When Joan Lurie and her partners opened their American Saddlebred training facility in 1981, little did they know that 20 plus years later Willowbank would be one of the top stallion stations in the United States.  And they probably would not have predicted that the main focus of their farm would grow to be breeding, training, showing and selling young stock.

 It was Joan who made the decision that in time changed her career and the future of the farm.  In 1982 she and a partner purchased Attache, a three-time World's Champion and World's Champion sire.

Now Willowbank stands eight premier American Saddlebred stallions and a Hackney Horse stallion.  Willowbank breeds dozens of mares and foals more than 30 babies a year, many going on to win World's Champion honors for their owners.  Further reflections of Willowbank's continuing success was the 1997 move from Shelbyville, KY. to 132 rolling acres on Todd's Point Road in Simpsonville, KY.

Joan and her partners, Jim and Bonnie Ruwoldt and their daughter, Kathy Ruwoldt, created the new Willowbank with a 40-stall main training barn and adjacent breeding shed, broodmare and foaling barn with runouts and stalls for 20 mares and foals, two more mare and colt barns, plus beautiful ponds and lush pastures bordered by miles of black board fence.

Standing at stud at Willowbank are Callaway's Main Man, Finally Attached, Ocean's Roar, Samur, Seaforth's Billion Heir, Sir William Robert, Thundergun, Undulata's Nutcracker, and the Hackney Horse, Forewood Commander.