Extreme Makeover: Home Edition--Therapeutic Riding Center!

[Freebird!]

How cool is this??

http://www.ctextremedream.com

[zoehesed]

OO that IS cool!! Is that going to be on THIS sunday?? Id like to watch that one... :)

[War Admiral]

VERY cool!

[slpeders]

Probably not on THIS Sunday, 10/28. They were here in Mpls to do a house last month and it won't air until sometime in November. I didn't see an actual estimate of the airdate in the construction site info, but if I run into one, I'll post it!

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Awesome!!!!

[mosmom]

They belong to my sons Pony Club!! I heard that it wouldn't air until January.

[Sassenach]

Bravo~!

[drmgncolor]

awesome!!!

[Tory Relic]

Very cool! Thanks for posting, Freebird!

[FalseImpression]

Wonderful! I always wonder though what are the ramifications of such a makeover. I read somewhere that sometimes people had to sell their new house because they could not afford the increase in taxes due to the reno. Does anyone know what happens after if the homeowners do not have an income high enough to pay those increased taxes? The barn looked fine to me though... very functional and in good condition... but I guess it would not have the "right" look?
I hope it works out for them ..

[JanM]

Briefly the way it is handled so the family that gets the house doesn't lose everything is:

Under the IRS code if you rent the house to someone (in this case the production company) for 30 days or less any improvements are not taxed, and I'm hoping in the case of furniture donations that they are included under improvements. However the increased value of the property makes the property taxes go up-usually someone such as the builder or the local community pays off the mortgage, and raises money to pay for utility bills, and property taxes. And it might be different in the case of the riding center since I assume it's a legitimate registered charity-that part I don't know about.

[Kimberlee]

http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index

They post the home that they are airing the next two Sundays here. Not sure where to find a extended list of future shows for them though.

[Hopeful Hunter]

This is the Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Center in Port Deposit, MD, that is being made over and I believe the work is going on right now - you can even contribute to it yourself. For more info, check out these links:

http://www.freedomhills.org/news/

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.extreme16oct16,0,5668537.story


http://www.cecilchamber.com/PDF/10-15-07Extreme%20Makeover%20letter.pdf

[Evalee Hunter]

My daughter told me about this - she used to substitute teach (riding) there sometimes. Supposedly the mother & children were sent on a trip to Italy while the makeover was being done! I'm sure no one deserves this more than Rene. She is really funny - used to come to the cross-country schooling nights at Middletown Pony Club years & years ago (1999 - 2001, maybe?) & her stories about her experiences with horses can be a hoot. I used to see Rene & her sister at horse trials, also.

[strawberry roan]

Thanks for the info. I don't usually watch the show but will make a point to see this episode. :)

[mkaine601]

That's so awesome, I'll have to keep an eye out for when that episode airs!

[ponygrl]

I rode there as a kid (1990-1992 maybe?) and came back for a lesson on my mom's old horse in 98 or so.

Anyone know if a black TB lesson horse names Bobbaloo is still there?

[matryoshka]

There isn't a horse named Bobbaloo there now. My friend trims the horses there, and I trim the ones she doesn't like to handle (the big ones that lean and the smaller ones that kick). I'd remember if there were a horse named Bobbaloo.

Kate is still there (retired now), Lucinda, Blondie, Maggie, Nina, Apples (retired), and a few others. If you list the names, I'll tell you if they are still there. Sadly, a few were put down when they became too old and unsound to be comfortable.

[Xhltsalute]

They were here in Washington doing one last month and it's scheduled to air in January, so maybe this will be shown around that time.

Can't wait to see the TR makeover. :)

[Guin]

This is great! The extreme-makeover people did a house right in my area about three years ago, for a family who had a disabled child in a wheelchair. I didn't know what was going on until after they had finished. Coincidentally, the house was on route to my barn, so the road was closed for about ten days. I figured they were redoing the road or the sewer lines or something. The next time I went to the barn and the road was open, I did a HUGE doubletake - my daughter and I whipped around and said "What the H%%^? Where did that brand-new house come from??"

Then it was in the local newspaper the next week, so we knew we weren't hallucinating! :lol: :lol:

[matryoshka]

People are being brought in on schoolbusses to spectate.

The barn is gorgeous. Luckily, the company that is building the barn has a female employee who understands horses--her daughter was in pony club. She understands the needs of the facility and is doing a great job of making sure it is workable and safe.

There are tons of volunteers, all working together in harmony. I've seen parents of children that ride in the therapeutic program working on the barn and around the grounds. The atmosphere is charged with excitement and can-do attitudes. Very cool.

[ponygrl]

There isn't a horse named Bobbaloo there now. My friend trims the horses there, and I trim the ones she doesn't like to handle (the big ones that lean and the smaller ones that kick). I'd remember if there were a horse named Bobbaloo.

Kate is still there (retired now), Lucinda, Blondie, Maggie, Nina, Apples (retired), and a few others. If you list the names, I'll tell you if they are still there. Sadly, a few were put down when they became too old and unsound to be comfortable.

The last time I went and rode Bob was probably 98 or 99 - I wasn't driving yet. I guess that has been almost 10 years...

I remember Apples, but I just realized it'd been 15 years since I stopped taking lessons there. Now I feel old!

[Freebird!]

It's on NEXT SUNDAY!!

[NeverTime]

An article on the family & the episode. Check it out:

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801120327

[matryoshka]

Thanks for linking to the article. I'm not going to the Clark Turner party, so I was afraid I'd miss the behind the scenes stuff. My husband and I want to watch with our family at home. I'm hoping they kept the clip with two of my horses' butts in the trailer as the shot of "the last horses leaving." It was so hectic the day the horses left that we restaged the last horses leaving the next day, and I brought two of my own (the pony had been used as a therapeutic horse at Freedom Hills). At that point the Freedom Hills horses were all enjoying a well deserved rest at the various places that agreed to house them during construction.

I have to say that all the horse people who showed up to help out were wonderful and very efficient. Each one was sensitive to the fact that the horses were really stressed out from all the heavy equipment, having to rotate turnout and pasture (using a different pasture than they were accustomed to), and all the people, cameras, and general hullabaloo. There were no cross words spoken to horses, and they were quickly and efficiently put onto the trailers and hauled to their temporary homes.

Renee had lined up all the people, the trailers, and the temporary homes ahead of time in case she won the makeover, and everybody pulled together seamlessly. It was uplifting to be a part of such an undertaking and to see how well it worked out and the general air of cooperation. Renee's sister also had to get her horses moved in time for the construction, and she had to be available to answer questions and make decisions all week. It was exhausting for her.

p.s. They filmed me unloading one of the horses upon return, but I doubt that clip will make it in. Instead, they'll probably show Rib unloading Nina (a Norwegian Fjord), who is the hardest-working horse at the center. I had showed him how to work the trailer to take the horse off the front, but I forgot to show him how to properly release a horse in the stall. I was in the next stall feeling embarassed as the mare turned around looking for food while Rib was against the wall. I kept thinking "Renee is going to kill me when she sees this!" She wouldn't, really, but I know she'll be shaking her head if that clip makes it into the show.

[KnickerB]

This is the one Beezie Madden filmed footage for, but unfortunately her footage didn't make the final show.

[matryoshka]

What did she film? Was it a therapeutic lesson? I know they shot a couple of lessons, but I don't know which one's they'll use or what they ended up doing after all of the discussions. I was only there to help move horses and stayed away from the project other than that. I still had nightmares after it was all over that they were coming back. Not that it was a nightmare, but it was stressful and I was glad when it was over.

[DLee]

I had the pleasure of meeting Renee at the Thoroughbred Charities Auction in November here, I've been waiting for the 20th for this show to air!

It was so interesting to hear some of the behind the scenes stuff that you wonder about (like how could they pull off that they were REALLY suprised when they find out they won? Because they ARE really surprised!) and stuff like that. She said it was just simply amazing, and all of the people (including Ty) couldn't be any nicer. It was way cool! :yes:

[matryoshka]

I laughed out loud when I finally remembered where I'd heard Beezie Madden's name. One of the producers had asked where was a good place to film a famous rider riding and talking about therapeutic riding. Not realizeing the scale of the renovations or the sheer number of people, I had suggested the next-door farm. Later I heard somebody say they were gonna use Hilltop, but then I heard the idea was scrapped. I guess they filmed the sequence and then decided to discard it? Bummer.

I had met Clark Turner at a company picnic (they built the office my husband works in) the day before Renee found out they won, and the Turner people did not let on that they had won. They asked me questions about when the horses were going to be moved, since that was my job. They expressed concern that IF Renee won, how would they be able to get heavy equipment into the field were horses were turned out. I called Renee that night and raised the question about what would happen if they won, and did she realize they'd probably need to bring equipment through the mares' field. She had the horses out of that field before then just in case. That's one of the reasons the horses were stressed out: there are usually three separate fields for the horses, and the turnout had to be rotated starting Saturday night, and only one field was available once the equipment moved in. These horses are all accustomed to 24 hour turnout.

I had my suspicions about the Luther's winning when I saw how nervous/excited the Clark Turner people were, but they never said anything that gave it away. Also, the local newspaper knew ahead of time but never leaked it out. That must have been tough!

The producers wanted the horses returned on the Saturday before the Luthers returned, which wasn't in the original plan. That was during the Fair Hill Internationals, and a lot of the haulers and people who hosted the horses were volunteering or working at the Internationals that weekend. It was a scramble to get people to haul for us, and we only picked up about half the horses that day. The horses at Hilltop did not want to leave those gorgeous pastures! We had a little convoy of trailers picking up seven horses from there. They were very kind and the horses came back rested and sassy.

It was cool how the area horse people took time out of their schedules to help at the last minute. I tried to explain to the perplexed producers that most of us horse people are more interested in the Fair Hill Internationals than in a TV show, and that weekens are usually the busiest time for us--hence the difficulty finding more haulers at the last minute. People who were attending or volunteering at Fair Hill had their schedules planned out before they found out about the Extreme Makeover.

[Green Acres]

Tonight at 8pm EST on ABC Beezie Madden is suppose to be this episode. It's a 2 hour special so set your Tivo's!!!!:D

[Hazelnut]

Thank you! :yes: I almost forgot. I'd like to see how this goes and I really hope the quality of workmanship is high for the safety of the horses, workers, and the riders!.

[Claddagh]

Thanks for the *heads up*. :)

Is this the one where they redo the therapeutic riding center?

[RainyDayRide]

Is this the one where they redo the therapeutic riding center?

yes

[Claddagh]

Thanks! I'll be watching. How fun! :)

[Kenike]

Ah, crap.....same time as football! How in the world do I steal the TV for those 2 hours from hubby???

[kcmel]

Hey, my BIL actualy worked on the barn. I hope he makes the cut!

[ThirdCharm]

TiVo is a wonderful thing. Hubby is watching Green Bay and later I can watch EMHE.

Jennifer

[Freebird!]

It starts in a few minutes (Eastern time) :)

[enjoytheride]

ok, do they not tear down the old house? Anyone been there?

[UNCeventer]

How cool for this to happen to people who are so giving! I volunteered with Therapeutic riding and at the special olympics, as well as having written many papers in college about the benefits of TR.

How cool!

[myrna]

It starts at 8pm my time,so i am going to go ride now.........................supper is in the crock pot and all i have to do is relax and watch the show when it starts.

[Platinum Equestrian]

I'm LOVING the house they're building... can't wait to see the barn.

[Anne FS]

Ok, did anyone else think the house and barn were actually not that bad to begin with? I mean, compared to the other places the show has repaired.

[Barn Dirt]

Does anyone else think the house is a bit much? I'm sorry, but if I were up at 5:30 every morning and in bed at 11, I don't know I'd want a house that big to look after :lol:
Do you think maybe it comes with a Molly Maid, too?

[Honu]

Ok I have to ask: When he was talking about the new tack room did he say girdles insted of girths? :) haha

[Barn Dirt]

He definitely said girdles. My roommate and I have been laughing through the whole show. Don't get me wrong, I love that they're helping people out, but it just doesn't always seem practical. The homes always seem waaaaaay over the top for me.

[SaraTx]

he did! i am so glad you heard it too... my DH said i just heard him wrong. maybe he was trying to say bridles and girths and got them mixed up.

[bird4416]

My horse could use a girdle. :lol:

[Platinum Equestrian]

Ok I have to ask: When he was talking about the new tack room did he say girdles insted of girths? :) haha

HE DID, we were laughing too...

[Ibex]

That's ok. Ty just called the indoor a "rink".

[crazy_horse1095]

Did anyone else notice the walkway of rubber bricks going around the indoor ring? That would drive me crazy! I totally agree with the house being over the top. Nice house, just HUGE! Their mudroom is nicer than my entire house!

[ddashaq]

That's ok. Ty just called the indoor a "rink".

That kept making me laugh! That and catching horses is apparently "wrangling". I never knew!:lol:

[lcw579]

Did anyone else notice the walkway of rubber bricks going around the indoor ring? That would drive me crazy! I totally agree with the house being over the top. Nice house, just HUGE! Their mudroom is nicer than my entire house!

I wondered about those bricks too... But that's an indoor "rink" you know - just ask Ty! :winkgrin:

House is way too big - but I would love to have that mudroom!

[SmallHerd]

I was wondering about the huge house too, but then Ty said that Renee likes to have all of the families over of the folks they serve, and couldn't do it in their old house.

I don't get the rubber pavers on one side of the indoor either.

BUT, it was totally cool, and Renee totally deserves it. What a wonderful program!

[Fallbrook]

I was wondering about the huge house too, but then Ty said that Renee likes to have all of the families over of the folks they serve, and couldn't do it in their old house.

I don't get the rubber pavers on one side of the indoor either.

BUT, it was totally cool, and Renee totally deserves it. What a wonderful program!

Perhaps the pavers help those riders who arrive in wheelchairs.

[elmerandharriet]

isnt that place going to be really expensive to upkeep? i know they where givin a 50k check for the house but what happens when that runs out? do they have enough funds coming in to keep it payed for? a 4000+ sq foot house is huge and expensive i think its a wee bit over the top. but overall i enjoyed the show

[crazy_horse1095]

Perhaps the pavers help those riders who arrive in wheelchairs.

True, but aren't the mounting areas in another part of the barn? So theoretically wouldn't they already be on the horses?:confused:

[see u at x]

Although a part of me really worries about the cost of taxes, upkeep, etc. for this family, like everyone else, I'm really thrilled for them. The crew did an amazing job within a week timeframe! And I don't know about anyone else, but I was really moved and touched by the guy (Mike, I believe) who they interviewed on horseback. I think he and Renee really exemplified what it's all about for us crazy horse people, in that no matter what the obstacles may be, we've got to pick ourselves up and get right back on. Kudos to everyone involved with this!

[Anne FS]

isnt that place going to be really expensive to upkeep? i know they where givin a 50k check for the house but what happens when that runs out? do they have enough funds coming in to keep it payed for? a 4000+ sq foot house is huge and expensive i think its a wee bit over the top. but overall i enjoyed the show

The article NeverTime linked to said it's even bigger: 5,000 sq. feet. That is a HUGE house for 3 people, having people over or not. In the comments linked to that article, even the President of the riding center (which is a 501(c)3 corporation) admitted the house is over the top.

Maybe now they can do a lot more - I'm thinking with so many, many maimed soldiers at Walter Reed - maybe they could come.

[Fallbrook]

True, but aren't the mounting areas in another part of the barn? So theoretically wouldn't they already be on the horses?:confused:

Sorry - I don't know. I just recall seeing that they put a covered drive outside
the arena and mentioned in bad weather they could go right into the indoor.

[Rhyadawn]

I thought it was beautiful, and while perhaps not practicle to the everyday horseman, it does give them somewhere to be with friends, it is wheelchair (and everythign else) accessable, the barn was fantastic, it completly fit THEIR needs.

Its wonderful that they rose to the challenge, it wasn't just one makeover, it was 2, and they are giving such quality of life to so many people.

[GraceThe Mare]

Hopefully it's zoned really well-the house-to aid in keeping utilities down.
"Rink", "horse wrangling" and what did they call the girths? It was something like "corsets?"

Those pavers could easily be moved elsewhere if not needed. They're great outside too...and pricey. I had my old barn priced out for the aisle only (4 stall lengths) and it was way too much! (3k or 5k? Can't remember now) And that was just for the bricks in a box.

Cant' say enough positive things about the theraputic riding programs though. I'm excited to see it get such fabulous publicity! What a lucky community. Nice people too.

[BasqueMom]

Wasn't the rider they interviewed the exercise rider from Fair Hill who got hurt about the
time Barbaro was injured or shortly before it? It was on the old Tim Wollery racing site
about one of the riders--Mike Rhea, maybe, was the name.

[MR]

Starting right now on the West Coast (8:00 PM PST)

[Freebird!]

Wasn't the rider they interviewed the exercise rider from Fair Hill who got hurt about the
time Barbaro was injured or shortly before it? It was on the old Tim Wollery racing site
about one of the riders--Mike Rhea, maybe, was the name.


That's just what I was thinking!

As for the pavers, perhaps they are to make it easier for the side-walkers (as it is taxing walking around and around in arena footing all day long)

[luvs2ride79]

I don't get the rubber pavers on one side of the indoor either.

The rubber pavers are awesome! Easy on the horse's feet, easy on the people, easy to clean, and they give someone on crutches more "grip". Plus it looks really nice. I would have done the whole barn in them, lol. We looked at putting those in our dog run, but we would have had to grade and level too much, so we went with tyvek and pea gravel.

[DLee]

Was I the only one cringing when they smashed the old stall doors?? Actually, I know I wasn't, my husband was cringing too because he needs to build me some!! HEY!! Send those doors to someone who can use them!

Love the house though, gasped at the MudRoom (it deserves to be capitalized), and the tack room. Sigh.

[MR]

Yes, one of the designers was just interviewing Mike and they discussed his injuries and the accident when he was training racehorses.

Just want to thank you all for posting about this show - I'm so glad I caught it. I used to volunteer for a few equine therapy places and this is reminding me how much I loved it and how much I miss the participants.

[InstigatorKate]

As for the pavers, perhaps they are to make it easier for the side-walkers (as it is taxing walking around and around in arena footing all day long)

Yeah, I figured that part out, and it makes sense, but what about the people riding? Not as easy for riders w/ disabilities to steer and keep the pony on the sand and not on the pavers. Worse, I'd imagine there would be some stumbling and even falls as the horse goes from paver to sand. Would've made more sense to do it on a short end and fence it off. Maybe they'll end up putting a fence up there.

Anyone else find it odd that they made such a big fuss about the HUGE riding "rink" but then said it was 75x100 (65x100 w/ the 10 ft of pavers)? That would be the absolute bare minimum to walk and trot in an arena, and hold maybe 3-4 riders max. I think 130 feet would have been a much more workable space.

They can come build me a new tack room any time though!

[Perfect Pony]

The house is totally obscene, as are all the homes they build on the show, the reason I cannot stomach watching it. It's a big part of the problem in this country, a reason so many people over extended and are now losing their homes that they could not afford. Bigger, better, fancier, the heck with the fact that we have an energy crisis.

I don't care how tight and insulated it may be, or how many "zones", the entire main floor is enormous with up to 18 FOOT CEILINGS! :eek::no:

You could house 5 families in that thing...

[Slewdledo]

I only caught the latter part of it, but the gentleman on the horse so looked like he belonged there. I gather that was Mr. Rhea. Good for him!

[867-5309]

I laughed to myself that the family liked the mudroom better than any room in the house (OK maybe the son liked his flight simulator slightly better) I thought "now those are horse people". That was a great mudroom.

Matryoshka did I see an Amish gentleman in the unveiling footage? It made us curious if the Amish were involved with the project.

I too questioned the "enormous" indoor arena.

Did anyone see at the end when he was putting up the letters of FREEDOM HILLS on the side of the arena. He had the F and the E up next to each other and I was like ummmm is he going to spell it wrong? Funny.

And my first thought when they put the house overlooking the barn was that the horses were losing turnout space.

Great family & great project. I enjoyed the show.

[MistyBlue]

Being the least emotional person I know...I darned near misted up a bit when the rider was asked, "What did it feel like getting back on a horse?" and he answered, "It was like coming home." :sadsmile:
I'm no longer shocked at the house sizes they build on there. The builders who donate their time and efforts are showcased in a way they'd never be able to without that show. So in essence each house built for the show will be their most important spec house ever. They're going to put up the creme de la creme to showcase their company. The show decides some of the ammenities going in...the builders will want to show off their extras such as the barrel ceilings, interior supports, etc. The only down side to the builder would be when they build their next house and the homeowners want to know why it's taking a few months rather than a single week! :winkgrin:
I think I read somewhere before that the show provides taxes for the house for a certain number of years after it's built. At least I certainly hope they do, otherwise they're gifting out a white elephant. Luxurious to have; will make you go broke trying to upkeep it. :no:
Lovely facility...I wouldn't want to clean that house though. I had a large house once...couldn't wait to sell the thing. Keeping it clean was almost a full time job, I hope they find the time to keep it clean while still running a 26 stall facility.

[Hazelnut]

I'm glad they showed several cuts of therapeutic riding lessons and clients, I wish they'd done a brief segment on the therapeutic benefits of riding.

Nice job on the barn...and what a house for three people!

They surely did have equine consultants.

[Tackpud]

MistyBlue - glad to hear that about the taxes - that was my first thought! Who pays the taxes on such a large house, especially when I'm sure the owners aren't paying that much on their old house.

The house was truly stunning, but a bit impractical for that family who will probably spend most of their time in the barn.

[see u at x]

And my first thought when they put the house overlooking the barn was that the horses were losing turnout space.



:lol: I thought the same thing! I was thinking, man, those are gonna be some disappointed horses when they don't get to go out in that field anymore...

[Nski32]

:lol: I thought the same thing! I was thinking, man, those are gonna be some disappointed horses when they don't get to go out in that field anymore...

:yes:

But the place is definately beautiful. Hopefully they can afford to make some new pastures.

[rabicon]

I was confused on the HUGE riding rink ;) also. My arena is that size and that's not that HUGE, but then again most people watching this are not horse people and would never catch on to that.

The other thing that got me was the brick pavers :yes: and the sod in the indoor arena??:confused: Why did they not just put sand? Why put sod, because now they may have horses with disablied riders on them and the horses pulling the riders down to get a bite of grass. Also how will you keep the sod from dying in an indoor??

[bayknight]

and right in my hometown! the place is not far from where I live ;-)

And I think I have shown with her before, I saw some Harford Country ribbons in one of the scenes of the old house, she looks like she might actively compete as well.

What a great family and they give of themselves so much! I just wish I could have been a part of it!

[sidepasser]

Anytime they want to come and makeover my place, they can build me a house half that size and a barn twice that size - lol. I have a 2500 sq. foot house for 2 people, soon to be one person..need about half that space, only problem is I would never be able to sell a house that small..everyone wants large houses, the small ones just sit on the market down here while the 2500 plus ones sell. Forget selling a 1 or 2 bedroom house here, everyone wants at least 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths (even if they don't need that much space).

BTW - my ceilings are 14 feet..I am claustophobic and cannot tolerate low ceilings..(I also despise elevators and will walk up/down stairs if at all possible). I heat with wood from my own place..costs very little to heat my harn (house and barn together).

Nice to see something built for people who help others. I have volunteered at two different theraputic facilities, the kids sure do appreciate having mobility and loved the horses.

[pony grandma]

Was I the only one cringing when they smashed the old stall doors?? Actually, I know I wasn't, my husband was cringing too because he needs to build me some!! HEY!! Send those doors to someone who can use them!

Me too! I was thinking how many people could have benefited from the salvage!! They could have called this show "Extreme Waste."



As for the pavers, perhaps they are to make it easier for the side-walkers (as it is taxing walking around and around in arena footing all day long)

I agree that the pavers are for side-walkers, but no one (person or horse) walks a square corner!

The 4,200 sq ft caveronous house, for 3 people, echoed. That would drive me nuts. Too much house, they need to tame it back (even for showcasing). It's wasteful and garish. And that front door opened right up into the volumnous space, what a cold blast of air in the winter and heat in the summer. I prefer a homier place. Not so ostentatious. There is going to be a glut of this kind of housing on the market 20 yrs from now and they will date themselves!! We don't have the population coming up to buy all of them and who would pay that much money then, with dated fixturing and materials 20 yrs from now, when if you have that kind of money you will want to build your own ideas. And styles will change.

And I have the mudroom of my dreams in my head also! I don't, and never have, understood why houses aren't designed by more women! What is this walk across white yuppie carpeting to get to the powder room b*llsh*t? I want to see a real working house, not a furniture showroom.

And lastly, the two children are priceless. Some mighty fine parenting there. I adored the 14 yr old son. What a fine young man.

[crazy_horse1095]

And I think I have shown with her before, I saw some Harford Country ribbons in one of the scenes of the old house, she looks like she might actively compete as well.



A blurb in my Pony Club Newsletter mentions that the daughter just got her C-3

[eponacowgirl]

So the was sod, pavers and regular footing in the arena? Because at the thereputic riding place I volunteered at in HS, we had a "sensory track" that the kids would walk their horses down- it was just a long path and the length was divided into different sections- gravel, wood chips, grass, rubber chips- I left for college right as it was being finished so I never got to use it or figure out quite what the purpose was... perhaps someone can shed some lite?

[Bluey]

Just think that programs like these will help next time someone is asking for donations for hippotherapy programs in your area.
People will remember this and how good the stories about handicapped people exercising with horses made them feel and donate to them, or even go volunteer in one.

Nothing like free publicity, warts and all.:cool:

[matryoshka]

Phew! Now that it has aired, I feel like I can talk about it a bit!

The people doing the show had very little understanding of horses at all. The Risk Builders had never done a barn before. While they showed some of the stall doors being demolished, they actually reused a lot of the wood from the barn. Good boards are still in place. They got all new stall doors, but I'm sure some of the volunteers "volunteered" to take some of the old stall doors off of their hands.

Renee had asked me to help load horses a couple of weeks before the show was to start (she didn't know and was just planning), and then the week before the show she left me a phone message saying that she put me in charge of moving the horses. :eek: The next phone message was from one of the producers (Matt) saying he heard I was the "head wrangler" and that he needed to talk to me. It snowballed from there. I've been teased about that "head wrangler" business ever since.

There was a very brief clip of me unloading a horse to take into the new barn.

The show's people thought the indoor was huge. They didn't think to put a loading ramp there. They kept one of the original loading ramps that has a sling/crane for putting disabled adults onto horses. Renee's sister Robyn and her husband had built that system, if my memory is correct. They then have to lead the horse and rider down the aisle past all the stalls and into the indoor. The ceilings are very high and all the floors are rubber, so that shouldn't be a big a problem.

The footing in the indoor is to die for. It's one of those fancy arena footings and was donated. The stone dust you saw being moved was simply the base for the true footing. We were all wondering about the pavers, but I think the show's people pictured spectators standing there watching their loved one's ride. It was all done with the best of intentions, but not necessarily the best information. They don't realize that horses don't always go exactly where we tell them to!

The Amish man in the background used to clean stalls there. His name was Larry. He was a real sweetheart. His dad was Amish but left the community to enlist for one of the world wars (can't remember which). This gentleman was good with horses--he's the only one who could hold the big Percheron that is boarded there so that he'd stand well for me to trim. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack right around Christmas. Seeing him in the background made me sad. He was a gentle soul and the horses miss him.

And yes, they lost a lot of pasture. That was the mare's field. The fencing is still not finished, so turnout is interesting. The barn is awesome and it is so much easier to trim horses in there now. They now have a wash stall, a place for their wood shavings and for hay storage. The office area is gorgeous and they now have a room for physical therapy for the riders.

As for the house, that is pretty typical of what Clark Turner builds. He's every bit as nice and enthusiastic as he appeared on the show. I never saw him when he wasn't smiling. The volunteers were very positive and practically hummed along. I've never seen anything like it!

Alex is as adorable as he appeared on the show. I feel very badly that his dad died when he was so young. The flight simulator is awesome. His room also overlooks a memorial garden behind the house for Karl and Alex's grandmother.

Poor me. I had to spend time around Rib. He's hard on the eyes, isn't he? ;)

[Tory Relic]

I agree with Misty Blue on the fact that the builders are showcasing their work. Also, fund raisers could be held in a house like that and draw the elite who really have money to give. I've been planning one in my head ever since I saw it. Remember, Rene was away at a fund raiser when her husband died!!!

I also think that anyone who believes that "the money could have been better spent to help more people" should sell their horses, equipment, tack, etc. and donate the funds realized to Habitat for Humanity. Then make a monthly donation to Habitat of the money spent on keep. Put some hard cash into what you believe others should do. :eek:

I've never seen such sour grapes.:(

I think it was a wonderful show, and I especially was touched by Mike. How wonderful for him. If all of what the show did was what it took to keep the place going, then so be it.

I used to work in therapeutic riding myself, and I can tell you, it's wonderful for those who are able to participate. It also takes hard work and dedication to keep the program going.

I loved the boot washer in the mud room. And the idea to use it as a doggie bath. I want one of those!!!

[867-5309]

Phew! Now that it has aired, I feel like I can talk about it a bit!


The Amish man in the background used to clean stalls there. His name was Larry. He was a real sweetheart. His dad was Amish but left the community to enlist for one of the world wars (can't remember which). This gentleman was good with horses--he's the only one who could hold the big Percheron that is boarded there so that he'd stand well for me to trim. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack right around Christmas. Seeing him in the background made me sad. He was a gentle soul and the horses miss him.

.

Poor me. I had to spend time around Rib. He's hard on the eyes, isn't he? ;)

Thanks for sharing about Larry. I got a sense he was involved, he was up front in the crowd and engaged during that whole scene.

Rib IS easy on the eyes.

[matryoshka]

Freedome Hill's annual fund raiser is coming up in a month or so. They hold a dinner, silent auction, and live auction. Their web site might have more information if anybody wants to donate directly to the program. It is really worthwhile.

[PalominoMorgan]

As for the taxes to be paid on these gigantic homes when it is all said and done... I saw Ty Pennington on Rachael Ray a few weeks ago and she asked him about that. He said there is a loophole in the law somewhere that allows them to GIFT the repairs and rennovation to the families. He briefly mentioned it, but it sounded like the family was then exempt from paying taxes on that "gift". Not sure how long that exemption or loophole lasts, but at least now they are paying off existing mortgages most of the time too. A few seasons ago they weren't mentioning that the builders or community raised money to pay off their existing mortgages and I always wondered how the families would afford the increased utilities and maintainence costs, let alone taxes and paying their preexisting loan on the place.

DH and I also cringe when they smash up old farmhouses. In the beginning they used to do makeover's. Now, they demolish and rebuild. Not that anyone would ever nominate us, but even when we have the money or we got an unexpected windfall we wouldn't tear down our 1851 farmhouse. We would fix it up and restore it to some of its former glory. Maybe we're both just saps, but we really feel connected to this old house. I grew up in a REALLY old farmhouse (at least 150 years old) and new houses are nice, but hey feel so "empty" to me. My favorite houses are always old farmhouses that have been fixed up and spruced up in accordance with the house's character.

[birdsong]

So nice to hear from someone who was there. My sister had a home on HG TV's Before & After. These types of television homes are for sure showcase homes and some of the best advertisement for all involved.

My only concern was they will never get that lucky boy out of that simulator in his bedroom!! This from a mother of an computer addicted son!! He seemed to be such a kind young man.

I had tears of joy the entire program for everyone including the workers!! I think the house is perfect and the barn is to die for. Did you see they even got all new saddles and bridles!!

What a roller coaster for that family this year. And yes...I wish I had the old barn!!

[Anne FS]

Not sure how long that exemption or loophole lasts, but at least now they are paying off existing mortgages most of the time too. A few seasons ago they weren't mentioning that the builders or community raised money to pay off their existing mortgages and I always wondered how the families would afford the increased utilities and maintainence costs, let alone taxes and paying their preexisting loan on the place.


According to one of the newspaper articles on this one, the land was inherited, so no mortgage. People were writing in saying "how could they be in need when they had 100 acres of Maryland land they'd inherited? Why don't they just sell off a 10-acre parcel?" and then someone wrote a comment that the land wasn't just hers but belonged to her family and had been a "legacy" from her mother, which then made people say wait a minute, there's FAMILY around? Why can't they help her keep the place up?" Hence some of the odd feelings about this one compared to some of the other places they've done on that show.

[spurgirl]

I'm glad someone else saw when they were putting up the sign letters on the indoor exterior,they had the "F",then an "E" partially screwed in...hubby and I said to each other "Freedom Farm,or Feed 'em Farm;)?...we watched "Amazing Race (CBS)" 'til 9,so we didn't get to hear the farm name yet.I also agree that many of the homes they show/build are obscene McMansions-I'm VERY glad this family has been helped,they CERTAINLY deserve a new,more efficient home,but I'm sure a beautiful,more practical house 1/3 of the size of that could still be built to accomodate the special needs guests,and still give them plenty of room.We wondered,too,about upkeep costs and taxes down the road,it would really s*ck for any of the families helped on the show lose their home down the road because they cannot afford to maintain it.We all know how horses and various other creatures drain the wallet:lol:

[ChocoMare]

Did anyone else covet the Fjord?! I sure did. What a cutie!!!!

[matryoshka]

There is other family who are in even greater financial need than Renee. I really don't want to get into the personal stuff about the family, but suffice it to say that Renee was and is the best-off one in the family. Her sister also teaches therapeutic riding and has invested much of her life into Freedom Hills. That was not mentioned, nor was she shown, even though she worked her butt off the whole time during the program. Renee's sister also has her own disability and recently had knee replacement surgery.

That's really all I want to say about the family situation or the financial situation as I understand it. Speculation and hearsay will only take away from the therapeutic-riding aspect of the show. That's what the gift to the entire community is about. By helping Renee, Extreme Makeover also helped the community and Freedom Hills. It is 501(c) and has a full BOD. Marylanders who receive Baltimore stations would have seen the president of the BOD during the pre-show talking about the number of horses that are at the facility. The BOD was also present when they brought Renee into the new indoor. There were many faces there who have been involved in Freedom Hills for many, many years and have put countless hours into raising funds and keeping records for the program.

We locals are thrilled that the program is getting some help and some recognition. The hope is that others watching the program will look for similar facilities in their area, both to help their loved ones with disabilities, and to volunteer their time and maybe money. That was the reason for the wonderful atmosphere. You saw the smiles on the faces of the riders. That's why we volunteer for this kind of program. That's why I was there helping, and that's why the other numerous horse people showed up to take horses to their temporary locations and to pick them up and bring them home.

By the way, the riding scenes with Mike were shot at Hilltop Farms in Colora. Gorgeous! They housed 7 horses for Freedom Hills and were extremely helpful and accomodating the whole week.

[Kenike]

good grief, they weren't kidding when they kept saying "we have a castle!" And the boy cracked me up when he said "Wow! Furniture that isn't from Goodwill!" You could tell he was so very, very, very appreciative :yes:
But it was a beautiful house
I only caught the last 45 mins (thanks to the football game), but hope they'll re-run during the summer. I understand it was a bit lacking in explaining therapeutic riding, but I'm glad they even highlited it. A special profession that takes a very special instructor/family and equally special horses. Not many non-horsey folks have any sort of clue about that...

[matryoshka]

The Fjord is Nina, and she is worth her weight in gold! She's one of the favorites of everybody who volunteers there. She also works harder than any other horse on the farm.

[pony grandma]

I had to look when the guy was hanging the sign letters - the R was laying on the ground.
They hadn't put it up yet.

I agree the real need seemed to be on TV semi-marginal in this case (and we have plenty of families around here who are land poor). It is tragic to have to sell off land (I had a friend who took her own life when she stood to lose her family farm, she couldn't live to see it happen) and it would be a last resort and goes against all of our horse community grain ie: the LOSS of riding land.

I think that the show was more about the theraputic program. So I have to go along with it b/c they did save the land and the program benefits many in real need.

Maybe the family can use the old house as a rental and off set their new lifestyle expenses.

There is always more, or another side, to every story.

[ADD526]

yay I saw! i agree it was an amzing house!!! i almost thought it was too much lol....how is that lady going to take care of such a monstrous house?!??!!?

I was also wondering about the old house. as soon as they said they didnt need to worry about the demolision of the old house hahah...

where was beezie madden?! i didnt see her!

[Coreene]

Being the least emotional person I know...I darned near misted up a bit when the rider was asked, "What did it feel like getting back on a horse?" and he answered, "It was like coming home." :sadsmile: I cried. All I kept thinking of was the first time I could get back on Willem six months after my own head injury. It absolutely was like coming home. One of the best days of my entire life. :sadsmile: :yes:

[SaddleFitterVA]

While I am not a fan of the oversized house, I can recognize how incredibly fun it is to design and build them.

What an exciting thing for that family. Like winning the lottery.

Mistyblue had an excellent point of this being a showcase for the builder. And, when I look at the Clark-Turner website, it does look like he is a high end builder. And, who would not be happy doing one of those jobs. Building a fabulous new home for people would be great.

Based on the pictures, that looks like quality construction. I would love a few of those features in my own home, but I would not want that big of a home. I'd take the landscaping!

I only saw the website. I don't know if I get ABC at home.

[Sannois]

The house is totally obscene, as are all the homes they build on the show, the reason I cannot stomach watching it. It's a big part of the problem in this country, a reason so many people over extended and are now losing their homes that they could not afford. Bigger, better, fancier, the heck with the fact that we have an energy crisis.

I don't care how tight and insulated it may be, or how many "zones", the entire main floor is enormous with up to 18 FOOT CEILINGS! :eek::no:

You could house 5 families in that thing...
the only one that feels this way. I hate that show.
They build houses for people who lived in terrible conditions and can not afford to run a house the size they build.

:no:

[Patch]

matryoshka thanks so much for the background info regarding this show and the family. They seem every bit as warm and kind as they appeared on the show.

I don't watch "Extreme Home Makeover" much anymore. I find that one episode starts to look like another but tuned in to this one because of the horse angle. I think its great that they could provide a new house and upgrade the facilities for this family that does so much for their community.

I doubt very much if they will see a huge rise in their utility bill. The new house is much more energy efficient than the old one. I would think the furnace is much newer and more efficient, more insulation than the old house, better windows and doors etc. With hydro you only pay for what you use. If you just light the room you're in, it doesn't matter what size the house is. The new kitchen appliances would be more efficient too. IMHO :)


And yes, they lost a lot of pasture. That was the mare's field.

That was my first thought when they said "the new house is going right here". Oh well, I'd still take the new house. Maybe the mares can have the old yard? :lol:

[Tory Relic]

matryoshka thanks so much for the background info regarding this show and the family. They seem every bit as warm and kind as they appeared on the show.

I doubt very much if they will see a huge rise in their utility bill. The new house is much more energy efficient than the old one. I would think the furnace is much newer and more efficient, more insulation than the old house, better windows and doors etc. With hydro you only pay for what you use. If you just light the room you're in, it doesn't matter what size the house is. The new kitchen appliances would be more efficient too. IMHO :)


Excellent points, Patch.

I understand correctly, they have 26 horses and 60 acres of land. I've seen more horses than that on 5 acres of land. There is plenty of room for the horses.

Many points have been made about the assistance that is given to people who are chosen for the show, such as paying taxes for a number of years. Also, the bulk of the land is used for a non-profit, so there should be tax breaks for that, too, as well as the fact that it is a family farm that this particular county does not want to see divided up and sold. The $50k itself need not be spent on upkeep, it can be placed into a money market or other type fund and grow. The place will have only need minimal maintenance for the next few years.

I am pretty ashamed of many of the people on this thread, and I'm sorry the BOD personnel has seen it. The money/donations used for this show is private. The people who hold the funds/goods have a right to use it however they wish. See my other post for my suggestion on how those of you who wish to be negative can contribute to other poor families who need homes. Habitat will happily take your horse funds for building these homes. It's no more wrong for this program to build a family a very nice home than it is for us to keep horses, using money "that could help others" to support that. I am really disgusted at this line of thinking.

Thank you, matryoshka, for the back story on this family. I almost feel as if I know them.

My husband has a bad back and nerve damage and though he will ride my mare occasionally, I've tried to encourage him to do it more. After seeing the trainer, Mike, who said he felt like he had come home on his first ride after his accident, Mr. TR said, okay, I'm convinced. I want to ride more regularly. No one really knows how far this program will reach in the good that will come out of it.

[Nski32]

where was beezie madden?! i didnt see her!

I guess her segment in it didnt make the cut.

[veebug22]

Was Beezie's property where they kept the riding program going while the barn was under construction? It looked like quite a nice place, and I thought that might be where Beezie came in... But I don't know what her farm looks like.

My husband adamently did not want to watch, but I happened to look over at one point and he was teary-eyed! I often find EHMO a little overdramatized and cheesey, but no one can say that what they do for these people in terrible situations doesn't pull on your heart strings!!

[GansMyMan]

You can go to the abc website and play the full episode on their episode player for about the next 2 weeks. I don't have cable/network tv, so the episode players are my friends!

[saddleup]

This family had no say in the size of house that was built. Yes, it's beautiful and spacious, but the builder wasn't doing it totally out of the goodness of his heart. He got lots of press and good publicity and he hopes a lot of good will, too. If it's a gorgeous home, it's a good advertisement for the work he does.

I think the critical tone of some of the posts on this thread are misplaced. Don't fault the family if you think their new home is over the top.

I do wonder what it will be like for the mom when her two kids are gone. I just moved to a smaller home since my children are now out on their own. It is very hard to be in a big house all by yourself.

[Coreene]

he will ride my mare occasionally, I've tried to encourage him to do it more. After seeing the trainer, Mike, who said he felt like he had come home on his first ride after his accident, Mr. TR said, okay, I'm convinced. I want to ride more regularly. No one really knows how far this program will reach in the good that will come out of it.The rest of my life I will never forget them talking to Mike. It just left the most profound warm and fuzzy in my soul. :sadsmile: He spoke for all of us.

[olympicprincess]

What will they do with the old house?
Give it to family? Leave it to rot?

I was wondering if they'd have liked to have seen the finished room that the husband/father was working on.

[bayknight]

why was Beezie featured? I did not think she lived in Maryland, or am I confusing episodes?

[Platinum Equestrian]

Phew! Now that it has aired, I feel like I can talk about it a bit!

;)

I came in at once they arrived at the barn to remodel... how did the father pass?

The kids seemed like really nice children.

I worked as a paid employee at a therapeutic riding center while in high school... the people who manage those facilities aren't paid enough for the job they do.


It was so touching to see the man on the horse, riding after his accident when a horse slipped on the concrete. Does anyone know, was he wearing a helmet at the time of the accident?

[Patch]

I do wonder what it will be like for the mom when her two kids are gone. I just moved to a smaller home since my children are now out on their own. It is very hard to be in a big house all by yourself.

She seemed like such a warm and generous person, I doubt that she will rattle around the house when the kids are gone. I expect she may use that space to host some of the many riders and people who work and ride there in all sorts of activities. Just a guess....

[Anne FS]

She seemed like such a warm and generous person, I doubt that she will rattle around the house when the kids are gone. I expect she may use that space to host some of the many riders and people who work and ride there in all sorts of activities. Just a guess....

You mean it will be a live-in place for some handicapped people? Wow.

[chai]

I noticed that the letters on the sign were wrong in that segment, too! But all in all I thought it was a heartwarming story, and they were lucky to be chosen. The therapeutic farm where I volunteer submitted a tape to them and they weren't chosen, but it was still nice to see such a worthy cause being helped out. They seem like such a nice family, and her teenage son was really funny. You could tell he was so happy, it was really cute.

[Trakehner]

Phewee! Some real sour grapes socialist weenies posting...."but she doesn't NEED all that room, others could have been done for"...yay, go for it comrade. Maybe people don't NEED a second horse, or more than one saddle or a horse trailer of their own.

If your heart is bleeding for the less fortunate, spend your own money, find em' a job and leave everyone else alone.

Good for the show and the builder for providing this family and the riding program a house and barn. It's being shared with many others, which is more than most of us can claim about our horses. Get over the jealosy, you don't give a hoot about the bloody poor, just that someone got something wonderful that didn't cost the taxpayers a penny vs. the idiotic free rent too many lazy buggers steal from we taxpayers because "they're needy due to no job, no work ethic and too many kids without fathers"

[Green Acres]

why was Beezie featured? I did not think she lived in Maryland, or am I confusing episodes?

Here is a link to an article that Beezie was taped for the show. But as NSKI32 said, I guess that part was cut from the show.

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2007/10/164.shtml

[Evalee Hunter]

Was Beezie's property where they kept the riding program going while the barn was under construction? It looked like quite a nice place, . . . .

www.hilltopfarminc.com

World famous warmblood breeding facility in Colora, MD. No connection to Beezie Madden that I know of.

[M.K.Smith]

Here's a link to Freedom Hills Theraputic Riding Program's website http://www.freedomhills.org/

I was there a long time ago as a 4-H kid for a horse judging practice... I do remember them having an indoor and an outdoor, but not a whole lot else. I know that Renee has been involved in theraputic riding for a very long time.

I really enjoyed the episode. The barn & house were lovely... although I think the house was quite a bit of overkill... good thing for the 50K to help pay for upkeep... I'm sure the heating bill and taxes have dramatically increased!

Evalee is correct that the horses stayed at Hilltop during the filming. The shot where they showed the riders continuing the program while the Luther's were gone was taken at Hilltop.

[mosmom]

It was a great show and the family truly deserved it. Ellie (the daughter) belongs to my sons Pony Club so it was really neat to watch. Ellie also represented the DelMarVa region on the event team at the PC Championships this past summer.

[matryoshka]

Karl had liver cancer, I think. By that time I was more actively involved in Equihab and only went to Freedom Hills to help my buddy trim the horses. There was a very short period of time between when he was diagnosed and when he died. He actually died the night of their yearly major fund raiser. Renee had asked him if he wanted her to stay with him rather than go to the auction, and he said no. The theme the previous year was "Gone with the Wind," and Karl came dressed as a soldier.

Renee actually wanted a small house. I don't think that she expected them to build a whole new house in the middle of the mares' field. Clark Turner builds signature homes just like the one he did on the show, and I'm guessing the producers knew that when they asked him to build this one. I'm guessing they were dreaming of all the things they'd want to do with the home in Renee's shoes, and so the design followed that rather than looking into the practicalities of her life. It is even more beautiful in person than in the program. Especially the mud room. I figured all the horse people would be drooling over the mud room and less interested in the rest of the house. That's how I reacted, too!

Renee hasn't discussed any plans of what she'll do with the house with me or anybody I know. I'm sure she's still absorbing all of the changes and wondering what the future holds.

[matryoshka]

Hilltop Farms kept seven of the horses. There were about 8 places keeping horses for Renee (we had 7 trailers for the move). Hilltop was very gracious, and I can say that the horses there did not want to come home!! The pastures were spacious and filled with grass and it was a great place for them to get some rest. Hilltop had offered to haul the horses back to Freedom Hills, but the timing didn't work out.

Renee didn't expect any of the horses to return while she was away, and neither did the people hauling the horses. When they picked the horses up the first Monday, everybody asked when to bring them back, and at that point, my information was that they weren't coming back until after Renee was home. There was collective relief, because the Fair Hill Internationals were the following weekend, and a number of people were either volunteering there or had shows planned for Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, later that week the producer I worked with (Matt) said he wanted the horses back on Saturday. That meant I had to round up some new haulers and could only bring back a portion of the horses, since some were housed at show barns that would not be there. Saturday morning, I got a call from a concerned BOD member saying the barn and grounds weren't ready for the horses. So I and a friend went over and checked the place out, which was not ready for horses (the producer didn't understand exactly what was wrong). We made a list of the things that needed to be done and put the horse move off for another 5 hours. That also meant that we had to scrounge up different haulers because of their schedules. The producer was exasperated with me, but I had to put the safety of the horses first.

Thank goodness for Whoa Nellie Farm and my friend Jeanne!

When we arrived back at 5:00 with the horses from Hill Top, Renee's sister said they still weren't ready for the horses, because the field hadn't been cleaned up of wires and metal (that had been on our list). We put some of the horses in stalls and the big geldings went into the riding arena. That was a sight for the workers! I don't think they'd gotten to see large, excited horses thundering around an enclosure before.

I was impressed by volunteers stepping forward immediately, without being asked, to water and hay the horses. What a great group of people!! The Freedom Hills volunteers are awesome.

I made two more trips to get horses that night so the barn would have horses in it for the filming on Sunday. A woman named Michelle came with me. You can see her hugging Renee in the indoor arena at the end of the show. She was also there to help load horses the first day. Two of the horses had to stand on the trailer waiting for the furniture to be moved into the barn so they could film Rib and I taking the horses off the trailer. They actually used the clip of me leading Baywatcher off my trailer. Who knew? Rib managed to get nipped by one of the nervous ponies, and he was showing his little pink welt off to the other designer who was scared of horses. I told him to quit his whining and showed him where I'd rasped my knuckles off trimming horses that week. It was funny. They were very nice.

The pregnant mares and more sensitive horses did not come back for several more days. The people who were kind enough to house the horses were very understanding about the fact that the fields weren't ready and we didn't want any horses to get hurt.

I have to say that the horse people who showed up to help were wonderful, very professional, and did not let the excitement of the day, camera, crew, and stars of the show sidetrack them from doing their jobs and getting the horses out of there with a minimum of fuss. The horses at Freedom Hills are good animals, but their world was being torn apart and they could feel the heavy equipment digging holes nearby (some were sweating and white eyed in their stalls). For all of that, nobody got hurt and horses were loaded and hauled away without a cross word spoken.

Pretty cool, and I was glad to be a part of it.

[ChocoMare]

I got the sense from the show that Renee's heart is in ministry: ministering to her students, their parents and extended family, as well as her volunteers and workers. That house has such potential for her to minister even more. I doubt there's a selfish bone in that woman's body.

What a blessing.

[mosmom]

Ellie (Renee's daughter) is a part of my son's pony club. She represented the DelMarVa region this year by competing on the event team at PC Championships in Kentucky.

[Horseless1]

The extra pics on the site linked in the OP are great. I love the exercise room in the barn. Of course hubby and I were awed by the mudroom. haha

And when he saw how the ribbons were hung around the room in the family's old house, hubby said "No!" immediately because he knew I would want to do that with all of mine - haha.

I also loved the pics Ty took for the mom's room. I need to try to take some artsy horse pics like that...

Kudos to that family for living their lives helping others!

[Anne FS]

Phewee! Some real sour grapes socialist weenies posting.....

Wow, Trakehner, when did you start channeling Ronald Reagan?

C'mon, anyone who watches that show had to notice this was a huge departure from the types of families they normally feature, and they're commenting on it. It's very hard for a lot of people to understand how someone with so much land (some say 60, the show said over 100, and one article said 156 acres) - it's really hard for some needy people to fathom that as being "in need." It doesn't mean they're socialist weenies, jealous, have sour grapes - what, were you trying to set a record for most name-calling epithets in a single post? ;)

And what's with the "lazy buggers...due to...kids with no fathers"? My kids were raised in my single parent home and none of us are lazy buggers who stole from any taxpayers. Go stereotype somebody else besides fatherless kids.

[halla]

I don't think anyone was complaining about the family, more the show. Clearly the family aren't over-the-top consumers, they run a therapeutic riding center ;) I think it was more a critique along the lines of "did the show fulfill it's own stated goals of helping as much as possible?" And I have to agree that giving overworked people an enormous house to take care of and pay for may not be the best possible way of helping.

[Bluey]

Many of the clients in the local hippotherapy group here are covered by their insurance.
That helps tremendously to keep things running.
I am sure that is so there also.

[Moderator 1]

We merged two threads on this topic so please excuse any posts that seem out of order. Thanks!

[matryoshka]

In the past, Freedom Hills has taken on riders regardless of their abililty to pay. So free lessons were given when necessary. They survive largely on donations. Everybody who volunteers there ends up buying odds and ends that need replacement and working to make repairs. Horses are large animals, and they occasionally break things! Anybody see those guys kicking the wall to show how strong it was? I had to laugh, because a 17.2hh WB lives there, along with a draft horse at least that tall and some other draft crosses. A kick from those horses does a little more damage than booted human feet. :lol:

Renee's able-bodied program, Rolling Hills Ranch, exists side by side with Freedom Hills. There are horses owned by the Freedom Hills program, which has to pay board for each horse, and are also used for able-bodied lessons. Renee is the director of the program, but she is not the president of the BOD. Her sister is also on the BOD, as is her father, who actually owns the farm.

Personally, I think the show was there to help Renee AND the Freedom Hills program. By helping Renee, they help the program. In some ways, responding to programs like "Extreme Home Makeover" is a case of be careful what you wish for. The show leases the property and makes all of the decisions from there. Renee had laid out what she'd like to see, but what she got is not very close to what she asked for. I'm guessing the show's producers (and Clark Turner) believe they gave her something better. Working horse people know better.

Still, I do think everybody's hearts were in the right place. The show stressed helping the community. The house was donated, so it's not like the money spent on that house would have gone to fund other homes in the program. It was all local, with materials and labor being donated for that one site. It didn't take away from anybody else.

Renee does have options for the upkeep of the house. Whether she wants to use those options is her choice. There is tremendous potential with a house that size and that well designed.

Personally, I'd love to see the Freedom Hills program also branch out to help disadvantaged kids where they can learn to care for the animals and help others--and actually see how difficult life is for some of the disabled people. It is a mind-opening experience for sure! Lost and Found horse rescue in PA does something similar, and the man there says that these kids can really connect to horses that have been unwanted and abused. With Freedom Hills, it could be win-win-win, where kids, horses, and disabled riders all benefit.

[pony grandma]

Personally, I think the show was there to help Renee AND the Freedom Hills program. By helping Renee, they help the program. In some ways, responding to programs like "Extreme Home Makeover" is a case of be careful what you wish for. The show leases the property and makes all of the decisions from there. Renee had laid out what she'd like to see, but what she got is not very close to what she asked for. I'm guessing the show's producers (and Clark Turner) believe they gave her something better. Working horse people know better. TRUE TRUE TRUE

Personally, I'd love to see the Freedom Hills program also branch out to help disadvantaged kids where they can learn to care for the animals and help others--and actually see how difficult life is for some of the disabled people. It is a mind-opening experience for sure!

Exactly, thank you. The new barn facilities will allow for program expansions. And we all know land and horse poverty!

[kwilhide]

I helped judge a horse show there a few years ago and it is something that I will always remember. I am very glad for them, and hope this helps them expand the program. I wish I had known about this in time to help, but I have friends that were involved, it is great to see how the community came together.

I am very jealous of the mudroom, however. :D

[Nezzy]

my concerns were- do they WANT a house in the middle of a field that they probably use? Why did they leave the first house up, that will probably be higher taxes having 2 houses.

I kept wondering if they made the house and barn SO big that the owner would have a hard time paying the taxes. (i know nothing of how the gift thing/tax thing works)
but i loved the house (especially the mud room) and i loved the tack room where they hang up the saddles and 'GIRDLES'. LOL. Gotta wonder about a brit who does not know about horses. but i still like Ed a lot.

Mike was an inspiration, and he made me and my hubby get teary eyed.

i am SO ready for TY to move on and retire. i hate the way he called Renee "Man" i think he called her that every single time he talked to her. i was so aggravated! He has smoked one too many.

they definitely deserved it, i just wonder if they should try to make things fit into someone's budget. it's not easy to raise a family and feed 26 horses. I just hope they can keep going after the $50,000 is gone.

[matryoshka]

I think the way it works is that the program leases the land, and any improvements they make to the land while leasing it is not taxed to the owner, as a gift would be. However, I believe they have to pay taxes on all the things they were given, such as furniture, saddles, etc. One would hope that the donations specifically for Freedom Hills would be taxed differently or tax exempt. Don't know, since I'm not a finance person.

I believe the farm was surveyed "just in case" weeks before the show was filmed. There were some difficulties, since the father owns the land and it is to be divided between Renee and her sister. Renee's sister hays several fields, which provides the round bales the horses eat all year. That's how they supplement the pasture. I'm thinking that if they surveyed it, they would have had to explore the possibility of putting a house in that field. I know Robyn was really worried about losing a hay field, since it is critical to getting the horses fed and they have spent years cultivating it.

Also, Renee can sell the old house. It's not as old as it looks, and maybe there will be some added interest in it since it was featured on national TV.

Ty is an interesting guy to watch. I got the feeling he is hyperactive (it runs in my family), and when I took my daughter to the doctor a few days later, there he was on an ad for an ADHD medicine. That explains the way he never really sits still. He is very intense, though, and I'm not sure how closely he listens. He was very nice and posed for countless pictures, including one with Flat Stanley. Calvert Elementary was doing some Flat Stanley activities at the time. I don't know how those guys could stand all the picture taking and hand shaking and people smiling up at them in adoration. That would drive me nuts. I guess it goes with the territory. Sheesh! I woudn't want to be famous like that. :no:

[Nezzy]

well, i see the other stars on the show are not as wired up as Ty. in any case, i wish Renee and her family the best.

[mosmom]

He was very nice and posed for countless pictures, including one with Flat Stanley. Calvert Elementary was doing some Flat Stanley activities at the time. I don't know how those guys could stand all the picture taking and hand shaking and people smiling up at them in adoration. That would drive me nuts. I guess it goes with the territory. Sheesh! I woudn't want to be famous like that. :no:

Matryoshka, Do you have kids that go to Calvert? My son is in 2nd grade there.

[matryoshka]

Mosmom, I sent you a PM. :D

Freedom Hills is holding its annual Ride-A-Thon on June 15th and 16th at Fair Hill. There are two division: WTC and Walk Only. You should be able to find more info on the Freedom Hills web site. They also have their annual auction coming up soon. There may even be some memorabelia from the Extreme Makeover for auction. All proceeds go to the Freedom Hills therapeutic riding program. It's a fun night for anybody interested in attending.

[sobaytransplant]

Tory Relic! You said what I was thinking and got myself so upset about it that I HAD to post something.

You said, "I am pretty ashamed of many of the people on this thread, and I'm sorry the BOD personnel has seen it. The money/donations used for this show is private. The people who hold the funds/goods have a right to use it however they wish. See my other post for my suggestion on how those of you who wish to be negative can contribute to other poor families who need homes. Habitat will happily take your horse funds for building these homes. It's no more wrong for this program to build a family a very nice home than it is for us to keep horses, using money "that could help others" to support that. I am really disgusted at this line of thinking."

Here, here! Those others sounded like a bunch of sour grapes, anyway!

[Tom King]

We missed it the first time around but caught the rerun last night. I was wondering about property tax issues and did a Google search for " extreme home makeover tax problems " and it looks like there's no free ride.

How are these folks doing six months later?

[Evalee Hunter]

Tory Relic! You said what I was thinking and got myself so upset about it that I HAD to post something.

You said, "I am pretty ashamed of many of the people on this thread, and I'm sorry the BOD personnel has seen it. The money/donations used for this show is private. The people who hold the funds/goods have a right to use it however they wish. See my other post for my suggestion on how those of you who wish to be negative can contribute to other poor families who need homes. Habitat will happily take your horse funds for building these homes. It's no more wrong for this program to build a family a very nice home than it is for us to keep horses, using money "that could help others" to support that. I am really disgusted at this line of thinking."

Here, here! Those others sounded like a bunch of sour grapes, anyway!

Tory Relic has passed away so she's not around to read your approval. See this thread:

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=154932