Success StoryCollaboration and Communication



Collaboration and Communication

Author: Bob Coleman

Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences

Major Program: Equine

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

In the unique times with COVID -19 communicating with horse owners needed to change the delivery method to the new technologies to reach the intended audience. While for some the use of Facebook live and Zoom might not be new adding them into the program for the first time can be daunting.

An opportunity arose to collaborate with an Extension colleague from the University of Minnesota to deliver an extension program that linked a Zoom meeting with Facebook live. Tackling such a collaboration is made easier when your collaborator is willing to try and has had some experience with the various platforms. What made this a unique activity was neither party had linked the two platforms to deliver a program and certainly not with one person in Minnesota and one in Kentucky. 

The program from Kentucky was delivered via Zoom to Minnesota and then shared on Facebook live.  

The collaboration was to provide extension programing on a topic to support the University of Minnesota Equine Extension program during the current restrictions on program delivery with no face to face activities.

The program was to be a 60-minute presentation on horse bits for horse owners. The program was such a success and not all questions were answered so a second session was presented using the same two platforms.

Bits with Dr. Bob, Part 1. Facebook Live broadcast on May 21, 2020 on the University of Minnesota Equine Extension Facebook page. As of June 8, 2020, the total reach was over 7,000, with 22 comments, 41 shares, and over 2,700 views. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1220758058264151

Bits with Dr. Bob, Part 2. Facebook Live broadcast on June 3, 2020 on the University of Minnesota Equine Extension Facebook page. As of June 8, 2020, the total reach was over 4,100 with 9 comments, 10 shares, and over 1,500 views. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=295503504806693

The reach using these communications platforms is quite amazing and does give information to horse owners in a manner and time frame that meets their needs.

Good collaborators make activities such as this fun and educational for all involved while reaching a broad and diverse audience.






Stories by Bob Coleman


Horse Industry Study Tour

about 6 years ago by Bob Coleman

Many agents apprecaite the horse industry and the impact it has in Kentucky but they may not appreci... Read More


Ist Annual Equine Conference

about 6 years ago by Bob Coleman

The first Annual Equine Conference for horse owners was started by a collaboration between the North... Read More


Stories by Animal and Food Sciences


Meeting the educational needs of small egg producers

about 6 years ago by Anthony Pescatore

There has been a trend in Kentucky for many nontraditional clientele to have small egg producing flo... Read More


Horse Academy for Chinese Students

about 6 years ago by Fernanda Camargo

The University of Kentucky China Initiatives Office approached me regarding offering a horse program... Read More