2026 Nominated Candidates for the Board of Directors Election
The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association Board Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the successful completion of the new nomination process - developed by the ASHBA Governance Council and unanimously approved by the ASHBA Board of Directors. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to member engagement and strong governance that supports the future of the Saddlebred community.
· Nominations submitted: 38
· Unique nominees: 28 (some were nominated by several people)
· Applicants: 16 (nominees/members who completed a detailed application)
A sincere thank you to the Nominating Committee members, including Chair Joan Todd, Betsy Boone, Allison Deardorff, Larry Hartsock, and Donna Smith, for their thoughtful and diligent work in implementing this updated process.
Meet The Candidates:
- May Chadick, Texas
- Sandra Currier, Texas
- Erin Eichenbaum, Florida
- Steve Gaw, Missouri
- Diego Miron, Florida
- Melissa Moore, Kentucky
- Scott Robinson, Kentucky
- Brooke Simpson, New Hampshire
- Barbe Smith, Louisiana
Click to watch interviews with our Board of Directors candidates
May Chadick
Click here to view May's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Vantage Point Farm, LLC owner and head trainer May Chadick hails from a 50+ year background in the American Saddlebred world. Originally from New Orleans, LA, she’s been riding since the age of three, shares a lifelong passion for the breed with her mother, journalist Ann Bullard, and sister, Margo Urad, and grew up competing on the tough Southwest Circuit. Her career path was always horses.
May entered the industry professionally after studying business management, journalism & equine science in college, and gained professional experience working as an assistant & exhibiting under several highly respected professionals in the industry. Don Bridges, Lori Glickman, Cash Lovell, Jr., Jack Magill, and Barbe Smith along with others helped shape her career as a trainer & instructor before venturing out to operate her own program.
Her lifetime experience as a juvenile & adult amateur rider, owner, trainer, instructor, breeder and parent has formed a compassionate, open-minded person who comprehends the show horse industry from many aspects.
May believes in giving back to the industry. She demonstrates this by judging horse shows, giving clinics, working with local charities, and volunteering on horse industry boards. Her dedication includes serving as secretary of UPHA Chapter 6/7, Trainer Representative on the TASHA board, member of the ASHBA Charter Club Council (2025 Chairperson), and the 2026 ASHBA Convention Committee.
An advocate for the American Saddlebred in every way, she was voted UPHA Chapter 6/7 Horseperson of the Year in 2013 and inducted into the Texas Horseman's Hall of Fame in 2024.
Email: [email protected]
Sandra Currier
Click here to view Sandra's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
After two years of college, Sandra realized her passion was with the horses and not in her major. Leasing stalls in upstate New York she started a public training stable where she was working Arabians, Morgans and Saddlebreds.Several years later she took a job at Misty Hills owned by Maynard Casler. This gave her a chance to work with and show some very nice Saddlebreds. Four years later after a particularly cold winter in New York, she took a job with Mr and Mrs. Perwien at Bluebonnet Farm in Bellville, TX. She has been with Bluebonnet Farm for approximately 30 plus years. She also enjoy judging and working on several ASHBA Committees.
Email: [email protected]
Erin Eichenbaum
Click here to view Erin's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Erin Eichenbaum is a lifelong advocate for the American Saddlebred and an accomplished equestrian whose passion for the breed continues to shape her volunteer and leadership work within the community. A highly decorated equitation and performance rider, Erin is one of only six amateurs to win the prestigious Three-Gaited World’s Grand Championship aboard the legendary CH The Crowd Went Nuts!—a distinction that reflects both her deep horsemanship and her dedication to excellence in the show ring.
Today, Erin channels that same commitment into her service as a volunteer and active supporter of the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association. She is deeply engaged in efforts to promote the breed, support fellow exhibitors, and ensure that the next generation of riders has access to the same opportunities that have meant so much to her.
Beyond her equestrian accomplishments, Erin is a devoted homemaker who brings to her volunteer work the same energy, organization, and care that define her personal life. Her perspective as both a competitor and community member allows her to bridge tradition with the evolving needs of the Saddlebred world—honoring its heritage while helping to shape its future.
Erin’s enduring connection to the American Saddlebred community reflects not only her achievements, but her belief in the power of horses to inspire excellence, foster connection, and bring joy to all who know and love them.
Email: [email protected]
Steve Gaw
Click here to view Steve's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Steve Gaw, an attorney, former Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and former Chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission, is Senior VP of Markets and Infrastructure for the Advanced Power Alliance. He works on RTO policy issues within the Southwest Power Pool region (which runs the electric grid in the western Midwest), is a founding director and past President of the Organization of MISO States, and a founding director of the SPP Regional State Committee. He has been a speaker and moderator in forums on energy policy.
As Speaker and a member of the legislature, Steve passed major education, consumer protection, and criminal justice reforms. As a commissioner and Chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission, he was responsible for oversight of utilities in Missouri. Steve is a former partner in the firm of Schirmer, Suter, and Gaw.
As Speaker, he selected the great Saddlebred trainer Tom Bass for the Hall of Famous Missourians. Steve’s family has had horses for generations. He grew up riding in small horse shows and trail rides. He is a student of Saddlebred bloodlines and a former Board member of the Huntsville Horse Show. Steve, his wife Fannie, and their daughter Skylar live on a farm in Callaway County, Missouri, where they raise American Saddlebreds. He is a member of the William Woods University Board of Directors.
Steve graduated Summa Cum Laude from Truman State University with a degree in Physics and has a J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Email: [email protected]
Diego Miron
Click here to view Diego's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Diego Miron has been part of the American Saddlebred community for nearly two decades as an owner, breeder, and dedicated horse dad. His long-term involvement in ownership, breeding, and industry development reflects a commitment to building sustainable pathways for growth within the breed.
At his Simpsonville, Kentucky, farm, Diego leads advanced breeding programs focused on responsible and affordable access to elite Saddlebred bloodlines through ICSI and embryo transfer technologies. His innovative approach opens doors for new and emerging breeders to participate in top-level breeding while maintaining the highest standards of care, ethics, and excellence.
With experience spanning North and South America and Europe, Diego brings a global perspective rooted in collaboration and innovation. Professionally, he has built a career in global strategy, partnership development, cloud modernization, and Artificial Intelligence leadership—skills he applies to the equine world to enhance transparency, accessibility, and long-term sustainability across the Saddlebred industry.
Beyond his breeding and technology initiatives, Diego actively supports regional and national shows including Ocala, Rock Creek, Shelbyville, and the All American Cup. His vision centers on preserving the traditions that define the Saddlebred while fostering new opportunities for breeders, owners, and youth to carry the breed forward for generations to come.
Email: [email protected]
Melissa Moore
Click here to view Melissa's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
As the owner/manager and head trainer of Sunrise Stables in Versailles, KY, Melissa Moore is more than just a horse trainer. In addition to turning out World and National Champion show horses and ponies, she also runs a successful breeding program which stands three stallions and cares for approximately forty broodmares. She is known for doing whatever it takes to promote the American Saddlebred, Hackney and Roadster horse in a positive light. She has developed programs such as The Select Series Programs, The Sunrise Junior Hunter Horse Challenge, and The Bluegrass Futurity. She holds positions on three equestrian organization boards, The United States Equestrian Federation, The American Roadster Horse and Pony Association and The American Hackney Horse Society, as well as sitting on numerous committees for ASHBA and USEF. Melissa is Chair of education for License Officials for The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association.
Melissa believes it is important to maintain the integrity of the industry through education and by serving as a judge for horse shows from coast to coast. She has judged such notable shows as The Lexington Junior League, The UPHA American Royal, The Morgan Grand National, The Kentucky State Fair World Championships, The South African National Championships, and The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.
Being born into the business as the daughter of Hall of Fame horse trainers Tom and Donna Moore, and sister to World Champion trainer Melinda Moore, Melissa is grateful for the opportunities and education she received.
Scott Robinson
Click here to view Scott's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Scott B. Robinson, 61, is a seasoned leader whose strategic vision and financial expertise have driven remarkable success in investment management and real estate. As the former President and CEO of Gateway Capital Group, LLC, a prominent San Diego-based investment firm specializing in retail real estate and marketable securities, Mr. Robinson guided clients and partners through complex financial decisions with a focus on capital allocation, risk management, and tax efficiency. His leadership fueled Gateway’s significant growth, overseeing a dynamic portfolio of acquisitions, divestitures, and capital markets transactions.
During his tenure, Mr. Robinson orchestrated nearly $1 billion in sophisticated transactions, including refinancings, restructurings, and distressed asset turnarounds, while overseeing approximately 1 million square feet of retail real estate. His strategic leadership consistently delivered strong returns, transforming underperforming assets into profitable ventures.
Mr. Robinson’s career began in the world of American Saddlebred horses. Mentored by his grandfather, Bob Bradley, he began training horses at age 14 and achieved early success as an equitation champion with wins at the World’s Championship Horse Show in both the 3-gaited and 5-gaited Amateur Gentlemen’s divisions. He remains an active contributor to the Saddlebred community, serving on ASHBA committees and promoting the industry’s growth.
With a proven track record of leadership, innovation, and results across finance, real estate, and community service, Scott B. Robinson combines strategic insight with practical expertise and remains an invaluable partner for any enterprise seeking sustained success.
Email: [email protected]
Brooke Simpson
Click here to view Brooke's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Brooke began riding American Saddlebreds when she was 9 with Woody & Louise Henry at Bobbin Hollow. Catch riding and working in the barns during college she worked for others including Don Judd, Maria Gilman, and Bill Rodgers. In her Adult Amateur Career she has owned and shown horses such as Magical Attraction, MBAs Silver Sapphire, Retributive Justice, and Kisstory NKF under the direction of Rob Turner. She has bred several colts and is heavily involved in the barn, showing, and care of her horses.
Brooke is currently an international tax partner at Forvis Mazars LLP, with her masters degree in accounting and a CPA license in TN and MA.
Email: [email protected]
Barbe Smith
Click here to view Barbe's Board Nominee Profile Sheet.
Barbe Smith has operated Cascade Stables INC since its inception in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1977. Cascade Stables relocated to Audubon Park in 1981 and has been the major riding Academy in New Orleans teaching Saddle Seat riding and running the stables in Audubon Park since that time. Cascade Stables has hosted multiple World Cup and US Saddle Seat Association events with participants coming from all over the United States, South Africa, Canada and Namibia.
National Board Positions:
United Professional Horseman’s Association Executive Board Member 2015–2019
United Professional Horseman’s Association Equitation Committee Member since 2000
United Professional Horseman’s Association Chapter 6/7 Chairman 2005–2015
United States Equestrian Federation World Cup Committee Co-Chair 2001–2022
Member of the United States Equestrian Federation Equitation Committee 2000–2024
International Saddle Seat Equitation Association President 2022–present; board member 2018–2022
United States Saddle Seat Association President 2020–present
National Awards:
Helen K. Crabtree Equitation Hall of Fame Award 2011
Lillian Shively Equitation Distinguished Service Award 2019
ASHBA Gordon Jenkins International Award 2023
UPHA Chapter 6/7 Horseperson of the Year 1996
Personal Accomplishments:
United States Equestrian Federation World Cup Coach 2010, 2017
United States Equestrian Federation Licensed Judge 1985–present; judged the World’s Championship Horse Show twice and every national final for Saddle Seat Equitation riding
Email: [email protected]