Finals and commencement may be over, but for an energetic team of students in the UC Davis Department of Animal Science, the capstone event of the year — the 25th Annual Horse Production Sale — is coming up this weekend.

Horses for sale!

This year’s sale features two mules and 15 horses, including quarter horses, an American paint, a warmblood, an Azteca plus an Andalusian colt and filly.

On Saturday, media are welcome to preview the horses that were bred and raised by the students and attend the auction along with buyers and visitors from throughout the state.

When

Saturday, June 24 — The 6 p.m. auction will be preceded by a 3:30 p.m. viewing of the sale horses and a 4:30 p.m. barbecue dinner for auction attendees.

Where

The Cole Facility arena and adjacent horse barn at 434 La Rue Road, UC Davis.

Who

Horse barn manager Amy Mclean, students on the horse production team, and potential buyers and visitors attending the auction.

Visuals

Horses in stalls and being groomed and handled by students, horses in the arena during the auction, visitors bidding on the horses, and horses being loaded into trailers for the drive to their new homes.

Background

This year’s sale features two mules and 15 horses, including quarter horses, an American paint, a warmblood and an Azteca. Highlights of this year’s sale are an Andalusian colt and filly, both sired by Spain’s leading Andalusian stallion.

The sale is the culmination of a six-month internship for the 14 students serving as either stallion or foal managers. During the internship, the foal managers learn how to handle and train weanlings and yearlings, as well as provide care for the mares and foals before and after birth. The stallion managers are responsible for breeding the mares in order to produce foals for future sales.

Proceeds from the sale will support the Horse Barn’s Teaching Program. The horse production sale catalog is available online.

Driving and parking directions

From Interstate 80, take the UC Davis exit. At the end of the off-ramp, turn north onto Old Davis Road and drive toward the main campus. Drive past the information booth on your left. When you come to the traffic circle, take the second exit as if you were making a left turn onto La Rue Road. You’ll immediately come to a stop sign and then cross a small bridge. At the next intersection (there is no stop sign), turn left.  You’ll still be on La Rue Road. Pass the horse arena on the left and, at the first opportunity, turn left onto Putah Creek Lodge Drive. The Cole Facility, including the Horse Barn and arena, will be on your left.

Limited parking is available at the Cole Facility. More parking will be available in Lot 47 on the north side of La Rue Road, opposite the arena. Parking is free to all on Saturdays.