Kentucky International Equine Summit Scheduled for 2008
Monday, August 27, 2007
Lexington, Ky.---The inaugural Kentucky International Equine Summit will be conducted on April 28-29, 2008, at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Lexington with a goal of bringing together an international audience of horse enthusiasts to discuss opportunities and challenges faced by the global equine industry.
The Summit is being sponsored by the Equine Industry Program in the University of Louisville’s College of Business, along with the Equine Initiative in the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture.
“On behalf of the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, we are pleased to announce this new event, which will provide a forum to discuss industry trends and economics along with the latest technology and scientific information pertinent to the horse industry, irrespective of breed, discipline or particular equine activity." said Rich Wilcke, summit organizer and director of the UofL Equine Industry Program.
“As an industry, we have many challenges to address if we are to sustain growth in horse interest and build upon our limitless potential. We look forward to hearing from a variety of expert speakers and panelists on a broad array of subjects that are meaningful to the future of this industry, and, in the process, to providing an opportunity for dialogue among industry participants,” said Wilcke.
The Summit agenda will feature three specific topic areas:
The Well-being of the Competitive Horse - Breakthroughs in veterinary science and the development of innovative synthetic surfaces for competitions, including racing, showing and training, seem to promise significant improvement in the quest to improve and sustain competitive careers of equine athletes.
The Emerging Science of Horse Breeding - The mapping of the equine genome could have dramatic implications in the future selection of horses, as may other advances in veterinary and biomechanical knowledge. The nexus of science and historical practice has challenged breed registries and other organizations concerned with the perpetuation of traditional breeds and popular equine disciplines.
The Equine Economy in the 21st Century – While there has been unprecedented growth in the numbers of horses and horse industry participants over the last half-century, creating many new and unexpected business opportunities as well as wider exposure for horses as a recreational option, the trend has slowed. Is this the end of an era or merely a pause, and how can the industry better position itself to find more participants, spectators, sponsors, and to reach out to more consumers?
To register for the Summit, or to obtain more information, please visit www.kyequinesummit.com, and remember the dates – April 28 and 29, 2008.
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