Delaware Valley University yearlings giving next generation practical experience

by Matthew Lomon

For the Equine Management students at Delaware Valley University, no price tag outweighs the invaluable industry experience the yearling sale circuit provides.

“We don’t have any yearlings that are going to sell for a million dollars, but the horses play a dual role because they are teaching animals,” said Jenna Reigle, who manages the Breeding Center at Delaware Valley.

“The students learn with them, go through the sale, and go on to have a racing future.”

Starting Monday (Nov. 3), Delaware Valley’s next generation of aspiring horsepeople will apply lessons from the classroom — and barn — in a practical setting at the 2025 Standardbred Horse Sales Company’s (SHSC) yearling auction in Harrisburg, PA.

“Our students are essentially in the barn from day one,” Reigle said. “Once they start their first year, they are in a course called Practicum, which is very basic horse care and management. From there, they make their way up to the more advanced classes that really are in the barn every day – to the point where it’s like having a job and being a student.”

Equine Management at DelVal — as it’s known locally — is a four-year major that awards a bachelor’s degree upon completion.

During their time in the program, which Reigle noted is deliberately broad, students sharpen their skill set across the professional equine gamut in preparation for careers in breeding management, equine nutrition, stable management, retail management, therapeutic program director, veterinary management, and more.

Core functions like facilitating the breeding process, caring for foals, and yearling sale management are particularly pertinent for sale season.

“Everything that we do, as far as breeding the mares, foaling them out, raising the foals to yearlings, and then sale prep is all done through classes,” Reigle said. “In the spring, we have a class called Horse Breeding Management, which is a basic lower-level class for students interested in breeding.

“Then, we have a class called Advanced Reproduction. Those students are assigned to pregnant mares. They track the pregnancy, they’re here for the foal watch and the foaling, and then they breed the mare back for the following year.

“In the fall, we have a course called Yearling Horse Sale Management, and those students are each assigned to a yearling, and they do all of the grooming, exercising, feeding — everything it takes to get the horse to the sale — and then the students go to the sale with our yearlings.”

Reigle, who teaches both the Advanced Reproduction and Yearling Horse Sale Management courses, has students who work for the Standardbred Horse Sales Company as well as other consignors, including Blue Chip Farms, Anvil And Lace Farm, and All American Harnessbreds.

“I’ve had students in the past get job offers while at the sales and then go work for that company after graduation,” Reigle said. “That’s one of the several exciting experiences they get from the yearling sale.”

When Delaware Valley returns to Harrisburg this year, they will do so with a roster of nine yearlings.

Among those in the student-delivered crop is Green Manalishi S colt Loch Ness, Hip #863, who Reigle is quite bullish on.

“He’s out of a nice Yankee Glide mare [Ocean Love Potion] that has some really good offspring, and this colt is just beautiful,” she said. “He looks the part, he stands correct, he moves nicely, and I’m most excited about him. I think he’ll do well for us.”

Also catching Reigle’s eye from this consignment is Juniper, Hip #629.

“We have a filly by Captain Crunch who is also very correct,” she said. “She moves beautifully, she’s nice to be around and she’s also dual eligible, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. I think she has a nice future ahead of her.”

Hip #565 Love Boat — a “very correct” Pennsylvania-eligible Captain Corey colt — is another name to monitor.

While the students, as Reigle noted, each have their personal favorite, one they surely all can agree on — Hip #954 Gee I’m Swifty — passes through the Mixed Sales ring on Thursday.

“His sire, Swift As A Shadow, is part of our program,” Reigle said. “We usually breed one of our pacing mares to him each year, and that’s where Gee I’m Swifty came from.”

The Equine Management program typically stands two to three sires each year, with Swift As A Shadow being a mainstay since 2021.

Devious Man, who banked $1.3 million during his racing career, joined Swift As A Shadow this past year.

“Having Devious Man was great for us,” Reigle said. “He bred a small book of mares, but he definitely kept us busy.”

Ahead of another chance to showcase Delaware Valley’s latest foaling feats, Reigle is justifiably proud of this year’s class – both equine and human.

“I’m really impressed with how our consignment looks this year,” she said. “Our students have done a really nice job this year grooming them every day and making them look the part to go through the sales ring. I’m very happy with how things turned out.”