Horse Teaching Unit
The University of Florida Department of Animal Sciences operates the Horse Teaching Unit three miles south of campus. This 65 acre farm is being developed to teach the Equine student many aspects of the industry with a hands-on practicality. The wide range of exposure includes breeding, training, marketing, farm management and health care. The HTU site also serves as a location for Extension functions such as judging contests and horsemanship clinics.
Facilities
- 120' x 300' Outdoor Arena.
- Reproduction barn/laboratory with three palpation chutes, collection phantom, 2 stalls and bleachers.
- T-barn with 12 stalls, office and restrooms.
- Mare and foal feeding barn with 10 stalls.
- Housing for six student employees.
- Hay storage barn.
- Equipment storage barn.
- Three one acre stallion paddocks.
- Forty acres of bermuda and bahia pasture.
- Five Round Pens.
- Horse Walker.
Horses
The HTU maintains a primarily Quarter Horse based teaching herd numbering around 45 head. Offspring from this herd are trained by the students, and sold in the Sealed Bid Sale held each spring. Occasional fillies are kept as replacements. The farm also stands three Quarter Horse stallions that are bred to UF and outside mares. All income generated through the sale of horses or stallion services is utilized by the farm for maintenance and improvements.
Courses
Classes held at the HTU include:
- Equine Health Management
- Foal Imprinting & Handling
- Weanling Handling
- Farrier Science Practicum
- Thoroughbred Yearling Sales Preparation
- Horse Psychology and Training I & II
- Techniques in Equine Science
- Techniques in Horse Reproduction
- Lab sections for additional Animal Science classes
Course descriptions and any online information may be found on the Undergraduate Courses page.
Contact Details & Hours
1934 SW 63rd Avenue,
Gainesville, FL 32608
Phone: (352) 376-0562 / Fax: (352) 376-2058
Email: htu@animal.ufl.edu
Farm Manager: Justin Callaham (352) 538-3560
Faculty Supervisor: Joel McQuagge (352) 392-6363
Normal business hours: 9am-4pm Monday to Friday
Visitors welcomed by appointment only.
Driving Directions
From I-75 North or South: Take exit 382 (old exit 74), Williston Road, and travel east to the first traffic light. Turn right (south) on SW 34th Street and proceed approximately 2 miles. (You will pass the Farm Bureau Building, go around a curve to the left, then about another mile.) The entrance to the farm is on the left and has a small blue "University of Florida - Horse Teaching Unit" sign in front. The driveway runs between two private homes and the covered arena is straight ahead. Park in the lot to the right just before the arena.
From 441 North or South: west on SW 63 Ave. beside Prairie Dental Clinic. This will be the Southernmost road intersecting 441 after crossing Payne’s Prairie (or the last road before the Prairie if coming from the north). The farm is about 0.3 miles west of 441 on the right and has a small blue "University of Florida - Horse Teaching Unit" sign in front. The driveway runs between two private homes and the covered arena is straight ahead. Park in the lot to the right just before the arena.
