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THE ELLIS COUNTY EQUINE ASSOCIATION
Organized in 1984 as the Ellis County Horse Committee,
the ECHC’s original purpose was to distribute
information about breeding, nutrition and the training
of horses. To this end, the ECHC worked closely with the
County Extension Service. In 1987 the ECHC was
reorganized, instituted a set of
bylaws and became the
Ellis County Equine Association (ECEA). While the
purpose of the ECEA is still to educate horse
enthusiasts about breeding, nutrition and proper
training, it has also developed an extensive Open Show
series, sponsored clinics dealing with such topics as
barrel racing, veterinary first aid, training the
pleasure horse, etc. The ECEA has also established a
Youth Program (ECEYA), a parade group and a Miss ECEA
and Little Miss ECEYA contest, as well as numerous other
activities.
The ECEA sponsors and promotes shows for all breeds of
horses. Records have been maintained on all competing
horses owned by its members since the ECEA’s Open Show
series inception. Through a system of annual and
permanent records, the ECEA recognizes horses of
outstanding halter and performance ability.
Beginning in 1989 the ECEA held its first annual
stallion service auction. Stallion owners donated the
services of ten horses. Ninety percent of the money
raised in the auction was put into escrow for a weanling
futurity to be held in the fall of 1991. Foals resulting
from the ten services were paid up in the futurity and
competed for the escrow funds. The first weanling
futurity saw over $1,000 paid out, with the winning
foal’s owner and the owner of the winning foal’s sire
receiving matching silver and gold trophy buckles. The
last auction was held in 1993 and the last stallion
service futurity was held in October 1994.
Youth participation is encouraged and enhanced by the
Ellis County Equine Youth Association. They sponsor a
show, have various fund raisers, hold fun events,
present annual awards and go on field trips.
A Membership, Breeders and Services Directory, listing
all current members is published annually. Monthly there
is published the ECEA Hoof Prints.
Both publications are distributed to members,
advertisers, Extension agents, local libraries and local
school Ag departments, Hoof Prints gives show results,
point standings, and current news relevant to all
breeds.
Starting in 1992, the ECEA offered a contest for young
women who love horses and want to help promote them. The
Miss ECEA contest is open to all young women who reside
in Ellis county, have never been married and are over
the age of sixteen, The contestants are judged on
horsemanship, knowledge of horses, poise and appearance.
A Little Miss ECEYA is elected by her peers in the Youth
Group. The winners represent the ECEA at meetings,
parades, local events, etc, for a period of one year.
The ECEA has been a leader in the promotion of the horse
and in good horsemanship, and will strive to continue
this tradition in the future.
ADDENDUM
In 1997 the Board of Directors implemented the Nancy
Jessup Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is
awarded to applicants who must be current members of the
club. It is funded by a small fee attached to every
horse attending a show sponsored by the club. The first
scholarship was awarded in 1998. The Board ensured the
future of the award by setting up a special account
separate from the general revenue in 2000.
Past Presidents
Charter - Frank
Green
1986 - Kathy
Spillar
1987, 1988 -
Carol Blaha
1989 - Randy
McMullan
1990 - Jim
Swinney
1991 - Cheryl
Martin-Wixtrom
1992, 1993 -
Lois Smith
1994, 1995, 1996
- Nancy Jessup
1997 - Leon
Warner
1998, 1999 -
Michael (Spanky) Casey
2000 - David R.
Smith III
2001, 2002,
2003, 2004 - David "Red" Jackson
2004, 2005 -
Jake Escamilla
2006 - Julie
Hinz 2007
- Sandy Neal
2008- Becky Hansen
2009 - Julie Hinz | 
