Equine
See the Online Horse Judging Contest
Horse Production in Mississippi
The Mississippi horse industry plays a significant role in the state's economy and is a growing segment of Mississippi agriculture. The horse population in Mississippi has been recently estimated at 113,063 with an investment of $877.45 million in horse inventory and operations. In 2006, Mississippi's horse industry contributed about $1.02 billion to the state’s economy and provided about 38,900 jobs. Mississippi has some of the best public equine facilities in the United States, which hosts horse shows and equine activities that bring many people from surrounding states to Mississippi every year.
The Mane Event
The MSU Extension Service is proud to introduce a new informational video series! The Mane Event is a monthly “how-to” video series concerning horse management, nutrition concerns, and training tips. These short, informative videos provide a source of information to all who are interested in horse care, use, and riding.
Mississippi Disease and Disaster Preparedness Program
Do your part to protect the health of Mississippi’s livestock herds. It is very important that Mississippi horse owners move forward as an industry to safeguard the health of our herds. The danger of a contagious disease outbreak in the national horse herd, whether by natural occurrence or terrorist attack, makes it imperative that the location of horse owners and their herds be readily available to animal health officials. Horse owner cooperation is essential for rapid disease response in the instance of a contagious disease outbreak. In the event of an animal health emergency, basic horse owner information will be used to rapidly respond to the emergency to protect your animals and Mississippi’s livestock industries through the Mississippi Board of Animal Health.
- Mississippi Animal Disease and Disaster Preparedness Horse Brochure
- Mississippi Animal Disease and Disaster Preparedness Cattle Brochure
Mississippi Hay and Commodity Feed Source Directories
A Mississippi Hay Directory is now online available to assist Mississippi horse owners in locating hay supplies. The list provided includes information from individuals and businesses who have submitted a Mississippi Hay Directory Listing Submission Form indicating that they have hay for sale. Listings expire after 60 days.
A Mississippi Commodity Feed Source Directory is available online to assist Mississippi livestock producers in locating feed supplies. It is comprised of commodity feed manufacturer, broker, and dealer listings compiled by Mississippi State University Extension Service personnel.
Mississippi State Equine Association
Mississippi's New Horse Council
The Mississippi State Equine Association is a non-profit corporation, representing your voice in the equine industry. It's an organization formed "for the love of horses, and horse people," and is Mississippi's official American Horse Council affiliate.
Mississippi State University Horse Unit
Publications
News
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Each February marks the occasion for producers to share their research and programming needs with Mississippi State University agricultural specialists in person.
To comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the opportunity will be extended virtually this year.
The romantic idea of owning and riding horses often does not match the costly and time-consuming reality of maintaining them, a discrepancy being addressed in workshops aimed at making horse ownership more rewarding.
Clay Cavinder, horse specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, offers a one-day workshop and a six-week program to address the tremendous amount of information that a horse owner must absorb.
Horsemanship clinics, camps and competitions are uniting young horse enthusiasts with mature, experienced riders across the state as interest booms in the sometimes athletic and always fun equine activities.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Just summarizing the drastic increase in activities held at the Mississippi Horse Park over its 19-year history does not do justice to the uniqueness of this facility and the challenges it has faced.
The Mississippi Horse Park, which grew from 23 events in 1999 to 100 in 2017, is a Mississippi State University facility operated in partnership with the city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County. It generates all the funds needed to support its operations.
Bricklee Miller, horse park director, said the facility recently received its first grant from the Mississippi Development Authority to advance its activities.
Success Stories
Vardaman producer named Farmer of the Year
When Joe Edmondson surveys his farming operation at Topashaw Farms, he thinks about his more than 40 full-time employees and the hundreds of seasonal workers who work the acres.
He joined the US Marine Corps to serve and protect the country, and, as a Marine in Iraq, Lance McElhenney felt 10 feet tall and bulletproof.
In this "What's New in Extension," Extension agents implement better safety standards, train to deliver Mental Health First Aid, and receive national recognition. Also, new irrigation and specialists join the Extension family.
Mississippi 4-H youth horse instructor Tom McBeath takes great pride in having taught two generations of students, and he is now recognized as one of the best in the country at what he does.
