By Emily Gaskin

As the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games near, UK is continuing to prepare for the internationally recognized event.

The university and UK HealthCare have partnered in several ways with the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, considered the world championships for eight different equestrian events.

Dr. Michael Karpf, UK’s executive vice president for Health Affairs, said UK HealthCare would have facilities at the games that will predominately use volunteers. UK Hospital will be fully staffed, he said.

UK Hospital’s new emergency room will be opened in time to take care of the influx of people brought in by the games, Karpf said, and the hospital will be able to handle an increase in patient numbers.

“It’s just a matter of doing our job,” Karpf said.

UK Hospital will look at trauma cases associated with the types of equestrian events in the 2010 Games to be fully prepared, Karpf said.

The UK College of Agriculture’s Equine Initiative has been named the official equine program of the 2010 Games. The Equine Initiative is charged with continuing existing equine programs along with developing many new ones within the College of Agriculture.

The College of Agriculture will be an adviser to the games in turf grass management and animal waste management, said Holly Wiemers, UK’s Equine Initiative communications director.

The College of Agriculture will also be developing quarantine protocols through infectious disease experts in the Gluck Equine Research Center.

UK’s Maine Chance and Spindletop farms will be used as part of the endurance course during the games. The College of Agriculture is also working to “make the games green” with the Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment, Wiemers said.

Collaborations with the games are likely to expand as the games get closer, Wiemers said.