Dan Rosenberg, president and chief operating officer of Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, has been named Executive in Residence for the Equine Initiative within the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

As Executive in Residence, Rosenberg will provide a valuable real-world industry perspective to the development of undergraduate and graduate programs that will serve Kentucky’s horse industry, facilitate the development of strong internship and employment opportunities for students and provide input to other equine-related programs within the College of Agriculture.

It is a role Rosenberg feels is vital. “I have for some time been concerned that the thoroughbred industry will face a crisis in the coming years by not having enough qualified people to take the business into the next century,” he said. “The world and the thoroughbred industry are changing rapidly and it’s important to teach and train people to step into these positions.”

According to Rosenberg, the thoroughbred industry is becoming more competitive and sophisticated, continuing to rapidly evolve from what was once a hobby into a serious business. This new business environment mirrors global marketplace consolidation and competitiveness.

With more than 35 years of hands-on involvement in some of the most successful and well-known facets of the thoroughbred industry, it would seem that few would be as uniquely qualified to help guide UK students into this changing environment.

“Dan brings to the position tremendous experience and credibility in the equine industry, not only in Kentucky, but internationally as well, and these are assets that will greatly benefit our rapidly expanding equine education programs and ultimately our students,” said Scott Smith, dean of the UK College of Agriculture. “I expect that his term as Executive in Residence will have a significant impact on the Equine Initiative and to UK equine teaching programs in particular.”

From the time he was a child, Rosenberg knew he wanted to work with horses. “I learned the business from the bottom up,” he explained. “I have also been very fortunate to work for 28 years with Robert Clay who is an entrepreneur and progressive thinker and through him I have gained experience in marketing and accounting and in thinking about cash flows, budgets and long-range strategies.”

He stresses the importance of learning all the aspects of the business, especially the day-to-day operational side, and offered this advice to students who want a career in the equine industry, “It is critical to have hands-on experience because there is a wide range of normal and so much of what you have to see and experience cannot be taught by a book. You can’t do this without hands-on experience.

“But, a combination of education and experience will propel you down the road further and faster. It takes dedication and sacrifice and hard work to be successful. Always has, always will,” he added.

Rosenberg has served as president and chief operating officer of Three Chimneys Farm since 2001. Before that he was general manager of Three Chimneys for 23 years. Prior to his work with Three Chimneys, Rosenberg worked as a broodmare manager at Calumet Farm and with Clovelly and Glade Valley farms.

Rosenberg is currently vice president and director of Thoroughbred Charities of America; a member of the Colorado State University Orthopedic Research Advisory Board; and a member of Canter National Advisory Board. He was also past president of Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club; past vice-president and member of the board of directors for the Kentucky Equine Institute; former director for the Thoroughbred Club of America; and former director of the Keeneland Pony Club. Rosenberg was recognized as the Kentucky Farm Managers’ 1992 Farm Manager of the Year and received the Ambassador Racing award in 1994.

The UK Equine Initiative, established by Smith in March 2005 and announced by UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. in May 2005, represents a partnership between the UK College of Agriculture and the horse industry. It was established through efforts of College of Agriculture faculty and administrators, the Gluck Equine Research Foundation, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and many other important industry partners.

Already well under way, the Initiative will design ways to work more closely with Kentucky's multi-breed horse industry and focus on ensuring that ongoing UK programs are more responsive to the daily needs of the equine industry.

For more about the UK Equine Initiative, please visit www.ca.uky.edu/equine.