Education

Bachelor of Science - Agriculture/Animal Husbandry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Master of Science - Animal Industries - Physiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Additional graduate work toward doctorate Animal Physiology. University of Tennessee
American Management Association - Organizational and Management Courses
American Society of Association Executives - Personnel and Operational Management
University of Arizona/Washington State University - Equine Identification Seminars
Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium - Member, participant

Honors and Recognitions                                  

American Horse Publications - Numerous awards as editor of two major breed journals
Livestock Publications Council - Numerous awards as editor of two major breed journals.
Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry - Outstanding Service Award
American Morgan Horse Association - Excellence in Service
International Arabian Horse Association - Exceptional Service - President's Award
Massachusetts Cooperative Extension - Citation for Outstanding Service to 4-H Horse Program
Vermont Cooperative Extension - Citation for Outstanding Service to 4-H Horse Program

Volunteer/Community Service Work

Director, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Fayette County
President, All Kentucky Ag Expo [Two Terms]
Director - American Horse Shows Association [currently United States Equestrian Federation]
Director - Kentucky Farm Bureau - Fayette County
Vice President/Director - Pedigree Livestock Council
Committee Member - Horse Show Committee - American Horse Council
Committee Member - National Equine Identification Committee - American Horse Council

Professional Experience

Hipsley & Associates, Lexington, Kentucky - Equine Educators and Consultants
Providing a variety of services for many aspects of the horse business and related industries including association management and operations reviews; budget preparation; financial reviews; bylaws reviews; personnel searches and preliminary interviews; establishment of judges educational seminars and licensing criteria; coordination of educational programs; newsletter preparation; event management; equine related subject matter presentations; advice to legal counsel during litigation. Wrote numerous articles and monthly columns for equine publications. Client base ranges from domestic to foreign organizations: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn., Color Breed Council Pinto Horse of America, Massachusetts Dept. of Public Safety, American Horse Council, American Miniature Horse Association, United States Pony Club, American Hanoverian Society, New Zealand Royal Agricultural Society, New Zealand Pinto Horse Assn, Andalusian Horse Society of New Zealand, New Zealand Western Riding Society, Appaloosa Horse Assn of NZ, International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Assn., International Buckskin Horse Assn, British Miniature Horse Society, Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry, Fjord Horse International, American Hackney Society, Danish Fjord Horse Studbook, City of Providence Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales College, North American Riding for the Handicapped, Rocky Mountain Saddle Horse Assn. Appaloosa Horse Club, American Horse Council, US Livestock Genetic Export [USDA Foreign Marketing Service], Kentucky Horse Council, plus many state and local organizations as well as breeders and owners.

Work as equine consultant for legal counsel and others in matters associated with the business of horses. [details attached]

Executive Vice President - International Arabian Horse Association, Denver, Colorado
Served as the chief operating officer for this 32,000 member non-profit breed organization. Through internal initiatives, increased membership by 4,000 in 4 years. Worked direct with members of the Executive Committee in implementing policies and procedures; prepared financial reports, budgets, and status reports for the Board of Directors; supported annual audits of the financial activities; created periodic financial reports for officers; relocated assn offices from California to Colorado; hired entirely new staff for new offices; prepared organizational chart; wrote appropriate job descriptions; established employee policies and trained all new employees; coordinated the modification and implementation of new computer software; served as executive editor for breed journal; established advertising and marketing programs, feature editorial assignment, overall conceptual design and layout. Coordinated corporate sponsorship program, event management for Canadian and US National Horse Shows, Arabian Horse Fairs, annual membership meetings, and licensed official educational seminars. Established and coordinated the racing programs for non pari-mutual and pari-mutual racing throughout the US. Coordinated public relations programs, newsletters, and event promotions. Implemented financial incentive programs, ie Arabian Breeder's Sweepstakes. Created internal marketing programs to sell specialty logo products to members and those with an interest in the breed.

Executive Director - American Morgan Horse Association, Shelburne, Vermont [formally Utica, NY]
Served as the chief operating officer of this 10,000 member non-profit breed organization. Worked with the members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors to create and implement new programs. Prepared periodic financial reports. Prepared the annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors. Supported annual audit of financial records. Relocated office within the community. Assisted the Board of Directors in the acquisition of property for a permanent office in Vermont. Oversaw the operations of the breed registry, worked with legal counsel to restructure registry rules and regulations. Worked with legal counsel to handle legal matters. Served as breed journal editor, established advertising programs, feature editorial assignment and overall conceptual design and layout. Coordinated the publication of the national horse show programs, marketing program [ The Year of the Morgan ], and event management for the national horse show. Coordinated the implementation of a new computer online software system. Coordinated the first multi-breed advertising program in an effort to promote the equine industry in publications with a new targeted audience.

Field Secretary - Arabian Horse Registry of America, Denver, Colorado
Initial responsibility for contacting breeders with problems in completing registrations and transfers of ownership requirements. When correspondence with breeders and owners proved to be insufficient, personal visits were made to their farms for clarifications. If intentional misrepresentations were discovered action was taken against the breeder/owner. Worked with legal counsel to develop due process procedures. Participated in legal proceedings against breeders/owners. Conducted investigations into breeders/owners activities of improper registration and transfer, primarily due to deliberate acts of misrepresentation. Represented the organization at membership meetings, and presented new programs directly via public meetings. Created educational materials to assist breeders/owners in correctly supplying registration and transfer of ownership information, suggestions for improving record keeping, and definitions of acceptable conformation. Worked with the University of California on developing blood type parentage analysis procedures. Worked with Keith Farrell, DVM, Washington State University on the development of the freeze marking permanent identification program. Conducted research on the growth of permanent marks on foals in an effort to create a marking iron small enough to be used successfully on foals. Worked with Colorado State University in the implementation of the equine artificial insemination short course and worked as liaison with the breeders and their veterinarians on breeding issues. Traveled to Egypt to freeze mark all the Arabian Horses in the country under the supervision of the EAO. Coordinated the inspection of imported Arabian Horses into the US for quality of conformation standards in accordance with the Registry's standard.

Professor/Department Head, Equine Studies - Midway College, Midway, Kentucky
Managed the equine teaching unit including coordination of course content, instruction and advising students. Served as Division Chairman on President's Council and tenure committee. Established curriculum for graduation criteria; prepared annual budget for department; handled all equine related donated gifts and contributions, oversaw the horse herd management and care, including farrier and veterinary care; and responsible for all aspects of the equine studies program. Taught courses: Introduction to the Horse; Equine Business Farm Management, Equine Reproductive Management; Equine Management; Horsemanship, Beginning through Immediate; Practical Equine Management and Handling. Coached intercollegiate riding team.

Faculty Member/Instructor - University of Connecticut & University of Tennessee
Taught equine studies courses: Introduction to the Horse, Equine Breeding Management, Horse Judging and Selection, Horse Breed Promotion and Advertising, Horse Farm Management. Served as a student adviser on course selection and counseling for graduation. Faculty advisor to student activities clubs, including Intercollegiate Horse Show team. Coached intercollegiate horse judging team. Participated in contests at All American Quarter Horse Congress, National Horse Judging Contest[Harrisburg, PA], and Eastern States Horse Judging Competition. Participated as full-time faculty member in departmental committees and activities. Conducted research on reproductive physiology for collecting equine embryos, behavioral studies for stabled horses, and examined the interrelationship between the pituitary and the pineal glands and their effect on reproduction in the mare.

Superintendent of Horses - Instructor - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Managed the University teaching and research herd, taught lectures and laboratory classes in horse breeding; horse reproductive physiology; horse management and care; horse training - riding and driving; horse safety; veterinary and farrier care; equine research into behavior, nutrition, foaling and physiology. Coached the intercollegiate horse judging team. Served as the liaison to the State 4-H Extension office, providing educational support on a variety of subjects for training volunteer leaders and youth.

State Extension Specialist - Agricultural Education - University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Service, Amherst, MA
Prepared and coordinated agricultural based educational curriculum and programs for educators in conjunction with agricultural producers [i.e. MA Farm Bureau, MA Horse Council, Ocean Spray NY-NE Apple Producers, MA Maple Sugar Producers, American Water Works, USDA Agricultural Inspection Service, Agriculture in the Classroom] for distribution throughout the state Coordinated and conducted teacher education workshops and in-service programs. Admitted to graduate teaching faculty. School of Education. Provided educational resources for classroom programs. Wrote curriculum and work study guides for teachers and students. Worked with a non-profit Board of Directors in fund raising. Prepared informational brochures, press releases and quarterly newsletters. Presented educational concepts on learning agriculture and issues associated with the challenges being presented by animal rights organizations to professional educators.

Licensed Horse Show Judge and Member [current and past]
American Miniature Horse Association
American Miniature Horse Registry 
American Shetland Pony Club
American Buckskin Horse Registry
Appaloosa Horse Club of New Zealand 
International Buckskin Horse Association
Fjord Horse International - International Judge
Haflinger Association of New Zealand - Evaluator 
National Snaffle Bit Association
New England Horseman's Council - English/Western 
New Zealand Miniature Horse Association
North American Saddle Mule Association
Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry
Pinto Horse Association of America
Ponies of the Americas
United States Equestrian Federation 
          Andalusian, Friesian
          Arabian, Western, Stock Seat Equitation [formally]
Western Riding Federation of New Zealand

Additional Memberships

American Horse Council
Kentucky Farm Bureau
Kentucky Equine Education Project
Kentucky Horse Council

Publications

Developing Risk Management Programs for Riding Stables [work in progress]
2005 European Union: Market Study and Recommendations prepared for USLGE
How to Purchase a Horse in the United States [DVD in five languages] for USLGE
Evaluating and Selecting Fjord Horses 1999[revised 2008]
Evaluating and Selecting American Miniature Horses 2003 [revised 2008]
The Art and Science of Judging and Selecting Horses and Ponies 2007
Judging Horses in Individual and Team Competition 1972 Mass. Extension Publication
 
Several articles and columns on a variety of topics related to the horse industry, [i.e. judging, marketing, training, showing, breeds history, and more].

Educational Seminars and Clinics

A variety of educational seminars have been held in many different countries. Worked as the coordinator/instructor for horse show judge's seminars held to educate and license judges. Consultant and coordinate on the licensing processes, including the preparation of examinations and the examination process.

The following are some of the associations:

American Miniature Horse Association, American Morgan Horse Association, International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association, International Arabian Horse Association, Miniature Horse Club of Great Britain, Miniature Horse Club of Europe, Andalusian Horse Association of New Zealand, New Zealand Pinto Horse Association, Miniature Horse Society of New Zealand, British Miniature Horse Society, Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry, New Zealand Agricultural Society[All Breeds], Color Breed Council and more.