AQHA President Johnny Trotter Elected to American Horse Council

By: American Horse Council

The American Horse Council has elected Johnny Trotter and Chris Welton to the Board of Trustees.

“The AHC is pleased to have Johnny Trotter and Chris Welton join its board,” said AHC president, Jay Hickey. “The experience they have in both the horse and business world is outstanding. We are pleased to have them working in yet another capacity to keep our industry strong and feel that they will be great assets to the Board and the organization.”

Mr. Trotter is the current President of the American Quarter Horse Association, and has served as an AQHA Director for 11 years. He has served on the racing, nominations and credentials, stud book and registration committees, as well as the foundation, ranching and racing councils. His involvement in the American Quarter Horse Industry focused on racing, roping, and horses used for ranch work and breeding. He is an avid team roper and has made the finals for the World Series of Roping the previous two years. Trotter is also the CEO of Livestock Investors LLT and owns Bar G Feedyard.

In addition to his involvement in the horse industry, Trotter is actively involved in his local community. He has served on the West Texas A&M University Foundation as well as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Deaf Smith County Chamber of Commerce and the Kings Manor Methodist Retirement Home boards. Trotter is also a former member of the Texas Cattle Feeders board of directors and was the 2006 recipient of the Tri-State Fair Western Heritage Award. Trotter lives in Hereford, Texas with his wife, Jana.

“I would like to thank my predecessor Jim Barton for his many years of dedication to the Board of the AHC, and I am honored to be selected to serve and follow in his footprints and the many AQHA leaders before him,” said Trotter. “The role the American Horse Council plays in virtually every aspect of the equine industry is more important today than ever. The AQHA and the AHC have worked together for many years, and there is great value in the AHC’s work on behalf of all segments of the equine industry. I look forward to helping in all these efforts.”

Chris Welton is the CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation, replacing John Long who announced his retirement last year.

Welton possesses a broad background in sport development and management including experience with the Olympic movement. In 1991 Welton was named Vice-President for Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games where he managed the domestic sponsorship program for the Atlanta Games. Following those Games, Welton founded Meridian Management, and the new company became the exclusive marketing representative of the International Olympic Committee, responsible for managing all sponsorship and marketing activities for the IOC.

In 2005, after eight years as Meridian’s CEO, Welton joined the international sport marketing consultancy Helios Partners, where he served as Helios Partners’ CEO until early 2013.

In addition to his experience at the Olympic level, Welton has a passion for horses and equestrian sport. He and his family own a horse farm, and he is a western pleasure rider, while his wife rides hunters and jumpers.

Welton said “The American Horse Council is one of USEF’s key partners, helping to ensure that all parts of the equine community have a strong and trusted voice in Washington. I look forward to working with my fellow board members and AHC staff in continuing to perform this important function.”