New program rehabilitates horses, inmates together
By Laura Petersen
Advocate Staff Writer
Published: Monday, June 1, 2009 1:59 PM EDTInmates are making a safe bet on their futures by learning how to rehabilitate retired racehorses at the recently-unveiled Second Chances Farm in Sykesville.
“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man,” said Maryland Horse Breeders Association President James Steele, who helped launch Second Chances Farm.
“Caring for an animal can soften [an inmate’s] demeanor, which will transfer over when they deal with people on the outside,” he said. Located on Slacks Road in Sykesville, Second Chances Farm is a joint effort of the New York-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Central Maryland Correctional Facility, formerly the Central Laundry Facility.
The Foundation’s inmate-staffed horse rescue programs currently exist in 13 states, but this is the first program of its kind in Maryland, said Diana Pikulski, executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.An equine-rescue group, TRF has been working since 1982 to sponsor programs to teach prisoners to care for horses.
Inmates are taught an extensive curriculum ranging from basic equine-handling skills to the evolution and anatomy of horses, Pikulski said. The program takes six months to complete and includes both classroom and hands-on instruction.
Working with horses can teach inmates how to be compassionate and patient, Pikulski said.
“You can’t use anger or aggression to get a horse to cooperate with you because it’s going to have the opposite reaction,” she said. “For some of these guys, the only way they can make it in their world is to be the toughest guy, and they have to completely rethink that.”
Inmates are not the only ones given a second chance at the Sykesville farm. Each rescued horse may have been at risk for slaughter.
Every year, between 40,000-60,000 horses are exported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. While there are no slaughterhouses in America, the demand for horse meat exists in other countries, Pikulski said.
Saving thoroughbreds doesn’t mean taxpayer dollars spent, though, which is a concern for citizens at this time, said Del. Susan Krebs, R-District 9B.
“The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation pays for all the feed, the vet bills, the training,” she said. “It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
The Foundation even hoofed the $30,000 bill for the renovations to the barn on the 80 acres of property where the farm sits. The inmates provided the labor.
It costs about $4 a day to house and care for one horse, Pikulski said, which is also continuously funded by the Foundation.
Rehabilitated horses never return to racing, but they can become polo, 4-H or fox-hunting horses, she said.
“They are such good pets, they like people,” Pikulski said with a laugh. “They’re always the first ones at the fence to be pet.”
Warden William O. Filbert Jr., who oversees the Maryland Division of Correction Pre-release system, said inmates must be at a minimum security level and show interest in the program to be considered.
About five inmates expressed interest in the program, he said, and three are currently working at the farm finishing renovations. When the program begins, inmates will spend 6-8 hours each day, for five days a week at the farm.
“I think they’re very excited,” he said. “It’s a good program that gives inmates something to do and pick up on some skills.”
Ideally, 10 to 15 inmates would work with about 30 horses when the farm is completed, Filbert said.
Program participant Alan Daniels said he has enjoyed renovating the barn because he worked in carpentry prior to his arrest.
“It cuts my time down,” he said. “I’ve learned more carpentry skills.”
Fellow program participant Donnie Goodman said being around horses reminds him of his adolescent years.
“I’ve been around horses since I was 15 years old because my family owned racehorses,” he said. “It makes me want to get back into it.”
Reach staff writer Laura Petersen at 410-857-3317 or laura.petersen@eldersburgadvocate.com.