BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. — CCE Equine is excited to share the overwhelming success of the Virtual Horse Symposium Series. The yearly Horse Symposium is, classically, a full-day educational event that allows equine professionals, business owners, and enthusiast to come together, network, and learn about unique aspects of the equine industry. CCE Equine’s 2020 Virtual Horse Symposium Series offered similar opportunities for people to participate from the comfort of their homes. Six consecutive presentations from accredited professionals were released every Thursday, discussing a variety of topics applicable to the horse or equine business owner.
The Saratoga County Horse Symposium is one of the most well attended events hosted by CCE Equine and no one wanted to see it canceled without a suitable replacement. Brieanna Hughes, Program Coordinator for CCE Equine and 4-H Animal Science, worked in collaboration with local professionals on ways to make their information accessible to the public from afar; topics including: “Emergency Planning for the Horse and Barn Owner”, “Hoof Care for the Horse Owner”, “Pasture Management for the Horse Owner”, “Understanding Colic”, “Tendon and Ligament health: What to Consider as our Horses Head Back to Work”, and “The Basics of clicker Training”.
Much like most things in this COVID-19 world, CCE Equine misses having an in-person event, however the benefits to having a virtual offering were wonderfully positive! Traditionally, the Horse Symposium had 100-150 guest attend coming from surrounding areas in New York and Vermont. The Virtual Horse symposium had over 400 participants register from all across the United States! The outcome was such a success that CCE Equine will continue offering Virtual Educational opportunities, in addition, to in-
person events for the future.
You can find more information about CCE Equine, and the recordings of the Virtual Horse
Symposium on the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County website: http://ccesaratoga.org/agriculture/cce-equine/saratoga-horse-symposium/2020-virtual-horse-symposium. You may also contact Brieanna Hughes for ways to participate and contribute to upcoming opportunities. Please follow CCE Equine on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cceequine/
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
For more articles out of New York, click here.