This tour of Central Kentucky Horse Industry was an event organized by me, Madison Scott (a former student of our Equine Science and Management Program), Jason Litt (Solis/Litt Bloodstock), and Price Bell (Mill Ridge Farm). We offered a tour of the most iconic horse farms of Central Kentucky to 40 4-H'ers and their families. The idea was to have the kids understand the life of a racehorse, from foal through yearling, racing career, and to becoming a broodmare or stallion, including both Triple Crown Winners American Pharoah and Justify.

We started the day at Dubai Millenium ( Godolphin), where we visited the yearlings. The yearling manager grew up in the 4-H Horse Program in Kentucky and explained to the kids how his experience with showmanship and judging enabled him to grow in the Thoroughbred industry, where a proper presentation, combined with the knowledge of ideal conformation, are the start of a racing horse in the yearling sales. He was also incredibly grateful to his 4-H years, as he now worked for years as an assistant manager for one of the largest Thoroughbred breeders in the world.

Our next place was   Coolmore's Ashford Stud, where we will met their stallions, including Justify and American Pharoah.

We then headed to Gainsborough Farm (Godolphin) to have lunch, which they sponsored, and I personally had a great surprise as Madison had invited a bunch of our former students to lunch with us, to show the kids the importance of college, doing things the right way, taking advantage of every opportunity they are given, and, obviously, determination. The students were: Kyle Johnson (Claiborne), Jake Memolo, Jillian Gordon (Claiborne), Autry Claire (Spendthrift), Corbin Blumberg (Godolphin), Hallie Hardy (Godolphin), Hannah Nibielski (USDF), among others.

The last farm we visited was Mill Ridge Farm, where Price explained to us how the rolling hills of Kentucky is thought to positively affect the life and career of racehorses.

The kids were treated with the belief that they were indeed the future of the horse industry. This was an unforgettable educational event, which was made more special because of the collaborations with the horse industry as well as our former students.