A Georgia facility, opened to help horses and prisoners is holding its first equine auction. State officials are hoping to find good homes for six horses.

Last fall the Georgia Department of Agriculture opened the impound facility at the Lee Arrendale State women’s Prison in Alto. It’s similar to one at at Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black says it’s a win-win where horses seized by the state are returned to health and inmates learn to give something back by working with horses.

“It gives the ladies at the Arrondale Correctional facility really a mission of responsibility and opportunity to learn the dignity of work and hopefully maybe even pick up some kind of a skill. We have a certificate program for equine care.”

Black says the available horses are all used to being ridden. The auction takes place Saturday morning and is open to the public.

Tags: Josephine Bennett, Georgia Department of Agriculture. Gary Black, horse auction, Alto, Arrondale State Prison