Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Growing Equine Education in Bracken County
Author: Holly Bowman
Major Program: Equine
After many years without equine programming in Bracken County, the Extension Office launched a new Equine Education Series, addressing the needs of local horse owners. The response has been tremendous, starting with 4 attendees at our first session on equine nutrition and growing steadily. Sessions on equine dentistry, groundwork, and contest basics have drawn increasing interest, with our most recent session reaching 23 participants. Of those 23 nearly half of the participants were Amish w
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Equine Education Event
Author: Nicole Rhein
Major Program: Equine
Most people have heard of the term horse foundering. Few know that the proper term for this is laminitis. According to Dr. Kim Young, DMV, laminitis was one of the common problems that Marshall County horse owners faced this past year. Laminitis can be very serious. It is caused by an alteration in the blood supply to the foot which results in damage to the “laminae,” where the hoof is attached to the foot. On October 1st, 110 local horse owners attended the Equine Education Eve
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Equine Farm Expo for Horsemen
Author: Beau Neal
Major Program: Equine
In order to help equine producers be efficient and profitable, Central Kentucky County Extension Agents for Agriculture & Natural Resources collaborated with Ag Equine Programs to offer the Equine Expo. I hosted the event right here in Woodford County at River Mountain Farm. The assistance of long-time business community sponsors allowed producers to see what the latest offerings are in farm machinery, equine nutrition products, and numerous other necessities for equine operations.&nbs
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Empowering Horse Owners Through the Equine Wellness Programming
Author: Brittany Brewer
Major Program: Equine
Scott County is ranked 6th in nation and 4th in the Kentucky for horse inventory. Many Scott County horse owners want more pertinent educational programming that they can implement on their operation. They seek better access to education while still being able to accomplish their daily tasks. During the spring time many horse owners look for an opportunity to refresh their education or to learn more about spring feed and pasture management. To help educate and combat these issues the Equine Well
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Horse Ration Management Through the Winter
Author: Gretchen Plocek
Major Program: Equine
Equine health issues are one of the biggest concerns to Kentucky horse owners. In the 2022 Kentucky Equine Survey, a total of $99,000,000 was spent in 2022 for Vet/Health related expenses. Of these health-related issues, Kentucky horse owners ranked Senior Equine Care, Musculoskeletal Issues, Gut/Digestive Problems, Parasites, and Laminitis as issues with most concern. Two of which (Gut/Digestive Issues and Laminitis) are caused partially by diet. One of the solutions to these issues is to under
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Pastures Please Equine Program
Author: Beau Neal
Major Program: Equine
The ANR Equine Agents Working Group, Extension Specialists and Associates planned the annual Pastures Please workshop. This was the 18th year for the workshop and typically takes place at the Fayette County Extension Office in Lexington, KY. In the future the group would like to add a location in eastern KY. This workshop typically focuses on horse pasture management with some other subject matter areas mixed in that may relate well to the equine producers. The focus is always on delivering time
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Horses and Horsemen
Author: Meredith Hall
Major Program: Equine
The Boyd County Cooperative Extension Service recently hosted a highly successful equine education series titled Horses and Horsemen, designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of local horse owners, riders, and enthusiasts. Held at the Boyd County Cooperative Extension Education Center, this four-part program attracted 24 dedicated participants from across the region.The series covered essential topics in equine management, with each session led by a subject matter expert. Participants benefi
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Equine Programs in West Kentucky.
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
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Pasture Maintenance and Management on Small Horse Facilities
Author: Bob Coleman
Major Program: Equine
Describe the Issue or Situation.How often does an extension specialist get to make a presentation to an audience that might not be a traditional extension audience. With the horse industry many horse owners do not know much about extension or feel that because they are not a farmer working with extension is not for them. The challenge has been to link extension with horse owners and while it is improving it is still a challenge. Engaging with horse owners at time need to be done through a t
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Facility Desing and Management
Author: Bob Coleman
Major Program: Equine
Describe the Issue or Situation.Linking an extension teaching DOE can be a challenge. Bringing the industry to the classroom or the classroom to industry is both challenging and rewarding. For several years I have taught EQM 340 Equine Facility Design and Management. Recently a student from the class approached me regarding providing advice on a facility they wanted to develop in Fayette County. The aim was to build a showcase Hunter Jumper facility that would house personal horses along with ou
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Hippology Clinic
Author: Anna Draeger
Major Program: Equine
Reports have come from horse program volunteer leaders and extension agents about uncertainty about how to get started with a Hippology team in their county. This event worked to provide both content practice and resources for a successful introduction to Hippology. Dr. Fernanda Camargo and I worked to create a single day Hippology clinic that would be affordable and helpful to youth, and volunteer leaders. We had guest speakers from UK, including myself, Dr. Hannah Tiffin, and agent assist
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Horses Horsemen
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Equine
The WTA ag agents held the annual Horses and Horsemen program April 29th, 2025. The event covered three key areas: horse health, insect management, and tack maintenance. Each of these areas is integral to the success and sustainability of equine operations, and the WTA Ag agents ensured that the content was both informative and practical for every participant.The day kicked off with a comprehensive session on horse health, where a local veterinarian discussed key topics of vaccination
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Wilderness Trail Area Anual Horses and Horseman program
Author: Robert Kirby
Major Program: Equine
The WTA ag agents held the annual Horses and Horsemen program April 29th, 2025. The event covered three key areas: horse health, insect management, and tack maintenance. Each of these areas is integral to the success and sustainability of equine operations, and the WTA Ag agents ensured that the content was both informative and practical for every participant.The day kicked off with a comprehensive session on horse health, where a local veterinarian discussed key topics of vaccination
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Horse and Horsemen
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Equine
The WTA ag agents held the annual Horses and Horsemen program April 29th, 2025. The event covered three key areas: horse health, insect management, and tack maintenance. Each of these areas is integral to the success and sustainability of equine operations, and the WTA Ag agents ensured that the content was both informative and practical for every participant.The day kicked off with a comprehensive session on horse health, where a local veterinarian discussed key topics of vaccination
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