University of Kentucky
America offers excellent employment opportunities for equine students.
Kentucky is often referred to as the American home of the horse and the horse industry is seen as Kentucky’s top agricultural crop. The Kentucky Equine Survey (2013) identified 35,000 equine operations and 1.1 million acres devoted to equine use and found that the estimated value of the 242,400 equines in Kentucky was approximately $6.3 billion. With the state’s equine and equine related assets estimated to be worth $23.4 billion. Kentucky has five racetracks, is home to the world renowned Keeneland sales facility and hosts the well-known Kentucky Derby, with 76% of the races winners being bred in Kentucky.
As a corner stone to developing an international component to our provision links have been established, with a range of world class equine businesses based in the Kentucky Bluegrass region and the highly respected University of Kentucky. These have led to a collaborative development of a range of opportunities for students and staff. Following a visit to the University of Kentucky in 2018, a work shadowing programme was devised for staff and students. To date, seven CAFRE equine students have spent one week work shadowing some of the major equine businesses in Kentucky.
Enniskillen Campus currently aims to develop internationalisation within the campus by developing opportunities for our students to travel and develop their practical and academic skills, but also by encouraging others to visit Enniskillen Campus. Giving students an opportunity to travel to Kentucky to work shadow and visit industry leading organisations will foster partnerships between Enniskillen Campus and these organisations and also allow students to network with key industry leaders to enhance their own career development.
During the work shadowing programmes students were able to participate in practical activities and demonstrate their equine knowledge and skills. Now established this programme will be repeated in future years.
Higher Education Equine students at Kentucky University, March 2019
Emily Webb visited Kentucky in 2019
“Our study tour to Kentucky was a course highlight. It was a fantastic experience for the seven students who travelled. We visited top class equestrian businesses, including Lane’s End Thoroughbred Stud, Coolmore America at Ashford Stud, the Kentucky Horse Park and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. We met a number of CAFRE Equine graduates who are working out in Kentucky. ”