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Annual Meeting and Convention - Plans and coordinates all aspects of the WSHC annual meeting and member convention as per the By Laws adopted 8-06. Event held each year in March.
Awards - Administers the Annual Awards Program for Horse Person of the Year, Judge of the Year, WSHC Director of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement or Special Recognition awards as requested by the Board.
Budget and Finance - Provides oversight and planning for financial direction of the organization in conjunction with the WSHC Treasurer.
Certified Judges Program - Developed in 1979 in response to recognized need in the Wisconsin horse show industry for better qualified judges for Open, All Breed, and 4-H shows. Certification requires proven judging skills and a commitment to ongoing education and evaluation. Committee plans and coordinates all aspects of the annual Certified Judges Seminar, held annually in March. Program is administered solely by WSHC.
Championship Challenge - New for 2007 - Program for open show exhibitors who are WSHC Level I members. Any open horse show committee in the state of Wisconsin may sanction their show at no charge. Program participants nominate themselves and then exhibit at sanctioned shows to win eligibility to compete in the nominated classes against the best of the best in a statewide championship show. Program purpose is to promote better horsemanship skills and to promote open horse showing throughout Wisconsin.
Director Development - Committee not yet active, but created through the strategic planning process. Plans and coordinates professional development activities and processes for Directors of WSHC.
Education - Collaborates with other WSHC committees to identify and deliver educational opportunities to serve the needs of WSHC membership. Examples include seminars for new equine owners, etc.
Heath Issues - Assists in the dissemination of equine health related information to the membership. Currently oversees “Ask a Vet”, an enrichment program.
Humane Action - Committee currently inactive.
Legislative - Responsible for oversight and direction of professional lobbyist who provides crucial representation by actively lobbying when proposed or amended legislation would impact equine owners and businesses in Wisconsin.
Membership - Recommends annual membership fee structure and application form for approval by the WSHC Executive Board. Reviews and approves all new Level III memberships, presenting them to the Board of Directors. Collaborates with the WSHC business office to ensure renewal notices are sent out to members early in June of each year.
Member Services - Committee not yet active, but created through the strategic planning process. Collaborates with other WSHC committees to identify and deliver member benefit opportunities that serve the needs of WSHC membership. Examples may include group liability insurance, purchasing programs, etc.
Midwest Horse Fair Advisory Board - Provides oversight and direction for the annual Midwest Horse Fair, an educational event wholly owned and operated by Wisconsin State Horse Council.
Nominations - Responsible for developing and presenting the slate of eligible nominees for the WSHC Executive Board, WSHC Equine Foundation, and Midwest Horse Fair Advisory Board. Also responsible for the actual voting processes and tallying at the Annual meeting.
Olympic Incubator Program - Established in 2001, the program brings in top quality clinicians, those with international credentials, to Wisconsin. The goal is to train and develop high quality instructors, trainers and competitors who can compete, or train those to compete, at the international level. Committee plans and coordinates all aspects of the annual clinic, open as an audit opportunity to the public.
Policy and Procedures - Responsible for collecting and developing a manual of Policies and Procedures for processes followed by committees, the Board, and the business office. Committee brings proposed or revised policies and procedures to the Board for approval and inclusion in the manual. Committee recommends when a proposed or revised policy should be presented for adoption as a By-Law.
Public Relations - Responsible for collaborating with other committees to increase public awareness and participation in Wisconsin State Horse Council. Oversees participation in trade show opportunities that are in alignment with the mission statement of WSHC. Assists in the identification, development, and promotion of new programs to benefit the members of WSHC.
Scholarships - Responsible for selection of program recipients and oversight of scholarship program available to WSHC Level I members who are majoring in equine related professions, including vets; farriers; etc. Program provides assistance by funding tuition costs. Recipients are selected annually.
Sponsorships - Responsible for review of sponsorship applications from WSHC Level II or Level III organizations seeking funding assistance for project-specific costs, not including salaries or normal operating expenses. Recipients are selected bi-annually.
Trails - Collaborates with other WSHC committees to promote trail riding, trail advocacy, and trail etiquette. Oversees several programs, including:
- Trail Directory - committee creates, publishes, and markets the popular WSHC Trail Directory, a comprehensive guide to trails in the state of Wisconsin. Directory updated every few years.
- Trail Grant Program - a program designed to provide matching funds to improve or create new public use equine and multi-use trails in Wisconsin. Equestrian organizations that are members of the Wisconsin State Horse Council are eligible for grants. Grants are awarded annually with application deadline of March 1.
- Trail Riding/Driving Award Program – annual program that awards program participants with recognition for hours spent riding or driving on trails.
Technology - Responsible for reviewing and recommending equipment, hardware, and software for use in the business office. Collaborates with other committees to identify new ways that technology can assist WSHC in its mission statement.
Transition - Responsible for guiding and assisting the transition from the former By-Laws and structure of WSHC to align with the By-Laws adopted August, 2006. Assists the membership in each of the five districts to set up their district structure, as defined in the By Laws.
Wisconsin State Horse Council also sends representatives to several key equine organizations to represent the interest of WSHC and its mission statement. These are:
