from the Standardbred Retirement Foundation

Cream Ridge, NJ — The Standardbred Retirement Foundation’s horses are the highlight at the New Jersey Training School, part of the Juvenile Justice Commission where the residents range in age from 12 to 23 years of age. The program’s purpose is to rehabilitate young offenders and give them a vocational opportunity for when they have completed their sentence and are released.

Psycho Chicken won 37 races and earned more than $116,000 in her career.

Psycho Chicken and Bondlyns Dollipop are the new horses and received a very warm welcome by both the staff and the kids. The equine program is the school’s favorite and there was great anticipation among the staff and kids waiting for the trailer to arrive.

Ken Lyons, a former groom at the track and now the instructor, was especially pleased to have Psycho Chicken arrive, as she was a horse he groomed when she was racing. Found at a kill pen a few years ago, in spite of having 37 wins and earning $116,000, previous owners Harold Schiffman and Ron Burke, and a woman by the name of Gail all stepped up to pull this horse before the truck was leaving for the Canadian slaughterhouse. The mare had been rehabilitating under SRF’s care and expense and was broke to saddle, but she continued to be passed over by adopters.

“She is a late teenager, and that could be the reason,” said Judy Bokman, “but, it is more likely that there are so many horses and not enough adopters; she may not have fit the bill for those looking for a horse at the time.”

SRF photos

Bondlyns Dollipop is an unraced daughter of Magical Mike.

Bondlyns Dollipop, by Magical Mike, never made it to the track but someone cared enough to give her a chance. She has been with SRF for several years. She too will be fussed upon and will aid in the rehabilitation of the youngsters.

Should these horses age out of the program at the school, they will return to SRF and live out their lives under SRF’s expense. A unique part of the SRF’s mission is that no horse that is part of the program will ever be at risk again.

SRF has 208 horses under their care and expense with more than 100 assumed retired for life due to age or injury. This is how SRF’s 27-year-old program is different than any other, and therefore has a great need for funds. Gifts are tax deductible. Please contact SRF at admin@SRFmail.com. or visit www.AdoptaHorse.org.