Q: What is the Kentucky Equine Management Internship?

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) program is dedicated to improving the opportunities for collegiate students wishing to pursue an interest in the field of equine management and to improving the educational opportunities for personnel involved in the management, ownership or support structure of the equine industry.

The KEMI program offers a comprehensive educational experience for students enrolled for academic credit through a sponsoring college or university, or for recent graduates of such institutions. Through the internship, students integrate academic studies with practical experience, leadership and responsibility as a contributing participant on a Central Kentucky horse farm. Aside from farm commitments, students are introduced into a network of equine professionals representing multifaceted careers in the equine profession.

The internship is a twenty-two week commitment that is physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. During the first week, students participate in orientation activities as a group. After the first week, students are employed by participating farms as full-time employees where they become familiar with the day-to-day operations of commercial thoroughbred farms. On area farms, a full-time work week is 48 hours per week with one day off. The participating farm will determine individual responsibilities for each intern based on farm needs and the qualifications of the intern. In most cases, students work hands-on with horses, however some farms may also assign responsibilities associated with record keeping, veterinary care or farm maintenance. At least one night each week students meet as a group for a classroom lecture, laboratory exercise or demonstration. Students are expected to complete homework and keep a portfolio during the internship experience. Students are evaluated by their employer at the middle of the internship and at the end of the internship. Successful completion of the course is dependent upon satisfactory employment evaluations, attendance at weekly meetings and grades received on homework assignments and the portfolio.

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship is offered two times each year, once during the spring breeding and foaling season and once during the fall sales and yearling breaking and training season.

Spring Session:	January – June	Spring Breeding and Foaling Season
Fall Session:	July – December	Yearling Sales Preparation and Breaking Season

Each session is twenty-two weeks in duration and coincides with the labor demands on our area horse farms. Students are expected to be present for the duration of the internship program to successfully complete the requirements for graduation. After successfully completing one session, students may reapply for the other session. There are currently no summer internships available.

Q: What is the tuition for the Kentucky Equine Management Internship?

Schedule of Fees
(All fees are subject to change)

Application Fee	$35.00
Tuition Deposit	$265.00	(due within 30 days of acceptance into program)
Tuition	$1200.00	(due after completion of first week of course)
PROGRAM TOTAL	$1500.00

The $265.00 non-refundable tuition deposit is required within 30 days of notification of admission to the Kentucky Equine Management Internship program. Upon receipt of the deposit by the KEMI program, the student is guaranteed a seat for the session indicated. If the deposit is not received by KEMI within the 30-day period after notification, KEMI reserves the right to fill the seat in that session with another applicant. The remainder of the tuition is due at the end of the 1st week of each session. The first week of each session is an orientation period. Students begin full time employment at a farm during week 2.

You may be eligible for financial assistance through your college or university if you are enrolled for academic credit while participating in the KEMI program. The Michelle Fuerniss Scholarship is awarded biannually to students currently enrolled in the KEMI program.  Friends of the Fuerniss family have established this perpetual scholarship fund to recognize outstanding KEMI interns. The scholarship will be awarded in the form of a tuition waiver for a future session of the KEMI program or a cash award, at the conclusion of each session of the KEMI program (Spring and Fall) to a currently enrolled intern. Details about applying for this scholarship are available from the KEMI Coordinator.

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC) sponsors a Management Award Week to a deserving KEMI intern in each internship session (Spring & Fall) consisting of a cash prize and a week-long opportunity for the intern to explore/shadow professionals in their chosen career path (subject to availability) in order to interview, network and explore jobs available. This week-long opportunity will be completed at the conclusion of the KEMI internship period. Details about this Management Award can be obtained from the KEMI Coordinator.

Payment of Fees

Upon accepting a position with the Kentucky Equine Management Internship, the student agrees to assume financial responsibility for any charges or fees posted to his or her account and agrees to abide by the policies regarding withdrawal and forfeiture of fees.

All fees must be paid in full prior to graduation to receive certificates, diplomas or transcripts. KEMI reserves the right to recover all costs involved with the collection and/or litigation of delinquent accounts.

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship reserves the right to cancel registration and terminate all associations with the farm host sites and internship program, including housing accommodations. KEMI reserves the right to demand payment in the form of a certified check, money order or cash in the event that a personal check is returned unpaid for any reason.

Refund Schedule

The student application fee, tuition deposit and book fees are non-refundable. Students who pay tuition in full and withdraw from the program are entitled to a refund as follows:

Withdrawal prior to the beginning of the orientation short course:	100% refund of tuition only
Withdrawal at the conclusion of the orientation short course:	100% refund of tuition only
Withdrawal during the second week of the session:	80% refund of tuition only
Withdrawal following the second week of the internship:	No refund

If a student’s employment is terminated by a host farm or by KEMI as the result of the student’s actions, the student will forfeit all fees (see section on Warnings and Dismissal).

Q: What are the benefits of the Kentucky Equine Management Internship?

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship opens the door to the thoroughbred industry for highly motivated students with a strong work ethic and sincere interest in horses. Students develop broad-based skills through the on-farm experience, whereas the technical focus of the lectures and laboratories enhance the integration of material learned in college courses with management techniques. Together, the employment and classroom components increase the potential for successful employment following graduation.

Beyond the tremendous learning opportunities associated with the day-to-day farm activities, there are countless other opportunities. During the weekly meetings students are introduced to, and are able to interact with, successful professionals in the horse industry. Through the KEMI program many students will arrange additional learning activities by shadowing veterinarians, farm managers or bloodstock agents on their days off. By successfully completing the KEMI program and seeking additional opportunities in the areas of greatest interest, students are better prepared to step into a career level position after graduation.

Many farms or industry organizations contact KEMI when they are seeking qualified employees. KEMI currently maintains a list of available positions, a roommate referral service and a list of former interns who are seeking employment. Those students who complete the course are eligible to utilize the KEMI resources in order to obtain positions in the industry. Providing this service to our graduates is the most obvious method for ensuring accountability for our program and the mission of the Kentucky Equine Management Internship.

Q: What are the Kentucky Equine Management Internship admission requirements?

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship seeks to admit only students whose ability and preparation indicate that they have a good chance of succeeding in a physically and mentally challenging twenty-two week internship. All of the students are required to work full-time and attend classes one night each week. In addition, other laboratory activities and special events are scheduled during the internship. Therefore students must be able to dedicate themselves to this program as their only source of employment during the internship period.

Observations regarding the students who have completed the course indicate that most successful students demonstrated:

• Commitment to obtaining a position in the horse industry or related field following graduation
• A solid work ethic and good time management skills
• Strong horsemanship skills
• Good study habits and solid foundation in upper division collegiate studies
• Prior involvement with group or community activities
• A strong employment history

Preference is given to candidates who have successfully completed the first three years of a preparatory collegiate curriculum, including courses in equine science, biology, animal health and nutrition, microbiology and farm management. Students should be able to document substantial experiences in the field of equine management through employment and extracurricular activities such as intercollegiate equestrian teams, horse judging teams, 4-H, FFA, Pony Club or other breed-related organizations.

Any person with an interest in the KEMI program is invited to apply, including non-traditional students and international students. Non-traditional students include individuals who are not currently affiliated with a collegiate program. International students include all non-U.S. residents. The Kentucky Equine Management Internship encourages international students to apply for admission. However, admission to KEMI is secondary to the approval to live and work in the United States. International students must procure a work visa through an agency that facilitates the visa application, health and repatriation insurance and host site trainee documentation. KEMI and the participating farms are in no way responsible for any fees or financial liability incurred during this process. In addition to the standard application processes, international students whose native language is not English must send an official report score of at least 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or be able to demonstrate equivalent level of proficiency in reading and speaking English. Students are admitted without regard to sex, race, creed, color, sexual orientation or national origin.

Other Admission Requirements

Health and Medical: Students are responsible for obtaining their own medical insurance while participating in the KEMI program. It is strongly recommended that each student procure medical insurance coverage before beginning the internship program. The farms are not responsible for providing health insurance and students should be aware that the host farm for which they will be working does not have the duty to eliminate all risks of injury of participation in farm animal activities. Participants should further understand that there are inherent risks of injury that they voluntarily accept if they choose to participate in farm animal activities.

Transportation: Reliable transportation is absolutely essential for the successful completion of this course. It is necessary for students to travel to work, campus and to various KEMI sponsored events in the Lexington area. Under Kentucky State law, you are required to maintain liability insurance on any operational vehicle.

Q: What is the Kentucky Equine Management Internship application process?

The application process requires:

1. A completed application form
2. Copies of all college transcripts
3. Three letters of recommendation including contact information from collegiate advisors, instructors, coaches or employers. References should be able to document your academic competence, horse experience and employment history

The application form is available on our website www.kemi.org. The document is a PDF file that may be completed online and output to a printer or fax machine. Applications are also available through many equine science advisors or by contacting our office toll-free: 1-877 644-KEMI.

Completed applications should be returned to:

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship
P.O. Box 910628
Lexington, Kentucky 40591-0628

Students may apply anytime prior to the application deadline; however, we strongly encourage students to apply at least four months prior to the beginning of the term for which they are seeking admission. The KEMI program does have limited enrollment and only applications received by the deadline will be considered for housing. After the deadline, candidates will be considered on a space-available basis only.

Application deadlines vary slightly from year to year, but in general, applications for the Spring session are due in early October and applications for the Fall session are due in early April.

The program coordinator and education chairperson evaluate each applicant to determine student qualifications. Students meeting the criteria are then recommended to the Board of Directors for final approval. Our Board of Directors reviews the applications in mid April and October. Students are notified approximately two weeks after acceptance decisions are made and are notified of placement sites approximately one month prior to their arrival in Kentucky.

Students who have applied before their application deadline may be considered for early admission. If a student fails to meet the requirements for early acceptance, the file will be reopened for review during the final admission process. Once a student has been denied admission, he or she may wish to reapply following additional educational coursework or added experience. All application fees and deposits are non-refundable.

Student Placement

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship program reviews intern applications and makes site decisions based on the farm opportunities that best correlate with the abilities of the student seeking placement. The students are notified of their assignment following acceptance of a seat within the program.

Yearling breaking and training, exercise riding, sales show persons and breeding shed attendants are positions that require the students to demonstrate superior horsemanship skills to be considered for participation in such activities. There may also be height or weight restrictions associated with some activities.

Q: Where do interns live?

Housing on or near the farm is intended to contribute to the internship experience by providing an environment conductive to participation in all farm activities. Many of the farms have a dormitory, house or apartment for student occupancy. Whenever a vacancy exists, housing is provided to the intern as a provision of full-time employment. Some units are fully furnished and others will require students to bring some of their own household furnishings. You are encouraged to contact your host site to determine which necessities to bring with you.

Housing is for interns only. Students who will be accompanied by family members, companions or pets are responsible for obtaining their own housing and are strongly encouraged to evaluate their ability to subsist on wages earned strictly through an internship program. Acceptance into the program does not guarantee that housing will be available and students who apply after the deadline are not eligible for housing unless a vacancy exists. If housing demands exceed capacity, the KEMI program may offer limited temporary housing until a permanent assignment can be made.

Many farms will require the students to pay a housing deposit in the amount of $250.00. This may be collected as a lump sum or may be paid through a weekly payroll deduction in the amount of $25.00 per week for the first ten weeks of the internship. The deposit will be returned upon successful completion of the internship, provided the housing is not damaged in any way and that all personal belongings are removed or disposed of properly.

Lexington is internationally known as the Horse Capital of the World. Within a thirty-mile radius of downtown Lexington, over five hundred equine nurseries breed the best thoroughbred, standardbreds and saddlebreds in the world. In addition, the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland Race Track and numerous other equine facilities and events surround the Lexington area. Tourists are also attracted to Lexington by the historic and beautiful scenery of the Bluegrass, which includes the Red River Gorge, Shakertown at Pleasant Hill and Fort Boonesborough. In addition, the area boasts a population of 235,000 residents and offers six major shopping malls, over 200 restaurants, 82 community parks and Rupp Arena, home of the Kentucky Wildcats. The University of Kentucky, Lexington Community College and Transylvania University attract thousands of young people to the Lexington Area, resulting in a youthful and international community with many social and cultural opportunities.

Q: What is life like for a Kentucky Equine Management Internship student?

Week 1: The orientation short course

The orientation is designed to acquaint students with the expectations of the KEMI program, job opportunities for graduates and to provide a general overview of the components of the Kentucky thoroughbred industry. Participation in the orientation short course is required for all KEMI participants. The short course includes lectures from industry professionals on current topics affecting the management and breeding or thoroughbreds as well as field trips to farms to observe stallion, broodmare, yearling and training operations. On the weekend prior to the orientation short course, there is an opportunity for students and families to meet the KEMI Board of Directors, Coordinator and previously enrolled students to better acquaint new interns with the conditions of the program and farm employment. Students are strongly encouraged to attend with their families.

On the first day of the orientation-short course, all students will receive a syllabus that clearly describes the expectations of the course in regard to employment performance, academic performance and attendance.

Week 2-22: Employment and classroom activities

Employment Expectations: Students are required to work for their farm or host-site at least full-time (> 40 hours each week) during the entire course of the internship. However, most students work approximately 48 hours per week. On most farms the regular work days start early, usually at 7:00 AM. Most students will work 8 hours/day, 6 days a week. However, some farms may have slightly different work hours or requirements. All interns should expect to devote a large portion of their daily workday to routine barn chores and horse care.

The spring KEMI session (which begins in January) provides students with an overview of the intensive management practices used on commercial thoroughbred breeding operations. On a day-to-day basis, most students will be involved in the care of pregnant and foaling mares. Some farms may require students to participate in “foal watch” rotations and/or to help with neonatal care during evenings and nights. As students become more experienced they may be expected to take mares to breeding sheds, assist with veterinary care or perform some record keeping. There are some farms that provide opportunities for students to gain experience with stallions.

During the fall session (which begins in July), most students will be placed with farms that prepare horses for commercial auctions. There are major thoroughbred sales almost monthly beginning in July. Students gain experience in the techniques for preparing yearlings, weanlings and broodmares for sale and have the opportunity to learn about the factors that affect the value of an individual horse including pedigree, conformation and soundness. Students working for farms with sales horses should expect to work extended hours during the sale. A few host sites offer opportunities to work with horses under saddle; however, these opportunities are limited and students must meet strict criteria for riding ability and height/weight restrictions.

To gain the most experience from the internship, students are encouraged to spend additional hours shadowing a professional in their field of interest (veterinarian, accountant, farrier, bloodstock agent). Occasionally farms may allow KEMI students to spend part of a regular work day shadowing a horse industry professional. However in most cases, the intern must arrange for these activities on their day off. The KEMI coordinator can help students arrange additional learning experiences on their day off.

Employers submit evaluations of students at the middle of the session and at the end of the session. Employers are asked to comment on the student’s work ethic, cooperatively, horsemanship, management potential and general attitude. Employer evaluations are used by the KEMI coordinator to assign grades at the end of the session and to determine whether each student has successfully completed the program.

The Classroom Component: Farm employment gives students an understanding of what is done and when it’s done on a commercial thoroughbred farm. The classroom component provides an understanding of why various management practices are used. Students meet at least one evening a week for an educational lecture, demonstration or field trip. Attendance at these weekly activities is required. The lectures, demonstrations and field trips seek a balance between veterinary/health related topics and current industry issues. These learning experiences are provided by successful veterinarians, bloodstock agents, farm managers, communications experts, university researchers and other industry professionals. In the Spring session topics focus on breeding and foaling. Example lectures include: managing dystocia in the mare, corrective trimming for conformation defects in foals, use of surgical procedures to correct angular limb defects in foals, controlling disease outbreaks on farms, feeding broodmares for optimal reproductive efficiency, infertility in mares and stallions, etc. In the Fall Session, topics focus on preparation of young horses for sales and racing. Example topics include: pedigree considerations in selecting racing prospects, use of acupuncture in the thoroughbred industry, promoting racing in the US, relationship of conformation to soundness in thoroughbreds, buying and selling young horses for profit, breeding horses for commercial sale, etc. One evening a month students attend a meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club where they listen to an invited speaker and have the opportunity to interact with active farm managers and others in the related industries. Other activities may be scheduled during each session at the discretion of the coordinator.

In addition to attending the regular weekly evening meetings, students are required to complete homework and other assignments and to compile a portfolio that details their internship. All work is graded by the KEMI coordinator and used, in conjunction with the employer’s evaluation to determine whether an intern receives a certificate of completion for the KEMI course.

Attendance

For each session, students are expected to attend each lecture, laboratory or KEMI sponsored event and to submit all work required to complete the course. A student’s failure to attend any event may be excused only by:

• Illness of the student
• Illness or death of a family member
• When absolutely necessary to perform farm related seasonal demands due to farm workload or attend special events sponsored by the industry

Each instance should have the approval of the coordinator prior to the event or activity.

Certificate of Completion

To be eligible for graduation and to receive a certificate of completion, students must complete 22 weeks of either Session I or Session II and fulfill all obligatory course requirements as outlined in the Course Syllabus that each student will receive during the first week of the course. Each student is required to compile a final portfolio with weekly laboratory assignments representative of their experiences in the program. Students must receive a passing grade in all facets of the curriculum. The portfolio, midterm and final employer evaluations are weighted into a final student score. An average score greater than 75% is required for graduation. When necessary, the final scores can be forwarded to the student’s academic advisor or instructor of record at the sponsoring college or university.

Scores cannot be changed by completing additional work or by submitting work not consistent with other students in the course. To appeal a grade, students may meet with the education chairperson prior to graduation to request consideration for graduation. When a grading issue cannot be resolved, the student may present evidence in writing or in person to the KEMI Board of Directors if he or she feels the scoring of the performance evaluation, portfolio, or other work was in error.

Warning and Dismissal

Students who fail to meet the requirements set forth by the host farm or the Kentucky Equine Management Internship program are subject to an initial verbal or written warning. A verbal warning may be issued by the farm or on behalf of the farm by a representative of the KEMI program. A second written warning constitutes a probationary period and leaves the student subject to immediate dismissal from the farm and the program if the behavior or action should reoccur. Dismissal is a permanent removal from all activities on the farm and in the course of the program. A student who is dismissed from the program will not graduate or partake in future KEMI sponsored events. Reasons for dismissal include, but are not limited to: poor work ethic (such as coming to work late or leaving work early), actions that endanger the safety of horses or co-workers, failure to attend classroom activities or complete academic assignments, actions that damage farm property or housing.

Alcohol and a Drug-Free Environment

The use of alcoholic beverages is absolutely not permitted during any KEMI sponsored educational event. Students who fail to comply with this policy are subject to disciplinary action that could result in dismissal from the program pending authority from the Board of Directors. The Kentucky Equine Management Internship is committed to providing a safe working environment on our area farms and equine facilities. Working with horses and farm equipment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol poses significant risks to your health and a blatant disregard for the safety and welfare of others.

All students should be aware that some farms perform random drug tests as part of their pre-employment screening, and/or may require a drug/alcohol screening whenever there is a reasonable suspicion of drug/alcohol use while on the job or when there has been involvement in a workplace or vehicular accident.

In addition, Kentucky State law prohibits the purchase, possession, or consumption of alcoholic beverages or beer by persons under the age of 21 years. The KEMI board has determined that the unlawful possession, use or distribution of alcohol or illicit drugs will result in immediate dismissal from the program.

Community Activities

The Kentucky Equine Management Internship encourages students to develop associations within the local equine community that will enable them to network with fellow industry professionals following graduation. As part of this commitment, students are required to attend each monthly meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club and encouraged to participate in the activities hosted by the club, including the Golf Scramble, Keeneland Summer Outing, High Hope Steeplechase and Christmas Dinner Dance among others. Interns are also encouraged to volunteer for groups such as Central Kentucky Riding for the Handicapped and ReRun, an organization that finds homes for retired race horses.