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Congratulations, Fall 2018 KTFMC award winner, Victoria Canessa!

By News

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC) awards one Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) intern a Management Award each session. This award recognizes an intern for their hard work, professionalism, and dedication to the industry. The award includes a cash prize as well as an opportunity to shadow an industry professional of the intern’s choosing for the week following their internship. Victoria Canessa was recently announced as the KTFMC scholarship winner for the Fall of 2018. Congratulations, Victoria!

Fall 2018 KEMI Graduates

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Congratulations to our Fall of 2018 Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) graduates!

Lindsey Bieri – Texas A&M University – Lane’s End Farm/Oak Tree Division
Victoria Canessa – University of Buenos Aires, Argentina – Juddmonte Farms
Anna Curlin – Murray State University – Trackside Farm
Jacqueline Dayutis – University of Massachusetts, Amherst – WinStar Farm
Ash Hentges – University of Arizona – Three Chimneys Farm
Michaela Horn – University of Nebraska, Lincoln – Denali Stud
Rachel Knox – University of Arkansas – Crestwood Farm
Christy Markowski – Cazenovia College – Trackside Farm
Kaitlyn Martin – Cal Poly, Pomona – Shawnee Farm
Kristen Mason – University of New Hampshire – Shawnee Farm
Catherine Messerly – Virginia Tech University – Taylor Made Farm
Vanessa Meza – College of the Sequoias – Pin Oak Stud
Madison Miller – University of Wisconsin – Denali Stud
Lauren Moshier – Hocking College – Monticule Farm
Kaitlyn Sciuto – University of Missouri – WinStar Farm
Samantha Una’Dia – California State University, Fresno – Indian Creek Farm
Jennifer Valentine – Rocky Mountain College – Lane’s End Farm
Rebecca Walker – Miles Community College – Darby Dan Farm

 

Best of luck to our Fall of 2018 graduates!

Graduate Spotlight: Dr. Jackie Snyder

By News, Testimonials

Graduate Spotlight: Dr. Jackie Snyder

 

By Sarah Coleman

 

“Cattle Kid” to Outstanding Equine Vet

Growing up in Hershey, NE, Dr. Jackie Snyder hadn’t given much thought to becoming an equine-specific veterinarian. A “cattle kid through-and-through,” Jackie was very competitive in livestock judging throughout her high school and collegiate years. Though she knew she wanted to be a vet, she had assumed she would work in a mixed-practice setting, where she could capitalize on her bovine experience.

 

Girl Power

This intense involvement in livestock judging during high school allowed her to travel multiple times to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) campus, where she not only felt comfortable, she felt confident that she could judge at the collegiate level and represent the school.  Setting goals and achieving them has always been a part of Jackie’s life, and judging while in college was a large goal she set while in high school. Jackie was a formidable opponent when it came to judging; her junior year of high school, she was part of the only all-female judging team to sweep the Nebraska state judging competition in Lincoln, besting more than 34 teams (mostly made up of males). This victory bought the team a spot to the national competition in Louisville, KY., in 2001, becoming the only all-female team in the nation to qualify for the prestigious event. Jackie has used the skills she honed in livestock judging, including the networking skills and the confidence to think on her feet while public speaking, in every facet of her career. Networking played a role in not only her acceptance into college, vet school and the KEMI program, it allowed her—and continues to help her–expand her professional contacts. After Jackie completed her four years an UNL with a degree in Animal Science, all while remaining fiercely competitive in livestock judging, she set her laser-like focus on vet school; she applied and was accepted into the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Since 2007, Nebraska’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (PPVM) has allowed in-state students to complete two years of veterinary medicine at the University of Nebraska, then transfer to the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, a partner institution, for the final two years of study, while continuing to pay in-state tuition.

 

The Exposure to All Things Equine

Though Jackie didn’t grow up around horses, she was extremely well-versed with cows; she grew up on a cow-calf operation and her father ran a feedlot. Being around and handling large animals was not new to her; though horses are innately different from cattle, the ability to handle livestock well, as well as project confidence around animals many times her size, has served her well throughout her career. “I had worked for a mixed-animal practitioner during the summer, and he did a lot of equine work,” Jackie explains about how her interest in horses was piqued. “I really liked it, but I realized that my equine-handling skills needed work before I went to vet school. I decided there was no better place to learn then Kentucky!” Jackie hadn’t been back to the Bluegrass since high school, but she had met Leslie Janecka in passing at a career fair as a freshman (goal-oriented, remember?). “I met Leslie and grabbed a pamphlet that talked about KEMI. I didn’t think I would have time to enroll in KEMI as an undergrad, so I set the information aside,” she explains. Then, there were some (now-fortuitous) logistical problems the year Jackie was supposed to be on the UNL Livestock Judging Team. “I opted to stay another semester so I could judge,” Jackie explained, “and that opened up a spring semester [2008] where I needed something to do!” And she still had the pamphlet…. Jackie sent in her resume. “I honestly didn’t think they would accept me since I didn’t have a ton of equine experience and none outside a clinic setting,” Jackie says. “I remember Googling my placement farm [Mill Ridge Farm] the day I got my email and falling in love!” she says. “It was a gorgeous farm with such a rich history.” Leslie began sending emails to the incoming KEMI class, reminding them how tough the internship program was going to be. “I felt like I was pretty tough, but it did make me wonder!” Jackie said.

The Consummate Networker

Jackie thrived at Mill Ridge. “I just loved the day-to-day process,” she explains. “From breeding mares to foaling mares and watching the foals develop into racehorses, it was great to be a part of the team that cared for these animals.” Her favorite part of her time at Mill Ridge was the foalings. “It was great to see the babies emerge and try to figure out their legs, and how to nurse,” she says. This exposure to the industry while on the farm only solidified Jackie’s desire to be a vet. Though the KEMI spring semester officially ended in June, Jackie stayed on at Mill Ridge to help prep yearlings before heading back to start vet school. Jackie is adamant that KEMI has helped her in vet school and also in the role she has now as an Associate Ambulatory Veterinarian for Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. KEMI has helped her “better relate to what my clients do on a day-to-day basis,” she explains. “KEMI also taught me a lot of horsemanship skills.” In addition to tangible skills she gained through KEMI, Jackie strengthened one of the skills she used in livestock judging while in the heart of horse country: networking. “On my day off from KEMI, I would often ride along with Dr. Stuart Brown, Mill Ridge’s farm veterinarian. He was and is a wonderful mentor to me,” she says. “After several weeks riding along with Dr. Brown, he opened some doors to help me shadow other Hagyard veterinarians in the field as well as in surgery and medicine. I loved the clinic, the level of care they provided to their clients and I felt comfortable there,” she says. True to the diligence and foresight that had served her well in years past, Jackie stayed in contact with Dr. Brown through veterinary school and returned to Kentucky for a few weeks every year to shadow veterinarians at Hagyard. After graduation, Jackie applied for and was accepted into Hagyard’s ambulatory internship program. “After my internship, I stayed on as an associate, where I’ve been growing my practice ever since,” she explains. So what, in addition to having goals, does Jackie feel has best served her in the equine industry? Her ability to “sign up and show up.” The equine industry is great and offers young people lots of room to grown and create their career, she says. “But you have to show up ready to have some fun and work hard.”

 

Sign Up, Show Up, Work Hard

Jackie carries the “show up and work hard” mentality into every facet of her life. “My husband and I joke that our family motto is ‘There’s no good time, so why not now?’” she says. “I’m often trying to find that perfect time to accomplish a task, but really, getting started is usually the toughest part.” “If you are thinking about the KEMI internship, just sign up. It won’t be perfect, and sometimes it might even be scary,” but it’s worth it. “Be an advocate for yourself. If you show up and learn to love the process, you’ll learn a lot and have a great time.”

Juddmonte Farms and Keeneland Donate to the Kentucky Equine Management Internship Program

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The Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) Program would like to thank Juddmonte Farms and Keeneland for their continued support.  Juddmonte Farms named KEMI as the beneficiary of the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse on Sunday, October 7th.  Keeneland matched Juddmonte Farms’ donation.  Thank you to Juddmonte Farms and Keeneland for your generous support, and congratulations to winner Blue Prize!

Graduate Spotlight: Adolfo Martinez

By News, Testimonials

Graduate Spotlight: Adolfo Martinez

By Sarah Coleman

Keep Looking Forward

Growing up all across the Lone Star State, Adolfo Martinez graduated from Fort Davis Texas High School before attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, where he studied Animal Science with an emphasis in Reproduction and Physiology.  “We always had horses around,” explains Adolfo, so going to school to pursue something equine-related was a no-brainer. While traveling to the Bluegrass for an equine symposium with his college advisor, Adolfo met force-to-be-reckoned with Shannon White, who at the time was the KEMI Program Coordinator. “I decided to take a break from my master’s-degree program and give it [the KEMI program] a try,” Adolfo explains. “I was ready for a change and was looking forward to gaining experience outside of the Quarter Horse industry.”

 

A Way of Life

This forward-looking way of thinking is truly engrained in Adolfo. Even before he arrived in Kentucky, he looked for opportunities and made sure he took advantage of options placed before him. Adolfo’s favorite part of the KEMI program “was meeting all the people I still continue to see today here in Lexington,” he explains. The amount of education available and the ability to network were instrumental in helping the KEMI students, he noted. “Everyone is helpful and knows contacts to get you where you need to be,” he explains. Though KEMI placed fantastic opportunities in front of Adolfo, the now-manager of Heaven Trees acknowledges that it “was my education and drive that helped me get what I needed out of KEMI.” While in the program, Adolfo was placed on Pin Oak Stud, where he was exposed to a lot of areas on the farm he was not as-familiar with and he had managers who helped him learn the skills he needed. After graduating, Adolfo worked for Thoroughbred powerhouses like Wimbledon Farm, where he flew with Lion Cavern to Australia; Mill Ridge Farm, where he shuttled Johar to New Zealand and worked in the foaling barns while in the States; Darby Dan Farm, where he was Broodmare Manager, then Assistant Farm Manager/Broodmare Manager; and Calumet where he worked with yearlings at their Bluegrass Farm division. Always looking forward, he then transitioned to his role as Farm Manager at Heaven Trees in Lexington, where he has been since November of 2016. Owned by Dede McGehee, Heaven Trees is a private farm with about 45 horses ranging from foals to retired broodmares and geldings. The farm consigns yearlings for the September sale and occasionally mares for the November sale.
“I love working on this farm,” Adolfo says. “The owner is great to work for and I have a great staff to work with; we do everything from horses to gardening to maintaining the farm grounds.

 

You Get Out What You Put In

One of the hardest parts of being a KEMI intern was feeling lost and like you didn’t understand what everyone was talking about, he explains. “As time passes, you catch up and it all makes sense,” he promises. When asked if he would complete the KEMI program again, without hesitation, Adolfo says “in a heartbeat!” On advice for students who see themselves in the Thoroughbred industry? “The days are long and some nights are longer. Dig deep and push your limit—it’s a very rewarding job.” Adolfo’s advice to incoming KEMI students rings just as true for those already entrenched in the equine industry: “Be ready to be open and bust your rear to make a difference. You never wanna be remembered for the bad, so make sure you leave a lot of good things behind.”
Truer words have rarely been spoken and, characteristically, Adolfo sums up his time in the Horse Capital as this: “[Working in this industry] has been a very fun and adventurous ride—and I’m looking forward to more.”

 

Spring 2018 KEMI Graduates

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Congratulations to our Spring of 2018 Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) graduates!

Lauren Booke – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo – Shadwell Farm
Belinda Bracegirdle – Western Australia – Silver Springs Stud
Katie Brooks – University of Maryland – Shawhan Place
Lauren Burrows – University of Georgia – Trackside Farm
Autumn Charley – University of Arizona – Lane’s End Farm/Oak Tree Division
Mariah Chastain – Purdue University – Shadwell Farm
Mariah Dietz – Illinois State University – Darby Dan Farm
Ashley Green – College of Southern Idaho – Indian Creek Farm
Alana Hamann – University of Maryland – Pin Oak Stud
Nicole Harrison – University of Adelaide, Australia – Ashford Stud
Katie Houston – Oklahoma State University – Shawnee Farm
Emily Keena – Kansas State University – WinStar Farm
Courtney Kehr – West Virginia University – Juddmonte Farms
Laura Kirkley – University of Arkansas – Mallory Farm
Rachel Knox – University of Arkansas – WinStar Farm
Megan Krivsky – University of Georgia – Darby Dan Farm
Meghann Maggio – California State University, Chico – Timber Town Stables
Stephanie Malleo – Scottsdale Community College – Juddmonte Farms
Marissa Melzer – University of Maryland – Ashford Stud
Emma Nicholas – Illinois State University – Heaven Trees Farm
Jennifer Papworth – University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Lane’s End Farm
Emma Paul – University of Queensland, Australia – Indian Creek Farm
Holli Pennington – Colorado State University – Trackside Farm
Abbigail Reno – University of Idaho – Crestwood Farm
Erika Rodriguez Martinez – University of Arizona – Shawnee Farm
Kathryn Spencer – West Virginia University – Lane’s End Farm/Oak Tree Division
Amber Tinney – Ohio State ATI – Monticule Farm
Gabriella Vazquez – Ohio State University – WinStar Farm
Kayli Waddle – West Texas A&M University – Crestwood Farm

 

Best of luck to our Spring of 2018 graduates!

KEMI announces Fall 2018 interns

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The Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) is pleased to welcome 20 interns for the Fall of 2018 session:

 

Lindsey Bieri – Texas A&M University
Victoria Canessa – University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Anna Curlin – Murray State University
Jacqueline Dayutis – University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Ash Hentges – University of Arizona
Michaela Horn – University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Rachel Knox – University of Arkansas
Christy Markowski – Cazenovia College
Kaitlyn Martin – Cal Poly, Pomona
Kristen Mason – University of New Hampshire
Catherine Messerly – Virginia Tech University
Vanessa Meza – College of the Sequoias
Madison Miller – University of Wisconsin
Lauren Moshier – Hocking College
Holli Pennington – Colorado State University
Hannah Rolle – Oklahoma State University
Kaitlyn Sciuto – University of Missouri
Samantha Una’Dia – California State University, Fresno
Jennifer Valentine – Rocky Mountain College
Rebecca Walker – Miles Community College

 

Welcome interns!

 

Congratulations, Spring 2018 KTFMC award winner, Emma Paul!

By News

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC) awards one Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) intern a Management Award each session. This award recognizes an intern for their hard work, professionalism, and dedication to the industry. The award includes a cash prize as well as an opportunity to shadow an industry professional of the intern’s choosing for the week following their internship. Emma Paul was recently announced as the KTFMC scholarship winner for the Spring of 2018. Congratulations, Emma!

KEMI announces Spring 2018 interns

By News

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) is pleased to welcome 29 interns for the Spring of 2018 session:

Lauren Booke – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Belinda Bracegirdle – Western Australia
Katie Brooks – University of Maryland
Lauren Burrows – University of Georgia
Autumn Charley – University of Arizona
Mariah Chastain – Purdue University
Mariah Dietz – Illinois State University
Ashley Green – College of Southern Idaho
Alana Hamann – University of Maryland
Nicole Harrison – University of Adelaide, Australia
Katie Houston – Oklahoma State University
Emily Keena – Kansas State University
Courtney Kehr – West Virginia University
Laura Kirkley – University of Arkansas
Rachel Knox – University of Arkansas
Megan Krivsky – University of Georgia
Meghann Maggio – California State University, Chico
Stephanie Malleo – Scottsdale Community College
Marissa Melzer – University of Maryland
Emma Nicholas – Illinois State University
Jennifer Papworth – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Emma Paul – University of Queensland, Australia
Holli Pennington – Colorado State University
Abbigail Reno – University of Idaho
Erika Rodriguez Martinez – University of Arizona
Kathryn Spencer – West Virginia University
Amber Tinney – Ohio State ATI
Gabriella Vazquez – Ohio State University
Kayli Waddle – West Texas A&M University

Welcome interns!

Fall 2017 KEMI Graduates

By News, Uncategorized

Congratulations to our Fall of 2017 Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) graduates!

Rebecca Bannan – Michigan State University – Ashford Stud
Kristen Berg – North Carolina State University – Pin Oak Stud
Shannel Cacho – Middle Tennessee State University – Dixiana Farm
Paige Gilster – Iowa State University – Shawnee Farm
Alana Hamann – University of Maryland – Indian Creek Farm
Rachel Miller – Oregon State University – Denali Stud
Katie Ott – University of California, Davis – Trackside Farm
Autumn Petreszyn – University of Maine – Adena Springs
Sarah Prentice – University of Findlay – Lane’s End Farm/Oak Tree Division
Erika Rodriguez Martinez – University of Arizona – Monticule Farm
Jennie Sites – Oregon State University – Crestwood Farm
Kayci Sperry – Kansas State University – Darby Dan Farm
Brianna Wolfe – Delaware Valley University – Silver Springs Stud

Best of luck to our Fall of 2017 graduates!