At the 2007 Annual Meeting of the New Mexico Horse Council, held January 19, 2008, Val Cole was awarded the honor of being named the Horsewoman of the Year.  A nomination letter was submitted by Maura Lewiecki, and outlined the many ways in which Val has been an advocate for equestrians and equine activities in New Mexico and nationally for many years.

Val has represented equestrians on the Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee for three terms beginning in 1998.  She was appointed to Governor’s Bicycle, Pedestrian and Equestrian Committee by NM State Highway & Transportation Department Secretary Pete Rahn in 1998, and the two-year appointment has been renewed as it expired, most recently in February, 2006 by NM Department of Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught.  She has served as the New Mexico delegate to the American Horse Council State Horse Council Advisory Committee (at her own expense), and served as chair from 2004 to 2006.  She represented State Horse Councils at the national Unwanted Horse Summit in 2005, and has remained actively involved in the Unwanted Horse Coalition that evolved from that summit.

Val has been a member of New Mexico Horse Council for 25 years and currently serves as Treasurer.  She has also been the Newsletter editor for 17 years, has worked on the Horse Fair every year, has actively lobbied on behalf of the equestrian community as a NM Horse Council member for the limited liability for trails legislation, funding for a State trails coordinator, and has been contracted to work at horse shows as paddock master and announcer in New Mexico and nationally.

Val is a thoughtful and informed equine supporter. She attends public meetings to serve as a voice for the equestrian community and then keeps everyone informed through the newsletter, or by telephone or email if immediate action is required.  Through it all she has been supported by her husband who has also dedicated time, expertise, and a sense of humor to her passionate involvement.

We congratulate Val Cole as the 2007 Horsewoman of the Year!

Each year the New Mexico Horse Council awards Certificates of Appreciation to individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization or equestrians and equine activity in the state during the year.  At the Annual Meeting January 19, 2008, Certificates for generous assistance and outstanding support of the Council and the horse community given during the year 2007 were awarded to the following.

Jackie Bouker:  serious attention to trails, meetings, plans, et cetera
Boyle Engineering:  Horse accommodations on trails in North Valley.
Debbie O’Malley:  dedicated money in San Juan Chama project for pedestrian bicycle equestrian bridge at a crucial trail intersection
Senator Dede Feldman:  trails liability bill, funding for ditches with trails
George Marr:  energizing trail users on Bachechi property and other trails; informally collecting and disseminating economic data
Maura Lewiecki:  trails mapping, Rio Grande trail
Tim Rogers:  NM DOT liaison for bicycle/pedestrian/equestrian committee; support of equestrian brochure
Claude Morelli:  Ditches With Trails, pulling together four jurisdictions for the planning workshop
Alison Haxton: intercession with Expo NM for free spot in front of Horse Arena during State Fair
Lois Seibel: Office staff at State Fair;  helpful with State Fair booth
Jan Henfling:  set up State Fair booth
Charlie Poore, Quickstalls:  lend stall for State Fair booth
Rusty Cook: NMHC President, 2007
Morey & Rita Liebling: host flea market
Mary Jo Wallen: run NMHC trail ride
Baca Chica Ranch: host NMHC trail ride
Chris Weller: realtor, tries to preserve quality of life in North Valley.
Attila Bality: long time area planner, friend to horses.
Nancy Searles: 2007 Horse Fair organizer
Carolyn Burdick: 2007 Horse Fair Silent Auction
Kristin Darnell-Schmitt: 2007 Horse Fair Kids Corral
Richard & Suellen Hensleigh: 2007 Horse Fair
Julie Wilson: 2007 Horse Fair “Ride a QH”

NM State Parks' State Trails Planner, Jessica Terrell, was killed in a head-on collision near Farmington January 9, 2008.  Jessica was full of energy and was making great inroads in the development of the state trails program.  She worked closely with Tim Rogers, Bicycle/Pedestrian/Equestrian Coordinator for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, to develop local initiatives toward a greater Rio Grande Trail and other statewide trail activities.  Jessica will be dearly missed. 

Eldon Reyer accepted the Certificate of Appreciation for Jessica at the NMHC Annual Meeting.

At its 2006 Annual Meeting (held January 20, 2007) the New Mexico Horse Council departed from its “horse person of the year” award instituted in 2002.  This year, the Board decided instead to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Blair Darnell of Corrales.

Blair has been involved with horses since she was a very small child.  For over fifty years, many horse owners, their children and their horses have benefited from Casey and Blair Darnell’s time and expertise.  She has helped the Rio Grande Horse Association, Bernalillo County 4-H Horse Program, New Mexico Quarter Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association (where she has been appointed director emeritus), horse racing and breeding (including a runner in the 1994 Kentucky Derby), and of course has been involved with the New Mexico Horse Council since 1970.  After Casey’s death in 2001, she promised to slow down a bit – and there are fewer horses in residence at Alamo Farm in Corrales.  But in presenting the award, Elsie Shollenbarger spoke of her “imprint” on every part of the horse community.  And she also said people kept finding Blair involved in many other activities – art, archaeology, music, education, travel.  In all these areas Blair has made a difference. 

Several members of Blair’s family were present to see her receive the award.

2009 Lifetime Achievement Awards - Dick Hensleigh and Eldon Reyer
2008 Horseman of the Year - 
2007 Horsewoman of the Year - Val Cole
2006 Lifetime Achievement Award - Blair Darnell
2005 Horsewoman of the Year - Suzanne Jones
2004 Horsewoman of the Year - Elsie Shollenbarger
2003 Horsewoman of the Year - Melanie Scholer
2002 Horsewoman of the Year - Karen Reyer