Lexington, KY (November 16, 2017) – The Kentucky Horse Council hosted the 2017 Coalition of State Horse Councils Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky from November 10-12, 2017.

The Coalition of State Horse Councils includes forty-three state horse councils that work together to provide grassroots support and education to state horse councils, encourage and grow participation in state horse councils and the equine industry, and to provide national issues support to the American Horse Council.  Representatives from eighteen states, the National Equestrian Trails Conference, and the American Horse Council attended the 2017 Annual Meeting in Kentucky. 

The Kentucky Horse Council organized three days of meetings, panel discussions, and tours to educate and entertain the Coalition group.  Tours included Darby Dan Farm, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, and Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. Presentations were made to the group by Vicki Lowell from US Equestrian, Keith Kline from the AAEP Foundation and more.  Panels on Saturday discussed community involvement with equine events, agritourism in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the growing interest in thoroughbred aftercare. 

“The Kentucky Horse Council is proud to be able to showcase the extensive Kentucky equine industry to representatives of other state horse councils and the American Horse Council,” says Kentucky Horse Council Executive Director Katy Ross.  “We are blessed to be located in the Horse Capital of the World and privileged to have access to so many beautiful venues, equine organizations, and amazing horses. We are pleased to be able to share this with others and facilitate new relationships, connections and ideas for horse councils around the country.”     

The Coalition of State Horse Councils rotates its annual meeting around the country and the 2018 meeting is scheduled to be hosted by the Arizona Horse Council in Phoenix, AZ.

The 2017 Annual Meeting in Lexington would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship from the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program, the NTRA, The Jockey Club, Equine Equipment Savings, Dinsmore Equine Law Group, Equisure, and the Equine Land Conservation Resources.  In kind donations were also made by Darby Dan Farm, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Horse Country, Inc., the Kentucky Horse Park, Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, The United States Pony Clubs and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. Without the support of these organizations, the CSHC meeting would not have been possible.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL - The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programs and information, outreach and communication to Kentucky horse owners and enthusiasts, equine professional networking opportunities through KENA, trail riding advocacy, health and welfare programs, and personal liability insurance and other membership benefits.  The specialty Kentucky Horse Council license plate, featuring a foal lying in the grass, provides the primary source of revenue for KHC programs                        

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