To celebrate the New Jersey Month of the Horse, Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge will open its doors to visitors on June 26 from 1-4 p.m.
The third annual free open house will be held at the farm, 74 Red Valley Road, Cream Ridge, and will allow visitors to see the inner workings of a successful Standardbred breeding farm, where Hambletonian winner Broad Bahn was bred and raised, according to a press release.
Visitors will be able to tour Hogan Equine clinic, where top-flight Standardbred and Thoroughbred athletes are treated by surgeon Dr. Patty Hogan, and get a tour of the farm in a horse drawn wagon.
There will be demonstrations about the life of a Standardbred, featuring a young foal (baby horse) and his mother, along with an adult racehorse and their trainer. Other Standardbreds will show their talents off the track in under saddle disciplines, jumping, trail riding and more, according to the press release.
For those who would like to pet a horse and take a selfie with one of the animals, retired racehorses and goodwill ambassadors Independent Act (Indy) and his pal Osbourne’s Shy Cam (Ozzy) will be on hand to greet visitors. Farrier Tom Mulryne will demonstrate how to care for a horse’s feet and have free lucky horseshoes for visitors to take home.
Horse-centric exhibitors will also be on hand, including Rutgers University’s Equine Science Center, the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, FFA, 4-H clubs, Knight Riders, Hearts and Horseshoes, Chapel Hill Hoofbeats and The Curry Combs.
The event will be held rain or shine. Refreshments will be available for purchase. There is ample parking available, but few paved surfaces, so visitors should wear sensible shoes and strollers may have a rough ride. Visitors are asked to leave dogs at home. For more information, call 732-780-3700 or email ellen.harvey@ustrotting.com
