Some of the biggest names in racing threw their support behind Kentucky Equine Adoption Center (KYEAC) when it was founded in 2007. Among them were Racing Hall of Fame horsemen Chris McCarron and Nick Zito and noted owners and breeders Arthur Hancock and the late Marylou Whitney. The organization has since provided a much-needed service in finding homes for unwanted horses of all breeds, although half the herd is generally Thoroughbreds.

Situated on 72 acres near Nicholasville, KY, KYEAC offers a peaceful haven where equines can relax, recover, and heal until their forever home is found. Incoming horses receive veterinary care and individualized attention before moving on to retraining, wherein qualified trainers work with them to establish a safe, solid foundation for the future. By contractual agreement, no adopted animal can ever again be used for racing or breeding.

Success stories are many. One is Gigi, a TB mare sent by her Kentucky owners to Florida for training. Unfortunately, her first trainer was killed in a terrible accident. Gigi was then temporarily used as a dressage lesson horse until a major hurricane flooded the farm where she was housed. Our “Unsinkable Molly Brown” was found standing in chest-deep water and was swum out to safety. She was moved back to Kentucky to KYEAC. She has been rehabilitated and was recently adopted.

KYEAC has two education programs in addition to the general horse care it provides: Equine EdVenture’s, geared toward 4^th -12^th grade students, teaches core curriculum skills using an equine setting and hands-on experiences, and Stable Foundations, which is geared toward first-time horse owners. Stable Foundations teaches participants how to work with horses on the ground and provides general horse husbandry skills.  

Our newest community outreach focuses on corporate team building.  Herd Dynamics, Building Stronger Teams Together provides opportunities for businesses to bring a select team of coworkers who will rely on each other to solve an equine challenge, sharpening their skills and enhancing interpersonal relationships along the way.

A grant recipient from TAA, KYEAC also has been supported by organizations such as Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Rood & Riddle, Hagyard, Park Equine, Kentucky Horse Council, Brennan Equine Welfare Fund, Equus Foundation, Indiana HBPA, Thoroughbred Charities of America, Kentucky Colonels, ASPCA, and McCauley’s.