Our mission is to provide an interactive learning environment for students in the Department of Animal Science through hands on activities on a working breeding farm. We strive to educate students on 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. The university obtains all breeding stock through donations, so building a quality herd is a slow process. However, through very generous donations, Iowa State's herd consists of approximately 40 horses. The university currently owns 2 Thoroughbred stallions and 20 mares. Additionally we stand a client owned Quarterhorse stallion. 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 only the second university ever to be honored with such an award from AQHA.
And 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.
