College of Science
Two foals born at University Farm
Morehead State’s equine program is celebrating the success of its breeding program as two foals were recently born at the Derrickson Agricultural Complex. The foals, Pearl and Dottie, were the result of partnerships between MSU’s equine program and horse owners and other collegiate breeding programs across the industry.
Potential Career Girl (Sadie), a bay owned by MSU, was bred in March of 2019 to NHF Peppy Spark (Sparky), a stud owned by TC Performance Horses and a participant in the Ohio State University breeding program. Sadie foaled a filly named Pearl, a palomino, on Saturday, March 7, 2020.
The program has also partnered with the Kenner family of Northern Kentucky to help foal out their mare, Smarty Pants Lena (Lena). She foaled a filly named Dottie, a buckskin, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The family has leased their mare and has donated the foal to MSU to provide new breeding program experiences for students.
The goal of the program is to breed MSU Quarter Horse mares in hopes of producing several foals each year. As part of MSU Professor of Equine Science Dr. Katie Kaufman’s Equine Breeding and Reproduction course, they are in the process of breeding two broodmares to MSU stud horse Sebastian to foal out next spring.
“The excitement around this program and foaling annually is adding a dynamic to MSU Equine Sciences that has not been offered in recent years,” said Kaufman. “The hands-on experiences that have been added are driving countless educational opportunities for our students in equine science, animal science, veterinary science and veterinary technology. We are proud to be part of building the foundation for our students entering into equine careers.”
In addition to the mares and foals, MSU also has a stud, Notoriously BIG (Sebastian), a registered quarter horse appendix, that was donated to the program last year by Dr. Kristin Kocsis. Sebastian’s sire, Living Large by These Irons Are Hot, is a ten-time world champion in hunter under saddle. He will be available for private breeding in the spring of 2021.
“This restoration of a breeding program at MSU is exciting for more than just the current faculty, staff and students. It is a tribute to our legacy as one of the largest breeding programs in Eastern Kentucky during the latter part of the 20th century,” MSU Equine Technician Randy Gauche said. “Morehead State University bred and foaled hundreds of walking horse mares for owners all over the nation. We are proud to be getting back to our roots.”
For more information on the breeding program, contact Kaufman at kkaufman@moreheadstate.edu or Gauche at ragauche@moreheadstate.edu.
For more information on programs in MSU’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/agriculture, email agsi@morheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2662.
Top Photo: Staff and Students from left to right are Dr. Katie Kaufman, MSU professor of equine science; Hannah Stratton, a junior animal science major; Brittany Brewer, a junior agriculture education major; and Randy Gauche, MSU equine technician. Horses from left to right: Dottie, filly of Smarty Pants Lena (Lena), Smarty Pants Lena (Lena), Potential Career Girl (Sadie), and Pearl, filly of Potential Career Girl (Sadie).
Bottom photo: Sebastian, MSU’s newest stud horse, will be available for private breeding next spring. He is pictured here with Bryahna Branscomb, a senior equine science major and Equestrian Team member at the 2019 Brown County Fair.
