Maryland youth can learn to drive a horse when the Harness Horse Youth Foundation presents one-day harness horsemanship programs at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington and Ocean Downs in Berlin this June. The program is open to children age 11 and up, but an application must be filled out and sent to the organization. The program fee is $30 which includes lunch and all camp materials. Application deadline is May 15, 2017.

The Rosecroft event is June 27 and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Ocean Downs' program is June 29, from 8:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Participants will work hands-on with the HHYF’s stable of Trottingbred horses, a smaller version of the pacers and trotters that race at the tracks. Among the topics to be covered are care and grooming, equipment, harness racing history and equine careers. Each student will get the chance to drive a horse, assisted by a licensed trainer or driver. The program is one of dozens across the country being conducted by HHYF this summer. For questions, please e-mail HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor at [email protected] or call her at 317-867-5877.

HHYF is also holding an in-depth five-day overnight horsemanship camp at Harrington Raceway in Delaware from June 17-21.

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.

(with files from HHYF)