Krishona Martinson

Krishona Martinson is a Professor and Extension Program Leader in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota, part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). She is based at 155C Haecker Hall, St. Paul, MN, and can be reached at krishona@umn.edu or +1 612 625 6776.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2006
• M.S., University of Minnesota, 2000
• B.S., University of Wisconsin - River Falls, 1998

Her research and extension work centers on equine science, with emphasis on equine forage utilization and management, horse carcass composting, estimating ideal bodyweight in horses, and forage-related equine health issues, including poisonous plants and weed control. She also investigates equine industry impacts and trends, contributing valuable data for policy and management decisions. Her teaching includes ANSC 3517: Shires, Shorthorns and Sheep: Exploring Livestock Systems in England and ANSC 2055: Horse Management.

Her publications and outreach efforts demonstrate strong engagement in equine health, extension education, and agricultural communication. The 2013 article on seasonal pasture myopathy exemplifies her work at the intersection of plant toxicity and equine medicine.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• CFANS Distinguished Extension/Outreach Award (2020)
• Equine Science Society Outstanding Educator (2019)
• Dean's Award for Distinguished Campus-Based Faculty (2017)
• British Equine Veterinary Association Richard Hartley Clinical Award (2014)
• Multiple national and state-level awards in extension, communications, and education

Dr. Martinson leads extensive outreach initiatives, including the UMN Equine Conference, a monthly horse e-Newsletter, a comprehensive equine extension website, active social media presence (Facebook, YouTube), mobile apps, and online certificate courses. She is a frequent guest speaker at local, regional, and national equine events. She has led major collaborative projects such as HorseQuest, My Horse University, and the Equine Business Network, demonstrating strong leadership in grant-funded and team-based extension programming.

She is actively involved in equine extension programming and leads a team focused on developing digital and field-based educational resources for horse owners, veterinarians, and agricultural professionals.