By Derrick Jones, ANR County Extension Agent, Jasper County
The Equine Short Course is an annual event. This year’s event was successfully held on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 3 Heart Farm, bringing together 36 equine owners and enthusiasts from across the region for a full day of hands-on learning and practical demonstrations. The program was organized and delivered by a team of UGA Extension Agents and industry professionals with the goal of helping horse owners improve horse health, pasture management, and overall equine care.
Participants began the morning with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by a welcome and pre-assessment led by Robyn Stewart at 9:00 a.m. The pre-assessment helped gauge participants’ current knowledge and allowed presenters to better tailor the educational experience throughout the day.
The first educational session focused on Equine First Aid, presented by Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Daniel Pike of Countryside Equine / Piedmont Equine. Dr. Carter discussed laminitis, explaining causes, early warning signs, and management strategies horse owners can use to reduce risk. Dr. Pike followed with a discussion on colic and other common emergency situations, highlighting when horse owners should seek veterinary care and steps that can be taken before the veterinarian arrives.
Next, Dr. Kylee Duberstein, UGA Extension Equine Specialist, led a session on Forage-Based Feeding for Horses, emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition in maintaining equine health. Topics included body condition scoring, understanding what constitutes a forage-based diet, and exploring forage alternatives that horse owners can use when pasture or hay supplies are limited.
During lunch, participants visited a Weed Identification Table led by Derrick Jones, where attendees tested their knowledge of common pasture weeds. Each participant completed a weed identification assessment, and the top three participants received prizes for their performance. Following the lunch activity, Lucy Ray and Pam Sapp guided participants on a 30-minute pasture walk, discussing real-world pasture management considerations such as pasture size, drought impacts, stocking rates, and the practical realities of maintaining productive horse pastures.
The afternoon sessions began with a Saddle Fitting demonstration by Charon Caldwell of Caldwell Saddles, who used live horses and various saddles to demonstrate how proper saddle fit affects both horse comfort and rider performance. Participants were able to see firsthand how improper saddle fit can cause soreness and long-term issues for horses.
The final session of the day focused on Trailer Safety and Maintenance. Stacy McCoy from Allison Creek Trailerspresented a 30-minute trailer maintenance segment, covering routine inspections, brake and tire checks, and other preventative measures to keep trailers road-ready. The program concluded with a trailer safety session led by Courtney Wilson and Heidi Cashwell, where participants learned best practices for safely hauling horses and avoiding common trailer-related accidents.
Throughout the day, participants were highly engaged, asking questions and interacting with presenters during each session. The program concluded with participant evaluations facilitated by Robyn Stewart, providing valuable feedback for future programming.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants expressed appreciation for the practical, hands-on nature of the program. Sally Budd commented, “Derrick, this is better than the one that we put on last year!”Another attendee, John Morton, stated that “we need to put this program on all over the state.” A couple who traveled from Lumpkin County shared that they “really learned a lot” from the day’s presentations.
A special thank you goes to the event sponsors whose support helped make this educational program possible:Morton Land & Lake Country Livestock, Ag-South Farm Credit, Town-N-Country Farm & Pet Supply, Upper Ocmulgee River Soil and Water Conservation District, Jasper County Farm Bureau, and Lowry’s Feed & Farm Supply. And another special thank you goes to all the wonderful folks at 3 hearts Farm for opening up their farm to all of us. Their continued support of Extension programming provides valuable educational opportunities for horse owners and agricultural producers across the region.
The success of the Equine Short Course highlights the strong interest in equine education across the region and the value of collaborative Extension programming. Organizers extend their appreciation to all presenters, partners, and participants who helped make the event a success.
The 2027 Equine Short Course is scheduled to be held in Butts County in the month of March. Please be on the lookout for advertisement for the event in January and February of 2027. Heidi Cashwell, Butts County ANR Agent, will be the point of contact for registration. Her email address is Heidi.Cashwell@uga.edu