Below is schedule of topics and speakers for the 2007 University Seminar
Series at Horse World Expo. Click on the speaker's name to get contact
information, if available, as well as a brief bio. Speaker handouts, if available are linked below. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to access them. Click here for a free download of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Invited
Speakers for the 2007 Horse World Expo's University Seminar Series
Amy Burk, PhD Assistant Professor /Extension Horse Specialist
Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
1117 Animal Science Center
College Park, MD 20742
Tel.: 301-405-8337; Fx: 301-405-8831
E-mail:
Dr. Amy Burk serves
as the coordinator for the undergraduate Equine Studies option and the
graduate research program in equine nutrition within the Animal and
Avian Sciences Department. She's responsible for teaching Horse Management,
Equine Science, Advanced Topics in Equine Nutrition as well as many
horse related lectures and labs within the department's 4-yr curriculum.
As an Extension Horse Specialist, Dr. Burk provides statewide educational
leadership and training to youth and adults in the horse industry. Dr.
Burk's research interests lie mainly in the area of nutrient utilization
of feeds and forages to improve the health and management of horses.
Dr. Burk completed her graduate work in Animal and Poultry Sciences
as a Pratt Fellow in Animal Nutrition at Virginia Tech. She specialized
in equine nutrition, earning an M.S. in 1998, and a PhD in 2001.
Bryan Butler Senior Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources
County Extension Director
Carroll County Cooperative Extension
700 Agriculture Center
Westminster, Maryland 21157
Tel.: (410) 386-2760
Fax: (410)
876-0132
E-mail:
Bryan has 15 years of service with Cooperative Extension. His family owned and operated a Pick-Your-Own Orchard from 1962 – 1989 and Bryan continues to grow fruit and vegetables on a small scale. He has also been the owner of several horses and mules for the past 15 years.
Currently he is
the Director of the Carroll County Extension Office and is involved
in a number of research projects focusing on Organic production and
the use of high tunnels. Much of the high tunnel work has been done
with strawberries and raspberries as well as tomatoes and cut flowers
to extend the growing season and provide unique marketing opportunities
for Maryland producers. Three of his ongoing projects include one with
the USDA at Beltsville looking at planting date and variety selection
of fresh market tomatoes; another is working with growers on a SARE
grant examining crop selection, planting dates, and economics of high
tunnel production of vegetables in the Mid-Atlantic; and the third is
examining the feasibility of over-wintering Lisianthus and its possible
economic impact on direct market growers.
Dr. C. Wynne Collins, MVB, MRCVS Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists,
Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Wynne Collins received her veterinary degree in
1998 from the Veterinary Faculty of Ireland in 1998. After that, she
spent several years in mixed animal and equine practice, where she specialized
in equine reproduction. During her time in practice, she got the opportunity
to work in reproduction practice both in Ireland and Australia. In 2002,
she started a residency in Equine Theriogenology at University of California,
Davis for two years and became board certified in 2005. Since completing
the residency, she has been conducting reproductive research on Przewalski's
horses at the National
Zoological Park's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal,
VA. She is currently working on completing her PhD in reproductive physiology
at the University of Maryland.
Charles Center South, 10th Floor 36 South Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3020
Tel.: (410) 539-5881
Fax: (410) 685-6726
E-mail:
Michael Daney graduated
from the University of Delaware and received his law degree from the
University of Kentucky. He served as counsel to the Delaware Racing
Commission for four years before entering private practice. His primary
practice areas are civil litigation, workers' compensation, regulatory
law, legislation and equine-related matters. He represents his equine
clients in insurance-related matters involving negligence claims, veterinary
malpractice, mortality insurance disputes, premises liability and fertility
insurance disputes. He prepares and handles contracts and contract claims
involving purchase agreements, ownership rights, stallion syndications,
boarding contracts, leases and sale disputes. He also represents clients
before the Maryland Racing Commission involving medication rules disputes,
licensing issues, riding infractions and eligibility and claiming issues.
He also is involved with legislative oversight and lobbying for a variety
of clients.
Mr. Daney has appeared
as a speaker for the National Equine Law Seminar, the University of
Baltimore Equine Law Symposium, and the Maryland Pleasure Horse Seminar.
Mr. Daney is admitted to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia,
Pennsylvania and Kentucky. He is also a member of the Equine Law Committee
of the Kentucky Bar Association.
342 C North Aurora Street • E
P.O. Box 519
Easton, Maryland 21601
Tel.: (410) 822-1244
E-mail:
Shannon Potter-Dill grew up on the Eastern Shore in Queen Anne's County. There she was very active in 4-H and FFA with the horse and pony project, judging, bowl and livestock. Upon graduation she moved to Wyoming and attended the University of Wyoming, receiving a BS in Agriculture Business and an MS in Agriculture Economics. There she competed on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Team for five years in the hunt and stock seat divisions. She is currently employed by the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension in Talbot County as the Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator. As well as agriculture production workshops Shannon also holds equine seminars for horse owners on the Eastern Shore.
Mary Beth Gordon, PhD Nutritionist, Exercise Physiologist
Leader, New Product Development - Veterinary Diets
Purina Mills, LLC
555 Maryville Center Dr.
St. Louis, Missouri 63144
Tel.: (845) 632-2060
E-mail:
Mary Beth Gordon received her PhD in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Rutgers University. Her research focused on the effects of exercise on the hormonal regulation of appetite in horses and her work was the first to characterize the appetite stimulating hormone, ghrelin, in equine. She has published in numerous scientific journals including The Veterinary Journal, Journal of Animal Science and Equine Comparative Exercise Physiology. She has also co-authored chapters in textbooks such as Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, as well as the new edition of The Athletic Horse. Mary Beth joined Land O'Lakes, Purina feed in 2005 and is the leader of new product development for their Veterinary Diet line. In addition to her work as a nutritionist and exercise physiologist, Mary Beth is active in the sport horse world as a competitive dressage rider.
Sponsored by
Eric Hines Conservation Planner
Carroll County Soil Conservation District
Eric Hines is a Conservation Planner in Carroll County Maryland with USDA/NRCS.
In 1995 he earned a BS from the University of Maryland in Agronomy, Soil
and Water Conservation. He served for 2.5 years in West Africa as a Sustainable
Agricultural Extension Agent with the United States Peace Corps. Since
1999 he has work as a Conservation and Agricultural Planner in Howard,
Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Carroll Counties where he has been assisting
landowners and agricultural producers, including many equine operations,
to plan, design, and install Conservation Best Management Practices to
help improve soil and water quality. As a Conservation Planner Eric works
regularly with many of the Federal, State, and Local conservation cost
share programs that are available to agricultural operations and landowners.
Mark is an equity member in the Accounting and Business Services division of Naden/Lean, LLC. He provides accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services to clients in a variety of industries including insurance, not-for-profits, thoroughbred horse breeders, and others. He specializes in accounting and statutory compliance matters for property and casualty insurers, and directs those activities for the firm. Consulting services provided to insurance clients have included representation during regulatory examinations, business planning services, development of financial forecast models, systems conversions, and Risk Based Capital planning. Mark also serves as the professional development coordinator for the firm, directing the technical development and continuing education activities of our team members.
Pam King Senior Agent
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Pamela B. King serves as an Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent in Charles County with University of Maryland , College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension (1988- present). Her previous assignment was in Baltimore City as an Urban Gardening Agent. In additional to educational programs for farmers, Pam also works on public issues and outreach in agriculture, with Master Gardener volunteers and with local mass media. She holds a Master's Degree in Entomology and a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture, both from the University of Maryland . She has developed a special interest in agricultural security and emergency management following the 2002 La Plata tornado and now also serves as the Co-Coordinator of the Center for Agrosecurity and Emergency Management. She is NIMS (National Incident Management System) compliant.
Mary Lassaline ,
DVM, PhD, DiplACVO Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology
University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
New Bolton Center
382 West Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Tel.: (610) 444-5800 x6413
Fax.: (610) 925-8100
E-mail:
Dr.
Mary Lassaline received her DVM from Michigan State University in 2000, and completed a hospital internship in equine medicine and surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY the following year. She then went on to complete a residency in comparative veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Florida in Gainesville from 2001 through 2004. Following two years in private veterinary ophthalmology practice in Dallas, TX and Fairfield County, CT, Dr. Lassaline returned to academia to join the faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. Prior to her veterinary training, Dr. Lassaline received a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Dr. Lassaline is a Michigan native who enjoys dressage when she is not busy looking at animal eyes.
1840 York Road, Suite J
Timonium, Maryland 21093
Tel.: (410) 666-1022
E-mail:
A native of Pennsylvania,
Dave received both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Agronomy from Virginia
Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. His early employment included two and
half years as supervisor of the Virginia Tech Extension Soil Fertility
Lab followed by 13 years with the Baltimore Farm Credit District in
various lending and human resources positions. Since 1988 he has been
with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension organization as
an Extension Educator; receiving tenure in 1994. The first five years
he served in Anne Arundel County followed by his present position in
Baltimore County. He works with a variety of educational, crop production,
environmental and land use issues with farmers, landowners and governmental
agencies.
The Riderwood Building
1107 Kenilworth Drive, Ste 312
Towson, Maryland 21204
Tel.: (410) 339-7111
Fax: (410) 339-7112
E-mail:
Kathleen J. Masterton earned her juris doctorate at the American University Washington College of Law, at which time she placed third nationally in the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition. She also holds degrees in Environmental Science from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and a degree in Equine Science from Cazenovia College. She served in the U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program and then was a corporate attorney in a Washington, D.C. law firm. In 1993 she was appointed a Maryland Assistant Attorney General, serving for seven years as counsel to the Maryland Transit Administration. “Kate” then became Assistant Attorney General for the judicial branch of State government, advising the Maryland Orphans’ Court Judges, Registers of Wills, and Office of Administrative Hearings, among others, and developing expertise in Maryland estate planning and administration. She authored the 2004 update to the Attorney General’s publication “Administering Estates in Maryland.” In 2004 she founded the Law Offices of Kathleen J. Masterton, P.C., a firm focused on estate planning and administration, business law, equine law, and mediation. Her record of public service includes serving as consultant to the Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure Probate Subcommittee and leadership roles in several bar associations, including as a founder of the State Bar Association’s Animal Law Section. A former horse trainer and farm manager, in her spare time she enjoys riding, gardening, and dogs.
17690 Old Waterford Road at Morven Park
P.O. Box 1938
Leesburg, Virginia 20177 Tel.:
E-mail:
Dr. McKenzie received
his DVM degree from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary
Medicine in 1990. Following graduation he joined Moncacy Equine Veterinary
Associates, a private equine practice in Montgomery County, Maryland
where he practiced until 1995. Dr. McKenzie entered the Equine Internal
Medicine Residency program at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical
Center in January of 1995. Upon completion of the residency program
Dr. McKenzie served as a Clinical Instructor in Equine Medicine at the
Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center from 1998 to 2003. Dr. McKenzie
received a Master of Sciences degree in Veterinary Medical Sciences
from the Virginia/Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in
1998, and achieved Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary
Internal Medicine in 2000. In 2003 he was promoted to his current position
as an Assistant Professor in Equine Medicine at the Marion duPont Scott
Equine Medical Center . Dr. McKenzie is the author or coauthor of 10
journal articles and has several book chapters in press. His research
interests include aerosol therapy, respiratory disease, critical care
and endocrinology.
Stewart Nickel was born and raised in Timonium, MD and currently resides in Montgomery County, MD with wife Janine and twin daughters Ellie and Emma. He is an active member in the community and supports various non-profit organizations including The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Habitat for Humanity and The Red Cross. In 2004 Stewart served as co-chair for the National Leukemia Ball, the Society’s largest fundraising event, and has since continued work with the Baltimore chapter, heading a sports silent auction for the chapter’s annual Man & Woman of the Year event.
Stewart followed thoroughbreds from a young age, frequently visiting Timonium Race Track when this venue was included as part of Maryland’s regular racing circuit. His father, Richard Nickel, founded Nickel’s Stable in 1989 to get the family involved in racing. Upon his father’s death in 1991, Stewart assumed management of Nickel’s Stable in partnership with mother Patricia Nickel and brother Steve Nickel. Nickel’s Stable participated in many aspects of racing including claiming existing runners, purchasing and selling young thoroughbreds (weanlings, yearlings and 2 year-olds), breeding thoroughbreds and owning shares in stallions.
In 1998, Stewart passed management responsibilities to Patricia so he could focus on his rapidly growing business. After completing the acquisition by Legato Systems in 2002, he exited the technology industry and founded Memorial Stable, focusing on claiming and purchasing young thoroughbreds.
Highlighted by 2-time State Champion Smart ‘N Noble, Stewart has amassed over 75 wins and $1.4 million in purses during his career as an owner. In addition to participating in all Winners Circle Partnerships, he continues to run horses under Memorial Stable at many Mid-Atlantic racetracks. Wanting to combine his passion for thoroughbreds, enjoyment of working with people and business experience, Stewart founded Winners Circle Partners and formed the initial Partnership in 2004.
Traveling across the country teaching others the "comfort zone" method, Pelicano Equine Training owner Rick Pelicano actively extends his expertise and skills to other horse enthusiasts.
With over 20 years of time-tested skill and authority in exceptional equine and rider training, Rick Pelicano began his distinguished career in 1982 when he landed a mounted patrol position with the Maryland National Capital Park Police
Since then, he obtained certification through the American Riding Instructor Certification Program (ARICP), earning the ARICP Instructor of the Year award in 1995. A Level III Mounted Patrol Training Officer, Rick performed mounted security detail at the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, he attended a mounted police training course with the prestigious Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
One of his proudest accomplishments yet -- authoring a training book entitled Bomb-proofing Your Horse from Tralfagar Press in 2004 is now available for purchase . This step-by-step guide illustrates successful methods used to de-sensitize horses and is modeled after the "comfort zone" clinics Rick conducts. The book is considered a must-have manual for the everyday civilian rider irregardless of discipline.
In Fall 2002, Rick participated in Tournament , a reality documentary produced by Wall to Wall TV Ltd. for the Discovery Channel. The 2-hour televised adventure, airing March 2003, put Rick and three other knights-in-training to the test, staging real-life jousting battles of the Middle Ages. The all-to-period jousting contest mirrored knight training and tournaments conducted some 350 years ago in Europe. Rick is one of only 20 participants of full-contact jousting, mastering yet another accomplishment in his outstanding career thus far.
Erin Petersen,
MS, PAS Lecturer/Extension Horse Specialist
Institute of Applied Agriculrure
2115 Jull Hall
College Park, MD 20742
Tel.: 301-405-4690; Fx: 301-314-9343
E-mail:
Erin Petersen was
born and raised in Loveland, Colorado. She earned a BA degree in Political
Science from The University of Colorado in 1994. She also holds a BS
degree in Equine Science from Colorado State University (2000). Petersen
remained at Colorado State University, earning an MS degree in Animal
Science in 2001. Her research focus was aimed at investigating nutrition
of the growing horse as it relates to bone development. Ms. Petersen
is a state Extension Horse Specialist and the Program Coordinator for
the 2-year Equine Business Management Program at the Institute of Applied
Agriculture. She teaches courses in Equine Nutrition, Health Management,
Reproduction, Behavior and Pasture Management. Erin lives in Southern Maryland and is owned by three
cats, one dog (who thinks she's a person) and three horses.
Steuart Pittman, Jr. Trainer, Event Rider Dodon Farm
Steuart began riding as a child in the hunt field, in pony races and at local shows. He was introduced to eventing through Pony Club and learned the fundamentals of dressage as a teenager from his inspiration and mentor, Ellen Shepherd. After a ten-year absence from horses Steuart returned full force in 1990.
Steuart's instruction has come from a variety of trainers, including Bruce Davidson to whom he goes regularly with his stallion Salute The Truth, Jim Wofford, Gunnar Ostergaard, Hans Jurgen, Stuart Black, Becky Langwost, and most recently Linda Zang for dressage. He credits most of what he knows to the horses that he has worked with. He believes that all of us learn from our horses, and in his teaching he attempts to speak from the viewpoint of the horse. The other major influence on Steuart's riding has been 20 years of daily practice in Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese practice of meditative movements designed to open up the free flow of energy through the body. Steuart often describes the interaction between horse and rider in terms of energy and encourages riders to think and feel in these terms.
In 2003 Steuart participated in the first training program and assessment of the US Eventing Association's Instructor Certification Program. After intensive coaching and practice teaching before Karen O'Connor, Eric Horgan, Don Sachey and others, Steuart went to Texas to be evaluated in the areas of dressage instruction, cross-country instruction, show jumping instruction, horse management, and safety. He passed in all areas and is now a part of the small group of trainers in the country certified to teach through the preliminary level. The program includes continuing education with the top trainers in the sport.
Mike Poe Certified Farrier
Tel.: (540) 205-9521
E-mail:
Mike Poe is an American Farriers Association Certified Farrier, as well as a member of the Virginia Horseshoers Association and the World Championship Blacksmiths. Mike was the event farrier for the Pan American Endurance Championships in 2003 and has shod champions in several performance disciplines. His practice consists of performance and pleasure horses throughout central Virginia..
1118 HJ Patterson Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742
Tel.: (301) 405 –1329
Fax: (301) 314-9041
E-mail:
Dr. Ritter was born and raised in New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate degree in Plant Science at the University of Delaware. Following that, he obtained both an MS and PhD in Crop Science from NC State University. Dr. Ritter began his career at the University of Maryland in 1979 where he his job responsibilities include both Extension and Research. Dr. Ritter's Research and Extension activities are concentrated on weed management systems for corn, soybeans, small grains, tobacco, forages and pasture and his specialty areas include management of weeds in no-tillage systems and control of herbicide resistant weeds. Dr. Ritter's discussion will cover planning ahead before seeding and what weed management tools are available once a forage crop or pasture is in place.
Rachael Weaver Quinn, MS Doctoral Candidate
Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
1113 Animal Science Center
College Park, MD 20742
E-mail:
Rachael is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was a 2000 graduate of Penn State University, with a major in Dairy and Animal Science. She completed her Master's degree from the University of Maryland in 2002, focusing in neonatal swine behavior, specifically the ability of birth-weaned piglets to adapt to a trough-style feeding system. A horse enthusiast from her youth, she jumped at the chance to be the first graduate student in the Equine Studies program at the University of Maryland. Her initial research interests were in the response of undernourished horses to re-feeding. She is currently studying the effect of diet and weight gain on insulin sensitivity in the horse, with specific interest in the onset of insulin resistance in the horse as it approaches obesity. An aspiring dressage queen, Rachael rides and trains with the University of Maryland Equestrian Club.
A Maryland native, Bob's history with horses dates back several years and crosses over at least two generations. His grandfater, Major Joseph W. Shirley, was the commanding officer of Troop A, the only cavalry troop in the Maryland National Guard. Bob's father, Joseph W. Shirley Jr., hunted with Carrollton Hounds in the 1930s and 40s. Bob himself has 60 years of service to the Maryland State Fair Horse Department. He grew up showing homebred Clydesdale horses. He started working with the State Fari in 1946 as an office boy in the Draft Horse Show. Bob was a member of the Reisterstown Boys 4-H club in Baltimore County. Teaming with his future wife, they won the 4-H Draft Horse Fitting and Showing Contest at the Maryland State Fair in 1950. Bob helped found the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County and has taught horse judging to 4-H members for 40 years. Bob has been hunting with Carrollton Hounds for 20 years, and has been Master for about ten of those years.
Bob is an Extention Agent Emeritus with the University of Maryland. He received his B.S. degree from Cornell University in Animal Husbandry and an M.S. degree from the University of Maryland in Agriculture Education.
Jessica Suagee Master's Candidate
Department of Animal and Avian Science
1113 Animal Science Center
College Park, MD 20742
E-mail:
Jess is originally from Cherokee, NC, but she has spent the majority of her life here in College Park. Jess's riding career has mainly been in hunters and equitation where she spent several years competing on the local horse show circuit. Recently, her interests have come to include dressage. Jess recieved a B.S. degree in Nutrition Science from the University of Maryland (2005). It was there that she met Amy Burk and Erin Petersen, who showed her that she could make her horse-hobby into a career!
Jess's research interests are varied, but right now she is studying health disorders relating to obesity in horses and has worked with body condition scoring in Thoroughbred geldings as they go from "thin" to overweight. Jess plans to eventually pursue a PhD in Equine Nutrition, in a related research area. Currently, Jess is the Vice President of the Animal Science Graduate Student Association and the graduate student advisor to the University of Maryland Equestrian Club (UMEC).
Kelcey Swyers Master's Candidate
Department of Animal and Avian Science
1113 Animal Science Center
College Park, MD 20742
Tel: (443) 845-7205; Fax: (301) 314-9059
E-mail:
Originally from Yuma, Colorado, Kelcey came to the University of Maryland to do a master’s thesis on probiotic supplements. After working in the animal feeds and feeding industry for six years, she realized that there was a need for more research in this particular area, especially as it pertains to equine nutrition and feed/supplement applications. With the desire to pursue this research area, and a new program in place at the University of Maryland, Kelcey was lead to Dr. Amy Burk’s equine studies program in the fall of 2005.
Previously, Kelcey obtained dual Bachelor of Science degrees at Colorado State University in Animal Science and Agricultural Business. She then worked as an equine nutrition consultant and farmstore representative for Cargill Animal Nutrition’s Nutrena and Acco brand feed divisions. Her primary focus was creating nutrition programs and solutions for horse farms and livestock operations in the Rocky Mountain region. She then had the opportunity to round out her nutrition background by concentrating on carnivore diets, while serving as a district manager for Royal Canin along the eastern shore. She intends to finish her PhD in applied Animal Nutrition and return to the feeds and feeding industry to consult in a technical capacity.
1601 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1601
Tel.:
E-mail:
Dr. Traub-Dargatz is a professor of equine medicine at Colorado State University (CSU), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in Fort Collins, Colorado . She began her veterinary training at the University of Illinois and then went on to do a Large Animal Internship at the University of Pennsylvania 's New Bolton Center , Kennett Square, PA. She practiced several years in an equine practice in Maple Plain , MN before deciding to go back for further training in internal medicine at Washington State University in Pullman WA . She obtained a Masters Degree in Clinical Sciences from WSU in 1982 and board certification with the American College of Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in 1985. Dr. Traub-Dargatz joined the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at CSU in 1983. In recent years, she has expanded her training and research interest beyond the care of individual ill horses in the hospital to include population based studies of the diagnosis and control of equine infectious diseases. She is an author on over 80 referred scientific articles and regularly presents lectures on equine diseases to veterinary students, horse owners and veterinarians.
Carey A. Williams, Ph.D., is the Equine Extension Specialist and Assistant
Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Rutgers University.
Her research focus is in equine nutrition and exercise physiology, specifically
antioxidant supplementation and oxidative stress of the equine athlete.
Dr. Williams completed her bachelor degree in Equine Science at Colorado
State University (1998), and graduated with her master's (2000) and
doctorate (2003) degrees in Equine Nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, where she was awarded the John Lee Pratt
Fellowship in Animal Nutrition. She is a member of various national
organizations and presented at their research symposia including Equine
Nutrition and Physiology Society, American Society of Animal Science,
and American Association of Veterinary Nutritionists. As a hobby she
trains and ompetes her young Thoroughbred mare at various Dressage shows
and Horse Trials.
Keith Wills is an account executive for MidAtlantic Farm Credit, one of the largest ag and rural lenders in the mid-Atlantic region. He works in MidAtlantic’s Bel Air office, and focuses on loans to the equine industry.
Keith Wills has been involved in the equine community for almost fifteen years. In November, he was appointed by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. to the Maryland Horse Industry Board, a group created to promote the horse industry in Maryland. He is also a board member of Baltimore County Farm Bureau, the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, and the Maryland Horse Council. He serves as treasurer of the following organizations: Baltimore County Farm Bureau Agricultural Education Foundation, Baltimore County Extension Advisory Council, and Baltimore County Agricultural Resource Center.
MidAtlantic Farm Credit has fifteen offices throughout central Maryland, the Eastern Shore of Delaware, Maryland and irginia, as well as southeastern Pennsylvania.
Kristen Wilson Regional 4-H Horse Specialist
Central Maryland Research and Education Center
11975 Homewood Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Tel.: 301-596-9478; Fax: 301-596-9632
E-mail:
Kristen Wilson was born in Annapolis, Maryland. However she grew up in the state of Florida. She earned a B.S. degree in Animal Science – Equine Industry from the University of Florida in 2003. She remained at University of Florida to earn a M.S. degree in Extension Education with a minor in Youth Development in 2005. Her research focused primarily on identifying the needs of adult horse owners in Florida in order to enhance the Florida Horse Extension programming efforts.
As the Regional 4-H Horse Specialist, Kristen provides statewide leadership to the Maryland 4-H Horse Program. Kristen also teaches within the Institute of Applied Agriculture 's Equine Business Management Program.
Kristen is co-advisor of UMD Collegiate 4-H and advisor for the UM Equestrian Team.
Elizabeth Wood is an ardent supporter of off-the-track-Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) for all types of equine sports and leisure riding activities. Elizabeth owns and operates Bits & Bytes Farm in Canton, Georgia, just north of Atlanta, where they specialize in retraining Thoroughbred race horses for new careers in pleasure, eventing, dressage and hunter/jumper competitions.
Training OTTBs is extremely rewarding. Most Thoroughbreds love to work. They love and crave attention. The more attention you give them, the more attention they want. They want a job! Training OTTBs is not difficult but there are some very important tips and tricks to learn from Elizabeth that will speed up the process and assure your success. To-date, the number of OTTBs trained and/or placed into loving homes by Bits & Bytes Farm numbers several hundred.
Elizabeth has been involved with horses all her life. She grew up in upstate New York near the historic Saratoga race track. Elizabeth has successfully competed at horse shows and combined training events in the United States and Canada. She also enjoys fox hunting on her OTTBs.
When Elizabeth is not retraining OTTBs, you’ll find her behind the computer designing and developing Web sites for equine clients and other industries. Elizabeth is an award-winning graphic designer and is president of the multimedia firm of Egeland Wood & Zuber, Inc. She is a noted author and speaker at international computer conferences where her presentations offer practical advice, direction and solutions using the latest tools. Elizabeth also shares her expertise and knowledge of Web design and presentation development by providing custom training around the country.
It is a natural extension for Elizabeth to share her expertise and knowledge of the Thoroughbreds she loves at this conference. For a sneak peek at a few of her secrets, read the "Training Notes from Elizabeth" on the Bits & Bytes Farm Web site that she designed and maintains www.BitsandBytesFarm.com.
In
addition to the tremendous help Equestrian Promotions, LLC provides,
we would like to thank the sponsors for this year's event - without
your generous support, we wouldn't have the quality speakers we have
this year:
