Horse Illustrated Magazine

Owners who can no longer care for their horses can now turn to the newly opened Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC) for assistance. The KyEHC, which is located on a 50-acre horse farm just outside of Lexington, Ky., will take in any horse, regardless of breed or discipline, and will place adoptable horses in loving homes.

“This is an opportunity for all of us to do the right thing and play a role in ensuring the welfare and humane treatment of horses here in Kentucky, the Horse Capital of the World,” says Staci Hancock, the organization’s president.

KyEHC is a first-of-its-kind facility, established with the specific goal of providing owners with a humane option when they need to give up their horses.  No horse in a precarious situation will ever be turned away. Horses which are unadoptable due to chronic pain or permanent, crippling injuries will be humanely euthanized. 

 “A tremendous responsibility comes along with the privileges of being the Horse Capital of the World, so our industry and state need to make certain we are setting the highest possible example when it comes to equine welfare,” says John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. “Unfortunately, there is a vast, urgent need for shelters that will take all breeds of horses. The Kentucky Horse Park is contacted on a regular basis by people who are desperate to find a safe place for horses who are in a vulnerable situation.  We are very happy that the Kentucky Equine Humane Center will ease suffering by meeting some of those needs.”

For more information on the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, click on www.kyehc.org.