Life goes on at Westbrook Farm

Metro Atlanta

Nearly a month after 14 horses died in a fire at Westbrooke Farm in Kennesaw, life continues on the 25-acre farm with new births and memorial plans.

Nearly a month after 14 horses died in a fire at Westbrooke Farm in Kennesaw, life continued with the birth of Paparazzi-WF, seen here with mom Hallelujah and barn owner Jennifer Schwickerath.

Schwickerath tried to save the horses in the fire but they wouldn't leave their stalls as lights popped, an arched window burst and flames engulfed the stables.

The 60-foot by 100-foot metal barn was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Nineteen horses, including two boarders, remain on the 25-acre property along with burial plots of the 14 horses that were lost. "We are horse people," said Heather Polk who lost Haarlem, a Friesian, in the fire. "We must continue, but we will never forget."

"If anybody could see horses cry," said Schwickerath (seen here) her voice trails off a bit. "They seem to know.... Some people think that's crazy. But it's true. They knew they lost. They all walked out sad....And they were like that for days."

A memorial for three of the 14 horses that were buried on the property. The owners are hoping for a life-size horse sculpture.

As news of the fire spread across the Internet, friends and strangers in the horse world sent e-mails, cards, letters and money to Westbrooke Farm to help build a memorial for the dead horses. Schwickerath plans a concrete circular walkway, markers and a horse sculpture for the memorial. Juniper bushes, Yoshino cherry trees and Diadora cedars will be part of the memorial.

The barn will be rebuilt. But Schwickerath, a horse breeder who started Westbrooke in 1984, wants another design, one with more exits in case of emergency. She's also wants a fire suppression system.

Phoenix was born a week after the fire and nearly four weeks early. The birth "just made you cheer up," Schwickerath said. "Life has to go on. We have more babies coming. They just make you happy. I thought it was a great gift."

The cause and origin of the fire is undetermined, said Firefighter Denell Boyd, a spokeswoman for Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services. "This was one of those things 'maybe when I am 92 it will make sense," Schwickerath said. If the fire made other horse owners take better care of their animals or double-check their barns, then some good came of the tragedy. "But to me, the price was way too high," she added.

One horse, Affirmation, who lost her son and grandson in the fire, resists walking near where the barn used to be.

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Nearly a month after 14 horses died in a fire at Westbrooke Farm in Kennesaw, life continued with the birth of Paparazzi-WF, seen here with mom Hallelujah and barn owner Jennifer Schwickerath.

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