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Program offers inmates a chance to learn new skills, reduce sentences while taking care of horses

Posted at 12:45 AM, Mar 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-24 03:20:25-04

GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- A one-of-a-kind program is offering inmates a chance to learn some new skills and shave a little time off their sentence, while also helping retired race horses.

It’s a partnership between the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Putnamville Correctional Facility.

Through the program, offenders can work at the horse farm up the road from the jail in exchange for a reduction in their sentence.

Jason Shaw is currently serving time for armed robbery. He said the program has given him the chance to learn some new skills and to help set his life back on the right path.

“Before this, I paid to ride a couple of horses,” said Shaw. “But I’ve never, as far as feeding and grooming, been around them in their natural environment.”

In exchange for 1,000 hours of work, six months will be shaved off of Shaw’s sentence.

Offenders at the Putnamville Correctional Facility are learning on-the-job skills

 “This is nothing but grace that’s gotten me here,” said Shaw.

Each inmate who participates in the program has to attend classes to learn the necessary skills to care for the horses.

They’re taught everything from the horse’s anatomy to how to properly care for them. After their training is complete, the inmates get to work with retired racehorses to prepare them for adoption.

“The goal is to teach the inmates marketable skills,” said Program Director Terri Russ. “And to save some of these horses from neglect and slaughter.”

Six inmates have successfully graduated from the program, and received a reduction in their sentence, since 2014.