The Kentucky Horse Council works hard to protect and support Kentucky horses and those who love them, and, with your help, we can do even more!

Donations to the KHC help to support initiatives like:

• Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training for first responders (graduates of these programs have assisted animals in trailer accidents, sinkholes, and those affected by natural disasters throughout the state).
• Livestock Investigative Training so animal control officers and other law enforcement personnel can adequately assess and assist at-risk horses and other livestock.
• Save Our Horses Fund (SOHO), which offers vouchers for feed, hay and euthanasia to those experiencing financial hardship to ensure their horses’ needs do not go unmet.

To kick off this year’s annual fundraising drive, the KHC board has pledged to personally match the first $1,000 in donations made to the KHC before the end of the year.

The KHC works diligently to ensure that every horse owner, regardless of breed or discipline focus, has an ally in the KHC and feels represented and valued, especially if unforeseen circumstances arise.

Your donations will allow us to focus even more energy on our welfare and training programs, which could be needed by any horse owner when they least expect it. Please join us in supporting some of the most vital resources available to Kentucky horses.

Go to kentuckyhorse.org to make your contribution today!

Lexington Equine Medical Group has donated more than $11,000 to the Kentucky Horse Council, specifically earmarking the funds for the Council’s efforts in Eastern Kentucky. The funds were raised from the LEMG’s inaugural Hunter Pace and 5K held at the Kentucky Horse Park earlier this year.

The LEMG Hunter Pace boasted 217 riders on 80 teams; it welcomed all breeds and disciplines, and offered friendly competition in jumping, non-jumping and pleasure divisions. Runners and riders were encouraged to wear costumes and tailgate; all divisions were placed through sixth, with the top three teams receiving additional awards. Custom belt buckles were awarded to the Top Male and Top Female runner in the 5K.

The event was such a resounding success that LEMG has announced that hunter pace competition will be held over two days in 2025 to allow even more people the opportunity to ride over the iconic Kentucky Horse Park grounds and to raise additional funds for the Kentucky Horse Council. The Hunter Pace will be held September 6 and 7, and the 5K will take place the morning of September 6.

“The success of the event in its inaugural year is a testament to the power of the Kentucky equine community,” said Dr. Rocky M. Mason, founding partner of Lexington Equine Medical Group. “The 5K itself was classically Kentucky: Nearly 70 runners were led over the hunter pace course by riders on horseback, giving them a race experience like nowhere else in the world. In addition, over 200 riders from across the Bluegrass and neighboring states descended on the Kentucky Horse Park for the opportunity to ride in support of the Kentucky Horse Council. It was a fantastic day seeing riders of all ages and disciplines enjoy their horses and support such a great cause. We look forward to a bigger and better event in 2025!”

“The Kentucky Horse Council is deeply thankful for LEMG’s dedication to the health of all Kentucky horses,” said Sarah Coleman, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Council. “We are honored to be the recipient of this financial gift and look forward to doing even more good work in Eastern Kentucky with it.”

See complete Hunter Pace results here.

See photography from Rachel Milewski Media here.

Learn more about Lexington Equine Medical Group here.

Can’t run or ride, but want to support the work the KHC does? Donate here: kentuckyhorse.org/Donate

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL: The Kentucky Horse Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community through education and leadership. The KHC provides educational programs like large animal emergency rescue training and livestock investigation training; networking opportunities; personal liability insurance through individual and family memberships; and financial assistance programs for horse owners in need through the Save Our Horses (SOHO) fund. Learn more at kentuckyhorse.org.

The Kentucky Horse Council’s (KHC) annual Livestock Investigation Training (LIT) is slated to take place October 23 at the Blue Grass Stockyards Stanford – South in Stanford. Registration for all county and state officials, including animal control officers, sheriffs, police officers and other law enforcement officials and prosecutors in Kentucky, is free; registration for equine rescue and adoption organization employees is $100. Out-of-state officials are welcome should space allow.

Developed by the KHC in partnership with the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA), with input from experienced enforcement officers, veterinarians and livestock producers, this course is tailored to the needs of those tasked with handling livestock abuse and neglect complaints in the Commonwealth. Attendees will learn how to safely and strategically manage horses and cattle running at large, as well as how to identify at-risk animals.

LIT attendees will learn how to handle horses and cattle, assess body condition score in both species, identify situations that need intervention, and apply Kentucky statutes to animal-associated court cases. Attendees will also practice handling and evaluating live horses and cattle, as well as examining Kentucky statutes and enforcement procedures.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Chief Livestock Agent Marcus Avery and Deputy Chief Livestock Agent Shane Mitchell will teach the portion of the class directly related to investigation of potential abuse and neglect cases; documentation; court cases and how to handle horses and cattle involved in ongoing litigation.

“The Livestock Investigation Training provides vital education on animal abuse and neglect to our Kentucky peace officers and to other attendees involved in livestock welfare and care,” said Sarah Coleman, Kentucky Horse Council executive director. “We are deeply thankful for the ongoing participation of the state’s livestock investigators, who provide valuable insight into the nuances of Kentucky’s animal welfare laws and offer attendees candid conversation and support. Their involvement is critical in ensuring no officer or official feels alone when dealing with a possible neglect or abuse case.”

Sponsorship of this program allows the Kentucky Horse Council to provide free training registration to county and state officials, including animal control officers, police, sheriffs and other law enforcement personnel. Download the sponsor packet here.

The KHC has educated more than 315 officers and officials from 65 Kentucky counties since the inception of the trainings in 2008. This course is open to non-government officials and equine enthusiasts for a fee of $100 per person. Register for the course here.

For more information, visit www.kentuckyhorse.org or contact the Kentucky Horse Council at 859-367-0509 or info@kentuckyhorse.org.

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ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL: The Kentucky Horse Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community through education and leadership. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programming; health and welfare programs; outreach and communication to equine enthusiasts; equine professional networking opportunities through the Kentucky Equine Networking Association; and trail riding advocacy. Learn more at kentuckyhorse.org.

September is National Preparedness Month and to help horse owners better prepare for natural disasters, the Kentucky Horse Council’s Fall Dinner & Discussion will focus on how to keep horses – and farms – safe in times of turmoil.

This educational event will take place on Tuesday, September 17, at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center in Lexington from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Katie Flynn, BVMS, Senior Veterinarian for Equine Health and Biosecurity, US Equestrian, will present “Disaster Preparedness for Equine Owners: How to Assess Your Risk, Protect Your Horse and Respond in the Wake of Natural Disasters.”

Growing up on a Standardbred racehorse farm in South Grafton, Massachusetts, Dr. Flynn has

always been passionate about horses and their care. She received her veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland before embarking on a diverse veterinary career: She began a regulatory career with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Branch, where she held several positions including field veterinarian, livestock health program veterinarian and equine staff veterinarian before leaving California to continue her regulatory career as the Kentucky State Veterinarian.

In March 2023, Dr. Flynn followed her equine infectious disease interest and accepted the role of Senior Staff Veterinarian for Equine Health and Biosecurity with the United States Equestrian Federation.

“Kentucky has had it’s share of natural disasters in the last few years and horse owners have not been spared, unfortunately,” says Kristin Werner, Deputy General Counsel and Director of Industry Initiatives of The Jockey Club and Kentucky Horse Council board and Health and Welfare committee member. “Through efforts made by the Kentucky Horse Council, I have gotten to see first-hand the devastation and destruction both tornadoes and floods can bring. Any preparations, no matter how small, can deeply impact the potential outcome for horses in the event of a natural disaster. Common-sense approaches are much more likely to be enacted – I am excited to hear Dr. Flynn talk about implementable approaches on how horse owners can keep their animals safe.”

This dinner is part of the Horse Council’s Dinner & Discussion event series, which provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry.

For details and reservations for the September 17 event, click here. Tickets are $35.

Registration Open for Kentucky Horse Council's Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training Class to be held Sept. 27-29, 2024, at the Kentucky Horse Park

Lexington, KY (July 29, 2024) - The Kentucky Horse Council’s three-day Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) training is slated to return to the Kentucky Horse Park on Sept. 27-29, 2024.

LAER is taught by Justin and Tori McLeod of 4Hooves Large Animal Services, LLC, a North Carolina-based company that specialized in large animal technical rescue emergency response and training for emergency responders and veterinary professionals. The course is geared specifically toward veterinarians, emergency responders and animal control officers, but horse owners and industry professionals will also find the course beneficial in learning how to care for and extract equines in potentially hazardous situations while remaining safe.

The course will cover topics like animal behavior; handling and restraint; containment; motor vehicle accidents and overturned trailers; entrapments; unstable ground incidents (mud, ditch, ice, etc.); water rescues; and natural disaster preparation and response. Specialized instruction will be given to participants based on their background and auditors are welcome.

“This three-day, technical training is an incredible learning experience for attendees – both hands-on and auditors,” says Sarah Coleman, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Council. “Instructors teach emergency personnel, veterinarians and horse owners how to work together, leaning into the specific knowledge each faction has in an effort to secure the best possible outcome for horses in perilous situations.”

Attendees will split time between attending lectures at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center theater and spending time out Park grounds, practicing the skills they learned inside. Horses used for the hands-on portion of the class are graciously provided by the Lexington Mounted Police.

Continuing education credits for veterinarians are available through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Sponsorship opportunities are available here.

For more information, click here or contact the Kentucky Horse Council at 859-367-0509 or info@kentuckyhorse.org. Learn more about 4Hooves Large Animal Services at 4hoovessmart.com.

Lexington, KY (July 26, 2024)– Lexington Equine Medical Group owners have named the Kentucky Horse Council as the beneficiary of proceeds from their inaugural Hunter Pace and 5K, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on Sunday, September 8. All funds raised will be earmarked specifically to assist with KHC efforts in Eastern Kentucky.

The 5K will begin at 8 a.m., with participants trail running over the hunter pace course – jumping the jumps is encouraged! The hunter pace will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Awards will be given in the jumping, non-jumping and family/pleasure categories, as well as to Best Costume, Best Tailgate and Best Thoroughbred Team (to be eligible, at least half of the horses on a team must have a Thoroughbred Incentive Program number).

A hunter pace is designed to mimic the feeling of being on a hunt without the hounds; teams of two, three and four riders will travel over a marked course that includes woods, water and open fields. Riders can choose to participate in one of three divisions: jumping, non-jumping and family/pleasure, where riders ride at their own pace over the marked course. Riders are encouraged to jump any obstacle they choose; no penalty is incurred for not jumping jumps. The team that finishes closest to the optimum time (set by officials) without going over will be the winner in each division.

“Lexington Equine Medical group is excited to offer runners and riders of all disciplines and abilities the opportunity to spend time at the Kentucky Horse Park,” said Rocky M. Mason, DVM, one of the founders of the 13-doctor ambulatory veterinary practice. “We are looking forward to hosting an event to bring awareness to and raise funds for the KHC, and more specifically, the welfare of horses in Eastern Kentucky. The equine community in the Bluegrass is a powerful one, and one we are all so lucky to be a part of; we can’t wait to see what bringing everyone together for a day of fun and sport can accomplish for horses in need.”

Runners and riders will be able to purchase food from Toasties Gourmet and High Horizons Coffee Shop and Cafe food trucks; beverages from Maiden City Brewing Company and Country Boy Brewing will also be for sale. Photography will be provided by Rachel Milewski Media.

The race and pace will be held rain or shine. Questions? Email lemghunterpace@gmail.com

Learn more about the Lexington Equine Medical Group Hunter Pace and 5K at the Park and register here: lexingtonequinemedical.com/hunter-pace-5k

Can’t run or ride, but want to support the work the KHC does? Donate here: kentuckyhorse.org/Donate

Did you know that the Kentucky Horse Council has created an endowment fund through the Blue Grass Community Foundation? BGCF connects charitable individuals, families, businesses, communities and nonprofit organizations with causes they care about – a perpetual endowment provides the KHC with annual support perpetually.

Please consider supporting the KHC through the Blue Grass Community Foundation – donating in this way can give you a great perk: tax credits through Endow Kentucky! Individuals and businesses who pay taxes in Kentucky can receive a credit of up to 20 percent of the value of a gift made to endowed funds held at community foundations – and the KHC endowment fund qualifies for this tax credit! $1 million in tax credits will become available on July 1 and are often gone in a matter of weeks -- so now is the time to start planning.

If you’re interested in learning more about the tax credit, or completing a tax credit application, email the KHC office at info@kentuckyhorse.org

Have additional questions? Email Scott Fitzpatrick (sfitzpatrick@bgcf.org), Halee Cunningham (halee@bgcf.org) or Lisa Adkins (ladkins@bgcf.org), or call 859-225-3343.

Tax Credit Tips:

• There is no minimum gift to qualify for this tax credit!
• Contributions don’t have to be cash or check -- appreciated stock, life insurance policies or real estate may qualify for the tax credit
• You don’t need to itemize your taxes to take advantage of the tax credit
• All you need to do is fill out an application – BGCF takes care of the rest!

Make plans to donate today to claim your tax credit! Kentucky horses thank you.

If you’ve ever wondered how veterinarians hone their sleuthing skills, if your horse qualifies for a “sports medicine” vet or what all those high-tech diagnostic thingamajigs DO, you are not alone! We hope you’ll join the Kentucky Horse Council and a team of veterinarians from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for our Summer Dinner & Discussion on Tuesday, July 16, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute’s Sport Horse Complex. All equine enthusiasts are welcomed and audience questions are encouraged.

With experience in caring for everything from hunters, jumpers, Saddlebreds, trail horses, eventers, dressage, reining horses and more, the veterinarians at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute are some of the best in the world – and they’ve seen some of the most interesting cases.

This multi-doctor panel will go over some of their more-unusual cases, offering how they came to a diagnosis and what modalities they used to do so. They will also offer insight into the diagnostics available at Hagyard and on what types of cases these modalities perform best. These include nuclear scintigraphy, ultrasound MRI, Hallmarq standing MRI and MILE-PET scan.

“Horse owners living in Kentucky are in an enviable position: We not only have access to a world-class veterinary hospital with state-of-the-art diagnostics and imaging capabilities like Hagyard, we also have the best veterinarians in the world at the ready to assist in all manner of veterinary cases,” said Jen Roytz, co-owner of Brownstead Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, and vice president of the Kentucky Horse Council. “As the old adage goes, ‘knowledge is power,’ and the more knowledgeable we as horse owners are about the diagnostics and treatment modalities available, the better prepared we will be to manage our horses effectively, should they become injured.”

This dinner is part of the Horse Council’s Dinner & Discussion event series, which provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry.

For details and reservations for the July 16 event, click here. Tickets are $35.

Good horse owners do their best to ensure their horses are cared for to the best of their ability, often having a team of farriers, veterinarians, barn owners and trusted friends to guide them through the journey of equine ownership. But what happens when an owner is no longer able to advocate on behalf of their horse?

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) will welcome Joshua Beam, partner at Dinsmore & Shohl law firm, for a candid conversation about how horse owners can prepare for their equines, dogs and cats to be taken care of should the need arise. This Dinner & Discussion (formerly called the Kentucky Equine Networking Association or “KENA”) will take place on Wednesday, November 15, at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. All equine enthusiasts are welcomed and audience questions are encouraged.

“Planning for your pet’s care when you’re not there is something that can be hard to think about, but it’s imperative to ensuring your horse--and other pets--don’t end up in a potentially perilous welfare situation,” says Sarah Coleman, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Council. “The Kentucky Horse Council fields calls multiple times a year from relatives who have inherited animals – often with no experience in their upkeep and no idea what to do with them. This unintentional lack of planning adds angst to an already- stressful time.”

Though the situation can be tricky to navigate, having uncomfortable conversations while not under the pressure of a life-altering event gives horse owners the opportunity to consider multiple possibilities completely. This hour-long presentation will guide owners though multiple options of care for horses and other animals should he or she be unable to make decisions on their behalf. Beam will also offer words of advice on how to broach the potentially difficult subject matter with friends and family, how to choose a caretaker and what to consider when unlimited funds for horse care are not an option.

This dinner is part of the Horse Council’s Dinner & Discussion event series, which provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry.

For details and reservations for the November 15 event, click here. Tickets are $30. Interested in sponsoring this event? Click here.