Cal Poly Equine Overview

Cal Poly’s horse unit facilities are one of the largest on campus. The horse unit allows for hands on experience for students, whether it is in a class setting or through the numerous enterprises that are offered. The breeding enterprise provides the possibility of the most hands on experience for students looking to expand their knowledge of the breeding industry. Students on the project are assigned to care for mares which entails, teasing, breeding, and helping mares through their pregnancy. Cal Poly owns three stallions which are bred via artificial insemination by students, to Cal Poly owned mares and mares owned throughout the country. The breeding lab was recently rebuilt and contains high tech equipment for the best shipment of semen and breeding possible. Most funding for the horse unit is also provided through this enterprise.

Other enterprises run throughout the year and allow students to halter break Thoroughbreds, raise 2 year old colts for the annual Ranch Horse Sale, and train Quarter Horses. This last enterprise gives students the opportunity to show at the Snaffle Bit Futurity in Nevada.

Another popular feature of the Cal Poly horse unit is that it provides students from out of the county the opportunity to bring their horses to college. The student horse barn contains covered paddocks and has direct access to the two large arenas and many trails.