State Charter and Leadership
In 1995 the Legislature authorized the Washington State Horse Park legislation which states, in part: "Establishing a first-class Horse Park facility in Washington would meet important needs of the state's horse industry, attract investment, enhance recreational opportunities, and bring new exhibitors and tourists to the state from throughout the region and beyond. A unique opportunity exists to form a partnership between state, county, and private interests to create a major horse park facility that will provide public recreational opportunities and statewide economic and employment benefits."
The complete legislation is in the State Charter document; its key provisions for leadership and direction are outlined below.
The Authority
The legislation established the Washington State Horse Park Authority (“the Authority”), with a seven member volunteer board of directors. The Authority is responsible for developing, promoting, operating, managing and maintaining the Horse Park. The legislation provides that the governor appoint board members from across the state experienced in different horse disciplines, activities and professions that compliment the development and operational needs of the Horse Park. Also included are a representative from the Washington State Parks Commission and a director who represents the local interests of the community where the Horse Park is located.
The Foundation
The Washington State Horse Park Foundation (“the Foundation”) is a not-for-profit, 501(C)(3) corporation established to work with and support the Authority in promotional and fundraising activities. Its Board is comprised of all volunteers, and its membership represents individuals and organizations who support the effort to build the Horse Park.
The Foundation is supported by the generosity and volunteerism of its members. Any individual, family, organization or business with an interest in the future of horsemanship in the state is strongly encouraged to join the Foundation today and help make the Horse Park vision a reality.
The Authority and Foundation Boards are supported by an Executive Director, Leslie Thurston, who provides day-to-day guidance, coordination and administration for their activities. See Staff
Authority Board Members
Todd Trewin - President
Todd started riding western when he was seven. He joined Evergreen Pony Club and participated in vaulting, eventing and many other equestrian sports and eventually competed successfully in 3-day events from Canada to Texas. In 1991 Todd represented US in the Pan American Games; in 1992, he won the USET Spring Championship and competed on the US Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain. Since then Todd has run an active training program, competed locally, conducted clinics, and designed and built cross country courses in the Northwest. In 2004 Governor Gregoire appointed Todd to the Authority Board; he was elected President in 2006. Todd and his family are developing their own horse property in Carnation.
Mark Christopher – Treasurer
Mark is a partner in Moss Adams LLP, certified public accountants in the Seattle area, an international tax specialist, Mark began riding horses after college, graduating to spending several days, each year, in Montana on cattle drives taking the cattle to summer range in the Rocky Mountains, near Butte. Mark met Mitch Williams in Prosser, continuing to work cows for fun. Mark and his wife reside in Hobart along with their two horses and ride for pleasure.
Ron Dotzauer
Ron is a highly-sought political strategist and has led Strategies 360, a firm he started in 1985 as Northwest Strategies, to the forefront of public relations/public affairs firms in the Northwest. Ron’s career in politics started in 1974 and includes successfully directing Henry “Scoop” Jackson’s re-election campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1982, Booth Gardner’s gubernatorial campaign win in 1984, and Maria Cantwell’s 2000 victory in the U.S. Senate. Ron was an integral part of four national presidential conventions where he provided around-the-clock political analysis for several media outlets. A popular speaker, Ron is well-known for his signature cowboy hat, and he owns and operates a quarter-horse ranch north of Seattle.
Larry Fairleigh – State Parks and Recreation representative
Larry Fairleigh of Olympia has been appointed to a term effective March 19, 2009, ending March 18, 2012. Fairleigh is an assistant director of the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission. He is a member of the Olympia Park and Recreation Board, Stormwater Advisory Board, Executive Board of Capital Land Trust, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition and Yellowstone Foundation.
Judy Warnick – State Representative, Kittitas County
Judy grew up on a small family dairy farm in Deer Park, Washington. She rode her first pony before she was 2 and has shown English, Dressage and Western disciplines and served as a 4-H leader for 20 years in Grant County. In her free time, Judy goes trail riding with her grandchildren and other family and friends. She also participated in two of the horse park’s first events: the mounted shooting competition and the poker ride fundraiser in September. Judy and her husband, Roy, own five horses and a mule at their home in Moses Lake. Married for 41 years, she and Roy have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren.
Mitch Williams – Kittitas County representative
Mitch has owned MF Williams Construction Company for over 28 years during which he has been involved in a wide variety of land development and construction projects. He has built and developed in Kittitas County since 1989. Mitch is a state director with the Building Industry Association of WA; previously regional chairman of the Central WA Home Builders and now serves on their board. Mitch has had horses all his life. He has competed and been a member of NW Cutting Horse Assoc., the Northern Ranch Roping Assoc. and an avid participant in ranch roping and the art of Vaquero horsemanship traditions. He’s a 15 year member of Ellensburg Rodeo Gold Buckle club, a founding member of Reata Club which supports the Ellensburg Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering. Mitch has been critically instrumental in nurturing the Horse Park throughout the past 15 years. He and his family live on their ranch in Ellensburg.
Foundation Board Members
Lothar Pinkers – President
Lothar is a retired trauma surgeon who first learned to ride at the age of 8 and in college worked summers as an assistant wrangler leading trail rides at a summer camp. He became involved in the horse world in earnest when his youngest daughter started hunter lessons. He bought his own (second) horse when he also began to ride regularly, during his practice years. He and his wife started managing the hunter/jumper shows for the Lake Washington Saddle Club. Later appointed dressage director for the Equestrians’ Institute and began to manage their dressage show program; also added the position of Show Secretary for USDF Region 6. Currently Lothar handles both those roles and is an active Dressage Technical Delegate. He serves on the board of The Bridle Trails Park Foundation and several emergency services organizations.
Gail White – Secretary
Gail’s involvement with the Horse Park dates back to its early beginnings and over the years she has served as an interested party, Equestrians Institute’s liaison and in a variety of Board capacities. She brings a broad knowledge of finance having worked as bank branch manager/loan officer, and in financial planning and engineering research and development. Her horse experience started as a Pony Club mother and she advanced to organizing events for EI at Mt. Meadows, Hidden Valley Ranch and Donida Farms. Gail has attended the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. She lives with her husband on a horse property in Enumclaw.
Martha McCready – Treasurer
Martha purchased her first horse with babysitting money in 1967 and cared for him until he died in 1993. During that long period Martha developed an interest in eventing including serving as event secretary and Treasurer for Equestrians Institute for many years. She became a dedicated 4-H leader and mentor to many young horsemen and women. Martha is a CPA and her career includes public accounting and over 14 years as Controller for an international hardware/software company. Martha lives in the Maple Valley with her family.
Karen Bailey
Karen grew up riding any borrowed horse possible until she became the proud owner of twin Quarter horses; she spent every available moment riding with her friends and competing in local 4-H events. In 1991 Karen moved to five acres in Cle Elum with her family and has spent the last 16 years creating their “horse property”, attending various natural horsemanship clinics and riding in the backcountry. Karen is an active member of Alpine Lakes Backcountry Horsemen; committee chairmen of the Leave No Trace and Volunteer Hours programs for their local chapter. She works locally as a Project Management Assistant for a national construction firm and was employed 15 years with the Cle Elum Roslyn School District where she developed many contacts with local community members, coordinating school events and community service activities for the high school students.
Max Forsgren
Max was born and raised on a farm in Utah and had working ranch horses. After graduation from Utah State University with a degree in forestry, he moved to the NW working for the Forest Service. Max became a Professional Land Surveyor in 1973 and stared Paragon Land Surveying; serving as president of the Land Surveyors Association of Washington (Snohomish Chapter). After selling the surveying company Max was branch manager for several mortgage companies. His boss was a horse person who introduced Max to “Joe,” the horse he purchased and currently rides. Shortly thereafter Max became interested in the sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting, and was asked to represent the Cowboy Mounted Shooters in the planning of the Washington State Horse Park. Max has served as president of the Western Washington Mounted Shooters and that group held the opening event at the Washington State Horse Park in August 2010.
Sheridan Jones
Sheridan Jones is the Director of Business and Strategy for Kinect for Windows at Microsoft in Redmond, WA. She holds an MBA from the University of Washington and has held leadership positions in technology and marketing for over 20 years. Sheridan brings a wealth of business and marketing experience to the Foundation Board. She is also an avid fox hunter with the Woodbrook Hunt and an occasional three day eventer. Earlier in her equestrian career, she worked as a groom and working student for Bruce Davidson, Sr. at Chesterland Farms in Unionville, PA and rode with numerous accomplished trainers including Jimmy Williams in Flintridge, CA. She and her husband Jason own Equiventurous Farm in Monroe, WA.
Steve Wiltfang
Steve grew up on a cattle ranch in eastern Colorado, where his father trained horses for racing, roping and ranch work. Steve also began training horses at an early age, and competed in Rodeo events through his college years – Steer Wrestling, Calf Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding and Bull Riding. Since then, he has mainly competed in Team Roping, and qualified 6 Team Roping horses for the AQHA World Show from 1976 – 1982. He currently competes in Team Roping events throughout the Northwest, and belongs to AQHA, ACTRA, USTRC and Wrangler Team Roping Championships. He enjoys mentoring young ropers and riders in the local communities, and contributing to the Ellensburg Saddle Club and the Appleatchee Roping Club. Steve’s background is in construction management, and he currently manages construction projects for Costco throughout the United States and Canada. He and his wife are avid golfers, love to travel, and spend time working on their 6-acre ‘ranch’ in Cle Elum.
Executive Director
Leslie Thurston
Leslie’s career includes senior management positions with responsibility for strategic and operations planning, new business development, financial management, investor relations, communications and marketing. Her experience ranges from international assignments with major corporations to operating her own local company, and spans various businesses including insurance, information technology and retail. She began riding at 10 in Pennsylvania where she won local hunter/jumper championships and qualified for the national Medal finals; she later took up eventing and now mostly enjoys dressage and trail riding on her Irish Sport Horse. She travels to enjoy international competitions, is cross country steward for a local horse trials and lives in Woodinville. Woodinville.
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