By: Damariz Arevalo and Jessie Recendez, Feb 25, 2025
One blue and two pink flags appeared on the Foal Pole at W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center in February, signaling a Cal Poly Pomona tradition and the birth of three new foals: Chevy, a colt, and two fillies named Ginny and Savannah.
The mares gave birth to Chevy, Ginny and Savannah at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. Ginny was the first to be born Feb. 7, Chevy came on Valentine’s Day and then Savannah Feb. 16.
A CPP tradition after new foals are born is to raise a flag on the Foal Pole to announce the gender of the foals. A pink flag is for a filly, and a blue flag is for a colt.
While the mares give birth on their own, a team, which includes five student assistants who live on campus, watch over the births in case of an emergency. They also get to pick names for the foals, including a unique name registered with Arabianhorses.org. and a nickname. The three new foals do not have their registered name yet. But, when a horse at CPP is registered it starts with CP with the following unique name, CP Brilliance.
Another important job for the team after foals are born is making sure they meet healthy milestones. According to Madeline Ogburn, the coordinator of horse training and farm operations at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center and a CPP alumna, the foals should be standing within the first hour of birth and fed within the first two hours.
Then, after the foals are 12 to 24 hours of age, their blood is checked to ensure they have received the proper number of antibodies from their moms through gestation.
Rebecca Herrera, an equine specialist, horse handler and communication student, was training Savannah to wear her bridle for the first time to help her move around the center. The training starts a few days after being born. Bridles are the headgear the horses wear. Their purpose is to help direct horses by the trainer.
“It’s a joy to see all their different personalities, and I can’t wait to watch them grow up,” said Herrera.
The foals get to learn how to be horses on their own for the first few years of their lives in a controlled, natural environment at CPP. They grow up in the pasture 24/7 with other pregnant mares, while receiving all the nutrients from the pasture.
When the foals turn 2 1/2 years old, they are moved to the barn to begin their training, which includes learning to be respectful to people, understand boundaries and manners, according to Ogburn.
Ogburn is one of the trainers who oversees their formal training, such as learning how to lunge, exercise, wear a saddle and wear a bridle. Soon after, she will ride them and teach them their under-saddle training.
During training, she can see what their strengths are and how to be successful in areas that they can excel in.
Ogburn said horses can communicate by responding to a human’s energy. When she is training a horse, she cannot involve her emotions. If a horse feels negative energy, they often are affected and become hesitant to trust the individual.
“I might ride eight horses in a day, and I have to center myself,” Ogburn said. “I can’t bring my baggage from the last horse I rode to the next.”
At the age of 3, and with training, some horses are sold at a public auction called the Arabian Horse Time . The prices can vary from $25,000 to $100,000. Others become show horses and continue their training to compete in competitions professionally, or they become pets
The money that comes from the auction goes back to the horse stables, such as buying hay, shavings and covering operational costs, including the salaries of 15-25 students.
“Working here is better than any office job or anything you can get on campus,” said Clare Corley, an agriculture business student who works at the horse center. “It’s a pretty invaluable experience.”
Foal season isn’t over yet. There are four more expected in February and two in April. Students interested in catching a glimpse of the new foals can keep an eye out for the foal pole or plan a visit to the horse center.
“We love to have visitors, and we want to share the moms and the babies with the whole campus,” said Herrera. “They really do belong to all of us.”
The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center is recognized as Building 29 on campus, which is located across from Parking Structure 1. The center is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Feature image courtesy of Bren Belmonte
