Welcome to the Equine Enterprise at California State University, Fresno

Here you can find information about our academic programs in equine science, some of our activities and opportunities, and horses available for purchase. Check out the links at the top of this page to learn about the various aspects of our equine program.

We are also proud to present a quality selection of quarter horses for sale. Please click on Products & Services at the top of this page to see horses currently available for purchase. If you are interested in boarding a personal horse at Fresno State please click on the Products & Services tab. If you are interested in joining the Fresno State Equestrian team, more information can be found here.

Thank you for taking the time to view our site!

Prospective students and their families are always welcome to come see what we have to offer. We would love to speak with you and give you a tour of our facilities! Please contact us to set up an appointment.

 

About the Quarter Horse Unit

The Horse Unit of California State University, Fresno raises Quarter Horses. There are approximately 25 horses at this facility. About 10 are broodmares and the rest are weanlings, yearlings and two and three year olds. Female horses are called mares, while a broodmare is a mare used specifically for breeding. A stallion is an intact male used for breeding purposes while a gelding is a castrated male used for work or pleasure riding. Geldings and mares are much easier to handle than stallions.

The Quarter Horse breed originated in the United States and is actually a mixture of many breeds. The desire was to breed a horse that was smaller, quicker, more athletic, dependable and with a good disposition. The Quarter Horse received its name because they were bred to also be the fastest breed at the quarter mile sprint distance race.

Quarter Horses come in a variety of colors and sizes. A mature horse can weigh 850 to 1300 pounds. They are used for both English and Western riding disciplines. The Quarter Horse is an extremely versatile breed.

The Quarter Horse Unit at Fresno State breeds all of our broodmares by artificial insemination (AI). Gestation of a mare is 11 months and foals are usually born between February and June. The foals stay with their mother in the pasture until they reach about 6 months of age. Then they are weaned in groups to reduce the stress of separation from their mother. Once they are weaned, most are sold to people who want to ride, show or breed them.

The foals are halter broke and taught to lead from an early age. Students teach them how to stand while being tied-up, brushed and have their hooves cleaned and trimmed. When the horse turns 2 years old, it is ready to be taught to be ridden. All of the young horses at the Fresno State Horse Unit are worked with by students. 

Most of the horses at Fresno State are kept on permanent pasture. Some are kept in stalls if they are hurt or when it is foaling season. Every horse is fed two times per day. They are fed alfalfa hay and grass hay, all of the horses also receive a grain diet tailored to their needs. All of the horses have constant access to fresh water.