California Fire Update
Monday, October 29, 2007
As most people are aware, numerous fires have ravaged much of Southern California, destroying over a thousand homes and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and stables. With Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties declared in a state of emergency, several barns were evacuated. Bill and Debbie Tomin evacuated their Rockridge Farm, as did Jim and Helen Cherry of Zazen Ranch. Barbara Beamer’s Seaview Farm of Encinitas, Michele Macfarlane’s Scripps Miramar Ranch of San Diego, Frank and Ann Miller, Anne Speck of Rancho Del Mar, Darcy Attig, Liz Bolton, Joan Richardson and Glynis Snowden’s Glyn-Rae Stables of Jamul all left their farms as well. Lance Bennett of Rancho Vista evacuated his house, but his barn in Vista was safe.
Many horses were moved to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, however, the fairgrounds had to stop accepting more animals once it reached full capacity of over 2,000 horses. Bill and Debbie Tomin were able to move all 21 of their horses to Vessels Stallion Farm. Jim and Helen Cherry relocated to their old property in Vista, Calif., where it remained safe from the fires. Barbara Beamer moved to Camp Pendleton. Most of the above have now returned home, as have Rick Osteen and his family who also had to evacuate their home in Elfin Forest.
The Fall Fun Show that was to take place Oct. 27-28 at the Vista Palomar Riding Club in Vista was cancelled because of the fires.
In response to past disasters, the United States Equestrian Federation established the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund and is currently requesting contributions from individuals and organizations wishing to assist those in the Southern California area. Money donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund assists equines of any breed that find themselves victims of disasters.
Donations may be made online at www.usef.org. If you wish to contribute to the effort by check, please make it out to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund and mail it to: The United States Equestrian Federation, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.
At this time, The Saddle Horse Report is not aware of any major damage to Southern California Saddlebred, Morgan or Friesian stables or their horses. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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