MONROE
TOWNSHIP - New Jersey Attorney General
Peter C. Harvey today announced a new
partnership between the New Jersey Juvenile
Justice Commission (JJC), the Standardbred
Retirement Foundation (SRF), and Rutgers
- The State University at the JJC’s
New Jersey Training School (NJTS). The
new equestrian program will teach social
skills and horsemanship to the juvenile
residents and is expected to be a nationwide
model seeking to protect retired racehorses
from slaughter, while instructing youth
in equestrian related careers.
“The
racing and equine industry in New Jersey
is a thriving and vital employment sector.
The partnership announced today between
the JJC, SRF, and Rutgers opens many doors
for juveniles returning home from the
justice system,” said Attorney General
Harvey. “By empowering these young
men with the skills they need to gain
access to careers in the equine industry,
we help them change the direction of their
lives and succeed as productive adults.
This unique program also gives these young
men the opportunity to experience the
incredible bond that can exist between
an animal and person - an experience that
many have not had before - and the lasting
impact it can have on one’s life.”
In early November, a week prior to start
the program, the SRF trailered two of
its adoptees to the Training School in
preparation for classes. While SRF retains
actual ownership of the horses, Franco
Nomad N, a 7-year-old gelding and Dr.
Jo Plumstead, an 11-year-old mare, have
found a new home at the juvenile facility
and will receive daily care from residents
and staff.
“The
New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission
has spent more than a year preparing for
this endeavour,” said Howard L.
Beyer, Executive Director, Juvenile Justice
Commission. “Through the JJC’s
equestion program residents receive expert
training allowing them to pursue various
careers in the equine industry, while
developing a therapeutic bond with the
animals, which is beneficial to their
rehabilitation. We are very excited about
this partnership and believe that it has
great potential to change the futures
of troubled youth people.”
The
goal of the JJC's equestrian program is
to prepare students to become grooms,
an entry point to a career in the standardbred
industry. The education program will cover
various equine and industry related areas,
including: how to take care of a horse,
anatomy of a horse, barn management, proper
grooming techniques, and appropriate use
of equine equipment and supplies. JJC
students receive vocational credits in
animal husbandry for their participation,
and those who complete the program will
receive Groom’s Certifications awarded
by the United States Trotting Association
(USTA) which will help them located jobs
in the equine industry when they return
home from NJTS.
SRF provides supplies and equipment for
the program, as well as veterinary services
as needed. Through a contract with Rutgers,
Cook College, their staff provide coverage
on weekends and holidays, as well as program
supplies and guest speakers from the equine
industry.
The JJC has hired an Equine Instructor,
who is a teacher of animal husbandry,
with more than 20 years of experience
in the equine industry, including racing
and training standardbreds and maintaining
stables. Ken Lyons, a USTA licensed trainer
and driver, works with the residents in
two daily sessions.
“The
arrival of the horses was a huge event
for everyone here,” said Lyons.
“The first day was the best—just
to see the amazement in the kids’
eyes. Some of them had never seen a horse
before, and you could tell they were very
excited.”
So far, students have volunteered to participate
in the program. Four have been selected,
with several others already on a waiting
list for the next cycle. Participants
begin with the basics, including stall
mucking, feeding and general horse care.
It is hoped that by the end of the six
month pilot program, students will learn
to drive - that is, handling a horse from
a cart or sulky.
Judith Bokman, founder of SRF, and Howard
L. Beyer, Executive Director of the JJC,
spearheaded the program in early 2004.
“It
is a dream come true,” said Bokman,
who founded SRF 16 years ago. “It
really brings together two needs. There
are so many unwanted horses out there,
and these animals are wonderful for the
students because they are non-judgemental,
can give them unconditional love and give
them back their self-esteem and self-respect.
It is a program that can grow and grow.”
Franco Nomad N was bred in New Zealand
and raced 82 times in Delaware, Maryland
and Pennsylvania, winning 8 races before
retiring in May. Dr. Jo Plumstead is a
pacer, who although was trained to race,
did not. She became a broodmare, having
two foals.
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation
is an award-winning non-profit organization
which finds homes for Standardbreds who
are finished racing. Based in Freehold,
NJ, the SRF currently fosters over 100
horses and has completed over 2000 adoptions.
The
JJC operates five secure facilities. NJTS,
its largest secure facility, houses approximately
300 male juveniles who have been committed
to the JJC by the family court system.
Sixteen JJC residential community programs
and six day programs are also located
throughout the state for young people
serving terms of commitment or probation.
The JJC also funds local prevention programs
aimed at keeping young people on the right
track, as well provides statewide juvenile
parole services.
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