from the Harness Horse Youth Foundation

Westfield, IN — With the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s May 15 camp application deadline rapidly approaching, students are not the only ones scrambling to prepare. The organization’s stable of Trottingbred horses is being prepped for its cross-country tour.

Our two newcomers, Cindy Jodine (with the Brett Bittle Stable) and Gold N Rose (with the Travis Ceppaluni Stable) are prepping in New Jersey. Also prepping in the Garden State is Pokie’s Topshot with the Chris Ryder Stable.

The Trottingbreds have invaded Delaware in full force, with five HHYF horses training there, including CD’s Miss M (with the Jody Stafford Stable), Ima’s Hit (with the Don Brittingham Stable), Royal Attire (with the Eddie Dennis Stable) and I Want Another (with the Ron Millman Stable).

HHYF photo

Ethan Stafford recently used LR Trixie in a 4-H harnessing demonstration.

The fifth Delaware trainee, LR Trixie, is again with the Andrew Stafford Stable and she is carrying on an HHYF tradition of getting youngsters engaged in all aspects of horse care. Just as the entire Giberson family was totally involved in the prepping of Sweet Karen for several years, so are the Staffords.

Ten-year-old Ethan Stafford recently used LR Trixie in a 4-H harnessing demonstration, further cementing the four-year long friendship he has developed with the Trottingbred.

And, speaking of HHYF’s 20-year-old goodwill ambassador, Sweet Karen (www.facebook.com/HHYFSweetKaren?ref=hl) will be doing several meet and greets this year, starting with the Diamond Creek Farm Open House on June 3.

“Just like racehorses, our horses can’t just show up at camps and be expected to work hard,” says HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor. “They need to be legged up and in good physical 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 providing an off-season home for our Trottingbreds during the last decade, as well as Diamond Creek Farm who will be assuming that responsibility this fall.”

The trainers will work with the horses for about two months before the HHYF camp season begins at Harrington Raceway in Delaware. From there the HHYF road show moves on to Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey before returning home before Labor Day. For a complete schedule of events, go to http://hhyf.org/schedule-applications.

Now in its fifth decade of service to harness racing, the Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses, in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people’s lives since 1976, and its programs include interactive learning experiences with these versatile animals, scholarship programs, and creation and distribution of educational materials.

For more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org.