01.14.12
Posted in Kentucky Horse Council at 5:58 am by EPR
Urgent: Need Participation from KY Horsemen
Dear Kentucky Horsemen (and women):
For the first time in 35 years, Kentucky will do a full, statewide survey of ALL BREEDS AND DISCIPLINES OF HORSES, PONIES, MULES, and DONKEYS. Getting accurate figures for our horse community is critical to developing plans to improve the industry, access more trails and equine facilities, assess equine business opportunities, and get public officials’ attention.
This survey is being done by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. To read more about the study, go to http://www2.ca.uky.edu/equine/kyequinesurvey.
WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION.
Our deadline is February 17th, 2012.
This survey can only be effective if we have a comprehensive list of horse owners and equine farms and facilities in the state. This needs to include the many people in our state who keep horses for recreational purposes and do not have equine-related businesses.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Kentucky Field Office, a Kentucky-based USDA unit which has responsibilities for surveying other livestock entities, will be handling the polling and survey mailing. The questions for the survey have been developed by UK, UofL, and KHC.
We are requesting that you submit your name and contact information to NASS. Note that none of these names will ever be released to any other organization; not UK, not KHC, not any Kentucky agency. NASS has a privacy policy for all of its activities which can be found here: http://www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/Confidentiality_Pledge/index.asp.
We make this request because we believe so deeply in the need for this survey to be accurate and complete. At the end of the survey, we will have good estimates on:
- How many horses of each breed are in each Kentucky county
- How many horses are used in each discipline in each Kentucky county
- The economic impact on Kentucky as a whole from the equine industry
To send your name to NASS for the survey, please fill in the form at this link:
http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/KES-names/
Note: Even though this form is on the Kentucky Horse Council website, the information is sent ONLY to NASS.
Thank you. The cooperation and participation of the equine industry is critical to the success of this study. The study will be the basis for further activities to enhance horse ownership and the horse industry in Kentucky.
Sincerely,
Anna Zinkhon, President
Kentucky Horse Council Board
Dr. Nancy Cox, Associate Dean
UK College of Agriculture, Equine Initiative
художник на икониИкони на светци
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01.01.12
Posted in My Thoughts at 12:16 am by Thomas
I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2012. May it bring more positive change for your life then negative. I do believe that 2012 will be a year of much change and I know that some of that change may have negative implications on many of us but I do truly believe that our personal attitudes affects our altitude when going over rough terrain. So everyone keep your heads up and your eye’s forward and I will see you on the other side of 2012.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Paul Demond
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12.26.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Council, My Actions at 11:14 pm by Thomas
I want to take a moment here at the end of the year to ask you the readers to consider joining the Kentucky Horse Council if you are not already a member even if you do not own horses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Now I know in these tough economic times many of you may not be in a position to spend money on anything but the necessities and I understand that all too well. So I want to help somebody out who has a love of horses and wants to get involved but has other responsibilities that must be met first.
So for 2012 I want to pay it forward. Send me an email with the subject “Pay It Forward” as to why horses are important to you and that someday in the future you will do the same for someone else and I will pay the 2012 membership fee for the individual who sends me the most compelling email.
I will make my decision January 29th.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Paul Demond
Thomas@KyWEGO.com
KyWEGO
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Posted in Kentucky Horse Council at 8:27 pm by EPR
2012 Membership
Cost & Types: |
Association (New!): $200
Special Discount for 2011 Association Members: $100
Members of Associations Who Have Joined KHC (New!):
- Individual: FREE
- Family: FREE
*Insurance purchsed separately (New!)
Business (no change):
- 15 + Employees: $500
- Less than 15: $150
Farm (no change):
- 15 + Employees: $200
- Less than 15: $50
Individuals without Membership in a KHC Member Association (New!):
- Individual: $20
- Family: $30
*Insurance sold separately (New!)
Non-Profit (New!): $100
Youth/College: FREE
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| $1M Insurance Policy Now Purchased Separately |
The $1Million Personal Equine Liability Insurance policy is now purchased separately from your membership.
Insurance Premium to be added to an Individual Membership: $35
Insurance Premuim to be added to a Family Membership: $55
In order to purchase insurance, you must first join KHC.
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 Quick Links |
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The Two Biggest Membership Changes
- If you are a member of an association that has joined the Kentucky Horse Council for 2012, you may join KHC for FREE!
- The $1M Liability Insurance Policy is now purchased separately from your membership. It is still optional.
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| Free Membership for KHC Association Members
If you are a member of an association that has joined the Kentucky Horse Council for 2012, you may join KHC for FREE!
This new membership setup will allow associationsor clubs to pay one membership fee of $200 and then all of their members can join the Kentucky Horse Council for no cost.
Additionally, if your association was a 2011 member, then their fee for 2012 will only be $100 instead of $200 as a thank you for renewing their membership.
We normally receive renewals from associations in January so please encourage your association to get their KHC membership in early.
To see a list of 2012 association members, click here. This list will be updated as associations join KHC.
If you do not belong to an association or club that has joined KHC for 2012, then membership dues are $20 (individual) or $30 (family).
Due to allowing association members to join for free now, we will no longer be offering the $10 rebates to associations when their members join KHC. |
| The $1M Insurance Policy Now Purchased Separately from Membership
One of our most popular membership benefits is the $1M liability insurance policy. Due to the restructuring of our membership, the premium for this policy is paid separately from KHC membership dues.
So how can you buy the insurance?
- Join the Kentucky Horse Council.
- Individual/Family members of an association that is a KHC member: FREE
- Individual/Family Membership for someone who is not a member of an association that has joined KHC: $20/$30
- Purchase the $1M liability insurance policy. You must be a KHC Member in order to purchase this policy. The website will require you to log in, in order to view the insurance page.
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| How Can You Join KHC?
To join online, click here.
To print 2012 membership applications, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Dawn at info@kentuckyhorse.org or (859) 367-0509. |
| Other Changes for KHC Memberships
All youth and college student memberships are now free.
A new benefit for memberships is a free $2,000 accidental death & dismemberment policy from American Income Life.
Another new benefit is access to a new “Members Only” section of the Kentucky Horse Council’s website, which will be available in 2012.
Non-profit memberships are now $100 instead of $50.
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| Farm and Business Memberships
There have been no changes to the Farm Membership or the Business Membership.
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11.15.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Park at 10:34 pm by EPR
Southern Lights:
Spectacular Sights on Holiday Nights
Wednesday, December 7
Free admission for all current and retired military personnel and their families
on this special Southern Lights evening!
Just show a military i.d., DD-214 or VA Medical Card at the gate for free admission.
This is one very small way for us to say “thank you” to our extraordinary
men, women and families who have served our country in the military.
Southern Lights is an annual holiday event at the Kentucky Horse Park. Take a 3-mile drive surrounded by light displays with more than one million bulbs, then visit our indoor acitivies that include lots for the whole family to enjoy!
www.KyHorsePark.com
859-255-5727 or 859-259-4200
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11.06.11
Posted in Alltech National Horse Show, Show Jumping at 7:55 pm by Thomas
Last night I had the enjoyment of attending my first National Horse Show after having heard of this show for the last 30 plus years. Of course it is now known as the Alltech National Horse Show and was hosted at The Kentucky Horse Park. It is certainly one of the successes to come out of hosting the 2010 Alltech FEI World Games and we are thrilled to have it in Kentucky.
Onto the show itself, it was all general admission seating, unless you had connections to have a box seat at the end of the arena, but that also required suit and tie and after a busy Saturday not sure I really would have been up to getting all dressed up. We arrived a little earlier so we actually picked out some pretty nice seats on the upper end of the arena. There wasn’t a crowd but the arena was filled to a nice capacity and I would expect after a few years of Kentucky hosting it we would get capacity crowds.
I will admit my one goof of the night was buying my tickets through TicketMaster online @ $37.50 each, when we could have purchased them for $30 at the window. Of course I am one of those people that likes to have his tickets in hand before I go to an event, but a 25% premium gets my attention, especially when part of that you don’t see until you actually hit the submit button. Of course TicketMaster isn’t in the business of making friends, they are in the business of making money.
Now onto the competition, the horse and riders were of excellent caliber and did not disappoint. We had 31 competitors total and 5 had clear rounds within the 81 second time allowed to make it to the Jump Off. The Jump Offs are always what I think first attracts non-horse people to watch show jumping even if they never take up riding themselves. It was great to watch Jessica Springsteen(daughter of Bruce) riding Cincinatti Le Silla take 3rd with an excellent ride. This young lady is not 20 yet so I would expect her to win this before she is 30 easily. I know we had a blast and this will certainly be one of those annual events for our family.
I won’t type out the full results because you can find them here.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO®
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11.02.11
Posted in Alltech, Alltech National Horse Show, Competitions, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington at 8:06 pm by Thomas
The Alltech National Horse Show started today at the Kentucky Horse Park. This is the 128th edition of the National Horse Show and it is a Great Honor that this show has come to our Commonwealth. I remember growing up as a kid hearing about riding at Madison Square Gardens as one of those ultimate accomplishments in the competitive horse world. I suspect if we get the honor of hosting this show for another 25 years people will speak of the Lexington in the same way they used to speak of the Garden’s. I have put up a seperate page for the Alltech National Horse so that I can embed the video streams and post other information specific to the show in an easy to access location.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Demond
KyWEGO®
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10.19.11
Posted in International Museum of the Horse, Kentucky Horse Park, News Release at 9:51 pm by EPR
THE HORSE
Acclaimed Exhibition Opens This Week
Prestigious American Museum of Natural History Sends its Blockbuster Exhibition to the International Museum of the Horse
LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 17, 2011)-The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, is set to open its newest exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012.
The eternal bond between horses and humans is explored in the largest equestrian traveling exhibition ever assembled. The Horse graphically portrays the horse’s impact on trade, transportation, labor, warfare, culture, and sports. It showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas, and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the American Museum of Natural History’s world famous collections.
Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse, stated, “The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way.
“We are also excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse.”
The New York Times called this exhibition “charming and illuminating” and “an uplifting example of how horses enrich our lives.” The New York Post said, “You absolutely must see it.”
More than 140 artifacts and cultural objects from around the world will be on view, including a complete Samurai saddle from Japan, a full suit of 15th-century German horse armor, and Native American horse accoutrements. Bringing the exhibit to life are a stunning 220-square foot diorama that depicts the horse’s ancestors, a high-definition video that captures in slow motion the rippling muscles of a Thoroughbred race horse, and an interactive video of a life-size horse where visitors can investigate a horse’s pulmonary and digestive systems and other biological traits.
The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, United Arab Emirates; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Curator of the exhibition is Ross MacPhee.
For more information on The Horse, go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/horse/, www.imh.org, or www.kyhorsepark.com.
Admission to The Horse is included with park admission, or a “museums only” ticket may be purchased for $8 for adults or $4 for children ages 7-12, which also includes admission to the entire International Museum of the Horse, the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum.
Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6 (and March 15-April 6, 2012), the park is open seven days a week. Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.
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10.14.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 9:49 pm by EPR
There has been a lot of interest in the new Kentucky Proud for Horses
program.
The day of the announcement we added detailed info on how to apply to the Kentucky Horse Council website. Here is that information, which is also found at http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/kentuckyproud/
Below are the steps you can follow to register your farm as Kentucky Proud:
1. Print out and fill out the Kentucky Proud Equine form. (link) This is a specially designed form just for equine farm applicants.
2. If you would also like to apply for a marketing grant through the Kentucky Proud program, also print and fill out the Kentucky Proud Grant Application. (link) This form can also be found at http://www.kyproud.com/Members/index.htm. You may apply for a marketing grant at a later time as well.
3. Mail all forms to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. They will verify your acceptance into the program and the status of your grant request. Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Attn: Vicky Stucker
100 Fair Oaks Lane, 5th floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE KENTUCKY PROUD PROCESS
FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:
It generally takes 2-3 weeks to process a membership application. Any questions regarding membership should be directed to Ms Vicky Stucker at 502-564-4983 or vicky.stucker@ky.gov
As for the grant applications, those applications requesting less than $5,000 can be reviewed immediately. Those requesting more than $5,000 must be reviewed by the Kentucky Proud Executive Committee which meets once a month, generally the first Tuesday of each month. Any questions regarding the Kentucky Proud grant application should be directed to Mr. Bill Clary at bill.clary@ky.gov or 502-564-1137.
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10.12.11
Posted in My Thoughts at 2:42 am by Administrator
I have connected Google Plus to my Kentucky World Equestrian Games Ovation blog, so this is a test post to see it in action.
KyWEGO®
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
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10.10.11
Posted in 2010 Games, My Thoughts, World Equestrian Games at 11:14 pm by Thomas
Today marks one year since the close of the Alltech 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. At the start of the Games there was a question of whether they would be a success, by the end I think the general consensus was that they were at least a success from the “on the ground” prospective. When the final economic report came out, the overall numbers were also positive as far as the local economic impact. One year past I still get the sense from talking to people that the positives outweighed the negatives but there isn’t a real urgency to try and get the Games back for 2022 and certainly not 2018. That I do find a bit disappointing but, I will work to change that prior to 2016 when we would need to submit a bid for the 2022 Games.
As always I want to thank everyone who has and continues to support me in this endeavor, even when it seems all an uphill battle.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Demond
KyWEGO®
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10.06.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 2:47 pm by EPR
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.”
Individually, farms should contact KEEP or the Kentucky Horse Council for applications and more information on the Kentucky Proud program. Forms may also be found on the Kentucky Horse Council website at www.kentuckyhorse.org/kentuckyproud/. Once approved, farms will have access to all the services and support that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture gives to members of that program, including marketing assistance and product promotion, as well as participation in a cost-share program. “In working with KEEP and KHC to add horses to the program, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is expanding its support for Kentucky farmers,” commented Richie Farmer, Commissioner of Agriculture. “Kentucky is known for its equine industry. We are excited to have these producers add their horses to our list of Kentucky Proud products.”
Formed in 1972, The Kentucky Horse Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. For more information on KHC, visit www.kentuckyhorse.org, email info@kentuckyhorse.org or call 859-367-0509.
KEEP was formed in May 2004 to promote and protect Kentucky’s horse industry. For more information on KEEP, visit www.horseswork.com, email info@horseswork.com or call 859-259-0007.
To learn more about being a part of Kentucky Proud program, contact Cara Stewart with KEEP (cstewart@horseswork.com) or Ginny Grulke with KHC (director@kentuckyhorse.org).
For Kentucky Proud Equine forms, you may visit the Kentucky Horse Council site at www.kentuckyhorse.org/kentuckyproud/
Kentucky Proud is the official farm marketing program of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentucky Proud generated more than $200 million in retail sales of Kentucky farm products just through member retailers in 2010. More than 2,800 farmers, processors, retailers, restaurants, school districts, farmers’ markets, Kentucky state parks, and Kentucky Farm Bureau roadside markets are members of Kentucky Proud. For more information about Kentucky Proud, contact Bill Clary, Kentucky Proud program manager, at 502-564-1137 or bill.clary@ky.gov.
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10.01.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Park at 12:01 am by EPR
Kentucky Horse Park Receives Last of Exotic Marwari Horses in North America
LEXINGTON, KY (September 29, 2011) The Kentucky Horse Park will welcome four rare Marwari horses on permanent loan from Francesca Kelly, who imports this breed from India. Three of the horses arrived Tuesday, September 27.
The horses came from Kelly’s farm on Chappaquiddick Island off the coast of Massachusetts. Francesca Kelly is a writer who is dedicated to preserving the breed and has increased the number of these horses outside their native India. She is moving her herd to England and is allowing the park to keep three mares and a yearling. The Kentucky Horse Park is the only known location in North America where Marwari can be seen by the public.
John Nicholson, executive director of the park, stated, “We are delighted and honored that Francesca Kelly has chosen the Kentucky Horse Park as the keeper of the last, precious band of these rare equines on this continent. They will be treasured by our staff and enjoyed by the literally millions of park visitors who will see them in the upcoming years.” He continued, “We applaud the efforts of people like Ms. Kelly who dedicate their lives to preserving rare and endangered breeds.”
The Marwari horse was used hundreds of years ago as warhorses known for their extreme endurance. The Marwari are considered very brave and athletic horses. They are attentive and pick things up quickly through their senses. Visitors at the park during last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games watched “tent pegging” demonstrations using some of Ms. Kelly’s Marwaris.
The most noted fact about this breed is their extremely distinct ears. The ears curve inward and sometimes touch or overlap when in front position. The ears are the main characteristic that the registry uses to judge this breed.
The breed is available in all colors but the albino is held in highest regard. The albino Marwari is often used for religious purposes and ceremonies in its native home of India. They often become very attached to their handler and can become protective of them.
The three Marwari mares are on view to the public during park hours. The fourth, a yearling colt, will arrive later this fall.
Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6, the park is open seven days a week. Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.
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09.27.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky Proud at 8:01 pm by EPR
LEXINGTON, KY (September 27, 2011) The Kentucky Horse Park will offer a Kentucky Proud Weekend and Gift Shop/Tack Shop Sale Oct 8-9, 2011, to celebrate some of the things that make Kentucky wonderful: our military, our horse industry, our music, our food and more!
Kentucky Proud Weekend will be a great time for families to enjoy the park while getting a taste of Kentucky home-grown and home-made products. To make it even easier for families, children ages 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Highlights will include:
– Meet two Kentucky Derby winners,
– Cooking demonstrations with Chef Adam Wade, 2:30 pm both days,
– Kentucky Proud product sampling,
– Harvest sale at the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop (25% off fine jewelry, 20% off apparel, 25% off framed art, 25% off everything in the Tack Shop!),
– Bluegrass Army Depot displays – honoring our military,
– Vendors: mums, pumpkins, handmade soaps, Old Kentucky Chocolate candies, Rimmer Family Favorites, etc.,
– Kentucky performers – clogging, singing,
– Tour the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center on Saturday to see retired, adoptable Thoroughbred racehorses in a retraining program,
– Book signing by Kentucky cookbook authors,
– Tour new $10-million Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries with lots of interactive displays for children,
– “Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands” special exhibition in the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate,
– “Celebrities: Saddlebreds and Personalities from the Silver Screen, Cinema and History” special exhibition in the American Saddlebred Museum,
– Plus all that the park offers on a daily basis, including live equine presentations, Hall of Champions, and much more!
The Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event will also be taking place that weekend. The Kentucky CDE is a competitive horse driving event made very popular during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Visitors will enjoy watching this great competition with their park admission.
Visitors can also enjoy having lunch or a snack in the Kentucky Horse Park’s new Bit & Bridle Restaurant.
For more information on Kentucky Proud Weekend, call our switchboard, 859-259-4200 or our Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop, 859-259-4234.
Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6, the park is open seven days a week. Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum and Gift Shop.
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09.25.11
Posted in 2010 Games, 2026, Alltech, My Thoughts, Opening Ceremonies, Reining, World Equestrian Games at 7:45 pm by Thomas
It was one year ago today that the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010, or as you know I always refer to them as, The Kentucky World Equestrian Games started. I went back and read the posts I made from those initial days and remembered the excitement and nervousness of that first day.
The weather today was fairly similar to what it was last year, cool in the morning but warmed up nicely later in the day. It is all still amazingly fresh in my memory now when I think back, which I hope remains the case for the rest if my life because it was certainly one of those Great Experiences in my life.
The big news of that first day was that the turnout for the Opening Ceremonies was better then had been expected, though the expectations had been tempered by the economy. The other big news of that day was Italy taking the lead in the Reining World Championships in the first part of that competition.
It is bitter sweet in some ways to think back to the 4 1/2 years preparing for the Games, and then they were here and gone and now another year has passed. Though some or maybe even many people will think I am off my rocker to say definitively that the Games will again return to Kentucky, maybe not in 2018 or even 2022, but by 2026 I think we have a good shot of getting them back and you know I will be there again.
In closing on thinking back on this first day, I must as I have in the past give great thanks to many people starting with Dr. Pierce Lyons of Alltech, without whom I don’t think these Games would have taken place, and then all the staff and certainly the Volunteers without whom I do not think the Games could have been the success they were.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Demond
KyWEGO®
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09.24.11
Posted in Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky Bred, Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 11:13 pm by Thomas
I had the great opportunity to be a part of the Kentucky Horse Council Equine Industry Planning Session today at the Fayette County Extension Office. This was scheduled as an all day event starting at 8 AM so it was wonderful to see a solid group of close to 50 participants. This was a varied group across all areas of the horse industry from Thoroughbred breeders and members of several Equine Departments of our major Universities and Colleges to small local organizations like myself representing the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen.
The facilitator was Colonel Walter Herd (Retired U.S. Army) who is also on the KHC Board. He did an excellent job and was very engaging which set a very positive tone for the day. The primary topics of discussion were coming up with ideas to bring Kentucky closer to that idea of a “haven for horses” that we all dream of by developing the “culture of the horse in Kentucky”. Ultimately in simple terms, we are the Horse Capital of the World, which is derived from the impact of the Thoroughbred Horse, how do we expand that definition to be all inclusive of everything Equine in the State or at least that was my take.
I am not going to go into all the details because there was lots of great discussions and ideas. One tidbit I will report on, we did hear from a member of KEEP that the Kentucky Proud Program was being expanded to include horses and that specific program would be called Kentucky Bred.
At the end of the day we voted on all of these and the KHC is going to digest those results and come up with an action list to start working on in November when they are planning on scheduling the next set of meetings. I will report on what comes out of those meetings as we get more concrete objectives to act on.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Demond
KyWEGO®
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