There’s a new face in the Laurel Oaks Career Campus stable. A foal, born March 8, provides important experiences for the students in Equine Science and Management.
“There are many, many things students learn from having foals here,” said instructor Desaree Runk. “They learn the foaling process. They learn how to handle young horses, and how to start the training process from the very beginning stages.”
Once or twice a year, local breeder Jack Creditt loans a pregnant mare to Laurel Oaks just for this purpose. Students care for the mare and wait for the birth. They’ve even been able to watch the process after school hours through a closed circuit video stream.
“We’ll have her until the end of the school year,” said Runk. “The students will halter break her and do other training with her. They’ll also learn about safety-foals can be a handful!”
It’s a popular aspect of the Equine Science and Management program.
“We love having foals around!” said Runk. “The students get excited this time of year and beg for time to work with them.”
