Prison rehabilitates inmates with horses

PUTNAMVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) - It may seem like an unlikely pair, but Putnamville Correctional Facility is rehabilitating inmates and retired horses together.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is the only equestrian program for prisoners in the state of Indiana.

An inmate at the Putnamville Correctional Facility, Ricky Pedigo has been with this program from the start nearly two years ago.

A program that takes in retired thoroughbreds or neglected horses and rehabilitates them.

Every day the 13 inmates in the program clean the stalls, feed and bond with the horses.

The offenders in the program are healing right along with the horses.

"It gives me something to look forward to, it's changed me, it's made me more conscientious about things," Pedigo said.

It's the chance to change the equine instructor Barbara Holcomb said offenders need.

"They're going to be your neighbors some day, wouldn't you want them to have some type of compassion to feel responsible for something," Holcomb said.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a non-profit organization, therefore the program for the inmates is not funded by the state.

The horse farm has 100 acres and 37 horses, but is expected to bring in more by the end of the year.

The horses do become available for adoption. If your interested in the program or adoption click here .