New committee designed to help horse enthusiasts in the community.
A group who will have the ear of policymakers has been formed by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce.
The Equine Steering Committee was created to give horsemen, equine advocates and enthusiasts a voice, in addition to working toward improving and identifying needs within not only the equine community but also the community as a whole. The chairperson for the Equine Steering Committee is Sidelines magazine publisher Samantha Charles.
The equine steering committee is working toward building solidarity among the horsemen in Aiken, said Charles. The committee is scheduled to meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, 121 Richland Ave. E.
The current Equine Steering Committee is composed of 30 members, but it is Charles’ goal to quadruple the representation on the panel and to hear from all horsemen concerned about Aiken’s equine community.
The group was kept small during the initial phases so it could direct its energies and focus toward defining short-term and long-term goals and objectives, she said. Charles would also like to see more members of Aiken’s equine community become involved with the South Carolina Horse Council.
“We’d like to get more people involved and have more cross discipline representation,” said Charles, who said she would love to see more involvement from people who participate in Western disciplines, and the Walking Horse community.
Aiken has established itself as the state’s equine leader, and its powerful presence has been demonstrated in a number of recent surveys showing the impact not only on the area’s economy but also on how the industry benefits the community.
The Equine Steering Committee boasts four subcommittees, said Charles – the marketing subcommittee chaired by Mary Watts; the conservation/open space/integrated trail committee is co-chaired by Reed Edwards and Larry Byers; the government affairs committee chaired by Buzz Rich and the international horse park subcommittee, which is being co-chaired by Todd Stilp and Marlene Gorman.
For more information about Monday’s meeting or the Equine Steering Committee, call 257-7407.
By BEN BAUGH.
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