September 2024 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2024 Page 37 Willses Recognized by the American Horse Council Bud has been a board mem- ber of the Pennsylvania Equine Council for over 21 years, and a representative on the AHC, Coali- tion of State Horse Councils since the early 2000s for Pennsylvania. Both Bud and Gwen were ac- tive in riding and showing horses from an early age. They became active in preserving Pennsylva- nia’s equine industry through their state horse council since 2000. Seeing loss in the local area of open space for riding coupled with a shutdown of 1.4 million acres of land presumably open for recre- ation was the catalyst that spurred into action. In 2001, they began a quest to restore and maintain ac- cess to public lands for recreation and horse trail riding. The Willses started working with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and many other agencies to expand their “Stan- dard Operating Procedures for Public and State Game Lands” to allow for other trail uses. Simultaneously, Trail Stew- ardship Educational programing was developed for agencies and volunteers instructing partici- pants in land use and trail layout, construction and maintenance. Informational programs were also developed to inform equestrians about the need to help the agen- cies as well as the differences between all the agencies and their policies and procedures. Through the Pennsylvania Equine Council, the Willses started several 3-Day and 1-Day Trail Stewardship Workshops as well as Packing Clinics and have trained over two thousand volunteers and agency people to be able to work togeth- er to preserve trails and create camping opportunities. Bud and Gwen have present- ed at numerous state, regional and national trail conferences; served on state and national recreational advisory committees to preserve equestrian interests; and given presentations at universities, cyber schools and 4-H clubs. Over the years, they have been able to inter- est youth who have then pursued forest, parks and even Army Corp of Engineers careers. Over the years, Bud and Gwen have presented at several conferences: Horse World Expo, Southeast Equestrian Trails Con- ference, PA Greenways and Trails Summit, American Trail Sympo- sium, Professional Trail Builders, Sustainable Trail Conference and Penn State University Equine Science Classes. The Willses have also been leaders in getting legislation and policy passed. They asked their local state representative to introduce an Equine Liability bill. Through his hard work and idea to ask an equine friendly senator to introduce a Senate version, things started to move. After talking to thousands of people across the state regarding equine trail loss due to the Gameland closures, and with a lobbying day at the state capitol, Act 93 became law with only one dissenting vote. This allowed for insurance companies to start offering insurance again for equine facilities in the state of Pennsylvania. “We are truly honored to have been chosen as the recipient of the Marjorie Van Ness award,” said the Willses. “It definitely takes more than us; it takes the support of the Pennsylvania Equine Council board and all the volunteers to conduct educational programs and to help get legisla- tion and policies passed. I wish we could give an award to all the people that helped in Pennsylva- nia with past programs! Also, the program has been supported by DCNR (Department of Conser- vation and Natural Resources) educational grant program, volunteer donations, and the late Art Glatfelter who believed in the vision to allow funding to support the materials needed to further the education and the dream to have sustainable equestrian trails in all of Pennsylvania.” (Continued from page 36) Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! SCAN TO SHOP NOW