Willow Draw owners/organizers Tre' and Janet Book, St. Jude representative Kiamesha Wilson and course designer/show secretary Adri Lea Doyal. Photo courtesy of Terri Hatcher (http://terriehatcher.zenfolio.com/).
In its second USEA-recognized charity horse trials, Willow Draw raised an impressive sum of $10,000 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Owners/organizers Tre’ and Janet Book chose the internationally famous hospital, which specializes in treating and studying life-threatening childhood cancer and other diseases, as beneficiary of the Nov. 5 event proceeds.
Kiamesha Wilson, who traveled from Memphis, TN, to accept the donation on behalf of St. Jude, was impressed by her first horse trials experience. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “It is amazing what horses can do! St. Jude is grateful for the support of these horsemen and women and will put the funds to good use to help sick children.”
The hospital’s Saddle Up for St. Jude! program allows equestrian events of any kind to become St. Jude fundraisers. Willow Draw’s Volunteer Coordinator, Renee Smith, helped distribute t-shirts and caps to the volunteers and children to celebrate and raise awareness for the program.
A Training level competitor tackles the water complex, beautifully decorated by Debra Sue Waters. Photo courtesy of Mary Hirsch.
The Books are committed to using Willow Draw H.T. to benefit worthy charities. Earlier this year the horse trials donated $10,000 to Semper Fi Fund, an organization working with wounded veterans.
Willow Draw hosted Beginner Novice through Prelim divisions at its one-day event on Saturday. The event was overcast but dry, and competitors had good things to say about the footing and Adri Lea Doyal-designed cross country course. View competition results here.
Photo courtesy of Mary Hirsch.
The farm is currently expanding its Prelim course, working toward the debut of the CIC* and CCI* courses at a horse trials fully dedicated to these divisions, to be held Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2017.
Course designer and show secretary Adri Lea Doyal. Photo courtesy of Mary Hirsch.
Other 2017 fixtures include a one-day horse trial on May 27 and a two-day horse trial on the weekend following the FEI event, Oct. 7-8.
Learn more about Willow Draw by visiting its website here.
