The ninth annual Ryerss Run for the Horses, which will include a 10K run, a 5K run and a 1-mile walk, will be held on Saturday, April 17, at Ryerss Farm, 1710 Ridge Road, Pottstown. Check-in will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the race will start at 1 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the retired and rescued horses that reside at the farm.

Because of the pandemic, which canceled the event in 2020, new rules have been put into place. "There will be no race-day registration," explained Joelle Temoyan, administrative manager at Ryerss. "Registration can be done online, or you can stop by the farm; we have the forms."

Although the number of participants is not limited, the start times will be staggered. Runners will start the race with masks, but once they are distanced from others, masks can be removed. Runners should be prepared to put their masks back on if other participants are close by. Spectators will be required to wear masks at all times while on the property.

The runs and walk will take participants along a cross-country course throughout the farm, through fields and around pastures. Runners in the 5K and 10K will be electronically timed.

The times and division winners will be announced online. Medals will not be handed out in person. Those who earn a medal will receive it in the mail.

There will be separate registration fees for the 5K and 10K and the walk. "All registration fees will come back to care for the horses," said Temoyan, noting that the site's gift shop will be open during the day, offering equine-related items, including plush miniature horses. "We will be setting up an online gift shop within the next month."

Those who cannot participate have the option to sponsor a 5K or 10K runner. Information about this sponsorship program can be found at http://www.ryerssfarm.org.

Ryerss Farm remained open during the stay-at-home order in 2020 so that the resident horses could be fed and taken care of. "We shut everything down and it was employees only until Pennsylvania went into the yellow phase, which is when we allowed volunteers to come back," Temoyan said. "We did not open (to the public) until Pennsylvania went into the green (phase)."

People are welcome to visit the horses at Ryerss Farm daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. In the past, visitors were encouraged to feed the horses with cut-up carrots or apples. Because of the pandemic, however, visitors are asked to purchase treats from the gift shop to give to the horses.

On the day of the run, people will be able to visit the horses, many of which line the fence to watch the runners pass by. In addition, Ryerss has a resident pig named Rhubarb. "He has been here for 10 years, but people have become interested in him and people can sponsor him like (they do for the) horses," Temoyan added.

To register by Friday, April 16, visit http://www.ryerssfarm.org or http://www.runtheday.com/register/detail/ryerss-run-10k-5k-walk. For more information, call 610-469-0533 or visit http://www.facebook.com/ryerss.farm.