From Staff Reports
MACON — The 15th Annual Georgia 4-H Benefit Horse Auction will be held Saturday, April 25, in Athens, at the University of Georgia Livestock Instructional Arena located at 2550 South Milledge Ave. The auction is being held in conjunction with a benefit sale for the UGA Equine Science Program. The combined sale is being promoted as the Annual Bulldog Bonanza Benefit Horse Sale.
The 4-H auction, co-sponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, will begin at noon. Horses may be viewed beginning at 9 a.m. “All proceeds from the sale will be used to benefit the Georgia 4-H Horse Program and horse research conducted by the University of Georgia,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. “This annual auction is a great way for horse lovers to support Georgia 4-Hers and research that benefits all of Georgia’s horse owners.”
Horses to be sold through the 4-H sale include geldings and mares ranging in age from two to 17 years. All, but one have been broke to ride. Most are experienced trail horses and some have cattle experience. Two of the mares have been used as hunt seat lesson ponies.
4-H’ers from across the state benefit from the auction proceeds. The money helps fund the Georgia 4-H Horse School and 4-H Horse Shows to keep entrance fees for the 4-Hers low despite rising expenses. Funds also help the Georgia Horse Quiz Bowl Team attend the national competition.
Research studies funded through auction funds have explored how Vitamin E supplements affect the immunity of foals, the effects of feeding perennial peanut hay to horses, the effects of feeding conjugated linoleic acid on the fat deposition of mares and how early prepubertal castration affects the growth and behavior of colts. UGA students benefit from the auction as well, with funds being used to help underwrite the cost of care for animals in the UGA Equine Science program, giving the students an opportunity for hands-on learning.
For a complete list and description of the horses to be auctioned, contact Dr. Gary Heusner, University of Georgia Equine Specialist, at HYPERLINK "mailto:gheusner@uga.edu" gheusner@uga.edu or (706) 542-9092 or Dr. Kari Turner at HYPERLINK "mailto:kturner@uga.edu" kturner@uga.edu or (706) 542-8588.
“The Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Committee has supported this event for the past fourteen years because it’s an excellent way to raise funds for 4-H horse activities and for research our horse industry in Georgia desperately needs,” GFB Equine Committee Chairman Danny Hogan said. “Dr. Gary Heusner is good about telling folks exactly what they’re getting, pros and cons, and this is one of the things that keep people coming back as repeat customers.”
