U of I Extension Offers Telenet Workshop for Horse Owners

URBANA -- University of Illinois Extension invites horse owners to participate in a free telenet to learn about their options for feeding their horses this winter. The workshop, “Emergency Drought Telenet for Horse Owners,” will be held Tuesday, August 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants will be able to listen in from their home.

The lack of rainfall has forced many horse owners to remove their animals from pasture and scramble for hay. “Hay prices have reached more than $10 per bale in some places in northern Illinois,” said Ellen Phillips, U of I Extension local food systems and small farms educator.

Pastures are slow to recover due to limited rainfall. Many hay producers did not take a second cutting of hay, leading to diminished supplies and higher prices. Therefore, horse owners will have limited options this winter.

To address this issue, the workshop will cover:

• Hay: Prices, Supplies, and Sourcing, Ron Tombaugh, Dart Hay Service
• Pampering Pastures in Drought, Ellen Phillips, U of I Extension local food systems and small farm educator
• Alternative Feeds for Horses, Kevin Kline, U of I Extension equine specialist

There is no fee for this program, but participants must pre-register by Monday, August 20, to reserve a telenet line and receive handouts via e-mail.

To participate, a phone, email, computer, and internet access are needed. Speaker phones are recommended.

To register go to: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo/ or call 815-732-2191. For more information, contact Phillips, at ephillps@illinois.edu or 815-732-2191.

This program is being organized and sponsored by U of I Extension and the Illinois Horsemen’s Council.