^^Watch This Video for an Introduction to HHYF! ^^

 

 

SUMMER PROGRAM DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING

Some Deadlines Extended!

 

 

Gibersons, Sweet Karen, Fox Valley Camo "Horse Around" With  Pre-K Families

 

Springfield, IL- What do you call it when an eighteen-year-old Trottingbred, a couple stakes winning Standardbreds and 180 pre-kindergarten students (plus their parents) gather to horse around at the Springfield Fairgrounds? It’s called the fourth year of the Giberson Stable hosting Riverton Elementary School’s year-end celebration, and it took place Thursday evening, May 23. Read The Whole Story

 

 

HHYF and WHHA Team Up For

Backpacks to the Track

 

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) and the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association (WHHA) are teaming up to help tracks and horsemen’s organizations get kids interested in and excited about harness racing. “Backpacks at the Track” is aimed to give children who come to the track something to do in between races and to have something to take home with them to remind them (and their parents) about harness racing.

 

Each cinch (string-type) backpack features the “Backpacks at the Track” logo and can be stuffed with a variety of items, such as an activity book and crayons, horseshoes, books and DVDs. Read more here

Click here for an order form

 

 

"Nibbles" is growing up

 

 

Although he officially turned one on January 1, Justaway's yearling colt actually reached his first birthday on April 29, 2013!

 

Volunteer Conditioners Are Critical To HHYF Program Success

 

With the Harness Horse Youth Foundations’ extensive summer camp schedule just two months away, the HHYF stable of Trottingbreds is being prepped for the season by a group of experienced volunteer trainers at locations across the country. For program dates, information and registration forms, go to http://www.hhyf.org/programs.asp.

 

In Springfield, Illinois, trainer Nick Giberson, assisted by his wife Amy and their children Madeline and Ethan, has been preparing HHYF Diva Sweet Karen for her 2013 campaign. Now 17, the Facebook star did more than just jog while at the State Fairgrounds last year with the Gibersons, hosting a week’s worth of school groups, who were introduced to harness racing close-up, many for the first time. The Gibersons plan to fill Karen’s dance card again this year. (As shown at left). Click here to read about ALL the HHYF trainers.

Equine Science For Kids

 

Check out this great resource from our friends at Rutgers University. Meet Lord Nelson (shown above) and learn even more about horses at the site below!.

Equine Science 4 Kids!

 

  

HHYF, USTA Reach Out To Kentucky Students

 

 

 The Harness Horse Youth Foundation and the United States Trotting Association joined forces Wednesday to expose more than 2,500 students of all ages to harness racing as part of the Kentucky Equine Youth Festival in Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The USTA’s Jessica Schroeder, along with HHYF’s Executive Director Ellen Taylor and Project Manager Keith Gisser, staffed one of the event’s most popular booths, with a students lined up most of the morning to answer trivia questions about the industry.

Read the whole story

 

 

Corey Callahan Named HHYF Trustee 

 

Maryland native Corey Callahan, who splits his time driving on the Delaware circuit and Harrah’s Philadelphia, has been elected to fill a vacant seat on the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Callahan, 34, represented the United States in the 2011 World Driving Championship, finishing second. He has driven over 500 winners in each of the past three years and is on pace to win over 600 in 2013.

 

Callahan is excited about his new role. “I welcome this opportunity to become an active member of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation Board. Our youth is our future and I look forward to helping kids excel in harness racing, and most importantly, in life,’ he said.

 

“We are very pleased to have Corey join the board. As a representative of the national driving colony, he certainly will bring fresh perspective and assist in increasing visibility of HHYF activities to younger racing enthusiasts” said Executive Director Ellen Taylor.

 

Callahan is Off To a Sizzling Start in 2013

 

 

“I can't tell you how surprised I was when I was told I was chosen for the Service to Youth Award. I am truly honored to be in the company of the past winners. I have a strong appreciation for the harness racing industry; the people involved and the horses themselves. I feel that I have received much, much more from partnering with Ellen and the HHYF over the years than I have given, “Garey commented. Among her other awards are the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Lighthouse Award and the NAE4-HA awards, both awards that show the recognition of her achievements by her peers. 

The calculators are working overtime, but HHYF completed a successful Drive for Youth campaign at Lexington’s red Mile over the weekend. The three donor incentive winners will be announced shortly.  Above, Cassidy Mattingly leads a post parade at Lexington on Drive For Youth Day, Saturday, September 30.That's trainer Chris Ryder accompanying Cassidy behind CD's Miss M.