We started work on this issue in mid-August, just as the fires were starting in Northern California. Surely, I thought, those will be out and everybody will be safe soon. Surely, we won’t add wildfires of unprecedented scope to this year of a public health crisis of unprecedented scope.

When I was a young equestrian growing up in Northern California, my biggest gripe was rain that prevented me from riding my horse. Even back then, I had a karmic approach to the weather’s impact: trusting, for example, that three days of rain-related no riding would equal three days of being able to ride later. That method of managing bad news lingers today in my sense that, surely, we simply can’t have any more bad things happen in our world: everybody needs a break.

So instead, we have yet another fall issue focused on how our remarkable equestrian community is coping with the fires ripping through our region. A silver lining, I guess, is better preparedness, as is discussed in my interview with the amazing Claudia Sonder, DVM (pg 10). Or in the value of Phoebe Smith, DVM, sharing her experiences with vets in the Northwest, who are relatively new in dealing with the aftermath of fire and smoke on their horses.
I’m happy to have all that balanced with the fun of covering the eventing scene in USEA Area VI. Such awesome people in this discipline, starting with our cover girl Megan Sykes, who super star Tamie Smith predicts is going to be a very big deal very soon. The Twin Rivers Fall International was a big hit under non-smokey skies on the Central California Coast even as fires continued on both ends of the state. Meantime, Tamie is already a very big deal. She won the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S divisions at Twin Rivers, and is looking at six horses ready to run CCI4*-Ls in the coming months. It’s too many for a single event, so she’ll have some at Galway Downs at the end of this month, and haul some across the country to Tyron, Northern Carolina in mid-November.

There is a ton of exciting stuff going on at the Galway Downs International, starting Oct. 28 in Temecula. With the CCI3*-L National Eventing Championships, the Adequan Futures Team Challenge and new Kellerhouse Presents “Challenges” for Modified-Training, Training-Novice and Novice-Beginner Novice divisions, this is truly the event of the season and a big opportunity for the West Coast to shine on the national stage. Consider sponsoring or volunteering to be part of the effort!

Skylar Wireman dominated the early going of the hunter/jumper medal season. And dressage columnist Nan Meek has a terrific column about all that went into deciding whether to continue with the California Dressage Society Annual Championships. They were a go, set for The Horsepark at Del Mar the weekend after we went to press. I’m volunteering there all day Sunday, so will have that perspective to share in the next issue.

Thanks to everybody for reading, for supporting our great advertisers who make it possible for us to keep bringing you news and interesting stories, and to all who contribute suggestions for future articles.

Happy riding and reading. Be safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Kim F Miller, Editor
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Carter is a darling pony up for adoption at FalconRidge Equine Rescue in Valley Center, CA.

He is looking for an adoptive home who  will spend time with him and handle him frequently. He was rescued from a home where he evaded people.  He leads fine and is ok for the farrier as long as you don’t move fast with him.

He is approximately 13 yrs old and a larger shetland pony size. Very cute boy!

Adoption fee $500

See Carter and how to adopt on our Adoption page at www.falconridgerescue.org.