GAINESVILLE, Fla. — From recreational horse owners to large-scale equine operations, the 2019 Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show, hosted by UF/IFAS Extension Marion County, will provide a one-stop shop for research-based information on horse needs.
The 27th annual event will be held Sept. 19 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala. Registration and the trade show open at 8 a.m., and the activities wrap by 4:30 p.m.
“All of the speakers are UF/IFAS affiliated or industry professionals, so it’s a way for attendees to receive scientific information regarding equine health and performance,” said Caitlin Bainum, the UF/IFAS Extension Marion County livestock agent who organizes the event. “It’s well-sourced information that they can rely upon and use to improve their operations based on the information they receive.”
Bainum said that while the event usually draws much of its crowd from Marion County, the event is open to all with an interest in horse care, and many travel from other counties to learn from the experts.
“This year, we are highlighting equine nutrition, but other topics, like behavior, saddle fitting, and pasture care, will be covered in the seminars,” Bainum said. “One of the things we’re most excited about this year is the new equine expert panel, with UF/IFAS equine faculty who are experts in everything from nutrition to physiology to animal behavior to saddle fit. We’re going to accept questions for the panel, and it will be an opportunity for people to get more information on whatever their specific interest or need may be.”
Tickets are on sale now with early-bird pricing through Sept. 13 ($30 general admission, $15 for students, and $25 for Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association members). After that date, the cost is $75 per ticket.
Bainum said the UF/IFAS Extension Marion County office can also reserve tickets by phone. Call 352-671-8400 for more information.
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS website at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.
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