Tag Archives: Ky. Horse Council

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press

Horses Added to Kentucky Proud Program

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Lexington, KY (October 6, 2011) — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), and the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) announced today that horses have been added to the Kentucky Proud program. As new members of Kentucky Proud, horse farms in the Commonwealth will be eligible to receive financial grants from the state Department of Agriculture, will be eligible to participate in a cost-share program, and will be able to use the Kentucky Proud logo in advertising their equine products.

The Kentucky Proud program was created to promote Kentucky-agricultural products.  Over the years, the program has grown significantly and now includes businesses that support and sell Kentucky products as well as those that promote the concept of buying agricultural products from Kentucky.

“Both KEEP and KHC have worked for years to promote Kentucky’s equine industry,” said Patrick Neely, KEEP Executive Director. “The addition of horses to the Kentucky Proud program will allow Kentucky horse farms to apply for grants and to grow their businesses by joining the well-known Kentucky Proud advertising and marketing initiatives.  We appreciate that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has taken this important step to assist our signature industry and the thousands of jobs it creates.”

Anna Zinkhon, President of the Kentucky Horse Council Board, added: “The Kentucky Horse Council is glad to partner with KEEP on this important new program.  Two years ago, my predecessor, Madelyn Millard, initiated the idea by approaching KDA regarding a Kentucky Proud for Horses. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s interest in adding horses to this highly successful agricultural program enhances our farms’ abilities to market their horses nationally and internationally.”

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, More/Other

Horsemen Embrace Wildlife Opportunity in Western Kentucky

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Morganfield, KY, September 5, 2011 – About 40 men, women and children gathered on August 14th near Morganfield, Kentucky to clear hiking and horseback riding trails at the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area.  Cicadas provided the music.  Volunteers provided a rewarding lunch that included smoked deer meat sandwiches.

Many volunteers were members of the Western Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, a non-profit affiliate of Back Country Horsemen of America.  BCHA advocates for continued, responsible horse use of public lands and provides information about conservation and maintenance of land and other natural resources used for equine-based recreation and travel.  The Kentucky Horse Council provided volunteers as well.

Western Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, formed in 2005, hosts cleanup days for the equine and hiking trails in the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area.  This WMA, located in Union County, holds much appeal for those who yearn for access to the natural world.  Acquired in 1968 by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the 5450-acre property has ridges and bottomlands; streams and lakes; wooded and cleared areas; wildflowers, butterflies, and birds of many kinds.  According to Foreman Curt Divine, the WMA is most revered for its deer and turkey, particularly for bow hunting, and small game as well.

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Contributors/Press

Kentucky’s First 2011 Equine West Nile Case Confirmed

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September 2, 2011 – Results of diagnostic testing reported earlier today by the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirms a diagnosis of West Nile virus affecting a horse in Fleming County Kentucky. The diagnosis is based on detection of WNv IgM antibodies in blood serum and compatible symptoms.

1 Equine Confirmed Today As Affected With West Nile Virus In FLEMING COUNTY

KDA Reference: 001 is a 6YR FE STDBRED – Alive

Onset Date: 08/26/11 Presented with rear limb ataxia, progressed to front limbs, normal appetite and mentation

On 9/2 – the mare is reported by the attending veterinarian to be unimproved Vaccination: No WNV Vaccination History

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture Web Page has been updated to reflect this first equine case of West Nile virus in 2011.

E. S. Rusty Ford
Equine Programs Manager
Office of State Veterinarian
502/564-3956
Rusty1.ford@ky.gov

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Seminars

KY Horse Council Leads Strategic Planning Session for Equine Industry

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Lexington, KY, July 21, 2011 – Kentucky’s horses are often referred to as a “signature industry”, providing the Commonwealth with an identity that goes beyond state and national borders.  Horses provide Kentuckians thousands of jobs, millions in tax revenue to the Commonwealth, and hours of pleasure for Kentucky horsemen and women.

Despite the size and impact of the industry, Kentucky does not engage routinely in long-term strategic planning of initiatives to benefit all breeds and equestrian disciplines.

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) hosts a Kentucky Equine Strategic Planning Session on September 24, 2011.  KHC seeks the involvement of all equine associations throughout the Commonwealth for this important process.

“This planning effort to develop initiatives for the benefit of all owners, riders, and breeders is something that is a natural fit for the Kentucky Horse Council”, says Anna Zinkhon, President of the KHC Board.

“The event will not only support the industry and the Commonwealth, but will also help to unify the community, which has been known to be fragmented into different interest groups.  When we all work together and speak as one voice, we are much more effective,” Zinkhon continued.

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Contributors/Press

Understanding Equine (Agricultural) Land Use in Kentucky

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The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a largely agricultural state.  We are the “Horse Capital of the World”, the largest beef producing state east of the Mississippi River, a significant producer of poultry, and much of the fruits and vegetables that Kentuckians consume are grown in state.  This pride and ownership in creating quality agricultural products is evidenced in the Kentucky Proud program and the many agricultural events held throughout the state.  Because of our strong agricultural focus, most rural areas have agriculturally friendly planning and zoning regulations.  However, like much of the Unites States, Kentucky farms are impacted by urban sprawl.

What Is Agricultural Land Use?
While it may be tempting to think, this is an agricultural activity and I’m not subject to any state or local regulation; that is not a productive line of thought.  Kentucky state statute does not make any zoning exemptions for agricultural land use; it simply defines agricultural land use.

Kentucky revised statute KRS 100.111 defines agricultural (in terms of planning and zoning) use as land of at least 5 contiguous acres in the production of agricultural crops including pasture.  This definition of agricultural use encompasses most properties owned and used by recreational horse owners.

The statute also defines the following equine activities (which may be associated with horse farms) as agricultural use regardless of the size of the tract of land: riding lessons, rides, training, projects for educational purposes, boarding and related care, and shows with youth and amateur programs with 70 or fewer participants.

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Contributors/Press

KnowMycotoxins.com: Alltech Debuts New Site with Expanded Resources for Today’s Ag Professionals

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July 13, 2011 – [Lexington, KENTUCKY] – Alltech’s KnowMycotoxins.com now offers a fresh take on conquering the challenge of mycotoxins. The Web site features a new home page and refreshed content reflecting the interests of its key audience.

KnowMycotoxins.com now has mycotoxin information segmented by animal species, enabling it to become an even more user-friendly resource for time-strapped industry professionals.

Toxins are naturally produced by all types of molds and fungi. Hundreds of these mycotoxins exist, and contamination of natural materials with multiple toxins, either from one or several fungi, is common. Animals are consistently exposed to multiple toxins and interaction between toxins makes diagnosis difficult.

Originally launched in 2007, the Web site includes up-to-date information on mycotoxin regulations and provides visitors with the opportunity to ask specific questions to world-renown mycotoxin specialists. Additionally, KnowMycotoxins.com delivers mycotoxin training and features an interactive series of videos where specialists show the different mycotoxins hotspots at the farm level. These videos are also available on their YouTube Channel “Know Mycotoxins Videos“.

KnowMycotoxins.com, the first mycotoxin information Web site, is available in six languages (English, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish, Russian and Hungarian) and has established itself as a reliable educational source of information about mycotoxins.

This Web site, with Alltech’s support, aims to educate the various market segments in the animal feed industry that are continuously challenged on how to overcome the repercussions of mycotoxins in animal feed.

For further information, please visit KnowMycotoxins.com.

Kentucky Horse Council | 1500 Bull Lea Road | Ste. 214C | Lexington | KY | 40511

Contributors/Press

Unwanted Horses: Why We Still Have Them & How It Affects You

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Lexington, KY, June 24, 2011 – Four years ago a myriad of events led to an increase in unwanted horses. “Unwanted horse” is a loose term that defines every horse which does not have a purpose, including horses that are owned and cared for but are actually unwanted, those whose owners are neglectful, and abandoned horses.

Reports of hundreds of abandoned horses running loose on strip mines and in communities found their way into popular press and the internet.  Likewise, images of emaciated horses have been top news stories in Kentucky and around the country.  Is the situation as bad as some portray?  How do you separate the myth from reality?  Is there really anything that can be done?  How do the incidents of unwanted horses affect the average horse owner?

At the July 19th KENA (Kentucky Equine Networking Association) dinner meeting, a panel of experts will provide insight into the blight of Kentucky’s unwanted horses.  Presenters include: Dr. Bob Stout, Kentucky State Veterinarian; Dr. David Fugate, West Liberty Veterinary Clinic; Lori Neagle, Kentucky Equine Humane Center; and Earl Hatter, Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association.

“The Kentucky Horse Council has worked extensively with the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Medical Association, Equine Rescues, and Animal Control Agencies to develop programs that address the needs of unwanted horses.  Through coordinated efforts, we have learned a great deal about the extent of the problem and the challenges in finding workable solutions.  Unwanted horses aren’t someone else’s problem – they are a concern for all facets of the Kentucky equine community,” explained Anna Zinkhon, Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) President.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press

From Kentucky Horse News: June 17-23, 2011: Tornado Causes Damage at Churchill Downs; GAO Report on Horse Processing Released

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Tornado Causes Damage at Churchill Downs
The National Weather Service confirmed that it was, in fact, a tornado that hit the Churchill Downs stable area on Wednesday night; the aftermath left 6 ½ barns uninhabitable, displacing horses and frazzling nerves but injuring neither human nor equine. “That to us is miraculous when you see the damage… Continue Reading.

GAO Report on Horse Processing Released
The demise of the horse processing industry in the U.S. has not prevented horses from being sold for slaughter and has contributed to a rise in equine neglect and abuse incidents, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report issued Wednesday (June 22). The GAO is an independent nonpartisan agency… Continue Reading.

The Kentucky Horse Council

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Equestrian Assistance, Media/Radio/TV Sources

KY Horse Council’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund Recipient of Fund Raising Effort

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Lexington, KY, June 9, 2011 -The Kentucky Horse Council’s (KHC) US Disaster Relief Fund, which provides a central coordination point for Kentucky’s efforts to support horses affected by natural disasters, was chosen as the recipient of Horse Radio Network’s (HRN) “Horse World Gives Back” program.

Horse World Gives Back is a nationwide charitable initiative aimed at uniting the horse community in a fund raising drive to benefit horses and horse owners affected by the recent flooding and tornadoes across the United States.

HRN hosted a 3 hour LIVE broadcast on June 6, 2011 called the Horse World Gives Back Radiothon, followed by a Horse World Gives Back Retail Day on June 7, 2011. Participating retailers gave back 5% of the day’s sales to KHC’s US Disaster Relief Fund and the American Red Cross.

Through the radiothon and retail day, KHC raised money to supplement its US Disaster Relief Fund.  The US Disaster Relief Fund provides feed and temporary housing for horses across the country displaced by weather and other natural disasters.

Continue reading KY Horse Council’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund Recipient of Fund Raising Effort →

Community/Charity, Conferences, Contributors/Press

Kentucky Horse Council Sponsors Equine Leadership Meeting

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Lexington, KY, May 25, 2011 – Representatives of 35 equine associations from around the Commonwealth met at Claudia Sander’s Dinner Restaurant in Shelbyville on May 17, 2011. They participated in presentations and discussions about the future of the equine industry, challenges and threats, and the need for industry wide initiatives.  In attendance were Presidents and board representatives from equine breed and discipline associations, Thoroughbred racing organizations as well as university equine studies programs.

The dinner, organized and sponsored by the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), included a video welcome by First Lady Jane Beshear and a kick-off by special guest John Nicholson, CEO of the Kentucky Horse Park. Nicholson commented on the effect that the World Equestrian Games had on uniting various segments of the industry as well as the non-horse community. Nicholson encouraged, “What you start tonight will affect the equine industry ten years down the road.”

Colonel Walter Herd, U.S. Army (RET) and KHC board member, presented an analysis of the threats to American equestrianism, both internal and external.  His study was created with the expertise of a military analyst who is trained to assess the vulnerability of military operations.

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