Post by Alicia Atwood on Nov 30, 2009 18:02:37 GMT -3
A few years ago, the beautifully ladscaped lawns and fancy stables of Willow Creek Equestrian Academy had no place in anyone's thoughts, and the property was used for other puposes then a riding school.
While walking through the peaceful halls of the dorms, or the calm serenity of the stable block, you might notice the coolness that can be sensed in the air around you, and you might pause to assess your situation.
The truth is, many years before Alicia Atwood bought the acreage to build her dream, the property was used as a slaughter house, slaying hundreds of unwanted and abused horses every week, much to the public's objections.
Hundreds of horse and animal loving citizens would line up to protest on the lawns out in front of the slaughter house grounds, but would never succeed, until one peculairily quiet day.
In the early morning dawn of Sunday, May 23rd, 1999, a devaststing barn fire tore-up everything on the land, killing over 245 horses, many injured beyond saving, and at least 75 employees.
Upon hearing about the loss of lives, many townsfolk decided to raise money for a cause they considered a charity.
A young teenage girl by the name of Alicia Atwood had decided to give abused and unwanted horses a place for a second shot at life, and with the support and donations of the public, she raised enough money to buy the preoperty off of the now broke slaughter house.
After a few years of taking in horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes, she had a large sale, managing to sell almost all of the horses, which she had trained in various disiplines and had given much needed loving attention.
Now, September, 2009, Willow Creek Equestrian Academy, Alicia's dream riding school, is opening up it's doors for the first time, in a valiant effort to forget the past that took place on the same grass that you stand on at this very moment.
Hundreds of lives lost.
A hopeless journey.
A new beginning.
A beautiful place.
Willow Creek.
While walking through the peaceful halls of the dorms, or the calm serenity of the stable block, you might notice the coolness that can be sensed in the air around you, and you might pause to assess your situation.
The truth is, many years before Alicia Atwood bought the acreage to build her dream, the property was used as a slaughter house, slaying hundreds of unwanted and abused horses every week, much to the public's objections.
Hundreds of horse and animal loving citizens would line up to protest on the lawns out in front of the slaughter house grounds, but would never succeed, until one peculairily quiet day.
In the early morning dawn of Sunday, May 23rd, 1999, a devaststing barn fire tore-up everything on the land, killing over 245 horses, many injured beyond saving, and at least 75 employees.
Upon hearing about the loss of lives, many townsfolk decided to raise money for a cause they considered a charity.
A young teenage girl by the name of Alicia Atwood had decided to give abused and unwanted horses a place for a second shot at life, and with the support and donations of the public, she raised enough money to buy the preoperty off of the now broke slaughter house.
After a few years of taking in horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes, she had a large sale, managing to sell almost all of the horses, which she had trained in various disiplines and had given much needed loving attention.
Now, September, 2009, Willow Creek Equestrian Academy, Alicia's dream riding school, is opening up it's doors for the first time, in a valiant effort to forget the past that took place on the same grass that you stand on at this very moment.
Hundreds of lives lost.
A hopeless journey.
A new beginning.
A beautiful place.
Willow Creek.