Lexington, KY (June 13, 2023)– Equine neglect and abuse cases often have more complications than cases involving their small-animal counterparts. With decisions involving everything from whether to feed in place or remove the horses to who takes responsibility for them if they must leave their home, neglect cases involving horses can be difficult and time consuming for officials -- and seem to take too long to address for people witnessing the situation.

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) will welcome Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Chief Livestock Agent Marcus Avery, Deputy Chief Livestock Agent Shane Mitchell and Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control Cruelty Investigator Jai Hamilton for a candid conversation about how equine neglect and abuse cases are handled in the Commonwealth.

This Dinner & Discussion (formerly called the Kentucky Equine Networking Association or “KENA”) will take place on Tuesday, July 11, at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. All equine enthusiasts are welcome.

Questions addressed will include:

• Who should be contacted when equine neglect or abuse is suspected?
• How long will it take to address the issue?
• What can be done for the horse(s) in the meantime?
• What training do animal control officers and other county officials receive?
• What can horse owners and enthusiasts do to advocate for horses in the Commonwealth?

Audience questions are encouraged.

“The KHC routinely fields questions from people asking how they can report possible equine neglect and abuse,” says KHC Executive Director Sarah Coleman. “We’re grateful to be a resource for these caring individuals, but there are a lot of questions we’re unable to answer as we aren’t animal control or livestock investigators. Offering the equine community an opportunity to talk with state and county officials who deal with these cases is a great way to open lines of communication and to educate horse owners and enthusiasts about how the cases are handled, as well.”

This dinner is part of the Horse Council’s Dinner & Discussion event series, which provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry.

For details and reservations for the July 11 event, click here. Tickets are $30. Interested in sponsoring this event? Click here.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL: The Kentucky Horse Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community through education and leadership. The KHC provides educational programs like large animal emergency rescue training and livestock investigation training; networking opportunities through the Dinner & Discussion series; personal liability insurance through individual and family memberships; and financial assistance programs for horse owners in need through the Save Our Horses (SOHO) fund. Learn more at kentuckyhorse.org