In a Press Release from the Kentucky Horse Council and the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the call is going out to all horse owners in the state of Kentucky to participate in a survey designed to obtain accurate figures for the horse community. These figures are critical to developing plans to improve the industry.
For the first time in 35 years, Kentucky will do a full, statewide survey of ALL BREEDS AND DISCIPLINES OF HORSES, PONIES, MULES, and DONKEYS. Getting accurate figures for our horse community is critical to developing plans to improve the industry, access more trails and equine facilities, assess equine business opportunities, and get public officials' attention.
This survey is being done by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. To read more about the study, go to
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/equine/kyequinesurvey
WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION. Our deadline is February 17th, 2012.
This survey can only be effective if we have a comprehensive list of horse owners and equine farms and facilities in the state. This needs to include the many people in our state who keep horses for recreational purposes and do not have equine-related businesses.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Kentucky Field Office, a Kentucky-based USDA unit which has responsibilities for surveying other livestock entities, will be handling the polling and survey mailing. The questions for the survey have been developed by UK, UofL, and KHC.
We are requesting that you submit your name and contact information to NASS. Note that none of these names will ever be released to any other organization; not UK, not KHC, not any Kentucky agency. NASS has a privacy policy for all of its activities which can be found here:
http://www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/Confidentiality_Pledge/index.asp
We make this request because we believe so deeply in the need for this survey to be accurate and complete. At the end of the survey, we will have good estimates on:
•How many horses of each breed are in each Kentucky county
•How many horses are used in each discipline in each Kentucky county
•The economic impact on Kentucky as a whole from the equine industry
To send your name to NASS for the survey, please fill in the form at this link:
http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/KES-names/
Note: Even though this form is on the Kentucky Horse Council website, the information is sent ONLY to NASS.
Press Release