The Lone Star State is known for Long horn cattle, Cowboys, and bragging. But this free house is no Texas tall tale: until April 5, people who live in Texas have a chance to actually own some real Texas dirt: a brand-spankin’ new home, for a $100 raffle ticket. Texas-based Darling homes has built a 2,900 square ft., four bedroom, three bath new home in Prosper, just north of Dallas, a suburb growing faster than weeds after a Texas rain! The home has a gourmet kitchen and study area; hardwoods in the entry, granite gourmet custom kitchen, nook and family room, and many upgrades including landscaping, stereo system, and even Epoxy Paint Coating on the garage floor! And Darling has donated this $370,000 valued home to benefit ManeGait, a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding center that was founded by the principles of Darling Homes, Bill and Priscilla Darling.

On their 25th anniversary in 2007, the Darlings founded the equine therapy organization in McKinney, Texas after finding a dearth of such centers in Collin County, Texas. With 13 therapy horses and a High Five arena on 14 rolling acres in Collin County, Mane Gait offers lessons that help students improve balance, muscle strength, confidence, motivation, social skills and responsiveness. ManeGait also sponsors a significant financial aid program for clients who cannot afford the $450, ten-week riding session.

“In equine therapy,” says Priscilla Darling, “the horse moves in the same ambulatory pattern that we do as humans, so when you put a disabled rider on the horse, it forces their body, their core, to move as if they are walking.”