THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013 32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013

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By TAMMY A. GANTT AND CHARLOTTE BRUNSON

The Second Chances Farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute

near Ocala held their first-ever open house on March 8. The

event was sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ &

Owners’ Association, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Thor-

oughbred Charities and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm

Inmate Evelyn Spillman who has been in theprogram assigned to millionaire stakes winnerShake You Down. She shared her experience ofgoing to prison at age 16 and how much she haschanged in the last 5 years thanks to working with thehorses and the feeling of having purpose because sheknows her horse counts on her daily.

“The open house was an opportunity for the community, not just

people who participate in the equestrian realm, the chance to come

view the hard work and effort the program participants put into the

horses and the stables.” Misty Cash, Department of Corrections

communication director said. “They work hard and the open house

None realized the emotional impact the event would

have on participants and program students long after the

event was over. Part of that was due to touching mo-

ments that program students shared. Evelyn Spillman

shared her experience with retiree Shake You Down. Be-

fore she met the horse, she had felt she had no purpose

and wondered why she should even get up each day.

After being with the horse a short time, Spillman real-

ized there was someone who looked forward to seeing

her every day and needed her. This alone gave her pur-

pose. Upon her graduation this Fall, she will be working

on a horse farm and she credits the program for it.

The now decade-old program was the first of its

kind in the country to pair female inmates with retired

racehorses. The program was implemented to teach of-

fenders of non-violent crimes vocational training and

life skills while working with retired racehorses. During

the program, female inmates are responsible for the

grooming, feeding, vet care and therapy for each of the

42 horses that currently reside there. Ideally, the inmates

work with the horses until the horses are able to be

adopted into new homes and begin new careers. While

working with the horses, learning horse care and grow-

ing a passion to nurture, the female inmates can grad-

uate with an Equine Care Technology certification.

The successful completion of the year-long program

includes around 20 written tests, overseen by John Evans,

the Vocational Teacher. Evans is a lifelong horseman who

keeps the entire program on track while teaching students

as many skills as possible during their incarceration.

Evans says “It’s amazing to see the change come over

the students as they go through the program. This is great

rehabilitation. The students’ work ethics grow strong, and

they learn all about horses and how to care for them.”

Upon release, former offenders have the option to apply

their polished equine skills to find employment in the

THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013 5

was a great opportunity for residents of Marion County

and beyond to see the girls work, how beautiful the

horses are and how well the facilities are maintained.

We hope the community feels welcome to visit the

farm and ask us any questions they may have about

the program and how they can become involved.”

Activities included demonstrations with adoptable

horses, tours of the 100 acre farm, visits with inmates

and the horses to which they are assigned, and a lunch-

eon provided by the vocational culinary program of

the correctional institute. Speakers included the An-

nual Fund Director for the Thoroughbred Retirement

Foundation Lisa Craig, long-time program advocate

and warden Gustavo Mazorra and Kim Southerland,

region 2 director for Florida’s Department of Correc-

tions. Also, speaking were current program student

Evelyn Spillman and program graduates Dawn Drig-

gers, Shannon Reiger and Erika Martin.

Craig - who scheduled the event along with FTBOA’s

Retired Thoroughbred Committee - hoped to bring

awareness of the farm’s success, the ongoing challenge

of placing horses and need for continued funding.

4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013

Lowell Program DirectorJohn Evans (above) Lisa Craig, ThoroughbredRetirement FoundationsAnnual Fund Director (insetat left), greets the crowd ofover 100 visitors to theLowell Correctional Insti-tute Second ChancesFarm, funded by theFlorida ThoroughbredCharities and managedwith the FTBOA.

SECONDCHANCE

FTBOA & TRF Second

Chance Farm

Dawn Driggers, ShannonReiger and Erika Martin,all graduates of the pro-gram shared their touch-ing experiences on howbeing placed at the farm

during their stay increasedtheir success upon leav-

ing prison. (above)

Two horses showcasedat the open house wereSong of Greatness and

Kiss My Vanny.

FAMOUS RESIDENTSThree famous residents reside permanently at the farm.

The oldest horse on the farm is 24 year-old Carterista. He isaffectionately called the “old man” byparticipants. He won over 50 races in102 starts. Carterista was the 1993Florida Champion Turf horse, he washonored at Calder’s Festival of the Sun in2003. The horse received a standingovation upon his appearance at thetrack. Shake You Down is a 13 year oldchestnut gelding that was named the2003 Florida Champion Sprinter and winner of nearly $1.5million. The grade II winner had 65 career starts. Heming-way’s Key is a chestnut horse that placed third in the 2006Preakness Stakes and is ten years old.

Carterista (above) andShake You Down (below)

Hemingway’s Key

equine industry. To date, 80 women have completed the

program with only two returning to prison. This success

rate of keeping graduates out of prison is unparalleled.

Cash attributes the success to the connection the par-

ticipants have with the horses. She said, “They spend six

to eight hours a day, seven days a week feeding, groom-

ing and maintaining the stables. They study college level

course work in addition to all the physical work they do

each day. Their participation is a true commitment on their

part. With all of that hard work, the girls come out of the

program and have the skills and the confidence to go into

the equestrian world and compete for employment.”

While Florida DOC provides the land and labor at

no cost and the FTBOA supports the farm’s horse care

expenses and equipment through its charitable arm,

The Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the biggest chal-

lenge is funding.

“The program operates with funding based on funds

for one vocational teacher. All of the things like feed, hay,

equipment, etc. are acquired through donations and part-

nerships with Florida Thoroughbred Charities and are the

only way the program is able to continue,” said Cash.

To make a monetary donation, donation of services

or equipment, or to set up an endowment to assist in

funding the program, contact the Florida Thoroughbred

Charities at 352-629-2160, email at info@ftboa.com or

write 801 SW 60th Avenue, Ocala FL 34474. �

6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JUNE/JULY 2013

FTBOA CFO CarolineDavis (below left) sharesher vision with Depart-

ment of Corrections Com-munications Director

Misty Cash.

DONATING CHECK-LISTThe farm typically has a waiting list for incoming thoroughbreds. To join the list, the following apply:

� Must be a Florida-bred thoroughbred� Recently raced at a Florida track� Retired due to age or physical condition� A donation is requested along with the horse when accepted

A few resources for horses that do not fit the criteria� Visit the website http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/ for their Own Responsibly

booklet and placement resources (separate story this issue)� Contact the FTBOA at 352-629-2160 or info@ftboa.com for suggestions

FTBOA & TRF Second Chance Farm

SECONDCHANCE

“The FTBOA believes the care and support of retired Thoroughbreds is a common sense responsibilityshared by all who participate in the racing and breeding industry. What makes our particular program dif-ferent at Lowell Correctional Institute is that it also cares for and heals people as well as horses. That is anawesome combination. The FTBOA and our charitable arm, the Florida Thoroughbred Charities (FTC), isproud of the role we play with this unique farm.”—Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President of FTBOA & FTC