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Certified Horsemanship Association Welcomes Two New Board Members

The Certified Horsemanship Association Board of Directors welcomed two new board members at the 2015 Certified Horsemanship Association International Conference in October in Amarillo, Texas. In addition, Peggy Adams, CHA’s current president, will continue leading the CHA Board of Directors for the second year of her two-year term. The two new board members include Christine Henry, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Jennifer Eaton, of Groveland, Massachusetts. Both Henry and Eaton have extensive backgrounds in working with youth, growing youth programs for associations, and have been active in a variety of roles in the horse industry.

Christine Henry is currently the Director of Youth and Amateur Activities and Awards for the American Paint Horse Association (APHA). She is also a CHA Certified Instructor at English Level 3 and Western Level 2. She has a passion for encouraging youth involvement, and at APHA, she coordinates all youth programming, including the AjPHA National Leadership teams, the novice youth program, and activities at the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show. She is also the staff liaison for the APHA Youth Advisory Committee and serves on the Amateur Advisory Committee.

As a volunteer, she has managed and worked at horse shows and events in the south connected to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, Interscholastic Equestrian Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and the National Reining Horse Association. Not only does she work behind the scenes at shows, but Henry loves to show her gelding named Reno in all-around events.

Henry is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) with a degree in Horse Science and an alumni of the MTSU Equestrian Team. During her tenure on the MTSU Equestrian Team, she served as an event coordinator, vice president, and president for the team, which had 106 members at the time. As a teenager, Henry first began working with youth as a summer camp counselor in the north Georgia mountains. Her passion within APHA and CHA is to help enhance the horse experience for all participants now and in the future and to provide youth education in the equine and agriculture industries.

Henry was really impressed with CHA’s certification process when she got her certification in 2012 and loves how “CHA truly understands that the ideal and best-equipped industry professional is someone who has both formal and informal education along with experiences and abilities that enable them to face any challenge.”

“I am thrilled to serve on the CHA Board and offer a ‘Paint perspective’ to the industry challenges we face,” said Henry. “CHA provides a valuable service to our industry, and I am excited to lend a hand in helping it to grow and spread knowledge throughout the equine community.”

Jennifer Eaton is currently the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s (IEA) Membership Marketing Coordinator, a position she has held since 2012. She has excelled in her role of expanding membership around the country and creating programs and opportunities to benefit their members. Earlier this year, Eaton received the Timothy J. Boone Lifetime Achievement Award from IEA for her longtime contribution to the organization. Eaton has been dedicated to the growth of the Membership Office and to the betterment of IEA. Under her leadership, membership in IEA has quadrupled. Since joining IEA in 2009 as a membership staff member, she has assisted IEA with the growth and resource development necessary to allow for the expansion of the membership, assisted coaches and parents with member enrollment, and managed competitions.

Prior to joining the staff, she served in volunteer roles for IEA from 2006 to 2014 as a member coach, Regional President, Zone Chairperson, and as a member of the IEA Board of Directors. She still serves as a Show Steward and often travels outside of New England to assist show hosts in the operation of quality competitions.

Eaton began working in the horse industry in 1984 at the age of 11 when she was offered a summer job at a riding stable. She obtained her Massachusetts’ Instructors License in 1992, which she has kept in good standing for 24 years. She has assisted in lessons, horse shows, and also been a barn manager. Her Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology has helped her teach a variety of youth and adults to learn to ride and care for horses.

In 2014, Eaton was given the Massachusetts Horseman’s Council Person of the Year Award for her contributions to the development of youth equestrian opportunities in her area as well as her professional objective to provide quality instruction to any person regardless of their individual goals.

She is excited to share her experience and assist in the development of programs offered by CHA. “As a longtime volunteer and member of the IEA I have ground level knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the coach members of our organization,” said Eaton. “As the Membership Marketing Coordinator for IEA, I am interested in contributing to an organization that will help to expand the education of our coach members in an effort to provide quality instruction and experience to our rider members.”

CHA President Peggy Adams has been on the CHA board for nine years and is a CHA Clinician. She previously taught and coached riding at her own farm, PLA HorsePlay, and worked for the Girl Scouts for 30 years in a variety of managerial positions.

Returning Board of Directors include:

Anne Brzezicki, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

Dr. Bob Coleman, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Julie Fischer, Girl Scouts of America, Allenspark, CO

Tammi Gainer, Pegasus Farms, Alliance, OH

Tara Gamble, TG Horsemanship, Ardrossan, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Amanda Love, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX

Jim McGarvey, Back Country Horsemen of America, Calhoun, GA

Beth Powers of Bellefontaine, OH

Ward Stutz, American Quarter Horse Association, Amarillo, TX

Terry Williams, Blanchester, OH.

To find out more about the CHA Board visit http://cha-ahse.org/store/pages/28/Board_Of_Directors.html.

CHA Instructors Change Lives Through Safe Experiences with Horses. The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies instructors and trail guides, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals, produces educational horsemanship DVDs and YouTube Safety shorts, and hosts regional and international conferences. For more information on the largest certifying body of riding instructors and barn managers in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA-ahse.org or call 859-259-3399. To find a certified horseback riding instructor or accredited equine facility near you, visit www.CHAinstructors.com.

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