$1M gift launches Pathfinder program to strengthen equine pre-veterinary training at UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) has received a $1 million private gift to pilot Pathfinder, a new initiative designed to address the national shortage of equine veterinarians by expanding training and support for students pursuing equine veterinary careers.
The MGCAFE Pathfinder: Equine Pre-Veterinary Support Fund will enhance recruitment, outreach and educational opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students preparing for veterinary school.
“Pathfinder reflects our land-grant mission — bringing people together to address real challenges facing our communities and industries,” said Laura Stephenson, Ph.D., vice president for land-grant engagement and Martin-Gatton CAFE dean. “We are deeply grateful for this gift, which strengthens the pathway from early interest through veterinary school by expanding hands-on learning and industry connections. With Kentucky’s signature equine industry playing a vital role in our economy and identity, this investment helps ensure we are preparing the veterinary professionals needed to support horse health, equine excellence and the people and industries that depend on it.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 500 counties across 46 states face large-animal veterinary shortages, including 86 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Pathfinder was created to strengthen and expand the future of large-animal and equine veterinary medicine by investing in the next generation of professionals.
The program will utilize a three-pronged approach: building early interest among K-12 students through 4-H and FFA collaborations, expanding access to enhanced horse-handling instruction and supporting student retention through career-focused experiences.
Pathfinder will also work in tandem with the university’s newly improved research and teaching facilities, history of high veterinary school acceptance rates and critically important education partnerships across the state’s signature equine industry.
“The equine veterinary shortage isn’t just a statistic. It’s a strain we’re feeling every day in our clinics and on our farms,” said Rhonda Rathgeber, a veterinarian with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and member of the UK Ag Equine Programs Advisory Board. “Fueling pre-veterinary education is one of our most powerful tools to engage more students to pursue the veterinary profession. It is so beneficial to reach these students early, giving them the raw, hands-on experiences that reveal the true heart of this profession and the incredible rewards. By pouring our support into this kind of real-world training, we aren’t just preparing them for a classroom. We’re ensuring they have the passion and the foundation to succeed in the field.”
This investment and additional contributions will provide crucial resources for the Pathfinder program, including teaching personnel, management and a population of horses at UK facilities.
Stakeholders interested in addressing the equine practitioner shortage through the Pathfinder program should contact Caitlin DiBiasie, Martin-Gatton CAFE director of equine philanthropy, at 502-724-8502 or caitlin.dibiasie@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.