Kentucky Department of Agriculture

The Kentucky Horse Council is asking Kentucky horsemen to participate in a full, statewide survey of all breeds and disciplines of horse, ponies, mules, and donkeys, the first such survey in Kentucky in 35 years.

In a letter to Kentucky horsemen, the council stressed that getting accurate figures for the horse community is critical to developing plans to improve the industry, access more trails and equine facilities, assess equine business opportunities, and get public officials' attention.

This survey is being done by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. To read more about the study, go to http://www2.ca.uky.edu/equine/kyequinesurvey.  

The deadline is Feb. 17. 

"This survey can only be effective if we have a comprehensive list of horse owners and equine farms and facilities in the state," the council wrote "This needs to include the many people in our state who keep horses for recreational purposes and do not have equine-related businesses."

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Kentucky Field Office, a Kentucky-based USDA unit which has responsibilities for surveying other livestock entities, will handle the polling and survey mailing. The questions for the survey have been developed by UK, UofL, and KHC.

The council asked horsemen to submit their names and contact information to NASS. The council noted that none of these names will ever be released to any other organization. The NASS privacy policy is available for review at  www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/Confidentiality_Pledge/index.asp.

Horsemen who wish to send their names to NASS for the survey may fill in the form at http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/KES-names/.