Marty Irby, Neighbor

Marty Irby is the President & CEO at Capitol South, LLC, and was recognized in 2020 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, II for his lobbying work to protect horses around the globe.

In his role as President & CEO, Irby oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and serves as its chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Currently, Irby also serves as a volunteer on the board of directors of the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM), as president of Competitive Markets Action (CMA), on the board of A City Without Orphans, and on the campaign Steering Committees for Reps. Nancy Mace, R-SC, and Buddy Carter, R-GA.

Irby worked in the United States House of Representatives for Congressman Ed Whitfield, R-KY, serving as Press Secretary, then Communications Director and Agriculture, Animal Protection, and NASA Policy Advisor. He worked with farmers and agricultural groups from Kentucky and around the United States.

A native of South Alabama, Irby grew up on a farm with horses, cattle, and other animals. As a young adult, he immersed himself into the study of equine issues including pedigrees, breeding techniques and reproduction, and found success in the Tennessee Walking Horse community.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from The University of South Alabama in 2003, Mr. Irby served four years as Director of Sales & Marketing at Waterfall Farms in Shelbyville, Tenn. There he promoted and expanded the farm’s cattle production program and worked with more than 2,000 equine breeders from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Poland and Israel. Irby’s mentor William B. Johnson, founder of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, the owner of Waterfall later promoted him to Vice-President of Real Estate at W.B. Johnson International, LLC - the former parent company of Ritz-Carlton. In addition, from 2003-2009 Irby won 6 World Championships, 1 World Grand Championship, 4 Reserve World Grand Championships, 4 Reserve World Championships, and 1 National Futurity Championship.

In October 2005, Mr. Irby was elected to the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association’s (TWHBEA) International Board of Directors. Mr. Irby held several positions at the association through the years, and in 20ll, became the youngest president in TWHBEA history at age 31. He served as president for two terms. While president, Mr. Irby shifted his focus towards animal protection - and joined the charge to eliminate cruel training practices in the equine world.

From December 2012-July 2013, as Immediate Past President on the Executive Committee, Mr. Irby led the charge for the association’s support and endorsement of The Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (PAST), an amendment to the Horse Protection Act of 1970, that would end the cruel and horrific practice of soring Tennessee Walking, Racking, and Spotted Saddle Horses. He’s successfully worked to pass 37 federal, and state laws, and ballot initiatives.

Irby also penned a regular column on conservatism and animal protection in The Daily Caller in 2018, was named by as one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023. Irby attended Wesley Theological Seminary and resides in Washington, D.C. His works have also been published in USA Today, The Tennessean, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Horse Nation, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, The New Haven Register, Penn Capital-Star, The Hill, Washington Examiner, and numerous other publications across the U.S.