An inaugural University of Kentucky Equine Nutrition Short Course will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14. The event is for horse owners interested in understanding how nutrition can affect their horses’ health and longevity. The event is presented by UK Ag Equine Programs’ equine nutrition working group within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

“There has been increasing interest in how feeds and feeding management affect the risk for metabolic and digestive diseases in horses. The nutrition working group has assembled a group of outstanding speakers and innovative, hands-on activities that will give horse owners practical information about desirable and undesirable feeding practices,” said event organizer Laurie Lawrence, a professor and equine nutrition researcher in the college’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

Morning session lectures, which will be held at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 1490 Bull Lea Road, in Lexington, will be presented by UK equine faculty and graduate students as well as industry practitioners. Topics include cracking the code on nutritionally-related diseases; equine digestion—colic, ulcers and other digestive disorders; how calories, affect body weight and body condition; what’s in horse feed; and horse nutrition myths and mysteries.

Afternoon labs, which will be held on UK’s Maine Chance Farm, include: pasture plant identification; tapes, weights and body condition; the right feed in the right amount; pasture management; and feeding management tips and tools.

Space is limited. The cost is $75 and includes lunch. Those interested in attending can register online at https://UKEquineNutrition.Eventbrite.com. Registration deadline is May 1.

Through the mission areas of a land-grant institution, UK Ag Equine Programs serves as the front door to equine in the college and represents the breadth of equine offerings at UK and the college’s long-term commitment to serving the state’s signature equine industry.