Horse industry growth opportunities were on the agenda last week during the Kentucky Equine Education Project’s 2016 conference in Lexington.Horse industry growth opportunities were on the agenda last week during the Kentucky Equine Education Project’s 2016 conference in Lexington.
Kentucky Equine Officials Talked Industry Growth Opportunities at KEEP Conference
State Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles participated in a panel discussion, saying he believes the long-sought tax exemption for horse feed, fertilizers, and machinery could pass the legislature in 2017. “I think if the General Assembly goes for an omnibus tax reform package, sales tax parity for the horse industry has a fighting chance,” said Quarles.
A Bluegrass horse farm owner, Maple Crest Farm’s Reese Koffler-Stanfield, also participated in last week’s conference. She would also like to see improvements at the Kentucky Horse Park.
She says North Carolina’s Tryon Equine complex is very attractive to horse show competitors. “It has restaurants on it. It has horse paths. It has great facilities, the arenas. Everything is really top notch and geared toward the competitor. It’s also very easy to compete there,” noted Koffler-Stanfield. “So, I think for us with the Horse Park, you know the Horse Park needs to be upgraded, and we need to guard that facility.”
Price Bell with the horse farm tour organization, Horse Country, says, while betting on the horses has become widely known outside of racing, it’s more important than ever to connect people with horses as individuals with unique stories.
Copyright 2016 WEKU
