Pfizer Animal Health and American Horse Publications are proud to announce that a winner has been selected to receive the 2012 Equine Industry Vision Award. Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, the award is intended to recognize innovation, leadership and service. All of the nine nominees this year were outstanding examples of these qualities.
2012 Equine Industry Vision Award
Pfizer Animal Health and AHP developed the Equine Industry Vision Award to create the first major award to showcase innovation across the equine industry.
The Equine Industry Vision Award Committee reviewed the nominations and narrowed the list of nominees to four candidates. The committee selected the following finalists: American Paint Horse Association, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012; Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, retirement farm for pensioned Thoroughbred race horses; Denny Emerson, USEA Hall of Fame member and past vice president of USET; and Equine Land Conservation Resource, a non-profit organization to educate horsemen on to how to conserve land and trails for horses and equine-related activities.
The remaining five nominees included: Tootie Bailey Bland, owner and founder of Road to the Horse; Gregory Ferraro DVM, director at Center for Equine Health at UC Davis; the late Denny Hales, former executive vice president of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association; Peggy McElveen, director of equine programs at St. Andrews Presbyterian University; and Jochen Schleese, certified master saddler.
The AHP Board of Directors, plus a Pfizer Animal Health representative, voted for the winner. Finalists were judged on their performance in relation to the achievement(s) cited and their demonstration of the following attributes and abilities: 1) The vision and innovation of a true pioneer; 2) Leadership, commitment, dedication and willingness to serve; 3) Original and effective ideas and/or products, services, programs; 4) High moral, ethical and professional standards.
The winner will be notified to allow for travel arrangements. However, the official announcement and presentation of the award will be made at the Equine Industry Vision Award Breakfast on Friday, June 1, 2012 during the AHP Ride Into History Seminar in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The recipient will be presented with the Equine Industry Vision Award Perpetual Trophy, created by master artisan Peter Wayne Yenawine and commissioned by Pfizer Animal Health.
Together, Pfizer Animal Health and AHP developed the Equine Industry Vision Award to create the first major award to showcase innovation across the equine industry. The award is intended not only to serve as a unique recognition of ingenuity and service, but also to benefit the industry by inspiring these qualities in others. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding leadership, creativity and meritorious contributions in the equine industry.
Previous recipients of the Equine Industry Vision Award are Alexander Mackay-Smith in 2002, Don Burt in 2003, the American Quarter Horse Association in 2004, John Ryan Gaines in 2005, Stanley Bergstein in 2006, David O'Connor in 2007, Sally Swift in 2008, Charlotte Brailey Kneeland in 2009, John Nicholson in 2010, and Robert E. Cacchione in 2011.
American Horse Publications is a non-profit professional association dedicated to promoting excellence in equine media and better understanding and communication within the equine publishing industry. For more information, please contact: Chris Brune, American Horse Publications at ahorsepubs@aol.com or 386-760-7743 or visit the AHP Web site at www.americanhorsepubs.org
About Pfizer Animal Health
Pfizer Animal Health, a business unit of Pfizer Inc, is a world leader in the discovery, development and manufacture of innovative animal health vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic products. Pfizer Animal Health invests more in research and development than any other animal health company.
We work to assure a safe, sustainable global food supply from healthy beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry and fish while helping dogs, cats and horses live healthier longer lives. We strive to be the animal health company that provides full healthcare solutions to veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners. To learn more, visit http://www.us.animalhealth.pfizer.com