American Horse Council

The American Horse Council (AHC) is a trade organization in Washington, DC representing the horse industry. The organization formed in the late 1960s, and received IRS 501(c) non-profit recognition in 1969,^[1] with a committee that became the Coalition of State Horse Councils forming in 1970, now having 43 states participating.^[2] American Horse Council Foundation was founded in 1991.^[3] It lobbies before Congress and Federal agencies for the interests of the horse industry, and serves as a unified voice for the horse industry.

American Horse Council

Formation	Organization 1969; 56 years ago (1969), foundation 1991; 34 years ago (1991)
Type	501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit
Legal status	active
Purpose	Trade organization
Headquarters	Washington, DC
Region	United States
Fields	Horse industry
Website	horsecouncil.org

Membership is open to anyone, but is primarily made up of the following groups:

• Horse Councils of individual states;
• breed organizations;
• horse breeders;
• farriers;
• veterinarians;
• horse owners;
• rodeos;
• race tracks;
• horse industry businesses;
• individuals.

A subcommittee of the American Horse Council, the State Horse Councils Advisory Committee (SHCAC), is made up of representatives of the individual state horse councils, and works on equine issues at the state level, dealing with state legislation, trails & show facilities, state horse expos, etc.

Van Ness Award

This committee annually presents the Van Ness Award, given in honor and memory of Marjorie Van Ness of New Jersey, a long-time leader and friend to the entire horse industry. This award is presented to an individual that best emulates the dedication and commitment of Marge Van Ness to the improvement of the horse industry at the state level. Past recipients have been:

Van Ness Award Winners

1990	:	Richard Woolam of Connecticut
1991	:	Glenn T. Petty of North Carolina
1992	:	the Indiana Horse Council
1993	:	Bobbi Lipka of New York
1994	:	Lt. Col. James Marsh of New Jersey
1995	:	Ruby Holmquist of Illinois
1996	:	Jim Real of California
1997	:	Connie Diedrichs-Kimbrel of Colorado
1998	:	Valerie Cole of New Mexico
1999	:	Lisa Derby Oden of New Hampshire
2000	:	Robert Mowrey of North Carolina
2001	:	Karyn Malinowski of New Jersey
2002	:	Jerry Walker of Indiana
2003	:	Diane Jones of New York
2004	:	Neil Shaw of Ohio
2005	:	David Petrie of Wisconsin
2006	:	Glen Eaton of Minnesota
2007	:	Jane Gilbert of New Jersey
2008	:	Eldon G. Reyer of New Mexico
2009	:	Sally Blount of Iowa[4]
2010	:	Crystal Brumme-Kimball of Maryland
2011	:	Edith Stanger of Idaho[5]
2012	:	Madelyn Millard of Kentucky[6]
2013	:	Beverly Raymond of Maryland[7]
2014	:	Paul Briney of Illinois[8]
2015	:	Yvette Anderson-Rollins of Indiana[9]
2016	:	Ann Swinker of University Park, Pennsylvania[10]
2017	:	Jill Montgomery of Pueblo West, Colorado[11]
2018	:	Tim Capps, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky[12]
2019	:	Jean Ligon, of the Michigan Horse Council[13]
2020	:	Fred Sarver, of Carlisle, Kentucky[14]
2022	:	Lonny Powell, of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association