Morrisville State Fall Standardbred Yearling Sale Sept. 17

From Morrisville State College:

Morrisville State College will hold its annual Fall Standardbred Yearling Sale at noon, Saturday, Sept. 17  at the college’s Nancy Sears Stowell Arena on Swamp Road.  

The sale preview day is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16.

The event draws a crowd of potential buyers, sellers, trainers and owners from across the Northeast. Morrisville College's sale is the only one of its kind in New York state held on a college campus. 

A total of 90 yearlings are cataloged for the 2016 sale. Sixteen of them are being sold by the college.

The yearling sale, which features year-old Standardbred horses sold on consignment by the college, is organized and run by Morrisville State Equine Department faculty, staff and students.

Equine students will be working the event, participating in every aspect of it from bedding stalls, grooming, leading and showing horses, to setting up the business office and assisting with cleanup.

Last year, the sale took in close to $1 million. 

Profits from the sale, which is free and open to the public, go toward general maintenance and enrichment of the college’s equine programs.  For more information about the annual event, visit www.morrisvillesale.com.

It's National I Love Horses Day!!

Horses and riders compete at the Syracuse International Horse Show

Today is the day to celebrate all that is equine.

According to the National Day Calendar, it's National I Love Horses Day. 

Wikipedia states "Horse and equestrian lovers across the nation celebrate each year on July 15 as National I Love Horses Day is one of their favorite holidays. This day pays tribute to, and honors, the horse. According to an Animal Plant poll, the horse is the world’s fourth favorite animal."

The National Day Calendar website states: "playing an important role in history, horses have been an essential part of our countries development as, from the beginning, they helped in exploring new territory, provided transportation, helped in the fields, helped in war as well as companionship.

"This day is a great opportunity to learn more about horses.  While you are doing research at your local library or on the ‘net’, learn more about the Colt, Filly, Foal, Gelding, Mare, Stallion and Yearling."

So, go out and pet a horse or ride a horse or feed a horse.

Western New York EquiFest Coming To Western New York This Weekend

Here's an event coming up this weekend for all you equine enthusiasts.

Cortland County Horses Confirmed with Equine Infectious Anemia

This is from the New York Horse Council:

On March 4, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Animal Industry confirmed Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in five horses on a Cortland County farm. 

Ten draft and buggy horses reside on the farm. All horses have been quarantined and an investigation is ongoing. The Division of Animal Industry will continue updates as needed. 

The following key points pertain to New York’s law for equine infectious anemia.
 
** All horses must have a negative EIA test in the 12 months preceding a change in ownership. 
** All horses being imported into New York for purposes other than movement to slaughter must accompanied by a CVI and a negative EIA test in the preceding 12 months.
** All horses transported on a public road in New York must have had a negative EIA test in the current or previous calendar year.

It's National Horse Protection Day!

A lucky horse owned by a local farm.

If you've ever wanted to adopt a horse, today's your day.

According to the National Day Calendar website, today is National Horse Protection Day, which the website states was created to bring light to the plight of horses in America and beyond and help the thousands of unwanted horses in this country to find forever homes.

"The horse has a legendary mystic on the American culture. It helped to forge a nation and yet despite that many go unwanted, abused or neglected," states the website. "National Horse Protection Day is about addressing those issues."

There are a number of places you can visit to adopt a horse. One is right in Central Square -- Sunshine Horses on County Route 12. Check out its website at sunshinehorses.org or go to its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SunshineHorses/?fref=ts

For more information about National Horse Protection Day, see: http://www.horseprotectionday.com/index.htm

Morrisville State College's Standardbred Yearling Sale Brings in Nearly $1M

A yearling gets groomed prior to Morrisville State College’s Annual Standardbred Yearling Sale. Photo by Franci Valenzano of Morrisville State College

From Morrisville State College:

Morrisville State College took in close to $1 million at its 26th annual Standardbred yearling sale Sept. 20. 

The event drew a record crowd of potential buyers, sellers, trainers and owners from across the Northeast. The college's sale is the only one of its kind in New York state held on a college campus. 

A total of 62 yearlings, including 18 owned by the college, were sold at an average of $15,540, up 43 percent from last year’s average bid of $10,715. The sale topper was Royal Pinot, who sold for $55,000. 

Adding to the allure of the sleek and immaculately groomed horses up for sale was the professionalism, enthusiasm and teamwork of MSC faculty, staff and students.  All of the college’s nearly 250 equine students had their hand in some aspect of the sale and played an integral role in its success.

Alexis Cook, an equine science western major from Martville, Cayuga County, was among them. Clad in a professional black suit, she and four others led the yearlings into the sale ring.

In another barn, Amber Pruchnik, an equine breeding student from Connecticut, was showing horses to potential buyers and answering their questions.

Students also prepped the horses before they headed to the show ring, bedded stalls, groomed, helped set up the business office, braided manes and put a coat of shiny black polish on yearlings’ hooves.

Throughout the sale, potential buyers scanned their sale catalogs intently as bid spotters kept track of those who raised their hands and shouted out amounts. 

The sale is an all-around great experience for students, allowing them to learn in a real-life business setting. 

It’s also a momentous time for students as they have played a large role in the MSC-owned yearlings’ lives — many who have helped foal and raise them.  They even have a hand in naming them.  

The college’s Standardbred sale is a major industry-based entrepreneurial activity for its equine programs and a vehicle to showcase the campus and its array of equine programs, which are known throughout the industry in addition to the college’s top-notch equine facilities. Profits go toward general maintenance and enrichment of the college’s equine programs.

Morrisville State offers a bachelor of technology degree in equine science and two associate degrees in equine racing management and equine science and management. Students have many options as the college’s diverse equine offerings include specializations in breeding, western, hunt seat, draft/driving, Thoroughbred racing, Standardbred racing, business, and equine rehabilitation therapy.

For more information visit www.morrisville.edu.

Investors Bet Big on NY Thoroughbreds

Go to http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/morning_call/2015/08/investors-bet-big-on-new-york-thoroughbreds-and.html this Albany Business Journal site to read the story.