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Collaborative effort underway to count the number of horses in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 1, 2006) -- In a state that determines an important part of its identity from the world-class horses that reside behind its picturesque fences and along its miles of emerald green pastures, it might come as a surprise to find out that the exact number of horses that reside here is unknown.

In a collaborative effort, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the University of Kentucky Equine Initiative, the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) and the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) plan to change that beginning this fall with a statewide count of Kentucky’s horse population.

A count of this type has never been done in Kentucky. While there are some good estimates based on formulas and other studies, there is no current information. Nor is there information based on breed and primary type of use.

That horses are the number one agricultural crop is known, as is the fact that some of the best breeding stallions call Kentucky home. Most of the world readily recognizes Kentucky as the “Horse Capital of the World” and its top notch horse events and cutting edge equine medical facilities and research back up that claim. But, when asked for an actual number of horses, there simply isn’t an accurate figure.

“This is one of the most important undertakings for the entire horse industry that these organizations can do,” says Gene Clabes, KEEP’s Equine Director. “It is so important to Kentucky’s horse industry and to Kentucky for a number of reasons.

“First, getting an accurate count helps Kentucky maintain its status as the ‘Horse Capital of the World.’ Equally important, knowing how many horses there are in Kentucky helps us convince policy makers, businesses and non-horse residents in this state just how important horses are for Kentucky’s economy,” he adds.

The “Horses Count” project is set to launch this fall with a campaign through horse associations’ membership, county extension offices, local equine businesses and the general public to get the word out. The count itself will consist of an anonymous survey of all horse owners and facilities in the state, as well as a several county physical count by project participants. Results will be used for marketing efforts for the equine industry as well as a source of much needed information for policy decisions.

"Do you ever wonder how many horses of what breeds are in Kentucky? Do you ever wonder about the ways people use their horses? We have too and that is why we are working on the project. It will help us answer these questions,” says Lori Garkovich, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture sociology professor who is helping to coordinate the project.

“We plan to use these numbers as a basis for what we hope is an ongoing program with these organizations,” says University of Kentucky’s Equine Specialist and associate professor Bob Coleman. “These numbers are vital to every aspect of Kentucky’s horse industry, from animal health issues to economic impact numbers for each county. This is something that has been needed for some time.” 

More information and details will be posted at this web site as they become available.