В Лексингтоне пройдет выставка по оптимизации содержания лошадей и управлению фермами

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky horse owners, farm managers and equine industry professionals will have an opportunity to learn about facility design, nutrition and feed management during the 2026 Horses and Horsemen Farm & Facilities Expo, set for Sept. 10 in Lexington. Hosted through the Fayette County Extension Office and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the event will be held at Greymoore Stables LLC, 2554 Iron Works Pike. The expo is designed to provide practical information for people involved in Kentucky’s equine industry, with sessions examining decisions that can affect the efficiency of horse farms, animal care and overall farm management. Registration and a vendor fair begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Educational programming begins at 6:15 p.m. Camille and Grace Camp of Greymoore Stables will open the educational program with an overview of the farm and its operations. Both are graduates of UK’s Equine Science and Management Program. Grace Camp is pursuing a doctorate, while Camille Camp is attending the university’s law school. The on-farm setting will give attendees an opportunity to see how management concepts are incorporated into a working equine facility. Bob Coleman, a UK Equine Extension specialist, will join Camille and Grace Camp for a discussion about horse farm facility design and layout. Facility planning can play an important role in the efficiency of an equine operation, affecting how horses, employees, equipment and supplies move throughout a property. “The program will focus on a new facility and how it has incorporated the concepts of flow to streamline activities on the farm,” Coleman said. “The development of the facility was to make sure horses were well cared for by working smarter, not harder.” Coleman also will lead a session on equine nutrition and determining proper dosages based on a horse’s weight. Accurately estimating body weight can affect feeding decisions and the appropriate amount of certain products or treatments administered to an individual horse. The session will focus on practical techniques owners and managers can use in their own operations. Hay management will be another focus of the program. Garrard Coffey, Rockcastle County Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, will discuss hay storage and analysis. Proper storage can help protect hay quality and reduce waste, making it an important management and cost consideration for horse farms. The event comes as Kentucky’s equine industry continues to represent a major component of the state’s agricultural economy and its broader identity as a global center for Thoroughbred breeding, racing and other horse-related businesses. Educational programs addressing farm efficiency, nutrition and facility management can be particularly valuable for owners and operators looking to control expenses while maintaining high standards of animal care. The Horses and Horsemen Farm & Facilities Expo is presented through the UK Cooperative Extension Service, part of the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.