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Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship News

The board of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation announced the recipient of a one-time scholarship, with Shelby DeVita, a senior majoring in Equine Science and Management at the University of Kentucky, receiving a grant of a semester's tuition. DeVita has worked for Calumet Farm and is currently working as a tech at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. She is Vice President of the UK rodeo team and participates in roping and barrel racing competitions.

In addition, the board announced a one-time scholarship to the Irish National Stud. Full tuition will be paid for an Irish citizen to attend the world renowned Irish National Stud program in 2022. The board will announce the recipient of this scholarship over the coming weeks.

Due to ongoing Covid travel restrictions, the 2021 Springhouse Farm recipients, Rachel Doran and Ciara Russell, were unable to travel from Ireland to Kentucky. However, they are expected to proceed with their placements at Springhouse next year.

“We are delighted to offer additional scholarships in memory of Gerry, who supported and promoted so many equine industry participants over the years,” said Erin Dilger. “Thank you to all our donors who make this possible.”

The foundation also awards an annual Irish National Stud scholarship in partnership with KEMI. Full details of all scholarship opportunities are available at www.gerrydilgerequine.com.

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Racecourse Managers Learn To Make Their Tracks Safer During UK Grading School

In horse racing, safety of the horse and rider is paramount. A University of Kentucky professor and leading racecourse managers recently showed racetrack employees how to improve safety by properly grading the surface.

“The track's subgrade is the foundation and without a good foundation, you can't have a good structure, which is your track's cushion,” said Harrison Young, assistant superintendent at Colonial Downs and grading school participant. “This class is a great opportunity for people like me to learn from people like Mick Peterson and Dennis Moore about practices and methods that can minimize the risk of injuries to horses and riders, through the understanding of the importance of testing, surveying and grading. Safety is our motive, and the more we can learn, the better the industry will be.”

During the three-day UK grading school, entry to mid-level track surface employees learned from Peterson, Alfredo Laureano, superintendent at Keeneland Race Course and Moore, who is a superintendent of the tracks at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos and Del Mar and a private consultant.

“One of the priorities of this program is getting the up-and-coming racecourse managers experience with some of the more complicated equipment used in the critical roles on the track. One of these critical areas is the grading of the surface,” said Peterson, professor in the UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and director of the Racetrack Safety Program.

Surface grading is vital to keeping horses and riders safe during a race. Grading school participants received one-on-one instruction operating a new grader and an older one. They also learned how to properly grade synthetic and dirt racetracks. All hands-on instruction was at Keeneland.

“You have to keep the hard base underneath the surface consistent not only because of the impact of the hoof on the ground, but to keep the moisture content consistent,” Peterson said. “You also must have consistent banking in straightaways and the turns so the loading of the legs is even, and when lead changes occur, horses and riders can use the same visual indicators to change lead.”

The industry has a strong interest for educational programs and workforce training centered around safety. The grading school received 15 applications for the five participant spots in this first school.

“The more education we have and the more knowledge we can learn about the new methods helps allow us to keep horses on the track and to be able to continue horseracing in the safest way that we possibly can,” Young said.

The grading school is the second segment of the Racecourse Manager Certification Program, a joint effort of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory. The first part was on turf courses.

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KHC and UK Partner for Statewide Equine Survey

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) and the University of Kentucky (UK) have joined together to launch a statewide survey in 2022, designed to establish the number of horses in Kentucky and to determine the impact of horses in the Commonwealth. Kentucky has a unique cluster of private and commercial horse farms and operations, with hundreds of horse-related businesses which include everything from transportation to equine health services to tourism. These ancillary businesses create an advantage for Kentucky's equine industry and are integral to Kentucky's economy.

The last survey completed in 2012 was the first done since 1977. The 2022 study, which will provide information on a county-by-county basis, will be a collaborative effort between the KHC, UK, and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The survey aims to provide data for disease surveillance, keep policy makers informed and engaged proactively, inform workforce development, and identify emerging markets on which businesses can capitalize

“Data obtained from this study are important for the sustained strength and continued growth of Kentucky's equine industry,” said Dr. Jill Stowe, a UK professor 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.”

Click 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 here.

Once complete, results will be available free of charge on the KHC website in county-level fact sheets as well as in a statewide report.

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KHC Partners With University Of Kentucky To Launch 2022 Statewide Equine Survey

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:

Provide data for disease surveillance
Keep policy makers informed and engaged proactively
Inform workforce development
Identify emerging markets on which businesses can capitalize

“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.

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