In The News...Senate Bill #392

Senate Bill #392 sponsored by Senator Gerald Boudreaux proposes that St. Landry Parish, Opelousas, will be the Equine Capital of Louisiana. Louisiana Equine Council President, Daniel Lyons, who also serves as a board member on the St. Landry Parish Economic Development Committee, and Louisiana Equine Council board member Ginger Schouest, attended the initial Senate Committee Meeting with Ginger and St Landry parish officials addressing the Senate for this bill weeks ago where it was unanimously approved by the Senate Committee and unanimously approved again today by the House Judiciary Committee. The Bill will now go to a vote of the full house of representatives within the next week(s). From there it will go to the Governor for his signature, signing it in to law. St. Landry Parish is also the home base for the Louisiana Equine Council. We are very thankful for Senator Boudreaux's efforts in recognizing the important role that St. Landry Parish plays in the Equine Industry.

Master Horseman Program Recognizes New Graduates

The LEC supports the LSU AgCenter Master Horseman program, which improves the horsemanship skills of adults and prepares them to teach4-H members. Pictured are two of the latest graduates of the program, recognize on April 2, 2022 at the 4-H Tri Parish Trail Ride at Cazan’s Lake in Ville Platte. Pictured are l to r, Howard Cormier, Master Horseman Instructor, Emma Zaunbrecher, graduate, Perry Fontenot, Master Horseman Chairman, Jodi Zaunbrecher, graduate, and Francis Richard, Master Horseman Leader.

Make Your Voices Heard

Dr. Neely Heidorn PhD. is an Assistant Professor of Animal Science at LSU and the La State Extension Service Horse Specialist. Dr. Neely is also the Chairperson the recently formed LA Equine Promotion and Research Board that will oversee and allocate funding to the equine industry via monies we hope to collect through the recently passed sports betting.

We really need your help to get the needed sponsorship since Senate Bill 103, authored by Sen Bob Hensgens, has been passed so that these mechanisms are funded and our industry will be greatly helped. We need a State Senator to help co-author the new amendment where the Equine Industry is asking for at least 2.5% of tax revenues from Sports Betting. This comes up for voting soon, so please take a few minutes and contact your local state senator's office and tell them to support this fight. If you do not know who your state senator is, or how to contact them, please follow the link below.

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/findmylegislators.aspx