Some horses long stabled in Mount Vernon are being moved to make way for more horsepower.
Almost 30 horses are hoofing it out of Woodlawn Stables so nearby Route 1 can be widened. Neighboring Fort Belvoir has swelled because of base realignment and there is a need to move more people and vehicles in and out.
For decades the stables have been part of the fabric of the Mount Vernon community.
"I don't know that there is anything in the area like this, this operation,” said Arvin Reynolds, who works at Woodlawn. “This was specifically a riding academy."
The history of the land at Woodlawn dates back to George Washington. Some of it will be gone.
"It's a sad day for me,” Reynolds said. “It's a friendship loss, it's a history loss, it's a community loss, it's a financial loss, obviously. It's a sad day."
Some of the Woodlawn employees are now looking for work. Lulu Wheeler, who lives nearby, is looking for answers.
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"I just watched 30 horses go down the road that have been on this property for probably well over 30 years,” she said. “It's a sad day when we have to shut down an entire facility for a highway, but they call it progress.”
Some of the horses can still be found in the area. They have moved to Claddagh Farm in Jeffersonton.
