Many opportunities are available for students wishing to learn independently under the supervision of Mike Lund or Dr. Matt Burd. Special projects such as halter fitting foals, performing studies, assisting enterprise project members, exercising Cal Poly mares and stallions and other miscellaneous work at the Equine Center is eligible for credits from the university under the special problems courses (ASCI 200 and 400).
Each year, the Ranch Horse Enterprise receives horses to sell at the annual Ranch Horse Sale in May. Due to the time commitment required for each member to give the appropriate amount of attention, training and care to their horses, members are assigned a limit of two horses. These horses are usually the Cal Poly two year-olds that will be started in January. As the year progresses, older, started horses are donated to the project for the sale and at this point the project begins to look for student riders willing to put in the time to sales prep and exercise the horses. These students will ride the extra horses (the number varies each year) for the duration of the project and will sell their horse in the sale alongside the project members.
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 Each year a few students are selected to work with Cal Poly foals before and after weaning, to facilitate easy handling of the young horses. This handling will prepare the foals for vaccinations, doctoring if needed, and eventual training as two year-olds.
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The stallions at the Equine Center are assigned a student handler who is responsible for cleaning their pen, bathing and grooming the stallions to keep them looking good for breeding season, and in some cases, riding them to keep them in shape. The students selected for these positions are those who have completed many courses and enterprises at the Equine Center and are well known by the instructors. The position requires a competent and skilled handler/rider who is confident around stallions.
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 During Spring Quarter, applications become available and are accepted for Equine Center resident positions. The Equine Center has room for four residents who are hired and paid by Cal Poly Foundation as caretakers of the facility and the horses. The duration of the position is one year. The selected students pay a minimal monthly rent for the room at the center and are paid hourly for their work at the facility. The students are responsible for the daily feeding of all of the horses at the Equine Center and the maintenance and cleaning of the entire facility. A list of duties for a resident is as follows:
- Feeding
- Tractor Work
- Scraping and cleaning stalls and runs
- Doctoring injured horses
- Assisting foaling
- Setting up and monitoring irrigation
- Facility maintenance
- Supervising volunteer horse unit workday
- Any other general health care or responsibilities required by Cal Poly horses and outside horses.
The year spent as a resident at the Equine Center is an extremely valuable experience that provides experience with the responsibility of managing a horse farm. Students gain valuable skills required for caring for a large herd of horses and the aspects of breeding, training and health needed to successfully maintain a horse facility.
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 Student volunteer with hoarseThe Equine Center has numerous opportunities for students to get involved without being formally registered in a class, a member of an enterprise or employed by the Equine Center. Volunteer work such as feeding, cleaning, preparation for events and general horse-care assistance are vital to the success of the Equine Center. Volunteer work is a valuable way to gain a foundation of knowledge and skills required for the enterprise projects and employment positions at the Equine Center. Volunteers are welcome to approach the Equine Center residents at any time. The atmosphere is educational and fun and the help is appreciated. The volunteer work is a great way to get involved as a freshman or transfer student at the Cal Poly Equine Center. Information about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities is available at Cutting and Reining Club meetings.
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Cutting and Reining Club
Cal Poly Equestrian Team
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Open Horse Shows
 Equestrian jumping over fenceThe Equine Center hosts multiple open schooling shows that are available to everyone. The shows are affordable and include Western and English riding classes. Students and local riders are encouraged to enter. The events raise money for the Cutting and Reining Club and the Cal Poly Equestrian Team.
Ranch Hourse Sale
The Ranch Horse Sale,held in late spring, is a fun-filled event, offering quality Cal Poly bred and donated ranch horses for sale. The auction is accompanied by a sale preview and a delicious Tri-tip barbeque that offers potential buyers a chance to view the sale horses under saddle and to speak with trainers and handlers. The horses are trained and sold by the Cal Poly Ranch Horse Enterprise students who have spent five months planning and preparing for the sale. Please see the enterprise section for more information about the enterprise itself.
Clinics
Depending upon availability, the Equine Center hosts various clinics thoughout the year with industry professionals. Past clinics featured a broad range of professionals, including dressage and hunter jumper trainers, nutrition specialists, veterinarians, breeding managers, western pleasure trainers, working cow horse trainers and many others. The Cutting and Reining Club hosts the clinics and the cost of each varies from free to minimal charges for participation.
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