Ranking 6^th in Kentucky, the market value of horses sold in Oldham County was over 6.3 million dollars, according to the 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census.  Horses are a leading business and recreational interest, including many thoroughbred breeding farms, training and boarding operations, layup facilities, and pleasure horses.   During a recent area Master Horseman program, tractor and equipment knowledge was identified as a topic that many horse farm managers and owners needed more information about.

Because of this need, the Oldham County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent and the University of Kentucky Extension Horse Specialist organized an Equine Equipment Field Day, held in April 2022 at a local farm.  The UK Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent Equine Working Group assisted in identifying specific topics and format for the event.  The field day was promoted across the state.

The field day included the following educational opportunities:

• Tractor and implement exhibits supplied by four local ag equipment businesses and the farm hosts.
• How to Select a New or Used Tractor talk given by a UK Ag Engineering Professor
• Selecting the Right Implements for Your Horse Operation talk given by a UK Ag Engineering Professor

The field day offered 35 participants information covering everything from needed horsepower to equipment stability & traction for different tasks and implements.  Participants represented Oldham, Henry, Jefferson, Shelby, Trimble, and Anderson counties in Kentucky and Harrison County in Indiana.

The Gallatin and Kenton County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agents helped develop and administer an evaluation at the field day.  Evaluation results included:

• 62% reported learning about tractor and implement dealers in the area.
• 62% reported learning about services offered by UK Cooperative Extension Service.
• 53% reported learning what to look for in a new or used tractor.
• 46% indicated they don’t own horses but were interested in tractors and equipment for small farms in general.  

One participant purchased a tractor based on knowledge gained at the field day.  Another participant who is a farm manager commented, “I learned a lot today, including things I’ve been doing wrong.”  One participant commented they would like Extension to hold a workshop on basic tractor maintenance.  Basic Tractor Maintenance is already in the works for Oldham and surrounding counties for the upcoming program year.  

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