BY AMY SCANLIN

Special to The Pilot

Prancing Horse is an all-volunteer organization that has helped individuals with special needs for more than 28 years.

The 2012 Horse Farm Tour, benefiting Prancing Horse Center for Therapeutic Horseback Riding, will take place Sunday, Oct. 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Horse Farm Tour, the major fundraising event, brings together friends and neighbors, participating farms and professional equestrians to support this important service.

WindSwept Farm

Originally part of Mile Away Farm, this 20-acre plot of land, owned by Dr. Eric Janis and his wife, Kendyl, is a work in progress. But, what a work it is!

The English country-style barn and guest house sit on land that once housed the Mosses' broodmare barn. The farm makes quite a statement upon approach.

Guests pass a jumping arena before arriving at the beautiful barn and guest house, which are built with bricks hand-formed by the Carolina Brick Company in a wooden mold.

The six-stall center-aisle barn, built in 2010, uses salvaged wood from the old Mile Away broodmare barn on the tack room walls and barn ceiling. The lovely old wood adds charm to the barn and seems to echo all the wonderful horse history of this property.

Visitors to the Horse Farm Tour will pass the Moore County Hound Club upon approach to WindSwept Farm.

Professional huntsman David Raley and Master Effie Ellis plan to bring the Moore County Hound pack to WindSwept Farm for a demonstration of the working pack.

Williams' Woods

Williams' Woods is a beautiful mix of elegant farmhouse, folk art gallery and working barn.

"The whole house reflects the way we like to live and entertain," says Tim Williams, who owns the farm with his wife, Ann. "We wanted an open home with lots of glass."

Ann had been coming to the Sandhills for about eight years to train her Friesian gelding, Roelof, at Dragstra Stables. They loved the area and eventually purchased 12 acres and slowly started building their pastures, designing the layout themselves. Their home was completed just this year.

The lower level of the home houses the barn, "a bank barn," as it is called in Pennsylvania. This level includes a tack room and apartment for guests. The three barn stalls were beautifully crafted by the Amish, using aluminum, instead of steel, to prevent rust.

CrossWind Farm

"I want to come back as one of her horses," says Steve Pierce, co-owner of CrossWind Farm with his wife, Charlene, "or her dogs!"

CrossWind Farm is a new love for the Pierce family. After growing weary of the traffic in northern Virginia, they relocated here two-and-a-half years ago with their family of horses, dogs and children. Once here, they adopted an old cat that lived on the property as well.

CrossWind Farm is a 17-acre gem, which was -originally part of the Long Leaf Pine farm, where the Long Leaf horse trials were held.

The Pierces have added a lovely home, barn and garage to the already existing bungalow. They have lovingly reworked the pastures and arenas, trying as much as possible to keep the integrity of the original property while designing a layout better suited to their needs.

Their barn houses five enormous warmblood horses, all of whom will eagerly greet tour guests. The barn features a unique feeding system and a cozy well planned tack room.

Nearby is a large garage with an additional extensive space housing Steve's office as well as a guest suite. Behind the guest suite is the pasture for their guest's horses, complete with a two stall barn. This area along with the bungalow will be open for touring.

Advance -tickets are $20 and can be purchased at -participating businesses throughout the Sandhills.

More information can be found at www.prancinghorsecenter.com.