Polly Haselton Barger of Winchester, Darryl Leifheit of Lexington, and Cynthia Higgs of Lexington, have recently been appointed to the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) Board of Directors. In November 2010 KHC members enacted a change to the agency bylaws that increased the board of directors from 19 members to 23. The change was made in an effort to increase the reach and breadth of the membership based, nonprofit organization.

Haselton Barger has spent her entire adult life teaching others to ride in a correct and safe manner. She is a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Master Instructor/Clinician and was the 2005 CHA Clinic Instructor of the Year. She is also a CHA Clinician for riders with disabilities and equine facility management. Haselton Barger is actively involved with the Tennessee and Kentucky Horse Councils, chairing and/or participating on committees on safety and education. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and ran a large riding program for 30 years. She is a knowledgeable and experienced horsewoman, whose main concern is safety and correct education in the horse world.

Leifheit has used his American Saddlebred horses as working Western horses, Western gaming competitors, three-gaited and five-gaited saddle seat mounts, fine harness show horses, dressage competitors, combined driving competitors, eventers, and jumpers. Currently he drives a Saddlebred gelding who was the 2009 American Saddlebred Horse Association Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Combined Driving Champion and the 2008 Reserve Champion Combined Driving. Leifheit is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and retired from a successful career in information technology. He was involved in founding the Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association.

Higgs' passion is trail and endurance riding. She focuses on improving and supporting trails in Kentucky. A nonpracticing attorney, she contributed to KHC legislative efforts to reopen Brush Mountain Trail in Harlan County as well as many other legislative and policy decisions. Higgs is a board member of the Central Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, Sheltowee Trace Association, and ETACA (Equestrian Trails and Conservation Awareness)