Lee Carter, who was chosen as the Kentucky Horse Park’s executive director in October–then unchosen when he and the park couldn’t come to terms–will get the job after all.
The park put out a new Request for Proposal last year to re-start the search process. Last week, Lee was again picked during a vote in executive session, with his selection revealed today by the park. He starts his new job Feb. 1.
Explaining what happened the first time around, Lee said, “The first process, there were some challenges along the way, some procedural parts that needed to looked at. With the new process, those procedural things were figured out and I was fortunate enough to be selected again.”
The Kentucky Horse Park is particularly lovely in the spring during the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.
“They talk abut diversifying the park. To me, that’s how do we get different events into the park, how do we bring some breeds and disciplines in that maybe haven’t been in or haven’t been here for awhile,” he said.
The second point is intensifying the user experience.
“Forget what happens on the back side of the park. On the front side of the park, it’s a tourist attraction. How can we intensify that experience, the hands-on feel/touch experience,” Lee explained.
“The connection between people and horses we know is something special, so how can we translate to folks who want to learn more?”
The third point involves expansion, “having a larger target audience; bring more visitors, bring more events. How do we collaborate with more organizations, both in the equine industry and in and around Central Kentucky? Those were the three things that jumped off the page. i think they’re on point, I just think they need a focus that can get those things accomplished.”
Lee pointed out that from middle of March through November, the park’s equestrian calendar is full. It’s a 1,200-acre park, but areas of the park are not being utilized for activities or only being used once or twice a year.” As an example, he mentioned a state cross-country meet on 40 or 50 acres that are only used once or twice a year.
Lee Carter in his role as executive director of EEI presented awards during the Kentucky Horse Park’s premier event. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
The question, he said, is “What can we be doing in that space to drive more traffic and visitors to the park?”
Lee mentioned that in in 2010, when the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were at the park, “the landscape for equine facilities was completely different than it is now.”
Raising the Horse Park’s game requires engaging and educating “legislators and surrounding communities as to what’s really going on the in equine space,” Lee said.
“We’ve got to be a little more nimble. we’ve got to follow state regulations for sure, but we’ve got to be able to be more flexible on certain things. We’re competing with private enterprise… we’ve got to realize who our competitors are and go from there.”
While Lee no longer be involved with EEI when he takes his new job Feb. 1, he will still be very much aware of what’s happening with the park’s marquee event.
“The ticket sales are extremely good,” he said, attributing that to “pent-up demand after two years without spectators” being able to attend their favorite competition.
Moving into EEI’s executive director post temporarily is Mike Cooper, who resigned as president of the EEI board to take the position. There will be a search for someone who will hold the job on a permanent basis.
H has been on the EEI board since 1991 and has been its president since 2019. He served as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism from 2007-2012 and was involved in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) held at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Mike will be replaced as president by Laura Holoubek, who was already in line to succeed him at the end of his term. A business and equine attorney and partner in the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, Laura has been on EEI’s board since 2017.Succeeding Cooper as President of the Board is Laura Holoubek who was already in line to succeed Cooper at the end of his term.
