In celebration of Responsible Horse Ownership Week, taking place May 14-20, the University of Maryland (UMD) Extension is presenting five webinars for current and potential horse owners. All webinars will be recorded and will available online at www.ansc.umd.edu/equinestudies for you to view at your convenience.

Monday, May 14, 2012–"Horse Ownership 101" Horse ownership can be a very exciting and rewarding experience; however, people don’t often realize that the least expensive part of horse ownership is the purchase price of the animal. Before taking on the responsibility of horse ownership, it is important to be aware of the basic needs and expenses associated with our equine companions. Join the webinar May 14, from noon to 1:00 p.m. presented by Kristen Wilson, Extension Horse Specialist, to learn more about responsible horse ownership. Register here for this webinar.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012–"Maximizing Your Horses Nutrition for Optimal Health and Performance" With so many brands and varieties of horse feeds, how do you know which to choose? Tune in to a webinar presented by Amy Burk, PhD, MS, Extension Horse Specialist on May 15, from noon to 1 p.m. to learn about the unique features of the horse’s digestive tract and how it relates to proper feeding management. Dietary strategies that reduce the incidence of metabolic dysfunction and digestive upsets will also be discussed. Register here for this webinar.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012–"Equine Facilities and Pasture Considerations" Being able to keep your horses at home might be a dream come true, but it is a much sweeter dream when proper thought and planning has been put into facility and pasture needs. The webinar, on May 16 from noon to 1 p.m., will discuss options for facilities as well as pasture management systems. Topics include facility considerations, maintaining pastures and designing a rotational grazing system. Register here for this webinar