COMMERCE TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - The race is on to find almost three dozen horses a home after Commerce Township officials terminated its contract with equestrian operations at Windmill Farms last September.
WWJ's Mike Campbell said the 35 animals must be off township property, which is rough 30 acres, by June 19th -- and time is quickly running out.
"Windmill Farms is one of the last operating horse farms open to the public and for [high school] equestrian teams..." Campbell reported. "It's about 30 acres on Wiixom Road between Charms and Glengary Roads...the horse farm is owned by Commerce Township, [but] the equestrian facility or operation is run by Carrie Hancock."
Campbell explained the popular equestrian facility was granted a five-year concession agreement by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees, but the farm is being forced to close after the board decided in September to terminate the agreement after only two years.
Hancock, along with fellow equestrians and other community members, have been fighting against the closure for almost seven months, arguing the farm is very valuable to the community which benefit from its riding programs as well as its aesthetic.
"We've got pony rides for the young kids. We do riding lessons. We supply horses to the school equestrian teams. We have summer camp. We have opportunities for special needs riders," she said in an earlier interview with WWJ. "A lot of people in the area just like driving by and seeing the horses. It's an old turn-of-the century farmstead — a big red barn and a white farm house and it's appealing."
The academy services MIHA District 1 Schools which include students at, Walled Lake Schools, Huron Valley Schools, South Lyon Schools, Novi Schools and West Bloomfield Schools.
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Despite their fight, Commerce Township officials announced last month that pending legal action against the farm was resolved on March 15th and with the Court granting the Township "exclusive possession" on June 19, 2023.
"We understand that the Township’s decision to seek an alternative operator for the horse farm has been difficult and disappointing to some residents, officials said in an update to social media. "We want to assure you that the Township’s goal has always been, and remains, to ensure that this Township owned property is used for the benefit of Commerce residents."
The Township said they look forward to utilizing the property with plans for "more expansive" horse-programming that would be available to all residents.
Hancock and other farm operators, however, said they were left "devastated" by the decision.
"Reality set in this week when the Township tore down the historic farmhouse," Campebell said.
Hancock reealed the home was built in 1903 by one of Commerce Township's founding families.
"It just was an authentic turn-of-the-century farmstead that's gone now," she told Campbell.
Windmill Farms said it has recently partnered with STARZ Equestrian Center to try and keep operations in Oakland County.
"We're trying to keep as much of the programming in place," Hancock said. "We're looking for another place as close as we can, it won't be in Commerce Township -- there's no opportunity there for this type of facility or this type of operation."
But the most pressing issue on Hancock's mind is making sure the animals, some of which have called Windmill Farms home for over 15 years, are provided for and have a place to go when June 19th approaches.
A fundraiser to help with the costs has been set up on the farm's Facebook page here. So far $2,500 of their $30,000 goal has been raised.
"These horses need your help and we need your unwavering support now more than ever," organizers stated.
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