Newsdate: Mon 26 December 2016 – 6:00 am
Location: LEXINGTON, Kentucky

University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs will host the 6th Annual UK Equine Showcase and the 8th Annual Kentucky Breeders’ Short Course Jan. 27-28, both at the Fayette County Extension office, 1140 Red Mile Place, in Lexington.

An educational opportunity for horse professionals and owners

The UK Equine Showcase will highlight the university’s equine programs and relevant industry findings with an emphasis on immunology and the Short Course will focus specifically on preventative measures designed to reduce the risks for introduction and transmission of infectious disease.

The UK Equine Showcase will highlight the university’s equine programs and relevant industry findings with an emphasis on immunology. It will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27.

The Kentucky Breeders’ Short Course is an in-depth program on horse management issues and will focus specifically on preventative measures designed to reduce the risks for introduction and transmission of infectious disease. It will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28, with lunch provided.

“This year our focus will be on biosecurity, an issue which should be of great interest to the audience. The program will feature presentations on various aspects of biosecurity ranging from the factors and concerns at the farm, clinic, state, national and international level,” said David W. Horohov, chair of the UK Department of Veterinary Science and director of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Topics and speakers for the UK Equine Showcase include:

• Equine vaccination: What, when and why? David Horohov
• Disease surveillance and monitoring utilizing geographic information system (GIS) and temporal spatial scan statistics in Kentucky; Jacqueline Smith, epidemiology section head, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Rhodococcus equi: An update; Fernanda Cesar, graduate student, UK Gluck Center
• Barn Ventilation; Morgan Hayes, assistant extension professor in livestock systems, UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
• An overview of research programs: What’s the focus? Mick Peterson, UK Ag Equine Programs incoming director and incoming professor within UK’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
• New perspectives on foal nutrition; Laurie Lawrence, professor of equine nutrition in UK’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences

Topics for the Kentucky Breeders’ Short Course include:

• Biosecurity and infectious disease control: What about it? Lucas Pantaleon, a veterinarian based in Versailles
• National biosecurity issues: The need for speed; Roberta Dwyer, extension professor of veterinary preventive medicine within UK’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences
• International movement of horses; Allen Page, a researcher with U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• State veterinarians’ perspective on biosecurity; Robert Stout and Rusty Ford, Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian
• Biosecurity in the hospital setting; Bonnie Barr, veterinarian at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital
• Biosecurity on the breeding farm: What is practical? Nathan Slovis, veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

Both programs are open to veterinarians, owners and managers of all horse breeds or anyone with an interest in learning more about equine reproduction and topics concerning horse management. Continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians is pending approval by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners.

UK is also accepting sponsor participation for the event. Display opportunities are available to participating organizations. Please email equine@uky.edu for details.

To register for the event, visit https://2017ukshowcaseshortcourse.eventbrite.com. UK Equine Showcase rates are $50 per person, or $40 each when two or more people from the same organization register at the same time. Early registration rates for the Kentucky Breeders’ Short Course are $75 per person, or $65 each when two or more people register at the same time. Attendees can enroll in both the showcase and the short course for $100 per person, or $90 each when two or more people from the same organization register. Registration will close Jan. 23.

College students are eligible for a reduced rate to the showcase and short course, but student space is limited and on a first-requested, first-served basis. Students or UK faculty interested in attending either or both days should email jenny.evans@uky.edu. For more details about this event and other information about UK Ag Equine Programs, visit http://www.ca.uky.edu/equine.

By Holly Wiemers