The Certified Horsemanship Association is thrilled to announce that veterinarian and animal welfare advocate Tom Lenz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, Senior Director of Equine Veterinary Services for Zoetis, will be doing a keynote address at the Certified Horsemanship Association International Conference. His talk will be on Thursday, October 20, at 4 p.m., at the Holiday Inn in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lenz’s talk is titled “Equine Welfare: Lessons Learned.” This year’s conference is scheduled for October 19-23 at the Holiday Inn Murfreesboro/Nashville on Silohill Lane and at the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Horse Science Center.
“The presentation will focus on lessons we learned in dealing with equine welfare issues and the Unwanted Horse situation,” said Lenz, who is speaking at a CHA conference for the first time. “In the past, welfare issues were discussed and resolved within the horse community, but this was the first national issue where non-horse owners and animal activists, as well as state and local officials, were involved in the debate and resolutions discussion. The result was a change on how we communicate and address equine welfare issues.”
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Lenz as a keynote speaker at our conference this year,” said Christy Landwehr, CHA’s CEO. “I have heard him speak at other equine industry events and he is very engaging and informative. Our attendees will love him!”
Lenz has been active for more than 40 years in the world of equine veterinary health through private practice, time spent in academia, and a variety of leadership roles in both horse and veterinary organizations. He has dedicated his life to educating others about animal welfare, often speaking to audiences in the equine, veterinary, and agriculture industries, as well as governmental groups. He has authored articles and book chapters on welfare.
“I believe that it is incumbent on us to make sure we are providing the best welfare possible to our animals,” said Lenz. “As a veterinarian, I believe that welfare is a huge part of overall animal wellness and has significant influence on their health.”
Lenz is a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and was honored with the 2005 AAEP Distinguished Service Award and the AAEP Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He is also a past chair of the AAEP’s Welfare Committee.
He is currently on welfare committees for the American Horse Council, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He is a trustee of the American Horse Council (AHC), the past chair of the Unwanted Horse Coalition, and the current chair of the AHC’s Welfare Committee.
Lenz has worked with some of the most dedicated individuals who advocate for animal health and welfare. Due to his dedication, he was awarded the AVMA’s 2010 Animal Welfare Award.
He has also served the American Quarter Horse Association as an honorary Vice President, co-chair of the Research Committee, and a member of AQHA’s Nominations, Credentials, and Research Committee. His monthly column for the American Quarter Horse Journal and Quarter Horse Racing Journal has run for more than 20 years.
Lenz graduated from the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. He earned Diplomate status in the American College of Theriogenologists in 1986 and an MS in Equine Reproduction from Texas A&M University in 1988. The University of Missouri honored Lenz as the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Alumnus of the Year in 1995 and as a distinguished alumni in 1997. He currently resides in Louisburg, Kansas.
In addition to Lenz’s keynote presentation, the CHA International Conference will include sessions from riding instructors, top veterinarians, horse trainers, farriers, equine behaviorists, and other equine professionals. Mounted workshops will give participants the chance to learn from the back of a horse while the audience learns from the live demonstration. This event is open to all. For more information on the CHA International Conference or to register, visit http://CHAInstructors.com/conference.
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.
