The University of Nebraska said Wednesday morning that the Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation has made a $1 million gift to support a new state-of-the-art Nebraska Equine Sports Complex at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and its Department of Animal Science estimate that 180,000 horses in Nebraska are used for leisure, competition and agricultural work. To better serve the industry and the people who care for these animals while enhancing the educational experience for students, the college has embarked on a $4.5 million initiative for a new equine complex on East Campus.
Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, said now is the time to develop the facilities needed for equine education and training because of an increase in student participation in equine programs and the expansion of 4-H youth equine programs in the state.
“The Nebraska Equine Sports Complex will position Nebraska to be the destination for students across the state and beyond who are interested in equine sports, expand our experiential learning programming, provide a one-of-a-kind teaching and learning facility, and connect youth and extension education activities on campus for the benefit of all Nebraska,” she says. “We are thrilled to have support from the Kimmel Foundation to help start off this exciting effort.”
The complex will provide student-athletes with a practice space for the University of Nebraska Rodeo Association and the UNL Equestrian Team, a place to board their horses, and experiential learning areas for undergraduate and K-12 students across the state. It will also serve to conduct extension education programming and clinics.
It will be built north of the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center and will include an equine stall barn, large and small arenas, exercise round pen, classrooms, offices, wash bay area, tack lockers and outdoor runs.