The University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs and the Georgetown College Equine Scholars Program will host an Equine Career Fair on March 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the E.S. Good Barn on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Kentucky.

The event will provide equine students from area colleges the opportunity to meet prospective employers and to learn about potential volunteer, internship, part-time and full-time employment opportunities. There will also be a keynote speaker and sessions led by industry professionals offering tips and one-on-one career advice.

Equine businesses in the area will have a chance to interact with future equine industry leaders, and informational sessions will allow participants explore careers related to pharmaceutical sales, the Thoroughbred industry, breed associations, and veterinary medicine. Graduate school opportunities will be included as a session topic.

Representatives of Kentucky Equine Research will be at the job fair to explain the work done by the company and provide information to interested students.

Bob Baffert, perennially successful racehorse trainer and three-time Eclipse Award winner, was named Trainer of the Week by Thoroughbred Times Today. Baffert saddled four horses to first-place finishes in graded stakes over the President's Day weekend in mid-February 2012. For the entire week, horses trained by Baffert secured eight wins from ten starts, boosting the trainer's earnings to twice that of the second trainer on the list.

Baffert has a long history of choosing feeds manufactured by Hallway Feeds, a Team Member of Kentucky Equine Research. Hallway offers a selection of racing feeds to meet the requirements of horses in heavy race training.

The American Endurance Ride Conference Convention will be held March 9 and 10, 2012,  in Reno, Nevada. A trade show, tack swap, seminars, lectures, general sessions, awards ceremonies, a banquet, and a dance will be featured. Joe Pagan, founder and president of Kentucky Equine Research (KER), will speak on "Nutrition Concerns of the Endurance Horse" as he explains how research findings apply to horses that perform intense exercise. John Crandell, a top endurance rider who is sponsored by KER, will address the topic of finding a solution for the USEF team-selection process.

Chester Weber and his four-horse team Splash, Boris W, Para, and Uniek won the Advanced Horse Team Four-In-Hand division at the Sunshine State FEI Combined Driving Event held in mid-February at the Florida Horse Park.

Weber is an eight-time United States National Four-In-Hand Champion sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and is also a Promise Partner for Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, a KER Team Member.

Weber was also recently named Driving Horseman of the Year by The Chronicle of the Horse. The designation was listed in the magazine's annual American Horses in Sport issue.

Training and competing in Florida during the winter months, Weber trusts products from Pennfield and KER to keep his horses fit and energetic. These feeds and nutritional supplements are designed to meet the needs of horses in a strenuous exercise and performance program.

Phillip Dutton, a top eventing rider sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research, has joined forces with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and will make a donation to the Philadelphia chapter of the organization every time he wins a competition. 

Dutton commented, "Our family has been touched by muscular dystrophy, so we are looking forward to the opportunity to support this organization. We hope our contribution throughout the season helps their research as they work to find a cure for this disease." 

Dutton is training and competing his horses in the Aiken, South Carolina, area during the winter months. At the Pine Top Farm Intermediate Horse Trials in mid-February of 2012, six of his seven horses were in the top ten in their respective divisions, with two horses finishing in second place.

Andrew Nicholson has been chosen as a member of the 2012 High Performance squad in eventing by Equestrian Sports New Zealand. Topping the British Eventing points list for the second year in a row and holding the number-three ranking in the world in 2011, Nicholson and the other three riders on the squad are in the running for selection on the New Zealand team that will compete in the Olympic Games in London later this year. Nicholson is sponsored by Bluegrass Horse Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research Team Member. One of the feeds Nicholson uses, Re-Solve Low GI Cube, is formulated to provide energy from fat and digestible fiber rather than totally from the feed's starch component. This formulation results in a lower glycemic response to feeding, eliminating excessive variations in the horse's energy supply during exercise.

Maegan Parij and her horse Kolbeach Fanfare (Colby) have had a fantastic show season so far, with numerous placings and championships in hunter hack classes to add to their already extensive list of successes.

Megan Parij

At the Adelaide Royal Show in September of 2011, the pair found themselves having to go up one height class, as Colby had had a slight growth spurt in the last year! This resulted in a tougher class with a higher level of competition. However, Parij and Colby finished second in the open hack for horses 15-15.2 hands, and fourth in the lightweight hack for horses 15-15.2 hands in a class of 32 entries.
In other shows in the current season, the pair collected champion honors for Small Hack of the Year as designated by the Show Horse Council in October. At the Kapunda Agricultural Show, they won both the small hack and open hack classes in Colby's height division.
Due to Parij being pregnant, Ruth Thompson took over the ride on Colby for the remainder of the season and continued his successful performance record. At the Riding Pony of the Year Show in January of 2012, the pair earned back-to-back Champion Ridden Park Hack of the Year and Open Led Park Hack Champion titles. Two more shows this year also resulted in good outcomes, with Colby winning two Open Hack classes and being designated the Open Hack Reserve Champion at the Bletchley Agricultural Show as well as claiming first place as Lightweight Hack and Reserve Champion Hack at the Show Horse Council Bletchley Show.

Thompson and Colby have one more show in February which will complete all required points needed to qualify for the Melbourne and Adelaide Royals this year.

Parij is a very enthusiastic supporter of Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and Colby receives numerous supplements to assist with maintaining health and achieving optimum performance throughout the season. These include Bio-Bloom, Restore, Equi-Jewel, Hemabuild, and EquiShure.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 13, 2012

Contact:
Anne Burton
Sales Manager, Small-Package Products
Kentucky Equine Research
aburton@ker.com

Kentucky Equine Research Announces Associate Program

Do you love horses?

Do you have an interest in equine nutrition?

Do you have many friends and acquaintances that own horses?

If you answered yes to these questions, Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has a great opportunity for you.

KER is offering horse-savvy individuals with an interest in equine nutrition and a broad network of equine industry contacts the opportunity to become part of its first commission-based sales team.

After training and evaluation, individuals selected into the KER Associate Program will become certified nutrition advisors with the primary goals of providing sound nutrition advice and offering KER product recommendations to horse owners, trainers, and other industry professionals.

"The KER Associate Program is an incredible opportunity for motivated horsemen that believe in research-based nutrition and supplementation," said Anne Burton, sales manager for the company's KERx Special Needs Nutrition line of nutrition and wellness products. "KER has an incredible lineup of nutritional supplements, all of which are designed to target specific problems in horses."

The KER Associate Program is set to begin spring 2012.

To learn more about this opportunity or to apply online, visit www.ker.com/Associate.

Kentucky Equine Research is an international equine nutrition and exercise physiology research, consultation, and product development company. By providing a variety of products and services to horse owners, equine industry professionals, veterinarians, and the feed industry, KER strives to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses of all ages. For more information, go to www.ker.com.

For more information about Kentucky Equine Research, contact Anne Burton at ABurton@ker.com or call 859-873-1988.

Driving a pony in sandy soil is a great way to get the most conditioning out of each mile, and Shelly Temple is taking advantage of this fitness routine for her pony Cooper. Sand is soft enough to cushion each footfall, reducing concussion, but this slightly yielding surface also makes a pony work a little harder to move the weight of a vehicle and driver.

Jeff Legg, an assistant at Catalyst Driving, reported, "During the offseason Shelly has been working on Cooper's fitness in preparation for spring shows. She is also continuing her training of several horses and working with her student group. Currently, Cooper is gaining fitness in the sands of Aiken, South Carolina. Our training regimen changes between cardiac and endurance fitness and the roundness and suppleness needed for FEI-level dressage. Fortunately, Cooper likes to have a job. He continues to be healthy, happy, and sound!"

Shelly, who has recently been named to the High Performance Driving Committee of the USET, is looking forward to attending the spring nutrition conference at Kentucky Equine Research (KER). She is sponsored by KER and says she is excited about having the opportunity to obtain the most current and accurate information on equine feeding and nutrition.

Plans for February include a by-invitation USET driving clinic that features training with Michael Freund; the Salute to Driving in which Shelly and Cooper will participate in a pas de deux demonstration with Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton, who is also sponsored by KER; and the Little Everglades International CDE, an FEI-level competition in Florida.

At the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI*** in Florida, para-equestrian dressage rider Mary Jordan rode well and helped her team post good scores to take the win over a strong Canadian team. Riders from Bermuda, Finland, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico also participated in this opportunity to gain international experience and qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials. 

Jordan finished second to Irish rider James Dwyer on Orlando in the Grade IV individual contest.  Jordan, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), rides Sebastian in this dressage division made up of riders whose condition is considered less severe than Grade I to III para-equestrians. In helping to secure the team win for the United States, Jordan and Sebastian posted the top score among the U.S. team members.

Sebastian is on loan to Jordan from his owner, Deecie Denison of Vermont. Jordan said, "I am very excited about him. He is a fantastic horse and I am very blessed. He loves to compete and I just want to bring out the best in him because he is bringing out the best in me."

Jordan keeps Sebastian healthy and in good condition with nutritional advice from KER. His nutritional management includes KER's supplements EO-3, a source of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and boost a horse's immune system, and KER-Flex, which supports joint health.

Mill Park Thoroughbred Stud has been extremely successful at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sales held earlier this year. The South Australian stud farm presented just five yearlings, who were all sold at an average of $267,000.

The star for Mill Park at $360,000 was a Bernardini (USA) colt from Rock on Madonna that was bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Mill Park Thoroughbreds are fed the Kentucky Equine Research (KER) products All Phase and Equi-Jewel to ensure optimum growth and development. The farm also uses Cool Command from KER Team Member Barastoc during yearling preparation.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has released the list of riders that will receive training grants this spring. Included on the list are several top riders sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) or one of its Team Member companies.

Considerable expense is involved in managing, training, and transporting horses between event sites in various states and overseas. Grants and sponsorships help to defray some of these costs, allowing riders to follow training and competition plans that bring their horses to a peak of condition in time for important international competitions such as the Olympic Games.

Listed on this year's USEF grant tally are:

Phillip Dutton (with horses Ben, Mighty Nice, and William Penn) sponsored by KER

Karen O'Connor (with horse Mr. Mendicott) sponsored by KER

Buck Davidson (with horses Absolute Liberty, Ballynoe Castle RM, and The Apprentice) sponsored by Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, a KER Team Member

These riders count on the products and nutrition supplements designed by KER to meet the requirements of the hard-working equine athletes in their charge, allowing them to train and compete at the highest levels in their sport.

Two prestigious races held in India in late January were won by horses that are fed by Himalayan Horse Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Team Member.

The Grade I Golconda Derby Stakes held at Malakpet Race Course on January 29 was won by Southern Bay, who has had numerous previous successes. Southern Bay is trained by S. Ganapathy and was ridden by Chris Hayes.

Two days prior to this, the Winter Derby at Bangalore was won by Toroloco. This was the second year in a row that a horse from trainer Irfan Ghatala's stable had won this Grade I race.

C. Mano, managing director of MANO Equestrian Services Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, has been chosen to receive the Top 100 Singapore Excellence Award 2011 & 2012 as well as the Successful Entrepreneur Award. Mano was honored at a recognition ceremony held in December.

Mano began to expand his equine business several years ago in order to provide an array of feeds and supplements to local clients and also to several overseas markets. His company deals in a full line of equine-related goods and services but has added feed supplement choices as well as products in the nutritional, animal health, and pharmaceutical lines. As part of this expanded business effort, he sought out and began an association with partner companies that were successful in the fields of research and development of equine health and pharmaceutical products.

To promote the equine industry, Mano has set up sponsorships, participated in exhibitions and seminars, and become involved in community projects and events. He has provided leadership by serving on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry; is a patron and member of the Executive Council of Narpani Pearavai; and is active in the work of the Tamil Language Learning & Promotion Committee. He is also the current chairperson of Woodlands E Terrace Estate.

In his nearly twenty years of association with Kentucky Equine Research (KER), Mano has become one of KER's top international customers. As KER's agent in Southeast Asia, he distributes the company's products to clients in various phases of the equine industry throughout India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia as well as Singapore. He keeps in touch with the latest research through KER publications and electronic media, and often attends the KER Nutrition Conference to discuss developments in equine nutrition management.

Kentucky Equine Research salutes C. Mano for his entrepreneurial achievements and his commitment to spreading knowledge about equine management.