from the Harness Horse Youth Foundation

Westfield, IN — With the May 15 deadline approaching for students to apply for positions at the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s summer camps, the organization’s stable of Trottingbred horses is being prepped for their cross-country tour.

The 19-year-old goodwill ambassador Sweet Karen (www.facebook.com/HHYFSweetKaren?ref=hl) is being conditioned by the Chuck Connor Stable at Historic Track in Goshen when they can keep the staff of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame from doing the work for them. She will be featured at the foundation’s 40th Anniversary Brunch on Sunday (June 5).

HHYF photo

Ima’s Hit (aka Homer) leads the way as the Trottingbreds prepare to leave Brittany Farms.

This year four Trottingbreds have been shipped to Delaware. CD’s Miss M is with Bobby Clark Stable, Ima’s Hit is with the George Teague Stable, Royal Attire returns to the Eddie Dennis Stable and LR Trixie is again being put through her paces by the Andrew Stafford Stable.

In New Jersey, the Chris Ryder Stable is prepping I Want Another as he starts his second year with HHYF, while newcomer Sonny is being readied in Springfield, Ill., by the Nick Giberson (and family) Stable. The Gibersons won the HHYF Service To Youth Award in 2014 for their work with Sweet Karen.

“Just like racehorses, our horses can’t just show up at camps and be expected to work,” says HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor. “They need to be legged up, to be in condition. We could not possibly do the outreach we do without the voluntary work of our trainers each year. We are especially appreciative of Brittany Farms for annually providing an off-season home for our Trottingbreds.”

The trainers will work with the horses for about two months before the HHYF camp season begins at the home of the Little Brown Jug, the Delaware County Fair, from June 18-22. From there they move on to North Carolina, Maryland, New York and New Jersey before returning to Ohio for programs at Scioto Downs and the Van Wert Fairgrounds in August.

For a complete camp schedule, go to http://hhyf.org/schedule-applications.