Online Chats Provide Easy Access to Solutions Through Technology

1. Online Chats Provide Easy Access to Solutions Through Technology Since 2006, HorseQuest has sponsored 8 online chats utilizing Equine Specialists from at least 14 Land Grant Universities in all regions of the country. • Chats reached over 150 current and prospective equine owners, professionals, and enthusiasts. • Participants felt that the chat technology was “easy to extremely easy” (83%) to use and that the pre-chat educational materials were “useful to extremely useful” (80%). • Ninety-three percent (93%) of respondents found the overall experience useful and would chat again. They were willing to participate weekly (19%), monthly (55%), or quarterly (21%). • Eighty-nine percent (89%) of participants attributed finding answers to their problems through the chats.

2. Research Demonstrates Need for Adult Learning Lessons HorseQuest members used InstantSurvey to collect information from 295 adults from 14 states in several regions of the U.S. to evaluate need for an online training program for adults who work with youth. • Ninety-eight percent of respondents showed an interest in online training, with 89% desiring “levels completion” recognition. • Greater than 70% identified 8 topics of top priority for learning modules and training. • In addition, greater than 75% of respondents were interested in other information on HorseQuest such as Ask the Expert question responses. Of the respondents, 84% would utilize online articles and watch video clips. HorseQuest is currently in the process of developing this online training program.

3. The Public Sings Praises for the HorseQuest site on eXtension The HorseQuest site receives excellent, unsolicited, public review. Below is an example from just one event. -This is Wonderful -What a concept, this is really great -I am a proponent of public domain and I am so excited that I have areliable, safe site to send my kids -I am going to have the site up at my barn-I am going to put the magnets up at the barn so people remember the url-Glad this information is publicly available online-Glad it is created by Cooperative Extension System, because it is science based, reliable, unbiased information and you are not trying to sell something.-Videos and information are very informative-Easy to understand-Found answers to questions-Now know more about brushing and washing a horse-Will use the Young Horse training videos-As a parent I feel secure about my child using the site

4. HorseQuest Users Gain Knowledge and Recommend to Others As of June 2008, eXtension's Horse Community of Practice has created and launched 12 comprehensive learning lessons. • Learning Lesson surveys reflect an increase in knowledge obtained by two degrees of improvement upon completion of the modules. (Scale: 1=Little or no knowledge and 6=Very knowledgeable) (range of self rankings was 3-4 to 5-6). • All respondents indicated they would be Very Likely to recommend these learning lessons to others.

5. Productive Equine Professionals 50 faculty from 35 Land Grant Universities have contributed research and education information to this national initiative • Number of published and unpublished pages of content           Published Pages: 817          Pages in Progress: 381 • FAQs and Ask the Expert Status          Published FAQs: 700          Draft FAQs: 162        Incoming Ask the Expert Questions Resolved: 650 • Number of images to date: 1006 • Number of videos to date: 489 • Number of news items to date: 137

6. Return on Federal Investment HorseQuest faculty produce approximately a $23 dollar return for every federal dollar spent.