Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds left their troubles behind last weekend as they took two of their daughters on a trip to a beloved, but struggling, Rhode Island farm, where their eldest had the chance to sweep house at her equestrian show.
DailyMail.com obtained exclusive photos of Lively and Reynolds posing with the farm’s assistant manager and her sons while their eldest, 10-year-old James, was competing in a horse show.
It is unknown if Blake and her brood were staying at Taylor Swift’s $17million mansion on Watch Hill, a 40-minute drive from the farm. Word is that Taylor and Blake have taken a time out of their friendship since the singer became embroiled in the It End with Us fiasco.
But despite her parent’s drama, James shined at the Athletic Equestrian League (AEL) show with her team from Westchester County, New York, where their family lives – even achieving the goal of being the show’s highest point-getter.
‘She is a very cute, lovely girl, and a great rider,’ said Alicia Cotrone-Leo, assistant manager of the East Greenwich-based Faith Hill Care Farm which provides equestrian instruction, equine-assisted psychotherapy and works with nonprofits throughout Rhode Island.
But sadly, the assistant manager tells DailyMail.com the farm is at risk of going under from the effects of a proposed housing development next door.
Blake Lively smiles wide for the camera at her daughter James’ horse show in exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com. She poses alongside the assistant manager of Rhode Island-based Faith Hill Care Farm, Alicia Cotrone-Leo
It is unknown if Blake and her brood we staying at Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island mansion since their friendship is reportedly on the rocks over the Justin Baldoni legal drama
Ryan Reynolds posing with Cotrone-Leo’s two sons Caleb (left) and Derek (right). The actor was chatting it up with the boys, riders and staff as they chatted about being on set, their personal riding experience and the payoff of hard work
As Cotrone-Leo tells it, Lively first approached her to point out that they were wearing the same insulated Carhartt overalls.
She said she wanted to respect the family’s time together rather than ‘bombarding them with our troubles with the farm.’ So the two moms chatted about riding and their kids, instead.
‘To be honest, it was just like talking to a friend,’ she said.
Meanwhile, Reynolds took a moment to chat with Cotrone-Leo’s two sons, as well as riders and coaches, discussing everything from their personal riding experiences to his movie roles – including in Deadpool – and the payoff of hard work.
The couple posed for several selfies taken by the farm staff and riders.
‘They both couldn’t have been more friendly and lovely,’ Cotrone-Leo said.
Taylor’s $17million mansion on Watch Hill which is a 40-minute drive from the farm
Exclusive DailyMail.com pictures captured Lively with her arms around her husband Reynolds at their getaway at Taylor’s Watch Hill mansion last August
The East Greenwich-based Faith Hill Care Farm is at risk of being shut down due to the threat of the town approving a housing development on 37 acres that adjoin its property
Lively posing with Alex who’s a staff member at the horse farm
Read More
EXCLUSIVE
Taylor Swift no longer speaking to Blake Lively after Justin Baldoni scandal shook decade-long friendship
She notes the couple bought lunch from a local business for their kids and their equestrian team, but didn’t indicate whether they were in Rhode Island for the weekend.
If they did, the family may have stayed at their famous friend Taylor Swift’s mansion in Westerly, Rhode Island’s Watch Hill neighborhood about 40 minutes south of the farm.
But with reports saying Lively and Taylor’s friendship is on the rocks after allegedly dragging the superstar into the Baldoni drama, her Summer getaways with hubby Reynolds and their family may have ceased.
Pam Steere-Maloof, owner of Faith Hill Care Farm and host of last weekend’s AEL horse show there, said the A-list couple’s visit ‘was a bright point for us because we’re going through a really rough time’.
The horse farm, which has been in Steere-Maloof’s family since 1960, has long provided services to Rhode Island’s nonprofit groups and therapy to at-risk youth – especially those who have been sex trafficked.
‘Horses are great barometers for trauma,’ she told DailyMail.com. ‘There’s a lot of confidence that grows and learning about good relationships and healing that happens here.
The farm’s programs and the jobs of its 12-person staff are at risk of by the threat of the town approving a housing development on 37 acres that adjoin its property.
Cotrone-Leo said she and Lively were chatting about riding and their kids. The assistant manager didn’t tell the actress about the farm’s mounting troubles because she didn’t want to interrupt their family time
Pam Steere-Maloof, owner of Faith Hill Care Farm and host of last weekend’s AEL horse show there, said the A-list couple’s visit ‘was a bright point for us because we’re going through a really rough time’
Building that project would entail excavating, the drilling, blasting, rock crushing that Steere Maloof said will scare her horses and put riders at risk.
‘I don’t think my business can survive this,’ she told us, noting that the horse show that Lively, Reynolds and their girls attended last weekend ‘may very well be our last’.
Lively has been embroiled in a $400million legal battle with her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni.
The actress accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the time they worked together before he filed his countersuit – both allege that each other tried to destroy the other’s reputation.
But in an attempt to escape the drama, she told People magazine that she ‘just tries to focus on family life’.
Since marrying in 2012, the couple has had three daughters, James, 10, Inez, 8, and Betty, 5 and one son Olin, 2.
Swift, who is the kids’ godmother, has written about the three girls in her song Betty, which includes the lyrics, ‘You heard the rumors from Inez / You can’t believe a word she says’ and ‘She said, “James, get in, let’s drive”.’
Reynolds has said he takes part in as many of the kids’ activities as possible because he doesn’t want to be an absentee father.