Who Exactly Is “We”? And Who Are You Partnering With?

by WHC Publisher Tommy Williams 931.492.2528

After reading this announcement about the USDA Horse Protection Team’s joint training with Designated Qualified Persons (DQPs) and the January 30, 2027, Open House at Cooper Steel Arena in Shelbyville, Tennessee, I have some questions that I believe deserve answers.

Here is what Jeffery spilled out this morning

As the weather turns cooler and the season wraps up, it’s the perfect moment to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments, cherished memories, and recognition we’ve enjoyed throughout 2026. Now, with that same enthusiasm, we’re already looking ahead and dreaming up exciting times for 2027.

We know that calendars fill up fast, and we’d love to secure a spot on yours!

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re organizing a USDA Horse Protection Team joint training session for DQPs along with an open house happening in January at Cooper Steel Arena in Shelbyville, TN. Please mark your calendar for Saturday, January 30, 2027—we’d be absolutely delighted to spend the day with you.

Our Open House welcomes owners, trainers, riders, event managers, and anyone from the community interested in learning more.

Full details are coming soon, but we wanted to make sure you had this save-the-date in hand.

Here’s to an amazing 2027 and to deepening our partnership together!

The announcement repeatedly uses the words “we,” “our,” and “partnership.” Those are important words, especially when we’re talking about the USDA Horse Protection Program and an industry that has spent years dealing with disagreements, enforcement concerns, and questions about the direction of horse protection.

So, who exactly is “we”?

Is “we” the USDA Horse Protection Team? Is it SHOW HIO? Is it AHS? Are these organizations working together on this event, or is one organization coordinating with the USDA while others are simply being invited to attend?

I’m not making an accusation. I’m asking for transparency.

The announcement specifically describes this as a joint training session for DQPs and an open house for owners, trainers, riders, event managers, and the broader community. It also closes by talking about “deepening our partnership together.”

That raises a reasonable question: Who are the partners in this relationship, and what does that partnership actually mean?

Are we talking about a working relationship between the USDA and the DQPs? Is SHOW HIO involved in organizing or supporting this event? Is AHS involved? If so, in what capacity? Who made the arrangements, who is responsible for the program, and who determines what will be discussed?

I also want to understand how this relationship fits into the larger picture of horse protection. What does the USDA expect from these organizations, and what should owners, trainers, and exhibitors expect from the USDA in return?

The public shouldn’t have to guess.

If this is an opportunity for education, cooperation, and better horse protection, then explain it clearly. Tell us who is participating, what the objectives are, and how this event will benefit the horses and the people responsible for their care.

I support transparency. I support accountability. And I believe everyone involved in the Walking Horse industry should be able to ask legitimate questions without those questions being dismissed as opposition to horse protection.

But I also believe that when an announcement emphasizes “we” and “partnership,” the people reading it have every right to know who those words represent.

So I’ll ask again: Who is “we”? Who is partnering with whom? Is SHOW HIO involved? Is AHS involved? And what exactly is the relationship between these organizations and the USDA Horse Protection Team?