Appalachian Horse Project

10/24/2025

10/18/2025

In case anyone is unaware of where to find information about horses that have been removed, please refer to this website https://www.kyagr.com/statevet/strayhorse/

All horses removed by AHP have been posted on stray hold. If they remain unclaimed, we will assess them individually for potential adoption after stray hold expires.

09/23/2025

Calling for photographers of the free roaming horses. We are looking for some high resolution photos (with releases) to be used in an upcoming project. If you’re interested in sharing any pictures with us, please let us know!

09/06/2025

We are searching for a gently used truck. Preferably 4 door, 4WD, with towing hitch. Please let us know if you have or know of anything available.

08/25/2025

For years, the Appalachian Horse Project has offered real, workable solutions to help manage the free-roaming horse population in Breathitt County — always at no cost to the county or taxpayers.

Here’s what we’ve brought to the table:

Population Control
We previously gelded 32 stallions on the mountain. This had an immediate impact — until over two years ago, when our vet was told by the county animal control officer to stop. We remain ready and willing to restart this program at any time.

Birth Control for Mares
Working alongside committed partners, we became certified and licensed to administer PZP, a humane and reversible contraceptive. A single dose prevents pregnancy for a year. Had this been implemented last spring, it could have slowed the unchecked breeding significantly — again, at no cost.

Nuisance & Road Horses
We offered to safely dart and remove nuisance and road horses (including those feral or difficult to catch). This protects both the horses and drivers — completely free.

Between 2020 and 2024, AHP removed 139 horses from multiple counties. Of those, 92 were from Breathitt County — including 32 nuisance horses from roads and private property. That leaves only 60 that truly required removal for additional care over a 5 year period!

Horses in Need
We offered to remove and care for horses failing to thrive, getting them the extra resources they needed.

Since July 2023, AHP has not been allowed to pick up horses. However, in that time, we identified and reported 19 horses in 2023 and 14 in 2024 to Animal Control. Some were picked up by others — but they were reported because we continue to monitor and care.

These programs could have made a fast, meaningful difference for both the horses and our community’s safety. And yet… our offers have gone unanswered.
Why Won’t Breathitt County Accept Our Help for the Free-Roaming Horses?

We are still here. We remain committed to working together on real solutions for both the horses and the people of Breathitt County.

08/19/2025

🐴 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕥𝕥 ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕪?🐴

AHP has gotten a lot of questions on how to adopt or pick up horses in Breathitt County since the Breathitt County Fiscal Court gave notice that all horses on the strip jobs must be removed.

To date, there have been no published guidelines or processes for the removal of horses in Breathitt County that we have seen. Therefore, all we can say is “contact the Breathitt County Animal Control or the Breathitt Fiscal Court.” Their contact info is:

📞606-666-3800 extension 247 for Animal Control and 606-666-3800 for the Fiscal Court

📨[email protected] for Animal Control and [email protected] for Fiscal Court Judge Executive Jeff Noble

What we know:

✅Horses are on PRIVATE property and several landowners have posted their land and made statements concerning trespassing on social media

✅KRS 259.120 serves as the basis for the method of removal and posting

🚨 🚨 🚨Where we see issue: 🚨 🚨 🚨

In the KRS (linked above) please note (1) (c) 1: “Duties of the county judge/executive pertaining to stray equines shall be to contract with a licensed veterinarian, who shall document ….”

⚠️THIS is a very critical part as it 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙩 and he can NOT legally pass this requirement on to the person removing the horse, known as the taker-up. ⚠️

This was clarified by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Attorney and this is the main reason why the Pike County Judge Executive will not let anyone pick up horses in that county.

Additionally, the KRS also states that the Judge Executive:

✔️ Shall take on the cost and responsibilities of having the equine(s) checked by a licensed Veterinarian…

✔️ Shall be responsible for sending a copy of the veterinarian documentation back to the Breathitt County Judge Executive…

‼️ But is this being done? Brandon Ferguson and Riley Sexton, both of whom are taking horses off the strip are clearly NOT adhering to these Kentucky State Statutes (which is illegal).

❓ What veterinarian is signing off on these horses?

❓ Is every horse they are removing being placed on Stray Hold before it is auctioned?

So, how do YOU properly get a horse from Breathitt County?

🌟 You’ll need to complete a “Stray Equine Contract” (photo in comments). Note the requirement of the taker-up in bullet points two and three

🌟 All the paperwork/photos must be filed in the Breathitt County Clerk’s Office. The charge is $46 for the first page and $3 for each additional page

FMI, check out the Department of Agriculture website: kyagr.com

08/14/2025

Linda Blackford: If we care about equine welfare, Kentucky needs to overhaul all laws and rules regarding free-roaming horses in Eastern KY.

08/12/2025

https://www.wymt.com/2025/08/11/24-free-roaming-horses-breathitt-county-removed/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMHaLVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpJ8K_RRmpAot3K0WkvIx40uHdFMaEzspCskBH1lnj5HCjac6Ujkqwzv7K24_aem_6AcLt5R1QeQ0L6LAi8ih1A

Members with the Appalachian Horse Project said they have seen removals of the horses taking place.