395 Powell Chapel Road Villa Rica GA 30180
Barn: (770) 459-1417
Willowbrook Equestrian Center
Celebrating 20 years! 1990 - 2010
Copyright © 2007-2010 Leslie O'Neal Olsen. All rights reserved.
Here's the Fox 5 News story from October 16, 2009
Leslie
BDCTA Silent Auction April 12-18, 2010 to benefit Willowbrook Equestrian Center
Hi Leslie,
My name is Kelly Vaughan Hanby and I am the current president of the Birmingham Dressage and Combined Training Association. Our spring schooling show will be April 18th at Inanda Stables. In conjunction with the show we are hosting a silent auction - with the proceeds going to you & Willowbrook. We are asking our members to solicit donations which are being posted online at www.BDCTA.com. We will open bidding online via a message board on April 12th and close online bidding on Friday evening. Live bidding will then resume during the show. We have sent out invitations to other groups across Alabama and the southeast.
Several of our members are working on organizing and soliciting donations. This is our first attempt at this type of fundraiser and hopefully it will be a success. You and your family have done so much to help our club, members and people across the southeast & we feel this is the least we can do in return. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! We will keep you posted!
Kelly
President, BDCTA
April 2010 Silent Auction - Special thanks to Fran Histed, Kelly Vaughan Hanby, the BDCTA and everyone who made a donation and placed a bid! Over $1,800 raised! Thank you!!!
Veterinary services provided by L.M. Olsen DVM, PhD
And special thanks for all of the extra hours after the flood
October 8, 2009
Saying "thank you" is just not enough. When we first saw the devastation to Willowbrook Equestrian Center that was caused by the flood on September 21, we thought we'd never be able to recover. The facility seemed to be beyond repair. Stall doors were ripped-off, all fence lines were gone and an endless mass of mud covered the barn.
My brother Terry O'Neal was asleep in his mobile home behind the barn when he was awakened by his dog, Little Girl. The fast-rising water picked up the trailer and carried it about 300 feet away. He managed to break out a window and they escaped at 1 AM that Monday. He spent the rest of the night in a tree. Little Girl was later found wet and cold, but alive and well.
Aside from the physical destruction, we were unable to locate 3 of our 9 horses. Later that day, we found Bud grazing in a field a half-mile away from the barn. This gave us hope that we would find the other two. Unfortunately, they did not survive. We found Bear the next day and Fredrico 2 days later. I'd like to thank the local pilots who conducted aerial searches for Fredrico. Bear and 'Rico' will always be missed but never forgotten. Bear was owned by Erica Stoll and Fredrico was owned by Karen Mackay.
Everyone at Willowbrook felt broken in half, but within hours the equestrian community, neighbors and friends rallied to our aid. Our remaining horses were evacuated immediately, thanks to West Georgia Riding Academy. Phone calls and eMails offering assistance began immediately, volunteers arrived and repairs began. It is truly wonderful to know that the equestrian community really does look after each other. Without this support, the recovery process would be impossible.
I would not have had the strength to rebuild the farm if it hadn't been for all of you. I cannot adequately express my heartfelt gratitude for all calls, eMails and donations. We did not have flood insurance, and since it was my home and my business, we did not quality for government assistance. I am continued to be overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of support.
We are still down, but not out. We will see you again soon, 'the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise'.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
2009 Flood Update
July 2010 - We are so proud of our new fencing and thanks so much to everyone who helped make it happen!
