Horse Illustrated Magazine

Madeleine Pickens, one of the nation’s most outspoken horse advocates and selfless philanthropists, was awarded The Humane Society of the United States’ prestigious “Horsewoman of the Year” award at the third annual Sound Horse Conference in Louisville, Ky. The HSUS award is presented annually to a horseman or horsewoman who has committed himself or herself to improving the welfare of America’s horses. The conference focused on new efforts to enforce the Horse Protection Act, and protect Tennessee Walking Horses from the abuses of soring.

At a time when there was much friction and mistrust involving the Bureau of Land Management in Washington over the wild horse issue, Madeleine Pickens came forward and offered a solution—a sanctuary that would guarantee a safe haven for wild horses. When BLM bureaucrats and Washington politicians said it couldn’t be done, she didn’t take no for an answer; she persisted and showed them how her plan could work.

“There are many people in America who have the compassion, money, or talent to put toward solving a problem of this magnitude, but few possess all three traits, and few can get work accomplished for horses like Madeleine Pickens. She is one of those rare individuals who puts her passion, time and money where her heart is,” said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO.

The award was created to recognize a horseman or horsewoman who has shown an outstanding commitment to improving the welfare of America’s horses. Pat Parelli, world-renowned teacher of the Parelli Natural Horsemanship method, was presented the award in 2009. U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., received the award in 2008 for his leadership in the effort to pass H.R. 503/S. 727, legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption abroad.

Pickens, who delivered the keynote address at the Sound Horse Conference, was humble in her acceptance of the award, and pledged her ongoing commitment to the protection of all of America’s horses.