President - Britta Soehn

I have shown Pinto for many years and have been riding horses since I could walk. I enjoy showing Pinto because of the variety that Pinto has to offer as well as the friendly people within the national and local associations. My horse, Classy Steele (Cody), and I enjoy participating in as many events as we can; from halter to gaming, we do it all! Although, Cody is semi-retired, we still show at as many shows as we can and enjoy watching and supporting fellow exhibitors!

When not spending time with my favorite Pinto I enjoying working with my dogs whether that is in the field or dock jumping! I currently work as an emergency room nurse but love to spend as much time in the saddle as I can!

I look forward to representing the Illinois Pinto Horse Association this year and am excited to see what the future holds for Illinois Pinto!

Vice President - Mike Adams

Mike is excited to be representing Illinois Pinto Association.

He started his career in the equine business as a teenager when he rescued an old buckskin gelding from the killer’s pen. When Mike started showing that old gelding, he could have never dreamed where it would take him.

Every weekend Mike and his family were at a horse show, and they loved it. Over the years, Mike went from the local saddle club officer, to Vice President of the state PHBA chapter, to show manager for the AQHA, paddock master for the AMHA Nationals, and his first national judge’s card with the AMHA in 1990.

More than twenty-five years, and five cards later, he has had the honor of judging PtHA Jubilees, AMHA Nationals, the Color Breed Congress, IBHA Congress, ABRA Congress, county fairs, state fairs, open shows, and 4H shows across the United States, Canada and Europe. He understands what it takes to put together a horse show and fully appreciates all that the show managers and volunteers do, which allows him to do what he loves.

Mike also serves on the PtHA’s Show and Contest Committee as well as the Judges Committee and was inducted into the PtHA Judge’s Hall of Fame in 2014.

After 32 years, Mike retired from the Illinois Department of Agriculture in 2015 and is now able live his dream of judging full time. He and his wife, Mary Sue, have been married for 42 years and have one daughter, Sarah Michael.