September is National Preparedness Month and to help horse owners better prepare for natural disasters, the Kentucky Horse Council’s Fall Dinner & Discussion will focus on how to keep horses – and farms – safe in times of turmoil.
This educational event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center in Lexington from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Katie Flynn, BVMS, Senior Veterinarian for Equine Health and Biosecurity, US Equestrian, will present “Disaster Preparedness for Equine Owners: How to Assess Your Risk, Protect Your Horse and Respond in the Wake of Natural Disasters.”
Growing up on a Standardbred racehorse farm in South Grafton, Massachusetts, Dr. Flynn has always been passionate about horses and their care. She received her veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland before embarking on a diverse veterinary career: She began a regulatory career with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Branch, where she held several positions including field veterinarian, livestock health program veterinarian and equine staff veterinarian before leaving California to continue her regulatory career as the Kentucky State Veterinarian.
In March 2023, Dr. Flynn followed her equine infectious disease interest and accepted the role of senior staff veterinarian for equine health and biosecurity with the United States Equestrian Federation.
