Truman State recently acquired three new horses for the University Farm. The three mares are intended to be used as teaching aids for the equine studies program. One of the mares is expected to give birth to a foal during spring 2016.
The farm is more crowded after acquiring new additions that will help teach students about animal pregnancy.
Every year, the equine science program brings new life into the world in the form of young fillies and foals that will educate current and future students.
Equine science professor Kelly Walter said Truman recently acquired three new mares named Movin’ Miss Roxy, Rosa and Josey.
“One [mare] is currently pregnant and will have her foal the first week of May,” Walter said. “The other two are not bred, but have donated breedings in order to be bred during the Equine Reproduction Practicum 353 class hopefully in March of 2016 and subsequently bring new foals to Truman in February of 2017.”
Donated breedings mean the horse’s specific purpose is to be bred for the class, Walter said.
Walter said the pregnant mare, Roxy, is an 8-year-old quarter horse and the other mares are sisters — 8-year-old Rosa and 7-year-old Josey, Walter said. She said after Roxy’s pregnancy, each horse will stay at Truman and be used to continue teaching students riding, biology or other animal pregnancies.
Among the many students acquainted with Roxy is senior Rachel Hunn, an equine science major who said she already has begun to pick up on the new horses’ distinct personalities.
“Roxy, Rosa and Josey are all so sweet and sometimes a little sassy,” Hunn said. “I am excited to see the foal out of Roxy, especially since we already have two fillies, April and Bailey, from the same stallion, Pepto Madero. Roxy is super sweet, and I am sure she will be a great addition to our herd and the reproduction class this spring.”
Hunn said two big reasons she chose to attend Truman were because Truman offered an equine studies program and because of the University Farm. Hunn said Working with the horses teaches her new things about herself.
To learn more about the new horses at the University Farm, pick up a copy of the Index on newsstands now, or online here.
