UConn hosts sale of rescued horses

Mares, stallions and colts will all be offered for sale at the University of Connecticut on  Saturday, Nov. 21.

The state Department of Agriculture Horse Rescue Unit will conduct its annual Equine Rescue Horse Auction that day.

The event - which will take place at the Horse Barn Hill Arena - starts at 10 a.m. with a preview of the horses up for auction.

The auction begins at 1 p.m.

Area residents and horse lovers who attend the event have the chance to bid on the following animals:

• 14 miniature horses: three stallions, nine mares and two colts.
• One Arab mare.
• One Morab mare.
• Six university-owned horses.
• Four goats.
• Seven quarter horses (including one gelding).

All the animals available for auction have been rehabilitated by state officials at the department’s rescue barn at the Gates Correctional Facility in Niantic.

Since the barn’s construction in 2003, approximately 125 horses have been rehabilitated and sold by the state.

The animals offered for sale have been at the rescue barn and are completely rehabilitated back to a healthy condition.

All will have current health certificates, negative Coggins tests and have recently been fully vaccinated. Records are available upon request.

Funds raised during the event will benefit the Animal Abuse Cost Recovery Account to help offset the expenses occurred by rehabilitating the horses.

To view the animals before Saturday’s auction visit www.ct.gov/doag. The Web site includes a link to the specific horses available for sale. For more information on the event, call the state’s Animal Control Officer Linda Wenner at 1-860-713-2567.