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The Kentucky Horse Council announced the November Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA) dinner and discussion topic will address equine nutrition. Titled “What’s REALLY in Your Horse’s Feed?” the event will be held on Tuesday, November 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Spy Coast Farm’s Equine Education Center in Lexington. KENA is a dinner and educational series geared toward equine professionals, horse owners and riders, and other equine enthusiasts. The night will include networking, dinner and a lecture by University of Kentucky Animal Science professor and researcher Dr. Laurie Lawrence.
Deciphering equine feed tags and supplement labels can feel like an exercise in futility if you don’t have a master’s degree in equine nutrition. Though it can be overwhelming, it’s important to ensure what you’re feeding provides the horses in your care with the nutrients they need to thrive – and to make sure you’re not wasting precious money on powders, pellets and potions that may not be necessary. Dr. Lawrence will talk KENA attendees through what information they can (and can’t) find on feed and supplement tags; she’ll also offer explanations of nutrition terminology and answer questions about feeding horses in various life stages.
“Most owners understand that proper nutrition is the foundation of a healthy horse,” says Dr. Fernanda Camargo, associate professor and equine extension specialist in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences and co-chair of the KENA committee. “But they sometimes need help determining things like how much energy their horse actually expends and how to match the type of concentrate to each individual horse. Feed tags and supplement labels don’t always tell the whole story, and the KHC is excited to have Dr. Lawrence teach attendees how to analyze these tags and offer tips on what they should look for when purchasing feed.”
KENA provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines. Organized by the Kentucky Horse Council, KENA provides the opportunity for attendees 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. KENA is made possible by the generous support of Dinsmore Equine Law Group, WesBanco, Neogen, University of Louisville College of Business Equine Industry Program, KESMARC Kentucky and Equine Land Conservation Resource.
For details and reservations, visit https://kentuckyhorse.org/KENA . Tickets are $30.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Nov. 21 at 2:30 PM to attend the Kentucky Horse Council's Annual Member Meeting!
August 23, 2021 – Lexington, KY – The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) has partnered with the University of Kentucky to launch a state-wide survey, which will allow the organization to better serve and protect horses and the horse industry in the Commonwealth.
Just like the agritech, automotive and manufacturing industries are integral to Kentucky’s economy, so are equines. The core of this unique economic cluster is its private and commercial horse farms and equine operations, from which hundreds of equine-related businesses stem. These businesses encompass everything from transportation, farm-related and professional services and associations to equine health services, tourism and related businesses. These ancillary businesses create an unmatched competitive advantage for Kentucky’s equine industry.
A comprehensive study of the Commonwealth’s equine industry was completed in 2012; it was the first survey of its kind to be done since 1977. The 2022 study will once again be a collaborative effort between the Kentucky Horse Council, the University of Kentucky and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This information will be beneficial for local and state policymakers, nonprofit organizations and local government officials, among others. The survey, which will provide information critical to Kentucky’s equine economy on a county-by-county basis, will:
“As the KHC is a non-breed, non-discipline specific organization focused on the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community, the information gleaned from this survey will be invaluable,” said Sarah Coleman, KHC executive director. “We’re excited to learn more about the horses residing in the Commonwealth and how we can better assist them and their owners.”
Data obtained from this study are important for the sustained strength and continued growth of Kentucky’s equine industry,” says Dr. Jill Stowe, a professor at the University of Kentucky and an equine industry economist. “Decision makers such as entrepreneurs and business owners, equine health providers, and policy makers can utilize this data to make sound, well-informed decisions on important issues facing the industry.”
Once complete, results will be available in county-level fact sheets as well as in a statewide report. All materials will be downloadable from the KHC website, free of charge.
This survey has received financial support from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment; UK Gluck Equine Research Center; the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association; the Kentucky Horse Council and the Kentucky Farm Bureau. It is supported by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian and Representative Matt Koch. Interested in supporting this effort? Email Danielle Jostes, Equine Philanthropy Director, at danielle.jostes@uky.edu or call 859-218-1176.
Click here to participate in the 2022 Kentucky Equine Survey. Questions can be directed to equine@uky.edu. Information about the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey can be found at https://equine.ca.uky.edu/kyequinesurvey.
The Kentucky Horse Council announced the topic for the August Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA) dinner will be Equines and the Environment: Minimizing Impact on Water Quality. The dinner will be held on Tuesday, August 31, at Spy Coast Farm’s Equine Education Center in Lexington. KENA is a dinner and educational series geared toward equine professionals, horse owners and riders, and other equine enthusiasts. The evening will feature a tour of Spy Coast Farm from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and networking from 6:30 to 7:00, followed by dinner and the main speaker from 7:00 to 8:00.
Guest of honor is Tammy Barnes, Cooperative Extension Associate for University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. Barnes will offer KENA attendees insight into the best equine management practices for the preservation of water quality on horse farms and equine facilities. Horse farms that enact water conservation practices not only add value to a property, they also promote horse health.
Horse and equine facility owners have become increasingly aware of manure management and how its mismanagement could negatively impact water quality and the environment in which they ride. Barnes’ presentation will provide affordable, implementable steps to minimize the environmental impact of manure; she will also offer possible funding sources for these measures. Additional topics discussed will include riparian areas, heavy-use areas, water capture and composting.
Stricter water quality regulations are forthcoming, and it behooves horse and farm owners to be informed and proactive about possible changes they may have to implement to operate in accordance with local and federal laws.
Included with each KENA ticket is a tour Spy Coast Farm , one of the premier sport-horse farms in the country. Located on 800 acres adjacent to the Kentucky Horse Park, KENA attendees will tour their state-of-the-art Rehabilitation and Fitness Center, Stallion Barn, CEM Quarantine, Young Horse Development Center and Reproduction Center before sitting down to a meal in the brand-new Equine Education Center.
“The KHC is looking forward to presenting this topic, which affects all horse owners, whether they keep their horses at home or at a boarding facility,” says Kentucky Horse Council Executive Director Sarah Coleman. “The issues of water quality, manure management and environmental impact will only become more prominent as farmland comes under increasing pressures from housing and business development expansion.”
For details and reservations, visit https://kentuckyhorse.org/KENA . Tickets are $40.
Lexington, KY (July 6, 2021) - After a hiatus in 2020, the Kentucky Horse Council’s Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) training is slated to return in the fall of 2021. The three-day training will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on September 10-12.
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; barn fires and wildfires; unstable ground incidents (mud, ditch, ice, etc.); water rescues; natural disaster preparation and response; hazardous materials decontamination and more. Specialized instruction will be given to participants based on their background and auditors are welcome.
“The Large Animal Emergency Rescue training has proven to be a great learning experience for all veterinarians. Everyone from recent graduates to the most seasoned and tenured [vets] can expect to walk away with an increased knowledge base and practical situational preparedness and awareness,” says Dr. Rocky Mason, owner of Lexington Equine Medical Group and head of the Kentucky Horse Council Health and Welfare committee. “LAER has also served as a great format for interaction among varying first responders and agencies for a more seamless response in times of need and disaster.”
"This is an excellent opportunity for veterinarians, volunteers and first responders to receive in-depth, technical training on situations that may involve animals with which they are unfamiliar,” says KHC executive director Sarah Coleman. “Justin and Tori have an incredibly knack for teaching veterinarians, emergency responders and equine enthusiasts how to work together for favorable outcomes while keeping everyone safe.”
Continuing education credits for veterinarians have been applied for 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
To learn more about 4Hooves Large Animal Services at 4hoovessmart.com.
Three-day Event Educates Officials on Animal Abuse and Neglect
June 8, 2021 – Lexington, KY – After a hiatus in 2020, the Kentucky Horse Council’s Livestock Investigation Training (LIT) is slated to return in the fall of 2021. The three-day training will take place in Lexington from September 20-22. Registration is now open to all county and state officials, including animal control officers, sheriffs, police officers and other law enforcement officials and prosecutors in Kentucky.
Developed by the Kentucky Horse Council (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 the Commonwealth. These trainings, officials will learn how to safely and strategically manage horses, cattle and other livestock 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.
“We are excited for our Livestock Investigation Training to return this fall,” said Sarah Coleman, Kentucky Horse Council Executive Director. “These trainings provide vital education on animal abuse and neglect to our Kentucky peace officers. A good understanding of livestock handling and husbandry increases the likelihood of positive outcomes for loose animals or those found in neglectful situations.”
The KHC has educated over 250 officers from 60 Kentucky counties since the inception of the trainings in 2008. The Commonwealth of Kentucky recognizes the importance of these trainings, with the Office of the State Veterinarian regularly sending investigators to the classes.
The three-day course is approved as Continuing Education for Peace Officers by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training as well as Pay Incentive Course Credit by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. Cost to attend the three-day training is $150 per officer. Out-of-state officials may attend for a fee of $250 per officer. Limited scholarships for tuition are available, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. Register for the course here. Download the sponsor packet here.
For more information, visit www.kentuckyhorse.org or contact the Kentucky Horse Council at 859-367-0509 or info@kentuckyhorse.org
Blackwood Training Center in Woodford County Kentucky:
Results of testing on the samples (Nasal Swabs and Whole Blood EDTA) collected from each horse stabled in Barn A at Blackwood Training Center on Friday, April 9th have been reported negative for detection of EHV1 DNA by PCR testing. In addition to the testing that has been completed, the horses have been monitored daily and our findings support that it has been greater than 14 days since any horse in Barn A was last potentially exposed to a clinical case.
Meeting the criteria above provided us the confidence needed to release the group of horses in Barn A from restriction on Monday April 12 and allow them to resume their normal training and racing activities
Rusty
E.S. Rusty Ford
Rusty.ford@ky.gov
Equine Operations Consultant
Office State Veterinarian
KY Department Agriculture
502/782-5924
Follows are updates to our EHV-1 incident at Blackwood Training Center in Woodford County, KY.
We are also taking this opportunity to share with you our understanding of the latest developments at Laurel and Pimlico in Maryland.
Blackwood Training Center: Woodford County Kentucky:
Results of testing on the samples (Nasal Swabs and Whole Blood EDTA) collected from each horse stabled in Barn B on Wednesday, March 31 have been reported negative for detection of EHV-1 DNA by PCR testing. In addition to the testing that has been completed, the horses have been monitored daily and our findings support that it has been greater than 14 days since any horse in Barn B was last potentially exposed to a clinical case. Meeting the criteria above provided us the confidence needed to release the group of horses in barn B from restriction and allowed them to resume their normal training and racing activities beginning on Friday, April 2nd.
Barn A at Blackwood: Daily monitoring of the horses stabled in Barn A continues. There have been no additional fevers or other symptoms in the group, and we have tentatively scheduled the horses in Barn A to be sampled (nasal swabs and whole blood) and tested by PCR later next week.
Maryland: LAUREL/PIMLICO
Published reports and conversations with animal health officials in MD, suggest the situation at Laurel continues to evolve as additional positive samples have been collected from non-clinical as well as a few horses exhibiting clinical signs. The MD State Veterinarian and the Stronarch Group have decided the plan moving forward is to only sample and test symptomatic horses in the affected barns. Currently, their criteria for quarantine release will be 21 days of no clinical signs reported. This plan relies strictly on grooms/trainers/vets to report fever or other evidence of illness which in our opinion may result in lack of detection of circulating virus. This protocol is in direct contrast to the testing protocols, we have developed in consultation with infectious disease experts; and which I feel has aided our ability to maintain racing schedules/calendars with minimal disruption and inconvenience to the majority of horsemen.
In light of the current information available to us, we are in the process of developing strategies to mitigate what would be considered an elevated risk to our populations here in KY should MD release the imposed restrictions without diagnostically demonstrating the horses and environment are free of evidence of virus circulating.
The probability is that for horses which have recently been (date to be determined) at Laurel or Pimlico, will require KY’s Office State Veterinarian approval prior to entering KY. These horses will likely be restricted and require veterinary examination and testing before being allowed to enter a KY racetrack or sanctioned facility. This protocol has worked well in the past when we’ve had to address disease events in other states where horses were released from restrictions without testing.
I will be providing and distributing a general summary update late next week when results from the planned testing at Blackwood become available. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions, comments or other concern.
E.S. Rusty FordRusty.ford@ky.govEquine Operations Consultant Office State Veterinarian KY Department Agriculture 502/782-5924
From: E.S. Rusty Ford, Equine Operations Consultant Date: March 15, 2021
The additional 24 horses in Barn B of the index EHV1 affected premises, were sampled on Friday due to potential exposure of indirect transmission (riders) having occurred prior to confirmation of the index case. Two horses from this group had a trace amount of EHV-1 DNA detected in the nasal swab and were removed from the barn and segregated on Saturday.
To date, 18 horses in index Barn A and 22 horses in Barn B have had one set of negative test (nasal swab and/or blood) . The last febrile horse was removed from Barn A and placed in isolation on March 10, 2021. There have been no clinical horses in Barn B since the start of the outbreak.
Five of the nine horses in the isolation barn have tested positive with the last fever reported on Friday March 12, 2021. All horses in isolation are being monitored by the attending veterinarian.
A second round of testing is being planned for the horses in barns A, B and Isolation.
The management and staff of the premises continue to implement enhanced biosecurity and health monitoring protocols including multiple daily temperature recordings. Additionally, these enhanced measures have been implemented at other sanctioned training facilities in Kentucky.
Staff from the Office of the State Veterinarian continue to closely monitor the situation.
Appropriate biosecurity and other safeguards are fully implemented at Turfway Park.
Updates will continue to be provided as information is learned.
Rusty E.S. Rusty Ford Rusty.ford@ky.govEquine Operations Consultant Office State Veterinarian KY Department Agriculture 502/782-5924
From: E.S. Rusty Ford, Equine Operations Consultant Date: March 12, 2021
Results of the PCR testing conducted on samples collected Thursday were reported Thursday evening and did identify 5 additional EHV1 positive horses (neuropathogenic strain). Two of the horses had been previously moved to the separate isolation barn, and we did relocate the additional three positive horses to isolation last night as well. With the 5 additional positive horses, our population of potentially exposed horses grew and samples are being collected and submitted from each of those 25 horses later this afternoon with results expected to be available over the weekend.
Index Case Update: Following a period of stability, the index case rapidly deteriorated and has been euthanized.
Other Guidance: Clearly, with the multiple ongoing EHV1 events involving multiple breeds, disciplines, and venues; Farms accepting new arrivals are to be reminded the IMPORTANCE of knowing the environment and status of where the horse arriving their farm originated and implementing needed husbandry practices that should include isolation, observation and assessment of the horse to insure healthy horses are introduced to your herd.
While our investigation of the KY event as well as monitoring of disease events in other states continues, Kentucky State Veterinarian Dr. Katie Flynn and I will be providing further updates as information becomes available.
E.S. Rusty Ford rusty.ford@ky.gov Equine Operations Consultant Office State Veterinarian KY Department Agriculture 502-782-5924
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Office: 859-367-0509
Email: info@kentuckyhorse.org
Fax: 866-618-3837
Address:
4037 Iron Works Parkway
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Lexington, Kentucky 40511
