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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Word From Dressage Community Begins to Trickle In California Fires The Worst Ever - People and Horses Evacuated

If anyone has news for our readers on the status of the health and well being of our California friends and animals, or evacuation locations, please send us a note, and we will keep this page updated.

info@horsesdaily.com

• Oct 26 - DressageDaily Update form Lynndee Kemmett
• Oct 25 - DressageDaily Update form Lynndee Kemmett
• Oct 23 - DressageDaily Update from Lynndee Kemmett
• Oct 25 - If anyone needs a barn we are here to help. Equinox Equestrian Center is 45 minutes from Brookside Equestrian Center where I just read that Kim Keenen has gone to. We have trailers ready and can house 10-15 horses. We are in Sun Valley area near Burbank. Please contact me if anyone needs help. JoAnn Campo joanncampo@hotmail.com - 626-272-0522
• Oct 25 - from Pam Moss - pam@dressagewarmbloods.com
  An informal telephone ring has kept a lot of the dressage people in this area from having to leave horses – we all kept in touch with each other by phone and kept in touch with the local Vet Dr. Steve Colburn who also is the primary vet at Vessels – San Luis Rey Downs and Vessels have taken many horses in and everyone is safe. Kathy and Christina Beal had to leave their home in Fallbrook and moved over to Elaine Hamiltons in Bonsall – they were then asked to evacuate again but fortunately with good information were able to stay put.
  Dressage Warmbloods moved out only two horses with the help of Steve and Mallory Thompson, who is one of Kim Monks students, so that we had enough trailer space if we had to evacuate. Because of our dressage arena we had good clearance around the barns and home so we were able to stay with the remaining horses.
  Sandy Burns also kindly opened her barn around the corner in San Marcos as she was fortunate as we are to be in an area that stayed clear of the fires. We have weathered the worst but now we are all trying to get the horses back where they should be if they can and get adequate feed to those in need.
• Oct 25 - I train with Hilda Gurney in Moorpark and am happy to report that both Hilda and her beloved Keenridge are fine and safe, as of Wed. evening. She has cleared much brush from the property during the year, in case of problems. Keenridge is located in a canyon that always seems to weather whatever storms come it's way. Karen Allison Gould
• Oct 25 - From Debbie McDonald (currently in Europe) I have been on pins and needles since I have so many friends in Ca. with all the fires. All of my friends seem to have escaped without losing anything. My heart goes out to those less fortunate. It makes what I am doing over here seem so irrelevant in the big picture.
• Oct 25 - From Lisa Bailey - lbinteressant@yahoo.com - Does anyone have information on the necessity of getting feed to the horse community in San Diego? I have read on the San Diego ASPCA website they are in need of hay for the horses. Does anyone have info on the coordination of shipping them feed? Is DressageDaily interested in setting up a donation site/line so people can send money to provide feed to our fellow equestrians? Thank you, Lisa Bailey Pacifica, CA
• Oct 23 - From Shannon Peters
  Just got some email access- Steffen and I and horses are OK- all (57 head!) at the racetrack in Del Mar- Guenter is okay too- so far our farms and homes have held up- we are hoping they make it through the night.
  We are here with 2000 other horses, and we keep running into other dressage folks- seems as though everyone we know was able to get their horses to safety. Keep us in your prayers.
  Thanks, Shannon Peters
• Oct 23 - From Hillary
  Please link anything that can tell us how to help... I heard something on the local NPR station about a woman at Del Mar race track. She said multiple horses are in several stalls, the fire is near and the local fire people cannot evacuate so they have promised to keep the area protected for the livestock.
• Oct 23 - From Judy Reggio - Judy Reggio Windyridge Farm
  Here are two excerpts from personal letters from a fellow Dutch breeder in the San Diego area. The Katie that Anna is referring to is Katie Kuhn of Rancho Del Oro in Fallbrook, Ca. Katie is one of our leading Dutch breeders. Just last month at the DG Bar Keuring Katie's black Jazz colt was the champion young horse and #1 yearling in North America, Victor was site Champion Gelding and Stallion and # 1 in NA. Her Indoctro weanling colt was Jumping champion. On and on. I can't imagine having to leave 12 of your horses behind. My heart goes out to all of you. I wish that there is something I can do!!:
  Just to let everyone know we are under a fire watch. I spoke with Katie Kuhn about 6:30 p.m. and they are under mandatory evacuation. They were able to relocate most of the horses, but had to leave 12 behind. Hopefully all goes well, her pastures are brush free, and the horses should be okay. Their are so many fires in Southern California, the winds are terrible, and the resources are maxed out. So far the winds are blowing the Santiago fire away from us, but I spent most of last night by the T.V.
  
  The Del Mar Fairgrounds were full and her horses went to Vessels Stallion Station and San Luis Rey Downs. They did not get much notice to evacuate and although people showed up with trailers, some of the young stock were difficult. They also ran out of light. The fire is erratic but so far the house and the ranch are okay. Katie was going to try to get back in this morning. I have not heard from her. We do not get much San Diego coverage and I found out about the fire around 5:30 last night and all the roads were closed.
  Her pastures are in a cleared area which will help. But what a horrible experience. I wish someone had contacted me.
  The trainer I ride with evacuated their horses yesterday to Ride America in Carlsbad. Steffan Peters also moved his horses to Del Mar Fairgrounds. Unfortunately the fire is moving towards the fairgrounds and parts of Del Mar are being evacuated.
  We are under a fire watch. The area to of us is under a voluntary evacuation. So far we are okay, but are keeping a close watch on the fire. We have the Santiago fire. Katie's fire is the Rice Canyon/Fallbrook fire.
  It is hot, dry and the winds are still blowing. It is a perfect fire condition.
  I will keep you posted. Hopefully I will hear from Katie tonight. Judy Reggio windyridgefarm
• The Foundation for The Pure Spanish Horse office has been inundated with phone calls worried about our friends in CA.
  If you are in CA and need help evacuating your horses please call the office at 505.294.0800 for a list of people who are willing to help.
  If you can help someone who has to evacuate either by helping with transportation or by housing their horses please contact the office.