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ABOUT MINNESOTA HORSE COUNCIL Goals and Objectives Promote and/or support equine educational activities. Strengthen and facilitate communication among horse-related groups. Provide expertise, consultation and advice in horse -related matters . Board of Directors The Minnesota Horse Council is guided by up to 17 directors who each serve a three-year term. Ann Graney Hoffmann, President 952-469-4640 anngraneyhoffmann@mnhorsecouncil.org Dave Fleischhaker, 1st Vice President 651-402-5512 davefleischhaker@mnhorsecouncil.org Darrell Mead , 2nd Vice President 612-860-4645 darrellmead@mnhorsecouncil.org Dawn Moore, Secretary 612-819-1708 dawnmoore@mnhorsecouncil.org Elissa Lindsoe, Treasurer 612-819-4512 elissalindsoe@mnhorsecouncil.org Karen Clark 763-682-5324 karenclark@mnhorsecouncil.org Sandy Helgeson 612-275-5016 sandyhelgeson@mnhorsecouncil.org Judy Jensen 763-972-6397 judyjensen@mnhorsecouncil.org Trina Joyce 612-729-7798 trinajoyce@mnhorsecouncil.org Doug Persian 763-242-5570 dougpersian@mnhorsecouncil.org Meg Sax 320-761-3990 megsax@mnhorsecouncil.org Tracy Turner, DVM 651-440-1964 tracyturner@mnhorsecouncil.org

ABOUT THE MINNESOTA HORSE COUNCIL Join MHC and make a difference! Our member stables, saddle clubs, breed organizations, tack shops, businesses and horse people represent over 7,000 horse lovers in the state. Your membership in the Minnesota Horse Council will help us foster growth in and promote a vibrant Minnesota equine community. The MHC stays in touch with members through its monthly newsletter, "For Horses Sake," which is also mailed to other state horse councils, state and national publications, tack shops, local, state and federal agencies, various media, and other interested individuals and groups. Your membership in the Minnesota Horse Council will help us foster growth in and promote a vibrant Minnesota equine community. Join now, using the form below! Become a Member Today! Application Information: Select an item ($) * Family - $31.00 Family Membership & Equisure - $85.00 Individual - $26.00 Individual Membership & Equisure - $55.00 Youth (Under 18) - $16.00 Business/Corporation - $36.00 Certified Stable - $46.00 First name Last name Email Street Address, City, State, Zip Code Phone How did you find out about us? Select an option Volunteer Interests Aisle of Breeds Disaster Response Expo Horse Welfare/Humane Treatment Promotion/PR/ News Therapeutic Riding/Programs for Riders with Disabilities Trails Other Are you a New or Existing (renewing) member? New Existing (renew) Please tell us more about you and your involvement with horses! PDF Printable Membership Form Equisure Application & FAQs Submit Thank you!

MINNESOTA HORSE COUNCIL WELCOMES YOU! ABOUT THE MINNESOTA HORSE COUNCIL Our Mission The Minnesota Horse Council, a non-profit corporation, encourages and supports equine-related activities, concerns and education. Founded in 1935, the Council began as a vehicle for horse owners and exhibitors to coordinate horse activities with the Minnesota State Fair Board. Since then the Minnesota Horse Council has evolved into an umbrella organization uniting and supporting equine activities throughout the state. Programs Exceeding Your Expectations Membership Join the Minnesota Horse Council and make a difference. Your membership in the Minnesota Horse Council will help us foster growth and promote a vibrant Minnesota equine community. Programs The Minnesota Horse Council promotes and supports the Minnesota horse industry through a variety of activities and funding mechanisms. Resources The Minnesota Horse Council provides links and information the MHC has considered relevant and accurate for MN horse owners and enthusiasts. Join us for Minnesota's largest equine trade show and breed exhibition April 25th-27th 2025! Minnesota Horse Council Event Calendar GET IN TOUCH Name Email Subject Message Submit Thanks for submitting!

Trails Over 10 years ago, the Minnesota Horse Council recognized that horse trail issues were becoming an ever-larger part of its activities, significant enough that the Council decided to form a sub-committee to help provide support and financial backing for the maintenance and development of equine trails. This was the start of the MHC Trail Blazers. The MHC Trail Blazers works to support state trails by acting as a liaison in two main areas: We represent horse people in various statewide trail organizations. The Trail Blazers has been actively involved in organizations such as the MN Recreational Trail Users Association and the MN Parks & Trails Council. We also represent equestrian trail users before the Minnesota Legislature on matters such as landowner liability on trails and appropriations for parks and trails funding. We serve as a liaison between government bodies and local trails organizations. The Trail Blazers have developed good relationships and contacts with the MN Department of Natural Resources and the federal wilderness area managers. We recognize that we cannot ourselves deal with each trail state-wide; that is best done by the local trail user groups. What the Trail Blazers can do is provide advice to local trails groups, put them in contact with the right trail manager, and when necessary, intervene with someone at the state office. Application procedures To begin the application process, please call of the Trail Blazer members list below. The procedure for applying for trails assistance varies depending on the project. Through the direct contacting process, we can then tell you what information is needed to apply for Minnesota Horse Council funds to assist in your specific trails project. There is no specific deadline for submitting requests for funding; each request will be evaluated as it is received. Our Trails committee will try to give a preliminary response within 1 month of receiving the request for funding. However, trail work is frequently done in cooperation with the state or federal government, or as matching funds. Major trail projects often require lengthy planning and approvals; projects sometimes take 2 to 3 years of planning before actual work on the trail begins. For more information/resources regarding trails in Minnesota please visit the DNR Horseback Riding information page . Also visit the Minnesota Horse Pass page to see more information regarding Horse Pass information and purchase options.

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Sponsorships The MHC Promotions Committee will sponsor equine events. The purpose of the sponsorships is to: Promote the Minnesota Horse Council to Minnesota horse people and make them more aware of the MHC programs. Obtain more memberships by having membership sign-ups at events. In keeping with the MHC mission, help support clubs, associations and organizations. Types of Events: Horse Shows Club/Association Dinners Organized Trail Rides Fundraisers Educational Clinics where more than one clinician is speaking/teaching (The MHC does not sponsor individuals.) Sponsorship Application

Grants Through grants, the Minnesota Horse Council provides support to a variety of equine related endeavors. This not only provides support but creates a lasting impact that reaches far beyond the present. The grant program was established with three main goals in mind: In keeping with the MHC mission, help support clubs, associations and organizations. Promote the Minnesota Horse Council to Minnesota horse people and make them more aware of the MHC programs. Obtain more memberships by having membership sign-ups at events. Over the years the MHC has supported many types of projects including Horse Shows, Club/Association Dinners, Organized Trail Rides, Fundraisers, and multi clinician Educational Clinics. To continue the support of the grant program, the Minnesota Horse Council uses the revenue from its Minnesota Horse Expo to provide "seed money grants" for new horse projects or programs or for capital improvements by Minnesota horse groups. In 1991 the Council moved to set up a regular, formalized process to offer grants each year and to have a standard application format and specified eligibility criteria, so that applicants would know what types of projects are supported by MHC. The yearly grants have continued each year to present day with over $1,326,661 for a total of 368 grants since its inception. If interested in applying, please view the application for further details on the grant requirements and application details. Grant Application Common Mistakes on Grant Applications

TEEFA Temporary Emergency Equine Feed Asssitance In 2008, a longtime Minnesota Horse Council member, seeing a need for financially strapped horse owners, set up a donation station at his place of business. In early 2009 he approached the MHC with $400 that had been donated. He asked the MHC to manage the distribution of the funds. Thus the Temporary Emergency Equine Feed Assistance (TEEFA) committee was formed. TEEFA is run by a committee made of up MHC Board members. The committee relies on individual donations and fundraising efforts by groups and organizations such as 4-H, FFA, etc. to help raise additional monies needed to feed hungry horses as well as funds from the Minnesota Horse Council (beginning in 2014). There is assistance available for those horse owners facing temporary financial hardships which may affect their ability to feed their horses. Feed assistance is provided by direct payment to the vendor for feed or hay. All information received from the applicants will be kept confidential. TEEFA Application

Minnesota High School Equestrian Association The Minnesota High School Equestrian Association is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote equestrian disciplines as a high school team sport with an emphasis on education, citizenship and recognition of equestrian athletes in a wide variety of equestrian disciplines. The program is administered by the Minnesota Horse Council and provides Varsity and JV recognition to riders of many disciplines. Members who attend a school that has approved and recognizes the MHSEA Program will be eligible for Varsity or, in some cases JV, recognition from their school. For more information, please visit the Minnesota High School Equestrian Association website. For exciting updates and opportunities , follow the official Minnesota High School Equestrian Association Facebook page !

Direct Funding The Minnesota Horse Council Direct Funding Program will send a check for up to $500 to any non-profit horse-related organization to help cover the expenses of a program or activity they organize which advances the goals of the Minnesota Horse Council . There is no specific deadline for submitting requests for funding; requests will be evaluated as they are received. Our goal is to complete this evaluation and send a letter of acceptance or rejection to the submitter within 30 day s of receiving the request. Direct Funding awards are normally paid after the project is completed. This will be arranged between the recipient and the Horse Council Treasurer. Direct Funding awards must be used within 6 months. Your organization can only receive this funding once per year. Direct Funding Application

Aisle of Breeds The Minnesota Horse Council and the Minnesota Horse Expo, in conjunction with the Minnesota State Fair, has a display in the south entrance to the Horse Barn during the Minnesota State Fair. We have ten stalls (one for supplies) that are decorated for the event. Horse owners volunteer to bring different breeds of horses to the Aisle of Breeds (at no charge) for display and for the general public to view and learn more about the different breeds of horses. Horses usually stay from one to three days. A current Coggins test is required (and a Health Certificate if out of state - except Wisconsin). The owner of the animal (horses, mules, and donkeys) are encouraged to have a table and chairs in front of stalls to provide breed information, and where the horse is from. TV's are welcome. Two State Fair tickets are given each day to the animal owners and there is free parking for horse trailers (no motor homes). The State Fair for 2024 is August 22nd through September 2nd. If you are interested in participating Email info@mnhorsecouncil.org .