Kentucky Equine Research Announces Partnership with Anderson Hay & Grain Co., Inc.

Kentucky Equine Research, an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company, today announced its partnership with Anderson Hay & Grain Co., Inc. naming Anderson as the Official Research Forage of Kentucky Equine Research.

Anderson Hay & Grain Co., Inc. is a third-generation company specializing in the production and sales of high-quality timothy hay, alfalfa hay, and grass straw products. From planting to harvest, Anderson works closely with its network of family-owned farms to provide a consistent supply of top-quality products to customers all year round.

Kentucky Equine Research was established with the mission to advance the industry’s knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology, apply that knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses, and support the nutritional care of all horses throughout their life. Kentucky Equine Research uses its research facility in Versailles, Kentucky and its Performance Center in Ocala, Florida, to conduct research trials to better understand the nutritional needs of horses. Additionally, Kentucky Equine Research applies the results of their trials to create innovative products and support feed partners in providing well-rounded products.

Kentucky Equine Research has used Anderson’s timothy hay in its research program for several years. “The horses absolutely love it. For us, palatability is paramount because intake is an important component of digestibility trials. Our horses eat up every single bit of it,” shared Ashlee Hauss, research coordinator at the Versailles, Kentucky, facility. “Because of the hay’s high quality, the nutrient composition is consistent and reliable from one batch to the next, which is important when trying to minimize variables in research diets.”

Kentucky Equine Research and Anderson Hay & Grain both have an established track record of working behind the scenes at international equestrian events. For the Tokyo Olympics, Kentucky Equine Research served in an advisory role to the Japan Racing Association Facilities, the official feed and forage supplier.

“Most of the horses in Tokyo ate a timothy hay that was produced in Washington state by Anderson Hay & Grain,” explained Joe Pagan, Ph.D., president and founder of Kentucky Equine Research. “Anderson has supplied the hay for several of the past Olympics and World Equestrian Games.”

Anderson Hay & Grain and Kentucky Equine Research worked together to supply 1,200 bales of second cutting timothy hay to Europe for transition prior to and during pre-export quarantine. Another 900 bales of second cutting timothy hay, 450 bales of first cutting timothy hay, and 70 bales of alfalfa hay were utilized during the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“The attributes that make Anderson hay our preferred choice for research also benefit top-level sport horses: quality, consistency, and palatability,” Pagan said.

With Anderson’s demonstrable experience providing reliable, high-quality forage for performance horses on an international scale, and Kentucky Equine Research’s nutrition expertise, the partnership will provide the equine industry with access to superior nutrition science for horses around the globe.