Get to Know Mark Senn

Meet Mark Senn

The new NCHA Vice President is working to be a voice for all members.

BY JENNIFER HORTON

Mark Senn looks at the big picture as he assumes the role of National Cutting Horse Association vice president at the 2022 NCHA Convention. His campaign platform included increased NCHA support for weekend shows as well as growing national events, because success in both areas are important for the organization.

Senn began showing cutting horses nearly 15 years ago, and now also participates in breeding horses and raising foals. He competes as an Unlimited Amateur and Non-Pro rider with current NCHA lifetime earnings of $269,673 at press time.

His involvement in NCHA on a local and regional level led the Augusta, Georgia, businessman to step into leadership roles within the association. He joined the NCHA finance committee and has served as chairman for the past two years.

“Being on the finance committee gave me good insight on how [NCHA runs] and how we can operate to be successful financially,” Senn said. “Serving on the board with very qualified people and being involved enough to see we have a really good staff and executive director made me want to run for vice president. It seemed to me like everything had come together for NCHA to function as a very viable, great organization.” Senn has a positive outlook for NCHA these days.

“We’re trying to improve in a lot of different areas,” Senn said. “I think our financial statements are good - we’ve done a good job in that area. The direction we’re taking with the circuit program is excellent. Our big three shows continue to evolve and get better with more added money. Our membership drive seems to be working well.”

During his upcoming tenure, he looks forward to seeing even more improvement in those areas and a few more.

“I would like to see our three big shows continue to grow into the best equine events out there…so they are fun for the participants,” Senn said. “I’d like to see them become quality shows, in terms of how they are run…with sufficient added money to make it exciting, while making them available to an audience who can appreciate our horses and [their] talents.”

As an Amateur cutter himself, Senn sees the strength of the Amateur division as a positive within NCHA.

“There are a lot of people who want to be a part of the cutting horse heritage and enjoy their horses themselves,” Senn said. “They want to be able to show and compete against their peers. Amateurs don’t do this on their own. We need guidance and coaching, so we have to have people willing to give their time and effort to help us succeed. We have to work it as a family.”

Senn considers a strong Amateur division vital to the success of cutting competition throughout NCHA.

“The growth in the Amateur has been phenomenal and a lot of that growth ultimately supports the Open and Non-Pro,” Senn said. “It’s one of the areas [where] we can make enough income to make the show produce well and help all the divisions.

“I hate to think of it as Non-Pro versus Amateur. You have to help every division be as good as it can be. The only way this works is for everyone to pull together. It’s not about one particular group. I’m talking with trainers and Open riders to figure out how to make our events better. It’s about all of us working together.”

Senn understands the value of a strong weekend show program and looks forward to working with NCHA affiliates to improve their weekend events and ensure they are sustainable.

“We need to focus on how to make those weekend events work,” Senn said. “Many cutters get their start [at weekend shows] and families show together there. These weekend shows need to be fun and enjoyable for those members. We have a lot of shows, so we need coordinate and take care of how we’re scheduling…so they can all be profitable and continue.”

Senn would like to explore opportunity for growth by promoting cutting to people who are active in other equine associations.

“We know all you have to do is get someone to throw their leg over a cutting horse once and they are hooked,” Senn said.

Senn appreciates the encouragement and advice he’s received from past NCHA presidents.

“Probably the best advice one of them gave me was to try to leave the NCHA better than I found it,” Senn said. “I think that’s something we should all strive for - if we do that, we continue to move it forward. It’s a great organization. Let’s just keep getting people excited about what we are doing.”