CHARITY AUCTION FEATURES HORSE, MIXED-BREED PUP.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - A thoroughbred horse and a mixed-breed puppy are among auction items available Saturday at the annual Elks Lodge Roast to benefit the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center.

Still, Cheryl Laymon, executive director of the health center, joked Thursday that the evening will provide much more than a ``dog and pony show.''

``We've never had animals before, but they can be popular items,'' Laymon said. ``We're going to give that horse and puppy a nice home, and we're going to make some money for the clinic doing it.''

The horse up for bid is Prussian Knight, a 4-year-old thoroughbred gelding donated by Jack Hibard Thoroughbreds. Until the auction, the sweet-tempered animal is being boarded at the home of Rolf Gustafsson, a Val Verde horse trainer and breeder.

``He's a very nice horse. He's got a wonderful temperament - I wouldn't be afraid to have a child ride him or start a beginner on him,'' Gustafsson said.

The horse will make someone a good trail horse or could be used for jumping or dressage. With training, Prussian Knight could be entered in competitions, Gustafsson said.

At 16.3 hands (or 67 inches) Prussian Knight is larger than average, but Gustafsson has no idea what he could fetch at the auction.

``With auctions, you never know. But he's wonderful, and he'll make a good horse no matter what you do with him,'' he said.

Ryan McMullen of Dances with Hooves has donated the first horseshoeing to the lucky winning bidder. To see the horse before the auction, call Gina Nordenstrom at [phone] to set up an appointment.

With the help of the Castaic Animal Shelter, a male mixed-breed puppy will also be available at the auction. The puppy will come to its new owner with current shots, a microchip in place to assist if it ever becomes lost, and will be neutered.

Lisa Pope of Stevenson Ranch Veterinary is offering a wellness checkup and personality profile of the puppy to the new owner, and Pet Supply will donate a puppy crate.

Other items available at the sold-out event include a seven-day Royal Caribbean Cruise for two to Alaska, a signed script from the television show ``CSI,'' and a baseball bat autographed by former Los Angeles Dodger and 1988 World Series hero Kirk Gibson.

Last year's Elk's Roast and auction raised $57,000 for the health center, which serves patients on a sliding-fee scale. Laymon hopes that with the addition of animals and other unusual auction items that this year's event will raise at least $60,000. All contributions go to patient care at the health center's three local health clinics.

``We serve people without insurance, so we look to groups like the Elks to help us out,'' Laymon said. ``We offer primary care based on the person's ability to pay.

``Not having money should not be an obstacle to getting health care.''

Sharon Cotal, [phone]

sharon.cotal(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color -- ran in SAC edition only) Gina Nordenstrom leads Prussian Knight, a 4-year-old thoroughbred, donated for Saturday's auction to benefit the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer