Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Lindsay Heyvaert
Major Program: Equine
The problemHorses have been a common tool amongst farmers for generations. We no longer use them for work, but everyone enjoys them as companions. Horses are harder to keep than cow and most people forget that we cannot leave our horses alone in the fields for months on end. The issue is that horses in the area aren't being monitored as closely as they should. Some have even been noticeably neglected. The educational program responseI want to teach people the most up to date ways of car
Author: Linda McClanahan
Major Program: Equine
The Equine Agents Working Group with our equine extension specialist worked to redefine and expand the Equine Farm and Facilities Expo. The intent this year was to get back to more of the original focus of this event which is to assist the small to medium sized acreage horse farm owner select equipment, design facilities and adopt practices which improve their farm operation. This year, we also expanded the speakers to include topics on farm safety, equipment safety and mental health. These topi
Author: Gary Stockton
Major Program: Equine
Many horse owners are unaware of proper conditioning and exercise needed for their horses to be a top notch athlete and several injuries have occurred because of this. After request from the NKY Horse Network for help in educating horse owners, I planned and conducted a program called "Conditioning and exercising your horse athlete". I worked with a local horse conditioning facilities and we invited horse owners and 4-H horse project youth to attend. Many of the participates stated tha
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Equine
Oldham County’s top ag commodity is horses, and supporting horse owners and managers remains a high priority. According to the 2022 Kentucky Equine Survey, Oldham County ranked 6th in Equine Acres, 6th in Equine Value, and 7th in Equine Operation Income. Income from services and value of equine sold totaled 49 million dollars. Oldham County horse uses include racing, showing, breeding, trail riding, and idle horses. While the county’s horse uses span th
Author: Deborah Stumbo
Major Program: Equine
The problem-- Promoting the Show Horse Industry for Kentucky & Appalachian Region (Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, & Tennessee)The educational program responseThe participants/target audienceOther partners (if applicable)Program impact or participant response.
Author: Bob Coleman
Major Program: Equine
Horses and Horsemen – helping horse owners.When developing an extension education program, the terms innovative and impactful are often brought up. How can a program be both of those is a challenge. On April 25th ANR agents from Clay, Rockcastle, Jackson, Knox, and Laurel counties hosted a Horses and Horsemen evening program in Laurel County at the WTA Marketing Alliance facility. The program featured topics related to horse health, care, and use. Speakers were from the veterinary clinic i
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Equine
Horses and Horsemen – helping horse owners.When developing an extension education program, the terms innovative and impactful are often brought up. How can a program be both of those is a challenge. On April 25th ANR agents from Clay, Rockcastle, Jackson, Knox, and Laurel counties hosted a Horses and Horsemen evening program in Laurel County at the WTA Marketing Alliance facility. The program featured topics related to horse health, care, and use. Speakers were from the veterinary clinic i
Author: Bob Coleman
Major Program: Equine
Field Day Follow-up Do we make an impact when we have educational activities like field days? First consider that impact can be defined as “to have an effect on, or to influence” (Merriam-Webster 2012). While we can define it, the challenge can be to measure or appreciate the impact that may have occurred. Recently, an equine field day was held that focused on farm management practices. Partners for the field day included the host farm, Dr. Bob Coleman (Equine Extension Sp
Author: Linda McClanahan
Major Program: Equine
Do we make an impact when we have educational activities like field days? First consider that impact can be defined as “to have an effect on, or to influence” (Merriam-Webster 2012). While we can define it, the challenge can be to measure or appreciate the impact that may have occurred. Recently, an equine field day was held that focused on farm management practices. Partners for the field day included the host farm, Dr. Bob Coleman (Equine Extension Specialist), Dr. Morgan Hay
Author: Jay Stone
Major Program: Equine
A minor share of farm gate receipts in West Kentucky belongs to the equine industry, but all of the counties in our area have horse owners who either rely on horses for on-farm power or utilize horses as a form of recreational activity. Because of the need to maintain good health in our horse herds, agents polled producers to pinpoint their greatest need, which was solid nutritional information to help insure their horses stay in peak physical condition.To help producers meet their horses nutrit
Author: Mary Jane Little
Major Program: Equine
"4-H is one of the leading youth clubs across the United States and Canada. 4-H is the most highly recognized of all Extension programs (Van Horn, Flanagan, & Thomson, 1999). For the past 102 years, 4-H has been helping children and youth reach their fullest potential through learning new life skills, meeting new people, learning responsibility, and building self-confidence. Participation in 4-H fosters core objectives, such as knowledge and skills, leadership and personal development,
Author: Mary Jane Little
Major Program: Equine
"An abundance of literature exists relative to youth organizations in the United States. Floyd and McKenna (2003) reported that youth organizations such as 4-H, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, National Crime Prevention Council, Save the Children USA, and Communities in Schools have a long and storied history of promoting positive development in America's youth. They also i
Author: William Adkins
Major Program: Equine
When developing an extension education program, the terms innovative and impactful are often brought up. How can a program be both of those is a challenge. On April 25th ANR agents from Clay, Rockcastle, Jackson, Knox, and Laurel counties hosted a Horses and Horsemen evening program in Laurel County at the WTA Marketing Alliance facility. The program featured topics related to horse health, care, and use. Speakers were from the veterinary clinic in Barboursville, the Horse specialist and county
Author: Robert Kirby
Major Program: Equine
Horses and Horsemen – helping horse owners.When developing an extension education program, the terms innovative and impactful are often brought up. How can a program be both of those is a challenge. On April 25th ANR agents from Clay, Rockcastle, Jackson, Knox, and Laurel counties hosted a Horses and Horsemen evening program in Laurel County at the WTA Marketing Alliance facility. The program featured topics related to horse health, care, and use. Speakers were from the veterinary clinic i
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Equine
When developing an extension education program, the terms innovative and impactful are often brought up. How can a program be both of those is a challenge. On April 25th ANR agents from Clay, Rockcastle, Jackson, Knox, and Laurel counties hosted a Horses and Horsemen evening program in Laurel County at the WTA Marketing Alliance facility. The program featured topics related to horse health, care, and use. Speakers were from the veterinary clinic in Barboursville, the Horse specialist and county
Author: Bob Coleman
Major Program: Equine
Horses contribute significantly to the agricultural economy of Kentucky. The dollars generated by horse sales capture the greatest attention, however there are other parts of the agricultural community that also paly a role in supporting both the agricultural community and supporting the horse industry. Of importance is the production and marketing of hay. It is well known that Kentucky does produce a significant amount of hay but often connecting the hay producers to the hay consumers is a chal
Author: Fernanda Camargo
Major Program: Equine
In 2023 we created the Equine Task Force, a leadership academy, for senior 4-H'ers in the horse program. The mission of the Task Force is to offer an advanced opportunity for senior level 4-H equine youth to further develop leadership and communication skills, and career exploration while representing and promoting the Kentucky 4-H Horse Program at the county, area, state, and regional levels. The Goals of the Task Force are: Develop an equine-related yearly passion project debated
Author: Morgan Hayes
Major Program: Equine
Do we make an impact when we have educational activities like field days? First consider that impact can be defined as “to have an effect on, or to influence” (Merriam-Webster 2012). While we can define it, the challenge can be to measure or appreciate the impact that may have occurred. Recently, an equine field day was held that focused on farm management practices. Partners for the field day included the host farm, Dr. Bob Coleman (Equine Extension Specialist), Dr. Morgan Hayes (Ag
Author: Michelle Simon
Major Program: Equine
The Northern Kentucky Horse Network started in 2006 as a joint effort of Northern Kentucky ANR Agents, Conservation Districts and local leaders with an equine interest for the purpose of offering educational resources and opportunities for all horse enthusiasts, from business owners to weekend riders that include all breeds and disciplines. Their mission, in addition to their purpose, is to protect the horse population, provide recreational opportunities, encourage sound management practices, pr
Author: Fernanda Camargo
Major Program: Equine
The online horse judging group was geared toward senior 4-H’ers, adult leaders, parents, and agents, to help them better understand the nuances of horse evaluation, and prepare for the state judging contest. The group met monthly via zoom, and presenters were carded judges in multiple disciplines, including hunters, western, ranch, saddleseat and gaited breeds. This program also counted toward youth educational hours and adult leader recertification hours. The program was very successful,
Author: Fernanda Camargo
Major Program: Equine
With the current equine and food animal shortage in the United States and Kentucky, it became apparent that we, not only, need to devote efforts into assisting current pre-vet students to successfully be admitted into vet school, and lead a fulfilling veterinary career, but also need to encourage them to become equine or food animal veterinarians. Only 5% of veterinarians nationwide practice large animal veterinary medicine, negatively impacting farms, animal welfare and well-being and food supp
