by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — New Jersey celebrates the “Month of the Horse” in June and Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge is helping the celebration by opening its gates on Sunday (June 28) from 1-4 p.m. The farm is at 74 Red Valley Road in Cream Ridge.

The events of the day are free and this is a rain or shine event.

In addition to many opportunities to get “hands on” with horses, a variety of equine educational groups will be on hand. The Rutgers University Equine Science Center, New Jersey Equine Advisory Board, Future Farmers of America, Harness Horse Youth Foundation and the Open Space Pace will all send representatives to the event.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Visitors will get to see some of the dozens of foals born each year at Fair Winds.

Additionally, the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey, Monmouth County 4-H Horse Clubs and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation will also exhibit.

Visitors will get to see some of the dozens of foals, baby horses just a few weeks old, born each year at Fair Winds and learn how they are raised and eventually trained to be harness race horses.

Fair Winds is also home to Hogan Equine, a special clinic just for horses and run by Dr. Patricia Hogan. Dr. Hogan will show visitors the workings of the clinic, where hundreds of horses, mostly Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, are treated each year. Her client list reads like a “Who’s Who” of horse racing, and includes Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.

Farrier Tom Mulryne will demonstrate how horses’ feet are kept healthy by regular trimming and shoeing when needed. There will also be a few friendly horses for visitors to pet and groom; selfies are welcome. Horse drawn wagon rides throughout the farm will be available.

The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey will do a demonstration of all the ways Standardbreds excel off the track and trainer/driver Jacqueline Ingrassia will demonstrate the equipment the well-dressed Standardbred wears on the track.

Finally, there will be food concessions and a variety of educational materials for all ages and levels of equine knowledge.

Guests are asked to leave dogs at home and to wear sensible footwear as there are no paved surfaces on the farm.

Fair Winds is one of New Jersey’s largest and most successful farms, producing champion Standardbreds that compete at Freehold Raceway, the Meadowlands and all over the world.