Horse Illustrated Magazine

Purina has donated horse feed to two deserving families featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  Episodes featuring the Hamptons of Springfield, Mo., and the Marshalls of Dallas, Texas, will air this fall on ABC. 

“Purina loved teaming up with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to assist these families in need,” said Marketing Manager, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Chris Goodwin. “We take great pride in the equine industry and always look for ways to give back and help horses and their owners.”

Purina donated five tons of horse feed to the Hampton family of Springfield, Mo., in hopes to help offset feed costs for their six rescued horses that live on their farm. Making ends meet had been a struggle for the Hamptons. With two children of their own, Chris and wife Niki Hampton recently doubled the size of their family after a fateful phone call from a social services agency. They were told that they had just one hour to decide whether to take their four nieces and nephews or let them go into foster care. Without hesitation, Chris and Niki moved the four children into their 716 square-foot, one-bedroom and one bath farmhouse.

“They are the type of people who will be there anytime anyone needs anything,” said Chris’ mother, Cathie Hampton. “When they decided to take in the four kids, they were already cramped and crowded. They still took them in.”

During the western-themed show, viewers will see the Hampton’s family home and barn completely torn down and rebuilt. The new barn will house their six rescued horses and will include six stalls, an equine facility, a tack room, a feed room and a green house.

“It is obvious the horses are much loved members of the family, and since the family got a new home, we wanted to give the horses a new home too,” said Project Lead for the extreme builder, Millstone Homes, Julie Vanvig-Burnell. “We also decided to partner with Purina to provide the horses with a level of security and a premium horse feed for these much loved animals.”

“My son was thrilled, shocked and surprised,” added Hampton. “He cried when he heard Purina had donated all that feed.”

Purina also donated a one-year supply of Strategy® Horse Feed to the Marshall family of Dallas, Texas. Carlton Marshall, who serves on the Dallas police force, has two children with his wife Susan. He recently spent nine months in the hospital after a bullet pierced his neck during a drug raid, damaging his spinal cord. He suffered a severe stroke, contracted meningitis, and is now in a wheelchair and uses cochlear implants in order to hear.

The Marshall’s newly built home solved structural and accessibility issues for Carlton, and enabled the family to continue their volunteer work with Therapeutic Riding of Texas (TROT), a horseback riding therapy program for children and adults with mental and physical challenges. Along with their new home, the Marshalls also received a new barn, which includes a hydraulic lift for Carlton to care for his horses.

“I love the independence it’s going to give me,” said Carlton Marshall. “To see all these people come out and volunteering their time, it’s absolutely overwhelming.”

“Purina has always maintained an active role in supporting our community,” said Account Manager, Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed, Bob Wucher. “Carlton and Susan are long time customers of Nancy and Susie Thomas of Feeders Supply Co., the local Purina Dealer. Together, the Marshall’s horse and pet needs will be covered for the next year.”

The Hampton family episode will air Sunday, October 4, 2009. The Marshall family episode will air Sunday, October 18, 2009. Please check your local listings for exact air times.