Wednesday January 26, 2005

Lisa Wilcox' Swiss Adventure

Lisa Wilcox ended her seven-year employment with Gestut Vorwerk at the end of 2004. At a dinner party Lisa hosted for all of her friends and colleagues in Cloppenburg, Germany to say “Thank you and goodbye”, she was presented with a competition printout compiled by the German FN. She learned that over these years at Gestut Vorwerk, she had placed over 660 times in competition, winning the class more than 150 times.

The President of the Oldenburg Verband gave a heartfelt speech, and everyone there wished her well. Lisa left Germany with mixed feelings between the beloved stallions she was leaving behind and the opportunity ahead of her.

Lisa’s working student for the past two years, Laura Hassler, 17, asked Lisa if she could remain with her. Lisa agreed on one condition – that this move met with the approval of her mother and Gestut Vorwerk. Laura got the okay, and on December 29, 2004, Lisa, Laura, and two private training horses made the trip to the beautiful countryside of Switzerland to Dr. Samuel Schatzmann’s private facility in Oftringen, twenty-five minutes outside of Zurich.