About UK Ag Equine Programs

Kentucky’s horse industry asked, and the University of Kentucky delivered.

The year 2025 marks 20 years since the formation of UK’s Equine Initiative, now UK Ag Equine Programs, an effort to serve the horse and the industry that supports the horse. Formed in March 2005 and formally announced by UK in May 2005, the program began as a partnership between UK’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the horse industry and was established through the efforts of the UK Gluck Equine Research Foundation, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and several other prominent Kentucky equine organizations. 

In a nod acknowledging the success of those efforts and a continued commitment to the state’s equine industry, the college adopted the name UK Ag Equine Programs in early 2012 to better position its equine programs for continued success. The choice of name helps signify the importance of equine in Kentucky's agricultural economy. 

Education, research and extension/outreach are the hallmarks of a land-grant institution, and equine programming at UK checks each of those boxes with robust offerings.