UC Davis Horse Barn 2018 Production Sale
The Horse Barn Annual Production Sale was held on Saturday June 23, 2018. A beloved campus tradition, this UC Davis event has taken place in much the same way for the past 25 years. However, this year was a little different. The 2018 sale marked the first year the Horse Barn has teamed with the Center for Equine Health (CEH) to include CEH-bred yearlings (see page 3 of the Spring 2018 issue of the Horse Report). CEH Director, Dr. Carrie Finno, and CEH Animal Resource Manager, Dr. Tatiana Viau, attended the auction to watch their four yearlings find new homes in the local equine community.
The three geldings and one filly became participants in the Horse Barn Foal Manager Internship in January 2018. This program involved undergraduate students working with the foals three days a week, teaching them ground manners, lunging, and loading, with the end goal of presenting these foals as yearlings at the Production Sale. This collaboration between CEH and the Horse Barn not only offered students unique hands-on handling experience, but also provided a desirable mechanism by which CEH could market and sell the yearlings.
“This partnership offers our students the benefit of working with horses of different personalities and breeds,” said Kelli Davis, manager at the Horse Barn. “Most of the horses at CEH are from American Quarter Horse stock, while we have other breeds as well. Having that exposure to various breeds and temperaments helps prepare the students for working in the equine industry.”
The auction annually features 10-14 yearlings that are up-to-date on vaccinations, deworming, and hoof care. Foal managers familiar with their individual horses were on hand during the auction preview to answer questions from potential bidders. Proceeds from the auction benefit the CEH and Horse Barn Teaching Program.
“This new collaboration is very exciting,” said CEH Director Carrie Finno. “It’s a win-win by offering the students further experience with young stock, as well as providing our foals with additional training. This kind of interdepartmental partnership is a proud moment for UC Davis.”
Public turnout to the 2018 sale was excellent, which is a testament to the quality of the horses historically sold in past years. The CEH-bred yearlings fit into this framework quite well, with one gelding bringing in the second highest sale price of the evening. This success certainly ensures many more years of partnership between CEH and the UC Davis Horse Barn. Be sure to look for the 2018 CEH foals in the 2019 Production Sale Catalog! You can stay up to date with all of the equine happenings at the CEH and the Horse Barn through our websites and social media pages.