Bonterra Village residents respond to WCCB’s report on future of community horses

INDIAN TRAIL, NC — What we thought was an issue over horses, now has now become a battle in the neighborhood.

Last week, we told you the future of the horses at the Bonterra Village community was in question. It still is, but after our report aired, several neighbors reached out in frustration wanting to give their side of the story.

“I was really surprised when they said they moved there for the horses because I moved to a neighborhood and I moved to a house and not necessarily. But they brought up those horses,” said one Bonterra resident who asked we hide her identity.

We told you last week, the Bonterra HOA informed residents they would not renew the barn’s lease to the current tenant, Fonda Maddalone. An email to the residents laid out possible options for the property. Some of which, did not include horses.

After our story aired, Bonterra residents reached out saying the current lease with Maddalone doesn’t make sense for the community.

One resident wrote in an email, “Are the horses aesthetically pleasing? Sure, but I’m not keen on continuing to allow the current tenants to keep their lease. It’s doesn’t make good financial sense. The ROI is not there.”

About half of the horses in the ten stall barn are associated with Maddalone, her family, or her riding lesson business.

A newly obtained email from the HOA shows Maddalone is paying about $8,000 per year  to lease the facility. The HOA says it is paying more than $19,000 per year to maintain barn.

“The lease was not made up by me. The least came before me. I did not make up the rent cost,” says Maddalone.

Maddalone says she told the board she would be willing to pay more money, but says the HOA told her “no” without explanation.

WCCB reached out to the HOA’s attorney again to ask if there’s been an update since our last report. We have not heard back. There’s a community discussion for the future of the land scheduled for next week.