Supervisor Shelia Kuehl, Villager of the Year Honoree Gene Gilbert and Chamber President Andy Hasroun
Ms. Gene Gilbert is this year’s Villager of the Year for her tireless work and dedication to promote and preserve Atwater’s equestrian community; which is unique in the City of Los Angeles.
Ms. Gilbert is the owner and manager of Enterprise Farms Riding School and Training Barn, located at the Paddock Riding Club in Atwater Village. She is also the chairperson of Preserve Atwater Rancho (PAR), the community group which worked for eight years to obtain zoning protection to ensure horses would remain welcome in the Atwater Rancho area. This area is home to the Paddock, Saddle and Sirloin Club; Ahmanson Equestrian Facility for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Mounted Unit; Taking the Reins program for underserved girls; Children’s Ranch for disabled children; and several private boarding stables.
This year’s honoree has also been instrumental in introducing and preserving the rare Caspian Horse, of which there are only 750 in the world. The Encyclopedia of the Horse says they are “the most exciting equine discovery of the century.” Ms. Gilbert uses these special horses in her riding school. She also maintains a small private stable at her Atwater Village home and is interested in the concerns of individual horse owners.
The Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce applauds her work and dedication to Atwater Village, she is truly an inspiration and we wish her a continued success.
Special thanks go to Dtox Day Spa for hosting this year's Villager of the Year award ceremony and L.A. County Supervisor Shelia Kuehl for joining us to celebrate this year's honoree.
About the Villager of the Year Award
This annual award, determined by community nominations and presented annually by the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce, is for someone “whose noteworthy good deeds has served to preserve the uniqueness of our community or improved those areas that needed improvement.”