The first WHIA conference was a total success! Everyone had a great time and went back home with lots of new knowledge and many, many new friends. Everyone also went home with a sense of knowing that there are an incredible group of people working in the horse industry. People that care about making the industry better each and every day. Attendees came from all over the country including California, New York, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nevada, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Alabama, New Hampshire, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Tennessee and even Canada and Australia! All types of horse owners and all disciplines were there. And, many really great horse industry companies were in attendance. If you needed something in the horse industry, there was someone there to help you.

” A lot of business was done and will continue to be done now that the people have met one another. The speakers were fabulous and gave out a lot of great information. The exhibitors had some super products and were busy at every break; I could not have asked for a better result than what we got,” states Catherine Masters, Executive Director.

There were so many door prizes and give-a-ways that there was hardly enough time to give them away. The grand prize, a 1% interest in Sunrise Smarty, from West Point Thoroughbreds was won by Northwestern Mutual Agent, Lynn Reed (an avid horse person and equine specialist). She not only won the horse ownership, but she also won the hat from famed hat designer, Carol Bader from Del Mar hats. Makes one think that Sunrise Smarty and Lynn Reed just might be heading to the winner’s circle in a big way, doesn’t it?

And, if that wasn’t enough, some of the exhibitors went the next day after the conference to exhibit at Churchill Downs. Not only did Churchill Downs provide the exhibit space but they named the second race the Women’s Horse Industry race and after it was over, our exhibitors were invited down to the winner’s circle and had their picture taken with the winning horse! How cool was that?

Our thanks to everyone who participated and made our first conference so successful! To Bloodhorse to all the many other publications and individual websites that helped us spread the word, thanks!

Photos will be added daily over the next couple of days to our website so please keep checking.