Settled beneath the hazy blue ridgeline of the Shawangunk Mountains two hours outside of New York City is Wallkill Correctional Facility, home to the very first Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Second Chances Program.
At first glance, the medium security prison for males appears much more like a building from a J.K. Rowling novel than a place for prisoners. An aging wood door at the entrance is framed by arched windows and tall brick which meet in three identical triangular points that form the face of the structure.
Stretching out around the property is acres of farmland along with the prison's companion facility, Shawangunk Correctional, a maximum security complex which houses higher-risk inmates.
Just a short trip down the road becomes a whole different world entirely. There is a pond glimmering in early afternoon sun, geese flying in formation overhead, and retired Thoroughbred racehorses roaming the land.
It is a place where 35-year-old Brooklyn native Joan Peralta calls home. After being convicted of robbery in the first degree nearly six years ago, Peralta has spent his time grappling with what it means to be incarcerated.
With only months left to serve before leaving prison in the rearview, hear the story of a man who came into prison having never touched a horse, and leaves with them imprinted on his soul.
WATCH: Finding Peace Behind Bars: Joan Peralta
