ASHA Welcomes 2021 Board Members

The American Saddlebred Horse Association welcomes 2021 board members from six states, including much needed west coast representation from California. “I am excited to work with the 2021 directors who are a representative board in geography and skillset, bringing a wealth of experience in marketing, communication, finance and law to our organization,” said ASHA Executive Director David Mount. The new directors are: 

Jim Cherry (Encinitas, California) – Jim has been an American Saddlebred trainer for more than 30 years and an USEF licensed official for more than 10 years.  Jim’s specific areas of interest include promoting the American Saddlebred, especially on the west coast, and enhancing the public perception of our breed, while introducing people from the California market to the breed on a local and national level. 

Rick Curl (Loch Lloyd, Missouri) – Rick and his family have been involved with American Saddlebreds for more than 30 years. They built the Longview Equestrian Center in Kansas City in honor of their deceased daughter, Ashley. Rick is a past director and current governor of the American Royal. He has 27 years of marketing management experience and is an adjunct professor lecturing in marketing principles and business ethics at the University of Phoenix. 

Clif Paulsen (Cedar Falls, Iowa) – Clif, a current ASHA board member, has been an owner and exhibitor of American Saddlebreds for more than 35 years. He has been instrumental in growing the Iowa Limited Breeders Futurity, along with being involved in the Iowa Fall Classic and Great Rivers horse shows.  This year he co-chaired the successful Midwest Un-Fair Horse Show, which hosted the first American Saddlebred Ranch Horse Division classes. Clif, a trusted vet, currently sits on the State Futurities, Communications, Saddlebreds Across America and Operations Committees. 

Chris Schubert (Knoxville, Tennessee) – Chris, a current ASHA honorary board member, has been involved with American Saddlebreds since she was 3 years old. She is active in the East Tennessee Saddlebred Association and is a current board member of the American Hackney Horse Society. Chris is a real estate developer who has been involved in many successful business ventures. She currently co-chairs the Merger Task Force with Anna Marie Knipp and sits on the Legal Committee.

Rachel Seifert (Versailles, Kentucky) – Rachel, a current ASHA honorary board member, has been an owner and exhibitor of American Saddlebreds for more than 30 years and a breeder for more than 10 years. She currently owns and stands the stallion WCC Doctor Dobro MS. Rachel is an attorney who formerly led a large corporate legal department for a hospital company. She helped draft the ASHA Code of Conduct and currently sits on the Bylaws, Conduct Review and Legal Committees. 

Joan Todd (Cincinnati, Ohio) – Joan has owned and shown American Saddlebreds since college and formerly operated a breeding farm in Indiana. She has been active with the Indiana Saddlebred Horse Association, All American Horse Classic and River Ridge Horse Show. Joan, a former reporter and editor who managed media relations for a Fortune 100 company and led a state university’s marketing and communications operations, currently owns a strategic communications company in Cincinnati. She was a founding member of the ASHA Communications Committee and currently sits on that committee, along with the Pleasure Disciplines Committee.

Clarification: ASHA Board Selection Changes 

The ASHA and its Board of Directors are always looking for better ways to serve the breed and its members. While ASHA has been fortunate to have some outstanding representation on committees and the board, ASHA has been struggling to achieve the representation required by policies and bylaws. 

ASHA also needs deep expertise in various areas, including communication, finance and organization. Achieving this representation helps the ASHA keep current and address challenges. In reviewing best practices for populating not-for-profit boards, the Nominating Committee for Directors recommended to the Board the following changes, which were unanimously agreed to by the Board: 

General membership will nominate candidates, who will be vetted through a new application and interview process. Amend the bylaws so that the Nominating Committee for Directors recommends a slate of six candidates plus two alternates to the Board of Directors for consideration from the nominations submitted by the general membership. From those recommendations, the Board of Directors will now vote for six candidates to fill the vacant seats on the board, which was previously voted on by the general membership.

“This is perhaps the most challenging aspect of seating committees and a board -- achieving a balance that represents all Saddlebred disciplines and geographies,” said Marty Schaffel, president of ASHA. “With the growing complexities of promoting our breed, growing our participation and helping our members achieve their goals, we need more committee and board members who represent a broader swath of interests and locations.”

For more information about the ASHA board nomination process click on one of the following links:

Communication to ASHA Membership Changes to Committees and Board Selection Process

What Matters? Volunteerism and Representation Matter

2021 ASHA Board of Directors Nominations Due Oct. 18 

Straight from the Horse’s Mouth… A Call to Action

Only 5 More Days to Nominate ASHA Board of Director Candidates!

From the Desk of Marty Schaffel: The One Percent Rule