Colorado State University’s Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale – A Growing Tradition

Students with the Colorado State University equine sciences program have been bustling for the last couple of months in preparation for the upcoming Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale. The sale is set for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the B.W. Pickett Equine Center, 701 S. Overland Trail, Fort Collins. This will be the 4th annual Legends of Ranching sale.

This year’s program includes more student involvement. The collaboration involves the horse training lab, the equine event management and the equine sales management classes.

"The increase in student involvement means that approximately 25 percent of all equine science students at Colorado State will be involved in helping with the sale," said Jim Heird, director of teaching and outreach for the equine sciences program. "This unique opportunity provides one-of-a-kind insight into the equine industry."

In addition to the increase in students, the program is also introducing new consignors. The newest ranches involved this year are Tongue River Ranch, Wood Ranch and Hanging H Ranch. Each of these ranches has an outstanding reputation for producing high quality horses in the industry. With the additional consignors, there are significantly more horses going through the sale ring. The 2009 sale currently is planning on 65 horses; a notable increase from the 51 that went through in 2008.

The Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale, which began in 2005 and was held in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, has grown quickly. In 2008, the sale moved from the Expo in Denver to the B.W. Pickett Equine Center in Fort Collins. The move to a local venue allowed the students more control and responsibility in managing the event.

"When we moved the sale to the B.W. Pickett arena, we witnessed a significant change in student pride," Heird said. "The local venue gave students the opportunity to make this sale their own, and as the event matures it continues to improve from prior years allowing it to grow into a remarkable tradition."

For additional information, visit www.csuequine.com or call (970) 491-8373.

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