The 2021 Best Horse Practices Summit will be held at Spy Coast Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 29-31. Join us for a scintillating weekend of learning in a stunning setting, with fine catered meals and good company.

Presenters include Jim Masterson, Dr. Sheryl King, Amy Skinner, Wade Black, Katrin Silva, Dr. Martin Nielsen, Warwick Schiller, Jec Ballou, Jon Zahourek, Susan Kauffmann, and Christine Cline.

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Morning presentations are academic in nature, often with PowerPoint presentations, (bring a notebook!) and held in a conference room. Afternoon presentations are in the arena with demonstration horses. Jim Masterson and Jec Ballou will mix things up with academic/arena hybrid presentations.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

Trade Show hours: Our popular trade show, with Summit-branded Patagonia WorkWear and custom-embellished Stanley drink ware, will be open before, between, and after all presentations. Check it out and help support our non-profit conference by purchasing books, clothing, and other items.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

Noon to 4 pm. Equine Anatomy Elective with Jon Zahourek. Class is limited to 25 attendees and is FULL. Presenter Jec Ballou will attend and provide additional insight as Jon focuses on the top line.

4 – 7 pm Summit Social and Early Registration —  Join us for a casual, optional Welcome Reception. Grab a beverage (cash bar). Pick up your badge and swag bag and mingle with presenters, board members, and volunteers on hand to greet you and join in conversation.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

Morning Academic Presentations

7:30 – 8 am, Registration at Spy Coast Farm, Lexington, KY. Pick up your badge and swag bag. Grab a complimentary coffee or tea and meet fellow attendees.

8 – 9 am, Keynote Speaker, Dr. Sheryl King

We will hear about dogma, mythology, misinformation, and other elements of the horse world that hold us back from being the best partners for our horses.

9:15 – 10:30 am, The Essential Hoof Talk. Christina Cline and Susan Kauffmann present an engaging, informative introduction to all things hoof.

10:45 – 11:45 am, Parasites and Debunking Deworming. An insightful, entertaining talk from Dr. Martin Nielsen of the University of Kentucky. Nielsen has a popular YouTube series on parasitology. He will present the evidence around fecal egg counts, parasite load, and other elements essential to understanding the importance of this aspect of your horse’s health. 

11:45 am – 1:15, Lunch Break. We dine on a catered meal, served buffet style at Spy Coast. Then we move to the arena for afternoon presentations.

Afternoon Arena Presentations

1:30-2:30 pm – Wade Black will present Part I of his presentation and demonstration of foundational work with young horses as well as restarting horses, such as off the track thoroughbreds (aka OTTBs).

3-4:30 pm, Amy Skinner and Katrin Silva will demonstrate, with novice and more advanced horses, 10 ways to tell whether your training is going in a good direction. Learn to see flexibility in movement, differences in contact, changes in transitions, and more during this duo’s arena presentation.

5-9 pm, Dinner at Spy Coast followed by a Storytelling session with Warwick Schiller.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31

Morning Academic Presentations

9-10:30 am – Jim Masterson offers a unique method of equine bodywork for equine massage therapists and horse owners in which one recognizes and follows the responses of the horse to touch to release tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance. Masterson will start with an academic presentation in our conference room and will follow up with a demonstration with a horse in the arena. 

10:45 – 11:45 am – Jec Ballou presents on Cross Training and Versatility. Learn how training specificity, repetitive movements, and living situations compromise a horse’s athleticism and how we can help them use their bodies with ease, strength, and balance through varied work and cross-disciplinary exercises. This presentation will be supported by an afternoon arena presentation in collaboration with Amy Skinner and Katrin Silva.

11:45 am – 1:15, Lunch Break. We dine on a scrumptious catered meal at Spy Coast. Served buffet style. We then move to the arena for afternoon presentations.

Afternoon Arena Presentations

1:30 -2:30 pm, Jec Ballou along with Amy Skinner and Katrin Silva. A continuation of Jec’s presentation on cross training and versatility. (See above.)

3 – 4:30 pm, Wade Black continues with Part II of his presentation on foundational work with young horses as well as restarting horses, such as off the track thoroughbreds (aka OTTBs).

5-7 pm, Final Thoughts and Farewell Reception. Join us for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Visit with fellow attendees, Summit staff, and presenters. Check out the trade show, too. We will announce winners of our raffle (Grand Prize: four days at the fabulous Circle Z Ranch in Patagonia, Arizona!)