By Sarah Gee
©Voice, April 2007

We hear the phrase, “Our youth are our future,” all the time. Most everyone would agree that this is an admirable statement and most everyone would also agree that it is even more admirable to back this statement up with actions. Well, it turns out that walking horse people are extremely admirable both in their statements and their actions.
Conducting a minimal amount of research via the internet and phone, this writer was able to discover no less than ten entities that offer scholarships for post-secondary education. No doubt, more extensive research would uncover even more scholarships in our great industry.
After all, walking horse people are known far and wide for their generosity.
The following is a list of some of the organizations within our industry that offer scholarships:

• Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association^SM – TWHBEA^SM offers eight $2,500 scholarships available to both undergraduate and graduate students. For more information call (931)359-1574.

• Voice Magazine™ – The Voice offers an undergraduate scholarship in the amount of $2,000. For more information contact Editor Stan Butt at sbutt@twhbea.com or (931)359-0594.

• Walking Horse Trainers’ Association – The WHTA offers three undergraduate scholarships. For more information visit www.walkinghorsetrainers.com or call the WHTA office at (931)684-5866.

• Kentucky Walking Horse Association Ladies Auxiliary – The KWHA Ladies Auxiliary one $500 undergraduate scholarship. For more information contact Auxiliary President Kris Hockensmith at (502)803-1287, Benevolent Committee Chairwoman Ann Cotton at (859)328-4351, or Auxiliary Secretary Nancy Short Minton at (859)369-5986.

• North Carolina Walking Horse Association – The NCWHA, via Tom and Teresa Kincaid, offers the Madison Holloway Scholarship. The award is $1,000 and it is available to undergraduate and graduate students. For more information contact Terri Mosley at terriem552@aol.com or (336)786-2299.

• North Carolina Walking Horse Association Ladies Auxiliary – The NCWHA Ladies Auxiliary offers an undergraduate scholarship in the amount of $1,000. For more information contact Auxiliary President Kelly Duschel at (704)530-9434.

• Tennessee Walking Horse Exhibitors’ Association of Oregon – The TWHEAO offers scholarships in the amount of $1,500 for undergraduate or graduate students. For more information visit www.twheao.com.

• Illinois Walking Horse Association – The IWHA offers scholarships of $1,000 or $1,500. For more information visit www.iwha.biz.

• Virginia Walking Horse Association – The VWHA offers at least one scholarship. For more information on who to contact about these awards visit www.vwha.com.

• Plantation Pleasure Walking Horse Association of North Carolina. The PPWHANC offers one $500 scholarship. For more information visit www.homestead.com/PPWHANC/Scholarship.html.

If there are other scholarships in the walking horse industry that you like to see listed in the Voice please submit the information to me at sgee@twhbea.com or (931) 359-0590.

TWHEAO – A Blueprint For Success

Since its inception in 1997, the Tennessee Walking Horse Exhibitors’ Association of Oregon (TWHEAO) Scholarship fund has grown from $1,000 to $4,000 primarily though local fundraising efforts. A large portion of the money has been generated by auctioning off or selling raffle tickets on donated stud fees for some of the top stallions in the industry. TWHEAO promotes these stallions via their website and at all of their shows and events.

In addition to the stud fees, TWHEAO raises money by auctioning a wide variety of services and products – from ‘slave labor’ to beach house weekends, to saddles and riding lessons – pretty much anything that will attract bidders is fair game for the auction held annually at the TWHEAO Awards Banquet.

When awarding their scholarships, TWHEAO sends the funds directly to the college or university. This way the Association knows where and how the money is being spent. Also, the stipulate that the scholarship must be used within three years after it is awarded or the money reverts back to the scholarship fund.