Description
Kentucky boasts over 30,000 horse farms that house over 200,000 horses. The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program began in 2005 to assist horse owners and managers in improving pasture quality and quantity. This program collects detailed botanical composition and tall fescue analysis to provide horse owners and managers with a comprehensive picture of pasture composition and field by field recommendations on management practices that will improve each pasture. Samples of tall fescue are also collected and analysed for endophyte presence and ergovaline concentration to evaluate tall fescue toxicity risk. Management recommendations include tall fescue mitigation or elimination strategies. All of this data as well as recommendations, maps, and publications are presented in a detailed report and discussed with the farm. The program has exceeded expectations, and to date, has conducted over 300 evaluations on 175 farms across 26 Kentucky counties. Because of the connections made by this program to the horse community, the University of Kentucky Forage Extension Program has expanded its work in the equine industry to regularly host field days, workshops, and grant funded initiatives.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
An Example of an Outreach Program for Horse Pasture Management and Education
Kentucky boasts over 30,000 horse farms that house over 200,000 horses. The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program began in 2005 to assist horse owners and managers in improving pasture quality and quantity. This program collects detailed botanical composition and tall fescue analysis to provide horse owners and managers with a comprehensive picture of pasture composition and field by field recommendations on management practices that will improve each pasture. Samples of tall fescue are also collected and analysed for endophyte presence and ergovaline concentration to evaluate tall fescue toxicity risk. Management recommendations include tall fescue mitigation or elimination strategies. All of this data as well as recommendations, maps, and publications are presented in a detailed report and discussed with the farm. The program has exceeded expectations, and to date, has conducted over 300 evaluations on 175 farms across 26 Kentucky counties. Because of the connections made by this program to the horse community, the University of Kentucky Forage Extension Program has expanded its work in the equine industry to regularly host field days, workshops, and grant funded initiatives.
