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In part one, owners of Dreamcatcher Meadows farm in Pemberton, British Columbia were forced to evacuate their entire breeding and training operation in the middle of the night due to forest wildfires encroaching on their farm. [Read part one in the May/June issue now online at www.warmbloodstoday.com.]


LDFI


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PART TWO OF A TWO-PART SERIES


By Jill Dingle


Photo by Cowboy Wildlife Photography


HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS After evacuating our mountain valley home due to wildfires, John and I are learning a valuable lesson: Dreamcatcher Meadows is wherever we put our heart and energy. Our temporary residential circumstances are humble: the living quarters of our Cimarron trailer for us, rented stables for our equine friends and a makeshift bedroom above them for groom Claudia. While the passion and standard for which we care for thirteen homebred and customers’ horses here remains the same, I find my emotional state fluctuates. The routine of stable management and training horses gives our lives a sense of normalcy. This is easily upset simply by putting on a jacket permeated with wood smoke, triggering a re-visit to the drama of an oily thirty-foot cedar bursting into flames like a shaken pop can. As sleep eludes, I see a brown beetle-infested lodgepole pine carcass literally igniting and exploding like those large orchestrated car bombs in movies. Always at the back of our minds is the question of what state our home will be in when this drama concludes. Strength comes with the knowledge that we carry what we offer to fellow horse enthusiasts within us. It may just end up taking another form.


MAKING THE BEST OF IT We have now settled into Hazelmere, fellow competitor and friend Rochelle Kilberg’s yard, conveniently available as she is on holiday. We routinely clean and restock the trailer right after each outing; fortunately our show gear, bedding, towels and basic foodstuffs were already stowed in the trailer for what would have been the next competition. The addition of computer, essential files and passports meant we


could quickly function almost anywhere. The equestrian neighbors adjacent to Hazelmere must


have thought the recent upcountry imports were surprisingly on the formal side as we exercised in our dressage whites, complete with bandages and pristine saddle cloths. But who was the mad woman doing chores in silk blouses—and were those men’s trousers?! My fashion statement was corrected the next morning when we received a couriered parcel to the trailer. Our dear friend and sponsor, Sharie Loychuk of Arista equestrian clothing, had seen me on TV in my bizarre attire and had sent a complete wardrobe! A seemingly bottomless box contained everything from her wonderful Sugarcube jeans and shirts through to her usual impeccable combinations of casual riding attire. Yet another moment to burst into tears at another message of love and support.... We went for a quick shopping trip to stock up. At this


point I considered essentials to be indulgent perfumed soaps, luxurious body lotion and magazines about frivolities. John, a great cook at the best of times, found some emotional reprieve in selecting fresh fish, specialty cheeses, fresh local greens and other quality ingredients. He finds cooking very relaxing and it was good therapy in the circumstances to think about creating one of his special gourmet delights. We may be camping, but we were doing it in style! However, the strain was showing on Claudia, an East German who was in her sixth month of a working year in Canada. She was in her third temporary bed in as many weeks. I tried to keep her mind occupied by making her riding lessons as interesting as possible on a good variety of mounts. We all shared the chores and tried to keep emotional meltdowns to a minimum. Fortunately no one


Warmbloods Today 13


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