and communications committee and will be invaluable in efforts to extend ELCR’s networks in the equine retail, manufacturing and other industry sectors.

Haddad, an avid fox hunter and trail rider, is the recently retired executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In that role, Haddad was responsible for the management of 5 million acres of Florida public and private lands and served on the state council that guided the purchase of $300 million worth of public lands annually.

He also served as member of the state lands Acquisition and Restoration Council, chairman of the Science Coordinating Group of the Everglades Restoration Task Force, president of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and is a current board member of the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

Haddad will contribute greatly to ELCR’s ability to be the horseman’s resource on recreational use issues at the state level. He has firsthand understanding of the issues surrounding equestrian access on public and private lands including public game lands. 

The ELCR Advisory Council is made up of individuals from throughout the country who are experts in issues with which ELCR deals. Members provide information, guidance and support to ELCR and its constituents on issues relative to the conservation of land and trails for equine use.

Beshear is a life-long equine enthusiast, competitor and industry supporter. She has served on the board of directors for numerous equine organizations including Equestrian Events Inc., which organizes the Kentucky Rolex 3-Day Event and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Board. Recently, she was a member of the World Equestrian Games Foundation Board, which successfully hosted the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Beshear actively promotes Kentucky’s Adventure Tourism economic development initiative, which highlights and seeks to expand outdoor adventure activities and recreational trails for equestrians, and other recreationists throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Beshear’s experience as an eventer, fox hunter, trail rider and farm owner has given her a practical understanding of the importance of land conservation knowledge and advocacy, by horse people and outdoor enthusiasts alike. 

“We are honored to welcome these three talented individuals to ELCR. Their individual expertise and networks will help advance the organization as we seek to expand our organizational capacity and services to ensure the future of the equine community and related industries. Without land to raise, train, compete, recreate and feed our horses, the future of the United States equine industry is in jeopardy,” said Nancy Hamill Winter, president of ELCR’s board of directors.