A looming deadline is near for all horsemen in Kentucky: Feb. 17. This is the last day when Kentucky horse owners can provide their name and contact information for sample surveys that will estimate the number of horses in Kentucky by county, breed, and use. The Kentucky Equine Survey happens this year, and the survey team hopes to receive at least 17,000 names and addresses for the survey.
Kentucky proclaims itself "Horse Capital of the World," yet it has been 35 years since there was an accurate count of the total number of equine in the state. All horse, pony, mule, and/or donkey owners and operators in the state are urged to participate in this upcoming survey.
Kentucky Equine Survey registration alert!
Results of study will include an estimate of the number of all breeds of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules, and their uses.
This important information will become available as the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Kentucky Horse Council, and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conduct a statewide equine study beginning in the summer of 2012.
Results include a county-level estimate of the number of all breeds of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules, and their uses, as well as the economic impact of equine-related activity across Kentucky.
In order to ensure that each breed and discipline is accurately represented, NASS needs a complete list of horse owners and horse operation owners across the state. Horsemen are being asked to help build this list by sending their contact information directly to NASS. NASS protects this data, and no other agency, public or private, can access any individual's information. This means the submitted information will not be used anywhere else or shared with any other organization, including those leading the survey. The NASS confidentiality pledge can be found at www.nass.usda.gov.
Horse and facility owners, please send your name, address, and phone number to nass-ky@nass.usda.gov and put "Kentucky Equine Survey" in the subject line. Or you can go to www.kentuckyhorse.org/KES-names/ and complete the form, which will be sent directly to NASS.
AGAIN, THE DEADLINE FOR THIS INFORMATION IS FEB. 17, 2012.
With everyone's help and participation, we will know by early 2013 how many horses there are in Kentucky, by type, use, and county, and what the overall economic impact is to the Commonwealth. This information will be used to strengthen the industry and provide a benchmark for Kentucky's agricultural economy and its signature equine industry.
For more information on the project, please visit: https://www2.ca.uky.edu/equine/kyequinesurvey
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