Media — Please find below a recap of the Kentucky Equine Education Project’s second Equine Industry Conference held Oct. 15-16. Copy available as text documents and more photos available by emailing
tracksidejennie@gmail.com. Photo at right: Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said the vast majority of horse farms in the Commonwealth are family-owned. Credit: Grace Clark
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Monday, Oct. 23) — The push to have equines treated the same as other agricultural livestock, the potential to use the lure of horses to further expand the commonwealth’s considerable tourism industry, the effort to cultivate a trained workforce and how historical horse racing is growing the industry were among the topics examined at the Kentucky Equine Education Project’s second Equine Industry Conference last week.
“Our second Equine Industry Conference highlighted many of the most important issues Kentucky’s horse industry faces,†said Joe Clabes, KEEP’s Executive Director. “Bringing industry leaders and policymakers together to discuss how we capitalize on recent gains and address ongoing challenges is critically important to the betterment of the Commonwealth’s signature industry.
“Kentucky is seeing growth in its horse industry, across many breeds and disciplines, at a time when the vast majority of other states are moving in the opposite direction. These discussions will help us continue to build on that success.â€
Conference highlights:
Photos below: Top left: Denali Stud owner Craig Bandoroff. Top right: Executive director Pat Kline accepts the Vision Award for Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. Bottom left: Terri Burch, interim director of the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program, announces with KEEP executive director Joe Clabes the Tim Capps mentoring internship. Bottom right: KEEP chairman and Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen. All credit Grace Clark except Craig Bandoroff credit is Will Glasscock.
