Illegal Fireworks Kill World Champion Horse Whose Winnings Were Donated to Wounded Warriors.

+++ This has been edited to update friends.  If you wouldn't mind sharing if you remember this when this happened, I would appreciate it. Many of you helped me and reached out and shared that it led the news in your area +++

llegal fireworks killed my World and National Champion Friesian horse. Neighbors who were residents and guests of a fireworks show at The Woods at West Valley in Knoxville, TN, a subdivision that adjoins the horse's home, Scenic View Farm.  The onlookers cheered the illegal fireworks even after learning their actions had traumatized the helpless animal.,  The hours of unending explosions caused Roan, People's Choice Friesian of the Year, to succumb to stress colic after an emergency vet call failed to save his life.  The horse's winnings raised thousands of dollars for Wounder Warriors.  After his win at the IFSHA World Championship Horse Show, Roan's rider/owner Victoria Gillenwater challenged other competitors to follow their lead and match the donations of their winnings.  Roan was rescued and purchased the year before by Gillenwater after a tragic carriage accident claimed the life of Roan's  previous owner, JV Renfro, Roan and Mr.Renfro were trapped in a ditch with the carriage on top of them after a motorcycle ran upon the carriage Roan was pulling.  The small but mighty Friesian horse won titles and year end awards across the country after coming to Scenic View.  His fan base stretched across the United States.  He survived being thrown into a ditch and the death of his first owner, however he did not survive his new neighbors' fireworks display.

The night of incident, Gillenwater made a 23 minute 911 call begging police to help her stop the illegal fireworks in hopes of saving her horse.  By this time, another, a larger fireworks display had started in a different adjoining subdivsion..  The entire incident was captured through Bluetooth and recorded on 911 tapes. Gillenwater can be heard begging the people with fireworks to stop.  She pleaded with her neighbors and the police that her horse was dying.  The neighbors responded with violence by shooting roman candles and bottle rockets under her car.  About 20 of them taunted her screaming "rich bitch get out of the car and kiss his feet."  They were refering to a young marine who was front and center firing the fireworks at Gillenwater.  They taunted "where are your precious police officers" and threatened some more, all while the police were listening on Bluetooth.  The police showed up more than 30 minutes later. The irony of the Marine leading the fireworks that killed an animal that raised more than $30,000 for wounded warriors will never leave me.                                                                                                                                                                                                            

The group recognized Gillenwater as having filmed a PSA asking people to be aware of the dangers of fireworks and made fun of her for challenging their FREEDOM to set off fireworks when and wherever they wanted.  A lawsuit was considered against the community HOA for endorsing illegal activity, but in the end it did not bring Roan back.  Scenic View Farm was once surrounded by farms, and now it is the only one left raising horses at an international level.  Gillenwater and Scenic View were honored by USEF for their breeding program. 

An outpouring of support for Roan brought National attention to the problem. His story led the news across 14 states as fellow competiors rallied for Gillenwater and her little feisty horse.  This still would not bring the horse back or stop the neighbors.

"I had never opposed the development of homes all the way around my farm,  I was put into the Knox County Growth Corridor in the years after I took over the farm following my parents death. I did not opposed their construction, but they opposed my existance of limiting their freedom.   We had horses put up everywhere and it didn't help.  "My neighbors certainly didn't care."  "The stress of watching that horse die will stay with me forever.  My neighbors taunting me may have been worse"

Fireworks are illegal in Knox County, and Knoxville, Tennessee.  They are booming in all directions as this is being written.  

Right after the firework incident, 8 1/2 acres burned to the ground from a careless neighbor burning wood during a burn ban.  Countless firetrucks and firemen responded to save our stables, More than 20 horses and 5 people were trapped for hours until the firefighters could contain the fire.  It was one of three times the neighbors have started a fire.  Embers from the fireworks display were all over our hay barn which contained a thousand bales of hay and some horses seeking shelter from the fireworks. We tried to keep water on it from buring too. 

One horse was in the process during the day of being put in the barn when fireworks went off.  It may have been intentially fired at him.  This spooked the horse causing him to bolt, dragging my general manager with him.  The horse broke through the fence and others followed. We were terrified the horses would end up in traffic.  I was hopeless to help them. No one expects fireworks during the day.  

Neighbors have told us how much they enjoy our horses and then actually sent us letters tellling us they cannot wait for us to move.  We downsized, moving the young horses to a safe location in Kentucky and ony utilizing the small show barn on the front acreage.   Our farm will go on the market soon so it can mirror it present day surroundings.  We look forward to moving further out where our surroundings will mirror what this was when we built it in 1974.  Our neighbors can exercise their freedoms living in what is now a more urban area, no longer a farming community.  Some of the horses have been residents for two decades, longer than subdivision next door has been there.

I am asking if you would sign this in memory of Roan and to inspire people to contnue the fight against illegal firewarks in their areas.  Please include your name and location so that we can establish a national presence in honor of Roan's life.