The Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension (MARE) Center is one of thirteen agricultural and research centers (ARECs) throughout Virginia. Perhaps the most overlooked word in this title is "Extension". Extension at the MARE Center is an integral part of the center because it provides research based educational resources to the people of the commonwealth.

Shea Porr, prior to being named superintendent for the MARE Center, was equine Extension agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension Northern District Office works at the MARE center and offers special insight to the tie between Extension and the center. The MARE Center specializes in equine research, pasture associated nutrition, Extension programs, and educating graduate students in these areas. Porr is instrumental in taking that information and designing programs for the general public in a format that allows them to use the information on their farms and in their jobs.

During the past year, Porr has developed basic and advanced programs in horse handling training for emergency responders. These programs provide participants with lectures and demonstrations on equine behavior and handling by using hands-on practices such as catching the horse, leading and releasing the horse in a stall as well as an open field. This Extension program uses horses owned by the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. and kept at the MARE center which certainly links Extension to the center.

Extension at the MARE center also has provided exceptional programs on pasture management and equine health. Taking proper care of a horse or horses is a task faced by all horse owners. Through Extension owners can learn best practices for grooming, nutrition, vaccinating, grazing habits and pasture and manure management.

The benefit of equine Extension programs is that although some may be developed and held at the MARE center, they are very "mobile" in that the Extension agent takes this information across the state and presents it to horse owners through educational seminars and programs.

Extension services held at the MARE center are often the result of a collaborative effort. A prime example of this is the 4th Annual Equine Educational Seminar which was held on October 17, 2008 at the center. The seminar, entitled "Keeping Horses Happy, Healthy, and Whole: Advances in Equine Health Care Management", was lead by faculty and staff from the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, veterinary specialists in Virginia and representatives of Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension. During this informative program, the audience heard lectures on topics such as current trends and research in equine health care, including hoof and dental care, diseases and parasites, alternative therapies and biosecurity.

The MARE Center is not the only Agricultural Research and Extension Center which benefits from various Extension programs across the state. Covering four broad educational areas of: 1) agriculture and natural resources; 2) 4-H youth development; 3) family and community sciences; and 4) food, nutrition and health, Extension agents can be found in most of the thirteen AREC's. Once research is developed in a specific area such as pasture associated laminitis studies in equines, it must be disseminated throughout the state and beyond. Research professors, Extension agents and mass communication are a few important avenues taken to get this vital information out to the public. Vast information is provided by and because of Extension programs every day and leads to more productive lives, families, communities, and farms and forests while enhancing and preserving the quality of the commonwealth's natural resources.

To find out more about the programs and institutions listed in this article, please visit the following links. Also, to find out about the good work of Extension at the MARE Center, contact Shea Porr by email at cporr@vt.edu or by phone at 540/687-3521 ext 27.

Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/emc
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/emc
Virginia Tech www.vt.edu
Virginia Cooperative Extension www.ext.vt.edu

For more information on the MARE center's research and Extension programs, please visit www.vaes.vt.edu/middleburg or e-mail MAREC@vt.edu.