Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm

Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm
By TAMMY A. GANTT AND CHARLOTTE BRUNSON
he Second Chances Farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute
near Ocala held their first-ever open house on March 8. The
event was sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ &
Owners’ Association, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Thoroughbred Charities and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
T
“The open house was an opportunity for the community, not just
people who participate in the equestrian realm, the chance to come
view the hard work and effort the program participants put into the
horses and the stables.” Misty Cash, Department of Corrections
communication director said. “They work hard and the open house
Inmate Evelyn Spillman who has been in the
program assigned to millionaire stakes winner
Shake You Down. She shared her experience of
going to prison at age 16 and how much she has
changed in the last 5 years thanks to working with the
horses and the feeling of having purpose because she
knows her horse counts on her daily.
2 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013
TAMMY GANTT PHOTOS
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013 3
SECOND
CHANCE
FTBOA &
TRF Second
Chance Farm
Two horses showcased
at the open house were
Song of Greatness and
Kiss My Vanny.
was a great opportunity for residents of Marion County
and beyond to see the girls work, how beautiful the
horses are and how well the facilities are maintained.
We hope the community feels welcome to visit the
farm and ask us any questions they may have about
the program and how they can become involved.”
Activities included demonstrations with adoptable
horses, tours of the 100 acre farm, visits with inmates
Dawn Driggers, Shannon
Reiger and Erika Martin,
all graduates of the program shared their touching experiences on how
being placed at the farm
during their stay increased
their success upon leaving prison. (above)
4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013
and the horses to which they are assigned, and a luncheon provided by the vocational culinary program of
the correctional institute. Speakers included the Annual Fund Director for the Thoroughbred Retirement
Foundation Lisa Craig, long-time program advocate
and warden Gustavo Mazorra and Kim Southerland,
region 2 director for Florida’s Department of Corrections. Also, speaking were current program student
Evelyn Spillman and program graduates Dawn Driggers, Shannon Reiger and Erika Martin.
Craig - who scheduled the event along with FTBOA’s
Retired Thoroughbred Committee - hoped to bring
awareness of the farm’s success, the ongoing challenge
of placing horses and need for continued funding.
None realized the emotional impact the event would
have on participants and program students long after the
event was over. Part of that was due to touching moments that program students shared. Evelyn Spillman
shared her experience with retiree Shake You Down. Before she met the horse, she had felt she had no purpose
and wondered why she should even get up each day.
After being with the horse a short time, Spillman realized there was someone who looked forward to seeing
her every day and needed her. This alone gave her purpose. Upon her graduation this Fall, she will be working
on a horse farm and she credits the program for it.
The now decade-old program was the first of its
kind in the country to pair female inmates with retired
racehorses. The program was implemented to teach offenders of non-violent crimes vocational training and
life skills while working with retired racehorses. During
the program, female inmates are responsible for the
grooming, feeding, vet care and therapy for each of the
42 horses that currently reside there. Ideally, the inmates
work with the horses until the horses are able to be
adopted into new homes and begin new careers. While
working with the horses, learning horse care and growing a passion to nurture, the female inmates can graduate with an Equine Care Technology certification.
The successful completion of the year-long program
FAMOUS RESIDENTS
Three famous residents reside permanently at the farm.
The oldest horse on the farm is 24 year-old Carterista. He is
affectionately called the “old man” by
participants. He won over 50 races in
102 starts. Carterista was the 1993
Florida Champion Turf horse, he was
Carterista (above) and honored at Calder’s Festival of the Sun in
Shake You Down (below) 2003. The horse received a standing
ovation upon his appearance at the
track. Shake You Down is a 13 year old
Hemingway’s Key
chestnut gelding that was named the
2003 Florida Champion Sprinter and winner of nearly $1.5
million. The grade II winner had 65 career starts. Hemingway’s Key is a chestnut horse that placed third in the 2006
Preakness Stakes and is ten years old.
includes around 20 written tests, overseen by John Evans,
the Vocational Teacher. Evans is a lifelong horseman who
keeps the entire program on track while teaching students
as many skills as possible during their incarceration.
Evans says “It’s amazing to see the change come over
the students as they go through the program. This is great
rehabilitation. The students’ work ethics grow strong, and
they learn all about horses and how to care for them.”
Upon release, former offenders have the option to apply
their polished equine skills to find employment in the
Lowell Program Director
John Evans (above)
Lisa Craig, Thoroughbred
Retirement Foundations
Annual Fund Director (inset
at left), greets the crowd of
over 100 visitors to the
Lowell Correctional Institute Second Chances
Farm, funded by the
Florida Thoroughbred
Charities and managed
with the FTBOA.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013 5
SECOND FTBOA & TRF
CHANCE Second Chance Farm
DONATING CHECK-LIST
The farm typically has a waiting list for incoming thoroughbreds.
To join the list, the following apply:
■ Must be a Florida-bred thoroughbred
■ Recently raced at a Florida track
■ Retired due to age or physical condition
■ A donation is requested along with the horse when accepted
A few resources for horses that do not fit the criteria
■ Visit the website http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/ for their Own Responsibly
booklet and placement resources (separate story this issue)
■ Contact the FTBOA at 352-629-2160 or [email protected] for suggestions
“
The FTBOA believes the care and support of retired Thoroughbreds is a common sense responsibility
shared by all who participate in the racing and breeding industry. What makes our particular program different at Lowell Correctional Institute is that it also cares for and heals people as well as horses. That is an
awesome combination. The FTBOA and our charitable arm, the Florida Thoroughbred Charities (FTC), is
proud of the role we play with this unique farm. —Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President of FTBOA & FTC
”
equine industry. To date, 80 women have completed the
program with only two returning to prison. This success
rate of keeping graduates out of prison is unparalleled.
Cash attributes the success to the connection the participants have with the horses. She said, “They spend six
to eight hours a day, seven days a week feeding, grooming and maintaining the stables. They study college level
course work in addition to all the physical work they do
FTBOA CFO Caroline
Davis (below left) shares
her vision with Department of Corrections Communications Director
Misty Cash.
6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013
each day. Their participation is a true commitment on their
part. With all of that hard work, the girls come out of the
program and have the skills and the confidence to go into
the equestrian world and compete for employment.”
While Florida DOC provides the land and labor at
no cost and the FTBOA supports the farm’s horse care
expenses and equipment through its charitable arm,
The Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the biggest challenge is funding.
“The program operates with funding based on funds
for one vocational teacher. All of the things like feed, hay,
equipment, etc. are acquired through donations and partnerships with Florida Thoroughbred Charities and are the
only way the program is able to continue,” said Cash.
To make a monetary donation, donation of services
or equipment, or to set up an endowment to assist in
funding the program, contact the Florida Thoroughbred
Charities at 352-629-2160, email at [email protected] or
write 801 SW 60th Avenue, Ocala FL 34474. ■