By: Cynthia J. Weldon
The James River Horse Foundation operates in a private-public partnership with the Virginia Department of Corrections. We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide care and sanctuary for retired Thoroughbred horses, and we are hosted on state property where we work directly with female inmates to provide care for our horses under the guidance of our program director. An enormous portion of our program is teaching job skills as well as life skills to the inmates, with the purpose of affording them greater opportunities to get on their feet upon release from prison. Along with daily herd care such as feeding, grooming, and health care, the inmates are responsible for pasture and barn maintenance as well as aspects of management like creating feed orders and barn schedules for farrier, dental, and vet care. In our 9-month program, the inmates complete an in-depth curriculum that includes everything from a basic history of horses and their relationship to mankind to horse anatomy and barn management.
While we do offer most of our horses for adoption, many of the current herd are difficult to place either because they cannot have a riding career or because of advanced age. The James River Horse Foundation is committed to lifelong care for these horses who really do not have a lot of other options. The inmates connect with them on a very deep level, perhaps seeing in the horses some of their own traumas, and they lavish them with love and care. Our herd is predominately geriatric now, living out their lives on some of the most beautiful land in Goochland County, Virginia. However, we also work with other rescue groups to provide short term rehab space, and when it’s apparent that a young horse may not have a riding career, we will take them into our permanent herd. The inmates, under the program director’s guidance, may work with some of the younger horses to learn skills such as tacking, lunging, and ground handling through obstacle courses.
Our horses live out year-round in five herds in large pastures. Each herd has a double-sided run-in shed, allowing them a place out of the elements when they choose. They are fed a grain meal twice a day. The horses are fed in the same position each day, and this helps to ensure that each horse is receiving their own portion and allows the inmates to inspect each horse carefully for injury or any other condition that requires attention. This also makes it easier to medicate horses, apply fly spray and swat, or adjust blankets if necessary. Each day, one of the herds is brought down to the barn, and the inmates thoroughly groom or bathe them. The horses come down to the main barn for vet and dental visits, but farrier visits are conducted in the field. In the case of significant injury or lameness, the horses will stay down at the main barn to allow easier access for care.
Our successful program relies heavily on a very active board, sponsors, and volunteers. There are many people behind the scenes who are fund raising, organizing functions, conducting media interviews and, sometimes, buying flowers. Because we are housed at a state prison, public access is normally not an option. However, twice a year we host an Open Barn, which allows the public to visit the barn, meet the horses and the inmates, and learn more about our program.
To contact us or to find out more about our program and how you can become involved, please visit us at: www.jamesriverhorses.org.
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