ROWAN COUNTY — Conservation properties provide many benefits to the environment and communities. Three Rivers Land Trust has focused on three main aspects of conservation, including the effort to expand public lands, save family farms and protect local waters. One of its most recent conservation project has yet another community benefit as a bonus — a 50-acre horse farm in Rowan County is not only a beautiful family farm but also provides equine therapy opportunities to the local community. 

Equine-assisted therapies are programs where professionals guide clients through activities with horses. There are different kinds of equine programs and they have different goals for the people involved. Some programs are part of mental health treatment, and in other cases, clients ride horses as part of a physical or occupational therapy regimen. Palmie and Jim Freeze who own the farm wanted to protect it for the animals and people who use this land in perpetuity. 

“Three Rivers Land Trust prides itself on conserving local family farms, and this project does just that, along with providing a special service to the local community,” Executive Director Travis Morehead said. “So much land in western Rowan County is being developed, that working with great landowners who have the foresight to protect farmland through donated conservation easements is a core tenant of what we do here at TRLT.”

Senior Land Protection Special Emily Callicutt added, “Walking this property and seeing children enjoying their time with the horses, demonstrates the importance of protecting places like this for future generations. Three Rivers Land Trust appreciates so much the dedication of these landowners to give back to their community and their desire to conserve their special place so it will always be available for this use.” 

The project was made possible through the generous donated conservation easement by the landowners and the support of Three Rivers Land Trust’s work by its members. To learn more about how to conserve your lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, should contact Callicutt by calling 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.