The University of Kentucky China Initiatives Office approached me regarding offering a "horse program" for the Chinese students (from universities in China that have a relationship with UK) that come to UK to learn English and other subject matters. The CIO has been offering intensive english studies, biology, chemistry, etc, but this would be the first time they would offer some sort of animal related program. 

These students come to UK for a period of 2 weeks, and this is one of the ways for UK to recruit international students. 

We developed a pilot program for January/February 2018 for 5 students. It was an intensive Horse Academy where the students learned 30 hours of classroom about equine science (anatomy, function, breeds, equipment, nutrition, health, international issues, etc), divided into 10 3-hour classroom style lessons in the morning, as well as toured some of Lexington's most prestigious Equine Related businesses that I set up, to include: Coolmore's Ashford Stud (home of American Pharoah, and now Justify), Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Standlee Hay, Hallway Feeds, KESMARC, and some tack shops, which happened in the afternoons. 

The tours happened on their first week in Lexington. On the second week, I set up horseback riding lessons with a local riding facility (which is owned and operated by one of our former students) for their afternoon activities. 

Overall, the program was extremely well accepted, and students left Lexington saying they would pursue a riding activity in China. 

Due to the huge success of the pilot program, and the positive feedback from the students, we are offering another Horse Academy in the Summer of 2018, and their University is sending 21 students to attend.