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By KRISTIN HARTY, The News Journal

Renee Sherrard-Luther hopes the March 15th fundraiser for Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Center will be bigger than ever this year.
National exposure should help.
On Sunday, Luther and her two children will be featured in a two-hour episode of "ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which brought together hundreds of volunteers to build the family a new house and riding facility in October.
The Emmy Award-winning reality show chose the Luthers from among thousands of applicants because of their commitment to helping people with physical and emotional disabilities -- regardless of their ability to pay for horseback riding lessons.
For 25 years, the family has struggled to keep the program afloat. The mission: To give "hope, joy and self-confidence in the name of Christ."
"It's wonderful therapy for kids who can't run and play -- that's what I call them instead of 'disabled' " said Kenneth Seaman, professor of physical therapy at the University of Delaware. For years, he's taken physical therapy students to Freedom Hills so they could learn about the benefits of therapeutic riding.
"The riders learn balance, stretching, proper posture," Seaman said. "There's so much you can do on a horse. ... It's hard to get them off the horse sometimes."
Before "Extreme Makeover" worked on the Port Deposit, Md., property, the Luther's barn and home were in disrepair. Luther's husband, Carl, had planned a renovation project, but he was diagnosed with cancer last January. He died in April. He was 50.
"There was so much work that needed to be done in it that we couldn't afford to do," Sherrard- Luther said. Friends submitted the family's name to be considered for a Hollywood-style home makeover.
Volunteers demolished the old barn shortly after the television crew arrived in Port Deposit. They built a new barn with stalls for 24 horses and a new indoor riding ring. A renovated office area includes a new physical therapy room for riders.
"Before, in the old barn it was still open on both ends, and it was just freezing," said Kim Andreen, of Havre de Grace. Her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Ellianna, has mild cerebral palsy and has been riding at Freedom Hills for about a year.
"It's so much nicer now," said Andreen, who walks alongside the horse, named Chunky Monkey, when Ellianna rides. "To be in that environment is a little more uplifting than being, basically, in an old, rundown shack."
Luther hopes the new facilities will allow Freedom Hills to expand, but the program still relies on sponsors and donations. The family will offer tours of their new home and barn at a fundraiser in February, and Freedom Hills' annual gala dinner and auction will include some T-shirts and photographs autographed by the "Extreme Makeover" cast.
"We need the community's involvement and financial support even more," said Luther, who's also looking for a grant writer to help her find ways to pay for costs at the riding center, where about 75 clients ride each week. "Our bills are higher."

Contact Kristin Harty at 324-2792 or kharty@delawareonline.com

Source: www.delawareonline.com