Cream Ridge, NJ — June is the Month of the Horse in New Jersey and one event was held at Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge this past Saturday (June 15).

Two staff members at Fair Winds Farm showed a mare and her two-week-old trotting filly to the 4-H visitors. Suzanne D’Ambrose photo.

The Monmouth County 4-H Animal Science Club visited the farm for 2-1/2 hours to learn more about racehorses and the detailed operations of the farm. Fair Winds is home to dozens of mares and foals, and to the Hogan Equine Clinic operated by Dr. Patricia Hogan.

Dr. Hogan showed the visitors the workings of the clinic, where hundreds of horses, mostly Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, are treated each year. The visitors also met a few racehorses that are currently in Dr. Hogan’s care.

Mark Mullen, of Fair Winds Farm, gave a tour of the farm and the young visitors enjoyed seeing a few mares and foals. Mullen explained the foaling process and also answered questions about the bloodlines and the yearling sales.

Suzanne D’Ambrose, one of the 4-H equine science instructors, finished up the day with teaching the 4-H visitors about mares and foals.

In May 1998, the New Jersey governor at the time, Christine Todd Whitman, proclaimed June as the Month of the Horse, a practice that continues today.

Fair Winds, located at 74 Red Valley Road, Cream Ridge, is off of County Road 526 (Trenton Lakewood Road).