The Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center are partnering in a new project to assist Kentucky’s unwanted horses.

Last week the Kentucky Horse Park became aware that some pregnant Thoroughbred mares were in need of a home. The mares’ owner sent them to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC), a 72-acre facility located in central Kentucky. The KyEHC is a model shelter for equines from across the state. No horse in need of shelter is ever turned away, regardless of breed. As the number of horses they have taken in has swelled recently, including the pregnant mares, they contacted the Kentucky Horse Park for assistance.

“We are ever mindful of the responsibilities that march in tandem with the privileges of being the Horse Capital of the World,” stated John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. “So we had to make an important decision. The easy choice would have been to make excuses not to get involved, or to look the other way and hope that someone else would help these mares. The more difficult choice would entail taking on several new, high-maintenance horses, thus significantly increasing the work load for our already-overworked staff.

“We made the right decision,” he said