Two Democratic legislators in Kentucky have formally asked Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher why the horse industry won’t have broad representation at an agriculture summit scheduled for March 15 in Louisville.

According to the state Web site, the summit will feature several speakers, including Dean Scott Smith of the University of Kentucky. But Reps. Royce Adams and Susan Westrom said that’s not enough representation for a horse industry that annually contributes $4 billion to the state’s economy and generates 80,000-100,000 jobs.

“Considering that this industry is so vital to our state, we are amazed that other businesses are perceived as more important; proven repeatedly by conversations of tax breaks and incentives for specific industries, such as Ford in Louisville,” said the letter hand-delivered to Fletcher’s office March 8. “Does Ford really contribute more to our economy than this vast industry which survives despite the tax inequity which favors livestock and crop farmers?”

The letter also said: “It is ironic that the international equine community recognized the Kentucky equine industry is ready to compete at the international level by awarding the 2010 World Equestrian Events to Kentucky. They obviously did not know that this same industry is not even considered a part of the state agriculture conversation