CBA Elects Board of Directors

The Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA) has elected its first Board of Directors. Thirteen directors were elected representing three subgroups: seven members from the top 20 consignors by annual gross auction sales; three from smaller consignors outside of the top 20; and three (3) commercial breeders.

The directors are: Rick Abbott, Charlton Bloodstock; Peter O'Callaghan, Woods Edge Farm; Kerry Cauthen, Four Star Sales; Dermot Ryan, Ashford Stud; Mike Cline, Lane's End; Joe Seitz, Brookdale Farm; Pat Costello, Paramount Sales; Mark Taylor, Taylor Made Farm; Robbie Lyons, Hartwell Farm; Tom Van Meter, Eaton Sales; Ben McElroy, Vinery; Rob Whiteley, Liberation Farm, and Bayne Welker, Mill Ridge Farm.

Created to provide a constructive forum and voice for the people who develop and bring sale horses to market, the CBA was formed in 2005 through the efforts of an organizing committee. To date, the CBA has over 120 members, representing over three-quarters of total yearling and breeding stock sales in the United States.

"The CBA is a democratically run organization that will represent the full spectrum of consignors and breeders, large and small," said Welker, who was a member of the original organizing committee. The bard will develop specific policies and initiatives in the near future based on input from all of its 120 plus members."

Whiteley, another member of the original organizing committee, said, "Going forward we intend to actively participate with the sales companies and other industry groups to design programs and develop strategies that will make the sales scene as productive and fair as possible to sellers and buyers."

The CBA began its educational platform by publishing and distributing a comprehensive explanation of scoping, titled "Vetwork – Plain and Simple: Scoping" The booklet is the first of many which are planned as a way of educating both buyers and sellers with regard to prevailing opinions on various issues in thoroughbred horse sales. According to Welker, "The CBA has already been asked for permission to translate and distribute the 'Scoping' booklet in Japan and South America."

The booklet may be ordered or viewed on the organization's Web site: www.consignorsandbreeders.com. CBA membership enrollment applications also are available on the website.