Wrightsville, Pa. Student Instrumental in Bringing New Stallion to College Equine Center

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Festrausch, with Brittany Callahan, at Cazenovia College’s Equine Education Center in Cazenovia, N.Y. Photo by John Seiter.

CAZENOVIA, NY (12/16/2010)(readMedia)-- Festrausch (Florestan-Carprilli), a 1994 Westfalen stallion from Hilltop Farm in Colora, Md., recently arrived at Cazenovia College, where he will be involved in teaching students at the Equine Education Center, standing at stud for the College's breeding program and for breeders throughout the Central New York region and beyond.

Brittany Callahan, of Wrightsville, Pa., is a senior in the Equine Business Management Program. During her internship at Hilltop Farms in the summer of 2010, she was entrusted with finding a new home for Festrausch. She says, "Festrausch makes a lasting impression - he is an elegant stallion with a sweet personality. During my internship many of his breeders commented that this is one of the reasons they choose Festrausch for their breeding programs."

She continues, "I did a lot of research online to find out about other institutions' breeding programs, but then I discovered that my own program was considering taking on a new stallion. I was very excited that this special horse from my internship could be part of Cazenovia College's breeding program."

"The excellence of our Equine Business Management program is demonstrated not only by the wonderful placements our internship students are able to obtain," says Barb Lindberg ,associate professor and director of Cazenovia College's Equine Business Management Program, "but also by the donation of superb horses such as Festrausch from some of the leaders of the equine industry."

Festrausch is approved for breeding with ISR/Oldenburg NA, GOV, and Westfalen. The stallion's pedigree represents an elite mix of dressage and jumping bloodlines, and the generous nature, confident attitude, and his offspring exhibit their sire's expressive, elastic movement.

Carol Buckhout, assistant professor of Equine Business Management, instructs several courses in the breeding program, and also coordinates internship placements for students in the Equine Business Management Program. She says, "We are pleased that Hilltop Farm placed Festrausch at our College when they needed time and room for the young stallions coming into their showing and breeding program. We have been very fortunate to stand quality stallions at our College. Adding a stallion like Festrausch to our program continues and advances this trend. He is a magnificent animal and we are all very excited to offer him to the public for the 2011 breeding season."

Natalie DiBeradinis, general manager and breeding manager of Hilltop Farm, Inc., notes that Festrausch's "bloodlines, incredible movement, and elegant type stood him apart, and it is the movement and character he passes to his offspring that have made many of his breeders very loyal to him over the years."

DiBeradinis continues, "We've had a wonderful association with Cazenovia for many years through their internship programs, and Hilltop Farm appreciates the quality of education they are providing to our future professionals. Their facility is top-notch and with the retirement of their current stallion, we knew they needed an exceptional stallion to bring additional focus and opportunities to their program."

For information about Cazenovia College's Equine Business Management program, contact Barbara Lindberg at 315-655-7212, or e-mail belindberg@cazenovia.edu. For additional information about the College's breeding program and about Festrausch, contact Carol Buckhout at 315-655-7133, or e-mail cbuckhout@cazenovia.edu.

Photo:  Festrausch, with Brittany Callahan, at Cazenovia College's Equine Education Center in Cazenovia, N.Y. Photo by John Seiter.

Cazenovia College, named one of "America's Best Colleges" by US News & World Report, is an independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college, located near Syracuse, N.Y. Cazenovia College offers a comprehensive liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu.

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