The first Kentucky Horse Council Equine Industry Summit was a success. There were more than 40 different equine organizations and breed associations which sent delegates, most of whom thanked the state horse council for getting them together on a common topic–equine welfare. (Actually, one person said that the Summit could be termed a success for the mere reason we got a Western pleasure trails group in the same room with the serious dressage people, and all of them were nodding their heads in the same direction!) Unfortunately, the organizers had identified more than 130 equine groups based in Kentucky, ranging from international organizations such as The Jockey Club (registry for Thoroughbreds) down to a several-member riding club. It is unfortunate because while the number of delegates who attended represented a great start toward working together, we horse people have to convince ourselves, and our fellow horse owners and enthusiasts, that unless we face certain issues together, our voices will not be heard and our wishes will not be followed.

It is important for us to be leaders–proactive, if you wish. There are changes coming that will affect the ways in which we use our horses. Some of these changes are as small as a local park not allowing horses on the grounds. Some of the larger ones will determine who can treat our horses (state practice acts regarding dentistry, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc.) and what we can do with them (racing 2-year-olds, housing, zoning, taxes). Legislators will tell you that no matter whether the issue is a state or federal one, numbers and industry-wide support are key to having your opinions heard.

The welfare we discussed at the Equine Summit ranged from our state’s cruelty laws and punishments (or lack thereof), to federal concerns of transporting horses to slaughter. The latter was an active discussion brought home by several first-person stories of horses being saved from slaughter after being stolen, or nice horses rescued just because they were noticed by horse people.

Identification of horses was a concern. A very few states have required identification programs associated with testing for equine infectious anemia (EIA; which is why you have a Coggins test done on your horse). Louisiana was the first, and the state has deemed its program a success. Other states have or are going to follow Louisiana’s lead. This not only allows identification and tracking of horses with EIA, but, to me, posts a big “No Trespassing” sign on the state’s borders to horse thieves. If you know nearly every horse in the state has an electronic identification marker inserted into the ligament in its neck, then you also are going to know that trying to sell that horse without legal ownership papers will be difficult, if not impossible