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In the News
Governor McDonnell Appoints Dream Catchers Executive Director to the Virginia Horse Industry Board
Jul 27, 2012
Nancy Paschall has more than 30 years of experience in the horse industry and has been Executive Director at Dream Catchers since 2005. She is a member of the Virginia Horse Council, and a National Walking Horse and Walking Horse Owners of America licensed judge.
As a Board Member, Nancy will represent the interests of the 33 therapeutic horsemanship centers across the Commonwealth and help bring more awareness of the centers to the professional horse industry. “Therapeutic horsemanship introduces many people to horses for the first time to experience the joys and benefits of riding. Students benefit from strengthened muscles, improved balance and even improved symptoms of autism, as learned from the results of our recent study with the College of William and Mary. Volunteers, who in today’s difficult economic times may not have the opportunity to take horseback riding lessons, are able to learn about and be involved with horses and see the benefits of therapeutic riding first-hand,” comments Nancy.
“Additionally, while these therapeutic horsemanship centers are not generally rescue organizations, they provide the opportunity for a new career for horses that are no longer able to compete or have the endurance to ride many miles on the trail,” she adds.
Nancy is one of four appointments made by the Governor to the Board. The appointments are based on nominations made by the horse industry. Other appointments are new member David R. Lands of Gloucester, Director of Operations for the 192nd Intelligence Squadron for the Virginia Air National Guard, and the re-appointments of Beryl Herzog of Beaverdam, Owner of Green Bay Morgans Farm and Eleanor Jones of Disputanta.
Industry appointees join a 12-member board consisting of the Presidents of the Virginia Horse Council, the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, the Virginia Horse Shows Association, the Virginia Quarter Horse Association as well as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Horse Extension Specialist from Virginia Tech.
The Virginia Horse Industry Board promotes the horse industry in the Commonwealth through a variety of efforts including sponsorships in its grant program to support education, marketing and research. To date, the Board has awarded more than $800,000 in grants to promote the horse industry in Virginia. More details on the Virginia Horse Industry Board can be found at http://vhib.org/.