This week, the Unwanted Horse Coalition elected Tom Lenz, DVM, to serve as Chairman, and it named Katy Carter as the Coalition’s Coordinator.
 
A past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), Lenz is well known and highly regarded for his work in the veterinary and horse community. During his 30-year veterinary career, Lenz has worked in private practice, academia, and corporate business. A 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Lenz became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (veterinary reproduction) in 1986, and he received a Master of Science degree in equine reproduction from Texas A&M University in 1988.           

Active in the equine industry, Lenz is a member of the American Horse Council’s Animal Welfare Committee and serves on the Research Committee of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Lenz has been involved in the Unwanted Horse Coalition since its inception. “It is a privilege to continue to serve this group and the horse industry in fulfilling our responsibilities to address this issue,” Lenz said.
 
Katy Carter has served in both Legislative and Press capacities in the House of Representatives, most recently for former Congressman Jack Quinn of New York. She holds a bachelors degree in Political Science from Syracuse University and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Administration at George Mason University. A lifelong equestrian, Katy competed hunters and jumpers for 15 years and has more recently taken up three-day eventing. She owns two Thoroughbreds, both ex-racehorses.
 
The mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety, and responsible care of the horse.
 
“The Coalition has already begun collecting materials that might be considered helpful in reducing the number of horses that slip into the “unwanted” category each year. Papers or booklets regarding the responsibilities of horse ownership, costs associated with ownership, appropriate care, welfare issues, alternative uses of horses, sale and placement options, rescue and retirement facilities, euthanasia and disposal would be very helpful. Any specific informational/educational materials outlining and describing the available options for horse owners who find themselves in possession of an equine they are no longer able to care for would be particularly helpful,” Lenz said