Welcome to April ’s edition of the UWRF Equ-Updates Newsletter. Each issue highlights the latest news and accomplishments from our equine department, including updates from faculty, student organizations, and competitive teams. As the semester comes to a close, we take this final issue of the 2025-26 academic year to highlight milestone achievements and look forward to the start of the fall semester
• Univer sity Advancement: Rick Foy, Rober t Jaynes, Pedro Renta, Alicia Rivard, and Mandy Jeppesen
• University Marketing: Dina Fassino, Bonnie Breyer, Pat Deninger, Dan Lea, Kelsea Wissing
• DOTS: Brendan Weise, Matt Carriveau, and sound techs
• Facilities Management: Mike Mueller, Dave Olson and staff electricians, Missy Davis and custodial staff, Darren Johnson and grounds staff
• Student Billing and Accounting: Rachel Knuth-Matteson, Jackie Montreal, and Deborah Carlson
• Morgan Paavola, University Archives
• Joann Novak, Chartwells
Assistant Professor Equine Program Director
We made it! Another academic year in the books. It has been a whirlwind few weeks as we wrapped up this Spring Semester. So many great accomplishments and exciting news to share, from the success of our 50th Anniversary Colt Sale to the new foals hitting the ground at the Campus Farm!
I want to take this opportunity to recognize all of the hard work of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and industry partners over the past several mo nths. There were contributions from so many who helped make our 50th Anniversary Colt Sale possible. Within UWRF, it took a true cross-functional team of folk s who contributed in the lead up to and execution of the Colt Sale. We were especially grateful that Dean Mike Orth, Caroline Baker from the Provost’s Office, and Chancellor John Chenowith were able to join us for this momentous occasion Some other key acknowledgements and thank-yous both from the Colt Sale and the Breeding Program:
• Susan Bargel lini, Anim. & Fd. Sci. Department Assistant
• Freddy’s Dairy Bar: Lisa Meyers and Rueben Nilsson
• Falcon Premier Meats: Dr. Arquimedes Reyes
• Dan Waletzko, Greenhouse Manager
• Stephanie Shipp, University Reservations
There are probably innumerable folks I have forgotten on that list alone – we truly appreciate your support.
To our students – THANK YOU so much for making this such a successful and rewarding year in our program! To those who are new graduates, we wish you all the best as you move on to your next steps. I look forward to seeing all the great things you do as you go forward and hope to see many of you at future alumni events. To those of you returning to campus in the fall – have the best summer! Spend as much time with horses as possible! I am excited to see you all again in September!
The Colts in Training Program celebrated a milestone 50th Anniversary sale on Saturday, May 2 nd , with record setting numbers and strong attendance.
The 50th Anniversary celebrations began Friday afternoon, as we welcomed folks to our Campus Farm for tours beginning at 4 pm. This was followed by an
Alumni Event at Glenn Park where we were joined by more than 150 current and former students, families, and friends of the Equine Program. Saturda y, we welcomed attendees and registered over 200 bidders and online, with standing room
This was also a recordbreaking sale for us. Prior to this sale, the record sale for a 2 -yrold that went through the program was $30,000 back in 2013, and we broke that record this year, with
the high-selling colt, Lot #41 Mr Hollyheit by Mr Farenheit, selling for $32,000. This colt was trained by Maria Stockinger.
New for this year, we piloted a broke horse section of the training program, and two of those horses sold for $33,500. We posted strong sale averages, with the overall sale average being $11,559 and the 2-yr-old average at $10,625.
“This year marked my 20th year teaching the class and organizing the sale, and I can honestly say I’ve never been more proud of a group of students,” said Nathan O’Connor, program coordinator. “The students spend approximately 100 days preparing and training the horses, and the program continues to provide an outstanding hands-on experience in horsemanship, responsibility, professionalism, and work ethic.”
The Colts in Training Program continues to maintain strong ties to the reining industry. Many of the 2-yearolds in this year’s sale featured proven reining
bloodlines, being offspring of leading sires such as Mr Farenheit, Shine Chic Shine, Spooks Gotta Spark, and SG Frozen Enterprize, Among those in attendance was Larry Kasten, longtime UWRF program coordinator and instructor. Kasten was recently honored with the 2025 National Reining Horse Association Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, making his presence at this year’s sale especially meaningful.
The UWRF breeding program has had an exciting spring season with several mares already bred back for 2027 foals , with many more breedings and pregnancy checks still to come in the following weeks.
The program recently welcomed two new foals to the farm on Tuesday, May 5th! Shiney Sparker (aka “Halo” welcomed a beautiful palomino colt named Rick, sired by Electric Whizkey, and resident broodmare Starry Eyed Sioux (aka “Suzie”) delivered a sorrel colt named Nacho, sired by Money Carlo.
The program’s industry influence continues through student opportunities as well. This summer, students will work at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses, Royal Vista Southwest, Story Arno Brian Horses. honor to the program its 50th O’Connor proud of had on and the equine industry.”
Be sure to check out the website https://www.uwrfcoltsale.com/, and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/uwrfcoltsale/, for more highlights and photos from the Colts In Training Sale!
Adapted in part from an article published by Worldwide Slide.
We are patiently awaiting the arrival of our last foal for the 2026 season, who will be out of UWRF broodmare Blazen Lit tle Chic (aka “Wimpy”) and sired by Money Carlo. We are excited to continue following the progress of both the mares and foals as the breeding season continues!
This semester, we are following one of our UWRF students, Autumn Gilbertson as she completes a six-month internship at an equine reproduction facility in Oklahoma. Each month, Autumn will update us on all the new skills and great experiences she is gaining through her internship opportunity. Read on for her monthly update!
Hello, this is Autumn with a final update here in Oklahoma! My internship here at Royal Vista Southwest is almost over, and it has been such an amazing experience! From foaling out to running the flush cup, here are some of my favorite moments.
when going to place a nasogastric tube for supplemental colostrum, the foal got startled when I grabbed her, but instead of jumping forward like most foals, she just leaped straight up in the air! And of course, I will never forget the first mare that I helped foal out, when I knew this internship was perfect for me, and I was going to have so much fun.
I love being able to watch the progression of horses through the season. I have the opportunity to help flush an embryo, transfer that embryo, and then watch the recipient mare’s heartbeat check. Moments like these, that show step-by-step progression, really show how many steps are involved with breeding. Another moment I will never forget is when I was able to see the embryo during my first time helping with an embryo flush. Along with the time, one of our vets came out of the lab with the biggest smile to give me a highfive after she found an embryo from a mare that had been having trouble with her uterus and fertility. At times, we would help the foals stand and nurse, and when helping one of the foals nurse, the colt tripped and flopped right into my lap! Once,
I will treasure so many moments from this internship, and these just scratch the surface of the most memorable. hope y’all enjoyed these updates from Oklahoma, and thank you for reading and following along with me on this journey!
successful events, competitions, and community involvement. Throughout the year, members worked hard hosting The Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo, Ag Day, and multiple community events that helped promote
the rodeo program and connect with others on campus and in the community. We recently celebrated the end of the year at our annual banquet, recognizing everyone’s commitment, hard work, and dedication to the club and team throughout the season.
Over the last two weeks, the rodeo team competed at the Black Hills State University rodeo in South Dakota and the University of Nebraska –Lincoln Cornhusker Rodeo. We would also like to recognize our graduating seniors, Callie Miller and Pyper Schultz, for all of their efforts and dedication to the program. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Additionally, thank you to Shaylee Noel for representing the club as the 2025 –2026 UWRF Rodeo Queen. We are excited for another great year ahead and look forward to hosting Falcon Frontier Days on September 11th and 12th.
Great Lakes Farrier Classic
June 4 th – 6th
Northern Lights Ranch Versatility Clinics and Shows
June 13th and 14th
August 28th – 29 th
First Day of Fall Semester
Wednesday, September 2 nd , 2026
Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo
September 11th & 12th