Five New Directors Join Kentucky Horse Council Board of Directors

Lexington, KY (August 6, 2014) – The Kentucky Horse Council has recently elected five new directors to its Board of Directors. The new appointments are slated to begin their service to the Kentucky horse industry immediately.

Dr. Bob Coleman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky's Equine Extension. He has a Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Alberta, an M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Manitoba, and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba. He has served as the Extension Horse Specialist at the Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in Edmonton, Alberta. Dr. Coleman's areas of interest include equine nutrition, utilization of forages by the horse, horse care and management, and horse industry economics.

Ginny Grulke is a lifelong horse owner and trail rider. She moved to Kentucky from Michigan in 1992, and helped her two children as they participated in 4-H and Pony Club. She was a 4-H Horse Club leader for six years in Fayette County. After moving to Kentucky, she created a local horse magazine, The HorseSource, which she published for six years. Ginny spent the first part of her career in the computer industry. She worked for IBM for 15 years in sales and systems engineering, was Marketing Director for a small software firm, taught computers at two Community Colleges, and established a website development firm specializing in equine sites. In 2005 she accepted the position of Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Council, which she retired from in 2013. While Executive Director, KHC membership grew from 89 to over 900, and its industry programs grew from two to over twenty. Ginny has a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Statistics from Virginia Tech.

She is currently President of Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, serves on three committees for the Back Country Horsemen of America, and is a Board Member for the Sheltowee Trace Association. Ginny currently lives in Fayette County on a 10-acre farm with her husband, two horses, chickens, dogs and cats. She continues to enjoy trail riding and has recently started endurance riding as well.

Dixie Hayes has been the Program Coordinator/Instructor at the North American Racing Academy since 2011, the Equine Studies Program offered through the Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Her previous employment includes Adjunct Instructor at Midway College in Equine Studies, Assistant Division Manager at the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park, Manager at Frankfort Park Farm which is a thoroughbred nursery, sales, and international quarantine. Dixie has also been a licensed thoroughbred trainer with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the Assistant Manager at Linhaven Farm in the thoroughbred nursery and sales division.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Equine Studies, with a Concentration in Management. Dixie also serves as the Chapter President of Gamma Beta Phi, an Honor Society for Four Year Colleges.

Wayne Hipsley has over 50 years of experience in the horse industry. He has worked as an equine association COO/CEO, taught as a university equine studies professor, nutrition, reproduction, training, behavior, safe handling, riding instruction, judged horse shows all over world, and is a multi-licensed judge. He is an author and speaker on equine related topics, and an expert advisor to legal counsel. Wayne has done appraisals of horses and equine related equipment, supplies, worked on international marketing programs for the horse industry, conducting a marketing study of impact of American breeds of horses in Europe, and developed documents and information on safety related to horses and activities associated with horses.

Through work in the horse industry, Hipsley has developed a network of professional horsemen and women, and equine scientists as additional resources for his knowledge, talent and skills. These range from Certified Public Accountants to Farriers, from Hay Producers to Horse Trainers, from Horse Transportation to Event/Show Managers, and from Development/Marketing Specialists to Legal Counsel and veterinarians.

Kelsea Rookard, a Midway College graduate, has been involved in the equine industry for more than 10 years. While at Midway she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Management and Business. Kelsea is currently Director of the Equine Academy at Lexington Catholic High School (LCHS). The Equine Academy seeks to inspire the next generation of equine industry leaders by combining LCHS’s rich tradition as a first-class, faith-based educational institution with an incomparable location in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. In addition, Kelsea is an active member of the American Saddlebred Horse Association, the American Road Horse and Pony Association, and the United States Equestrian Federation. In her showing career she received multiple awards at top shows in saddle seat and driving divisions.

Kelsea taught horseback riding lessons for many years, and also worked at the Kentucky Horse Council, where she was involved with their many educational programs. She has a love for all equine, and a passion for assisting students in their learning process while working with horses. In her spare time, Kelsea enjoys riding for pleasure and volunteering in the children’s ministry at her church.

“This new slate of officers brings a vast range of experience, expertise, and knowledge together to serve the Kentucky horse industry,” said President Kathy Hopkins. “I am excited to work with them as industry leaders and to further establish Kentucky’s horse industry as the nationwide leader in education, health and welfare, and future development.”

For more information, contact the Kentucky Horse Council at (859) 367-0509.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL - The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programs and information, outreach and communication to Kentucky horse owners and enthusiasts, equine professional networking opportunities through KENA, trail riding advocacy, health and welfare programs, and personal liability insurance and other membership benefits. The specialty Kentucky Horse Council license plate, featuring a foal lying in the grass, provides the primary source of revenue for KHC programs.

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