About Our Extension Services

UK has a long history of exceptional equine outreach and serves all 120 Kentucky counties and their horse owners and producers through the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of Kentucky residents through research-based education. Extension takes the University to the people in their local communities, addressing issues of importance to all Kentuckians.

UK’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is one of the busiest state diagnostic laboratories in North America with more than 50,000 case submissions each year. The laboratory also partners with the Breathitt Laboratory and Kentucky’s State Veterinarian.

The Kentucky 4-H Horse Program is one of the largest 4-H horse programs in the nation with more than 4,500 participating youth.

Several programs are in place to conduct adult education in all counties, teaching producers and horse owners. Some of the results include helping farms make improvements through federal cost share programs. Case in point: Faculty and staff within UK’s Horse Pasture Evaluation Program are helping state equine producers not only improve their pastures, but also to connect with the National Resource Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

UK operates statewide veterinary outreach efforts through extension programs and free clinics in underserved counties.