DelVal Equine Gains Largest Profit in DelVal History at Annual Yearling Sale
DelVal equine students generate the largest gross profit in DelVal history at the Standardbred Horse Sale Company’s annual yearling sale.
Delaware Valley University’s participation in the annual Standardbred Horse Sale Company’s yearling sale on Nov. 8 through Nov. 12 in Harrisburg, PA, generated the largest gross profit the University has ever had. DelVal sold four yearlings on Wednesday, Nov. 10. DelVal equine students are involved in the selling process from start to finish.
“Our highest selling price was more than doubled this year at $57,000 for one of our trotting fillies, ‘Donna Lynn’,” said Jenna Reigle, Breeding Center Manager. “Our four yearlings brought the largest gross profit we’ve ever had.”
The sale happens each November, where DelVal takes “homegrown” standardbred yearlings to be sold to start their careers in harness racing. The first year and a half of a foal’s life are dedicated to prepping for this sale.
“It is a big deal for us, especially having it be so successful and with only four individuals,” said Jenna Reigle, Breeding Center Manager.
Reigle begins the annual yearling sale process about two years prior to the annual sale when she looks to book DelVal’s mares to marketable sires.
Reigle explained that the foals are born, and a year and a half later, head to Harrisburg for the sale. DelVal students are involved in the sale because everything is done through DelVal’s equine classes. The foals are born with the mare and foal management class. The yearling horse sales management class preps the yearlings for the sale with the end goal of walking those horses to the sale block at the end of the semester.
“I was excited last year when we achieved our highest selling price to date of $28,000, so to say I was excited this year is an understatement,” said Reigle. “Watching an animal that myself and the students conceived, delivered, and raise give so much back to our program was incredible.”
Allyson Shively’22, an equine science and breeding major, was responsible for the daily care and exercise program of her yearling “Lille”. Shively was also involved the making Lille’s sales video.
“This is a day where a film crew comes and takes clips of them moving in the field for potential buyers to see how they move,” said Shively. “Getting the opportunity to watch her grow up into a well-mannered yearling, taking her to the sale, and then watching her succeed is something I will never forget.”
Lyndsey Roi’22, an equine science, and breeding major with an associate degree in equine management was also part of the student team that prepared for the yearling sale.
“We would have sale inspections each week where we were graded by our instructor on how professional our yearlings were, from behavior to cleanliness,” said Roi. “It made me appreciate Delaware Valley University’s yearlings being sold at the sale so much more since the yearlings were handled and trained majority by us, the students.”
This year a total of 21 students worked at the sale with some of the industry’s most successful businesses.
“While there, our role as students was to care for the horses, have them look professional all the time, and be professional when talking to potential buyers,” said Roi. “It's a bittersweet moment to see the horse that you worked so hard on leave for a new home, but everyone in the class knows they will go on to have great careers in the Standardbred racing industry,” said Roi.
Students, even ones not in the yearling horse sales management class, can sign up to work with the sales company or a private consignor.
“Other than working for Delaware Valley University, I also worked for the Standardbred Sales Company who runs the entire sale,” said Roi. “The people who are involved and the community they create every year is always very welcoming.”
Net proceeds from the sale go to support the breeding center programs. More information on the sale itself can be found at https://theblackbook.com/about-history.php.
