University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs announces its second equine-oriented digital photography contest. Submissions will be accepted through Feb. 28.

All are encouraged to participate, from students to the general public. There are three age divisions for submissions: UK students, youth (17 and under) and open (18 and over).

UK Ag Equine Programs is looking for original, high-quality photographs that exhibit any discipline or breed of horses, horses interacting with people and a more artistic category. Photographers can submit photos online via a Google form.

Entries will be judged by a committee of staff, students and trained photographers in early March.

Each division’s winning image will be published on the UK Ag Equine Programs’ Facebook page for a “People’s Choice Award.” Votes for the award will be determined by the number of likes that each image receives by 5 p.m. EST on Friday, March 11.

Prizes will be awarded to category winners of each age division as well as the opportunity to be featured in the program’s monthly newsletter, The Wildcat Canter, and other UK publications.

Participants can get more information regarding the rules and how to enter, at https://equine.ca.uky.edu/ or by following UK Ag Equine Programs’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. They can direct questions to  equine@uky.edu.

UK Ag Equine Programs Photography Contest Guidelines

Term:

UK Ag Equine Programs Winter Photo Contest begins Feb. 1, 2021 and ends Feb. 28, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST. By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the rules of the contest.

Eligibility:

This contest is open to everyone and submissions will be admitted using the following age divisions: Youth (age 17 and under), University of Kentucky Students and Open (age 18 and over).

What to enter:

The UK Ag Equine Programs is searching for a variety of horse related photographs that showcase horses in many different ways. Submissions may include horses, donkeys and other equids of all colors, breeds and disciplines from all seasons of the year. Each participant may submit one photo for each of the following categories:

1. Horses only
2. Horses and People
3. Landscape (featuring horses)

How to Enter:

Please submit photographs and requested information online through this Google Form. Please make sure your photographs are submitted as .jpeg, .jpg, .png formatting.

Rules:

1. All photos must be original work, taken by the entrants. No third party may own or control any materials the photo contains, and the photo must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.
2. Extensive modifications are not preferred. 
3. Images submitted must maintain moral integrity and follow standard safety practices.
4. Entries will be judged by UK Ag Equine Programs. All decisions are final. UK Ag Equine Programs reserves the right to disqualify any entry that is deemed inappropriate or does not conform to stated contest rules.
5. By entering this contest, entrants agree that photos submitted can be used by UK Ag Equine Programs with photo credit given for advertising/social media/marketing purposes.
6. The winners for each category will be contacted via the email address provided during entry and will be publicized by UK Ag Equine Programs.

Judging:

All submissions will be judged by a committee of UK Ag Equine Programs staff, students and professional photographers between March 1-5, 2021.

The top three photos for each category/age division will be published on UK Ag Equine Programs Facebook page for the People’s Choice award March 5-12, 2021. The photo with the most likes by 5 p.m. EST. on Friday March 12 will be chosen as the People’s Choice winner.

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded, as follows:

Category Winners for each Age Division:

• Featured on social media as part of the People’s Choice Award
• Featured in the March Edition of the Wildcat Canter, some may be featured as the cover photo
• Featured on the UK Ag Equine Programs website
• Receive UK Ag Equine Programs swag along with other fun prizes. More details to come.

Second and Third place category winners for each Age Division:

• Featured in the March Edition of the Wildcat Canter
• Featured on the UK Ag Equine Programs website

People’s Choice Award:

• Featured on social media as the People’s Choice Award winner
• Featured in the March Edition of the Wildcat Canter, may be featured as the cover photo
• Featured on the UK Ag Equine Programs website
• UK Ag Equine Programs Swag Basket

Winners will be contacted via the email address provided during entries once judging is complete.

Writer: Sydney Carter, sydney.carter1@uky.edu