The Department of Animal Science provides an interactive learning environment for students through hands on activities at a working breeding farm. Students learn about breeding farm practices while breeding and working with registered Paints and Quarter Horses bred for performance and registered Thoroughbreds bred for racing. The university chose these three breeds because of their significance in the state of Iowa and across the country. Iowa State obtains all breeding stock only through donations and therefore building a quality herd is a slow process. As a result of very generous donations, Iowa State's herd consists of approximately 40 horses including two Thoroughbred stallions, a Quaterhorse stallion and 20 mares. All foals raised on the farm are sold either privately or in breed specific public auctions.

In 2004, the American Quarter Horse Association awarded Iowa State University with the Legacy Award for breeding Quarter Horses for 50 consecutive years. Iowa State is the second university ever to be honored with such an award from AQHA. In 2007 Iowa State produced its first stakes winning Thoroughbred, Bravo Cyclone, who won the Iowa Stallion Futurity in a stakes-record time of 1 minute 10.99 seconds.

The students at Iowa State gain valuable experience in the general care, breeding, foaling, training and marketing of the university's horses.