TRF Second Chances Program | Horse Racing Free Tips

TRF Blackburn Horse Show Highlights Impact Of TRF Second Chances Program

Building on the success of the 20th Anniversary TRF Blackburn Horse Show hosted in 2019, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and the Blackburn Correctional Complex (BCC) will host the TRF Blackburn 2020 Horse Show. A global audience will tune in to experience a compelling demonstration of horse-handling skills, equine knowledge and the transformational impact of the TRF Second Chances Program.

Event Details

Tuesday, October 20, 2020
8 p.m. Eastern Time (one hour duration)
Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter (Thoroughbred Retirement accounts)
No Tickets or RSVP Required; details can be found here

About the Horse Show

“Last year, we welcomed the Lexington community to Blackburn to see the men and horses of the TRF Second Chances Program “in action” and the response was extraordinary,” Paul Saylor, Chairman of the TRF Blackburn Advisory Committee said. “This year we've re-imagined the Horse Show and will make the experience accessible to individuals across the country and around the world.”

“The awareness and understanding created by the 2019 Horse Show has had a powerfully positive impact on the TRF Second Chances Program at Blackburn,” shared Acting Warden Abby McIntire. “By bringing employers and business leaders to meet the men and horses at the Second Chances barn last November, we have significantly improved the impact of the program on the long-term future of the offenders in our program. We are optimistic about the impact of this year's event, and hope it will inspire even more engagement in the program across Kentucky and the country.”

As a direct result of the 20th Anniversary Horse Show, three graduates of the TRF Second Chances program have received job offers from employers in the equine industry. Thus far in 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19, two program graduates have completed their sentences at BCC and re-entered society with jobs in hand. These men will share their stories within the TRF Blackburn 2020 Horse Show program.

A Collaborative Cross-Industry Effort

Notable support from Horse Show Media Sponsor, the Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN), and Workforce Development and Promotional Partners, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), have contributed meaningfully to the 2020 Horse Show. The TDN editorial team has undertaken the filming and production of the live-action demonstrations and interviews which will be presented on October 20th via Livestream. This in-kind support has made the 2020 Horse Show possible. Meanwhile, the Horse Show Workforce Development Partner, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (through the work of the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center and KEEP) has facilitated invaluable connections with employers across the Commonwealth of Kentucky to promote fair chance hiring in the workplace and connect Kentucky's returning citizens with meaningful employment.

Sponsorship for the Horse Show directly supports the care of the 49 horses residing at the program at Blackburn. The 2020 Horse Show has been generously sponsored by Mary and Gary West, the Heider Family Foundation with supporting sponsorship from Churchill Downs, Godolphin and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

More than fifty Promotional Partners have joined the TRF to promote the 2020 Horse Show to their audiences. Several partners will be cross-posting the livestream event on their websites on October 20th and more than a dozen “watch parties” have been scheduled across the country and around the globe. This diverse team of individuals, nonprofits, membership organizations, racing partnerships and businesses are expanding the reach of the livestreaming event to more than 250,000 people through their social media networks.

Promotional Partners include: America's Pastime Stables, Amplify Horse Racing, Belmont Child Care Association, Bergen Stables, Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, Community Ecology Institute, Dark Horse Mercantile, Denali Stud, DV8 Kitchen, Fasig-Tipton, The Fletcher Group, Florida Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association (FTBOA), Groom Elite, Herringswell Stables, Horse Country, Impressions of Saratoga, Jaeger 2, Joanne Y. Pierce Fine Art, Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC), Lex on Tap, Making Strides Therapeutic Horsemanship, Inc., Maryland Horse Council, Maryland Equine Transition Services (METS), Midway University, New York Racing Association (NYRA), New York Horsemen's Association, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Old Smoke Clothing Co., Pierce the HeArt Lessons, Rainbow's End Racing Stable, Renaissance Equestrian Foundation, Retired Racehorse Project (RRP), Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Semper Fortis Financial LLC, Spy Coast Farm, Stable Duel, Starlight Racing and StarLadies, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), Thoroughbred Charities of America, VisitLex, WinStar Stablemates and numerous passionate individuals are also spreading the word to their personal and professional networks.

Additional awareness raising has been provided by Horse Show Media Partners including At the Races with Steve Byk, The Daily Racing Form (DRF), The Equiery, Equidaily.com, Going in Circles Podcast, Horse Racing Nation, In the Money Media, Past the Wire, StreamHorseTV, The Paulick Report, Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) and Wire to Wire.

Second Chances Farm Manager Heidi Richards Made the Program Happen and is Awarded by CA

Heidi Richards is a lifelong horsewoman and rancher. She grew up riding, and at age 16, began working at a Thoroughbred training center. Since that time, Richards has re-trained and transitioned more than 100 off-track Thoroughbreds.

When Richards moved to Coalinga, California, a city in Fresno County and the western San Joaquin Valley, for college, she began a 10-year career at Harris Farms where she worked in every aspect of the breeding and training of Thoroughbreds. Her career on the farm ended when Richards began to feel conflicted about the long hours at work away from her child.

“It was breeding season and my son was three and I was working 100-hour weeks,” said Richards. “I really wanted to be a hands-on mom, so I needed to make a change. The only place close by that paid well was the prison. I planned on staying at the prison for 10 years and then going back into horses.”

That was 17 years ago. Since making the transition, Richards has been a full-time correctional officer at the Pleasant Valley State Prison. Not long into her career, Richards began to think about ways to help the inmates break the on-going cycle of recidivism.

“I started asking them why they keep coming back,” said Richards. “The answer was always that they didn’t know anything else in life.”

That got Richards thinking about a horse program. Her first idea was to start a program for mustangs, but it required permanent fencing and more space than she had. In her research she found the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Second Chances Program.

“When I found the TRF program, I immediately starting calling them and working with my superiors to get it done,” said Richards. “I had the support, but not the funding.”

Richards did not give up and found an opportunity through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Innovative Programming Grants in California Prisons program. Richards met with West Hills Community College District and worked tirelessly to put together a unique partnership and secured a three-year grant for $300,776.

“It was a dream come true after four years and 10 months of hard work,” said Richards. “Of the 52 grants issued, they said that this one was the best one. That is because the program is so good. It is also an excellent example of private-public partnership because I couldn’t have done it without the support from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Second Chance Program, Harris Farms Horse Division, and West Hills Community College.”

Pivot now to a horse program in a prison in the California hills. The entire structure: paddocks, barns, classroom etc., are all within the high security fence. In other TRF programs, the horse farms are outside of the fence and sometimes a short drive away. In those programs, at least one extra security person is needed to oversee the inmates. This can cost more than $50,000 to $75,000 per year. Therefore, having the program within the security fence saves the prison money. There is another interesting benefit to this set-up.

“Other inmates can watch the program and see the horses from a safe distance,” said Reid McLellan of The Elite Program, who provides Richard’s curriculum and teaching tools as he does for other Second Chances facilities. “The Second Chances program in California is unique in a number of ways. The Groom Elite Program course is actually taught through West Hills Community College, which allows participants to receive college credit. The arid climate presents unique challenges requiring more hands-on care plus management techniques used by horse farms in that area. And, Harris Farm provides ongoing support plus sends horses for rehabilitation if necessary and retraining.”

“Richards, a certified Second Chances Groom Elite instructor, is a very accomplished horsewoman and rancher that brings a great perspective about people and livestock to this program. Kudos to her for making this happen and providing another model whereby Thoroughbreds and people in need are brought together.”

The results reported so far are positive in every respect.

“I am constantly amazed at how all 15 men are so moved by the horses,” said Richards. “I have their complete attention at all times and they take their responsibilities very seriously.”

The program is 18 weeks long with five horses and 15 men. One graduate is assigned to feeding the horses on weekends and overseeing their care when Richards is off.

On July 8, Richards was named the 2020 Correctional Officer of the Year by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for her effort in spearheading the Pleasant Valley State Prison Equestrian Program.

To learn more about the TRF’s Second Chances Programs, go to www.trfinc.org.

The post Second Chances Farm Manager Heidi Richards Made the Program Happen and is Awarded by CA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

TRF to Host BBQ at the Barn Fundraiser

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will host a re-imagined “TRF BBQ at the Barn” summer fundraiser on Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Saratoga Winery.

This year’s BBQ will be carry-out with a twist. Guests will drive thru the grounds to enjoy a “TRF Experience” with miniature ponies, racing celebrities, goodies for the kids, and a special appearance by Joey, the TRF Herd Ambassador, who will be returning to Saratoga from the TRF Second Chances Program at Wallkill.

The event will feature food from Barnsider BBQ in Lake George; a TRF Specialty cocktail created by the Winery; and locally made pies from Mourningkill Bake Shop. Items will be individually ordered online for carryout. Proceeds from the event will benefit the hundreds of TRF horses in the organization’s national herd.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome back the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation for their summer fundraiser this year,” Amy Greth, Event Director at The Saratoga Winery, said. “Last year’s BBQ was a great success for the foundation and we are honored they chose us to host again. It has been very exciting working with TRF over the past few months to come up with creative ways to keep the momentum going. We look forward to hosting this event to benefit retired racehorses.”

Tickets and donation options available by visiting the TRF website at https://www.trfinc.org/event/bbq-at-the-barn-2020/.

The post TRF to Host BBQ at the Barn Fundraiser appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post