October 31, 2005

Horseman's conference offers lectures on current topics

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The 2006 Indiana Horseman's Conference will take place Jan. 21 at the Marten House and Lilly Conference Center in Indianapolis and will focus on recent concerns in the horse industry.

"The conference is targeted toward adult horse owners across Indiana," said Colleen Brady, associate professor in youth development and agricultural education at Purdue University. "We try to have a variety of topics that appeal to people from all over the horse industry. Many of the subjects were taken from survey suggestions that last year's conference participants completed."

All topics this year are new, with a focus on current problems that have affected horse owners within the last year. For instance, representatives from the State Board of Animal Health will speak about the impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Louisiana and Mississippi horse owners and how the National Animal ID program could be helpful for horse owners in similar situations.

Purdue speakers and topics will include:

• Keith Johnson, professor of agronomy – Pasture Maintenance.

• Edmond Pajor, associate professor of animal sciences – How Horses Learn.

• Mark Russell, professor of animal sciences – Can I Keep My Horse Outside?

• Janice Sojka, associate professor in large animal medicine – Managing Parasites.

• Ralph Williams, professor of entomology – Fighting Insect Pests.

Other topics to be covered will include trail riding, shoeing your horse, emerging diseases, barn safety and alternative medicine.

Registration for the 14th annual conference is $55 for Indiana Horse Council members and $70 for non-IHC members. The registration deadline is Jan. 15, and after this time, late registration will cost $80. All registrants will receive the "Self-Guided Horse Facility Analysis" by Betsy Greene, one of the conference presenters. Registration forms are available online, or by calling Purdue at (765) 494-8433 or the Indiana Horse Council at (317) 692-7141.

The 2006 Indiana Horseman's Conference is sponsored by Marten House and Lilly Conference Center, and ADM Alliance Nutrition.

Writer: Jennifer Culy, (765) 494-8402, jculy@purdue.edu

Source: Colleen Brady, (765) 494-8433, bradyc@purdue.edu

Related Web sites:
Indiana 4-H Horse

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

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