UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- In its fourth year, Penn State's Equine Science Showcase and Registered Quarter Horse Sale, to be held April 29 in the Snider Agricultural Arena on the University Park campus, has become an annual tradition highly anticipated by horse enthusiasts.

All aspects of this year's sale -- including advertising, training and preparation of sale horses, facilities, event planning and sales operations -- have been planned by students. Sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences, the sale will include the usual offering of university-bred and owned quarter horses and a few quarter horses sold on consignment.

This year's student sale manager is Stacie Domer, a junior from Brush Valley majoring in agricultural and extension education. "The most important part of the sale from a student's perspective is the opportunity to organize and implement a real-life horse sale," she says. "The experiences gained by the students involved with this event are invaluable to our college education and will help prepare us for our future careers."

The university is offering for sale eight two-year-olds, two mares with foals and three yearling lunge line prospects. Additionally, there are four horses consigned to the sale by people outside the university. A more complete description of the sale offerings can be found by visiting Penn State's Department of Dairy and Animal Science Web site and clicking on the sale under "Upcoming Events."

The first priority of the sale is educational, according to Brian Egan, instructor in equine science. "This event is an excellent opportunity for Penn State students to gain real-life experience," he says. "This is not just an exercise. The students in these classes learn how to work together to achieve a goal, how to work with the public before, during and after the sale, and how to plan and organize all aspects of this major event."

The Equine and Livestock Marketing and the Horse Handling and Training classes that are primarily involved in the sale are just one piece of Penn State's equine program. Equine science students work with Penn State horses throughout their undergraduate or graduate careers. The student/horse interaction often begins prior to foaling. The foals are delivered under the watchful eyes of students as part of a foaling project in Advanced Equine Production and Management. All horses in the Penn State herd are used in classes, such as Equine Production and Management, Applied Equine Behavior, and Horse Judging, in addition to the courses mentioned.

For more information on the Penn State Equine Science Showcase and Registered Quarter Horse Sale, contact Egan at(814-863-0569 or by e-mail at began@psu.edu, or visit the Equine Science Web site.

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Jeff Mulhollem Writer/Editor Phone: 814-863-2719 E-mail: jjm29@psu.edu