As the sun beats down on the muddy terrain, with a simple wooden fence being the only thing separating you from the unbroken horses bred and raised at the ISU Horse Farm, it’s hard not to feel some excitement.

The ISU Horse Farm is home to 50 horses of various breeds. Some of those breeds include quarter and thoroughbred horses, many of which are sold to trainers around the nation so they may eventually be entered in races.

Codi Burris, manager of the horse farm, said all of the horses are sold as yearlings, and last year, Iowa State bred and sold eight thoroughbred horses. This year, they are hoping to sell as many as 20.

The Department of Animal Science plans to keep breeding and selling constant numbers for the next few years until enough money can be raised to build a new facility.

“We’re at capacity,” Burris said.

She estimated the cost of re-building would be at least $500,000.

She’s Better Loud, an ISU-bred horse, won a stakes race May 31 at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Des Moines. Many of the ISU-bred horses can be seen racing in events Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Prairie Meadows.

Some of the horses to watch for include Brava Darby, Bravo Cyclone, Cycloneontheoasis and Playful Raja.

Burris said she follows the horses and travels to Prairie Meadows often to watch the horses race.

Although the names may seem strange and out of the ordinary, there is a reason each horse was given its name.

“It’s whatever sounds good,” Burris said. “We try to look at the pedigree and try to find something catchy and classy”.

The horses can be seen during the day at the ISU Horse Farm on the corner of University Boulevard and Stange Road.

Although the fences allow spectators to be close to the horses, they are untrained, and therefore warning signs are posted.

Visit prairiemeadows.com for information on horse racing, dates and times.