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Our History

The South Carolina Horsemen's Council was incorporated as a SC non-profit corporation, April 14, 1993.  It is a state-wide, all volunteer 501 c(3) Tax Exempt organization. This 501c3 tax exempt status was granted by the IRS December, 24, 2009 (retroactive  to August 28,2009); and replaced the 2002 agricultural 501c5 status.

 Since its founding the SCHC has been involved in issues which impact the horse community and reflect our motto that SC Horses Mean SC Business. The many activities of the SCHC always promote our purpose which is to protect and further our right to own and keep horses for business and recreation.  SCHC strives to connect, communicate, and educate our members, our elected and government officials, and the general public about the horse community and the industry we support.   

Our Achievements

The SCHC...
  • Plans and Executes an Equine Extravaganza Expo which includes the Annual Meeting
  • Presents the Horse Person of the Year Award which recognizes a SC person who has contributed to the well-being of SC horses in a sustained capacity
  • Represents SC Equine Industry at SC Dept. of  Agriculture Taste of SC.
  • Sponsors SC State Fair Equestrian Youth Scholarship Program in partnership with the SC Farm Bureau Federation 
  • Maintains an up-to-date Website and issues e-newsflashes  and newsletters to members
  • Hosts SCHC Annual Trail Ride 
  • Created a seminar to certify law enforcement and animal control officers in identifying abuse and neglected equine throughout the state 
  • SCHC awards over $3000 in Scholarships annually
  • In conjunction with Dr Adam Eichelberger completed the Standards for Basic Horse Care in SC 
  • Maintains an active Horse Welfare Committee which launched and maintains the SCHC Horse Help Hot Line. 
  • SCHC sends underprivileged children to horse camp each year
  • Created Horse Welfare Committee in 2009
  • Provides funding for the Horse Welfare Stallions to Geldings Project which provides grants to organizations and individuals for free or reduced cost.
  • Provides funding for euthanasia 
  • Host Equine Management Workshops and  Horse Health seminars.
  • Mapped all public equestrian trails in SC  
  • Initiated campaign for the Coggins Bill and the SC Equine Act of July 1, 1993. Signed into law by Governor Caroll Campbell. 
  • Developed joint endorsement with SC Dept of Agriculture and SC Farm Bureau for the Equine Promotion Bill in 2007 which was tabled in committee in 2008
  • Hosted the Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference in Charleston, July 31- Aug. 7, 2008 in joint effort with SCDA,  SC Forest Commission, US Forestry Service, Charleston County Parks and Recreation, and the SC Department of parks, Recreation, and Tourism; and recognized Dr. Gene Wood of Clemson University for establishing the Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference at Clemson in 1998
  • Launched effective defeat of SC House Bill 3889  and testified before the House Committee. This Bill, introduced in April  2, 2009, would have made it unlawful  to enter the State with a horse unless the horse has been tested for equine infectious diseases, including equine strangles and equine infectious anemia within the previous 30 days. If passed, this Bill would have had an extremely negative effect on equine tourism. Thanks to SCHC efforts, this Bill never made it out of committee and was recalled April 22, 2009
  • Endorsed Marsh Tacky as the SC State Heritage Horse. Senate Bill 1030 passed and was signed into law June 11, 2010, by Governor Mark Sanford. 
  • Recommended changes which were incorporated in the 2012 amended SC Equine Liability Law 
  • Hosted the first National Equestrian Trails conference in Rock Hill, July 18-20, 2013, which brought conservationists, youth, and trail enthusiasts, users, and managers from around the nation  together.

SC Horsemen’s Council Presidents

1993- 1994
1995
1996-1998
1999
2000-2003
2004-2007
2007-2010
2011
2012-2015
​2016
​2016-2017
Jackie Starnes
Blanchard Poole
Bobby Anderson
Larry Westfall  
Julie Sessions 
Bobby Anderson
Carol Deacon
Terry Boger  
Bill Steele
Tommy Doyle 
​Wanda Wood
Manning
Swansea
Sumter
Camden
Lexington
Sumter
Rock Hill
Simpsonville
Fort Mill
Charleston
Smyrna