Kentucky Equine Industry Joins Forces To Assist Horse Owners Affected By Deadly Tornadoes

Multiple equine organizations in the Commonwealth have joined forces to assist horse owners who have been affected by last week's tornado outbreak. Equine and ag-specific donations will be accepted at the Kentucky Horse Park Dec. 18-20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Signage will point donors to the exact location behind the Alltech Arena.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) employees and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment extension agents have been working diligently to create county-specific lists of items that are needed immediately. Though cleanup efforts will be ongoing, the most-needed equine items requested include buckets, winter blankets, halters, lead ropes, wheelbarrows, plastic totes, grooming supplies, water hoses, hay bags, wheelbarrows, muck tubs, pitchforks, shovels and first-aid supplies. A complete list of needs can be found here.

“We are honored to be a part of this relief effort,” said Nicole Rivera, Interim Deputy Executive Director. “Our location right off I-75 will hopefully make drop off of materials and items easy. As a park designed to celebrate the human-horse bond, we are thankful to be able to assist horse owners – and their horses – in their time of need.”

“The KDA has created an incredible system to identify needs by county,” said Sarah Coleman, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Council. “The Horse Council is thankful for the opportunity to partner with our brothers and sisters in ag to coordinate deliveries of supplies from Central Kentucky to those hardest hit by the storms.”

Delivery of all donated goods will be provided by Brook Ledge Horse Transportation.

“The ability to give back to the horse industry that is so good to us is very important to the entire staff of Brook Ledge Inc.,” said Ashley VanMeter of Brook Ledge Inc. “We are humbled by the outpouring of support for the equine community and look forward to being able to assist them in any way we can.”

Donations will be accepted in the North Exhibit Hall of the Alltech Arena: Kentucky Horse Park 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. Follow signs for Kentucky Horse Council. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Donations will begin being delivered to specific counties on Tuesday.

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New COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines Released By Kentucky Department of Agriculture

As Central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms prepare to open their breeding sheds, the positivity rate for COVID-19 in the state is approaching 12 percent. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture released new health and safety guidelines for the Kentucky equine industry this week to help limit the spread of the virus.

Among the department's recommendations are the opening of barns to improve ventilation, limit the transfer of printed paperwork, and allow veterinary assistants to hold horses whenever possible to avoid unnecessary mingling with mobile veterinary workers and farm staffs at multiple properties.

For breeding shed runs, the department suggests having shed personnel take mares from van drivers or farm employees at the trailer and return them after cover to avoid extra people in the stallion farm or shed.

See the complete set of guidelines:

The guidelines suggest precautionary measures such as no physical contact between workers, electronic paper work only, frequent disinfecting of equipment/surfaces, allowing maximum airflow in barns by keeping doors and windows open, etc.

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