Letters to the Editor: Twice a Survivor

Fuega

On the night of Dec. 18, 2016, an unusually timed lightning storm tragically hit a training barn at Eric Reed's Mercury Training Center in Lexington. Twenty-three horses, many of them Eric's, were killed in a swiftly intense barn fire. Grooms were burned in a heroic effort to pull the horses from their stalls as the stalls and the actual horses themselves were literally on fire. Rustin Kretz lost over half of his foal crop that night. Rustin named one of the survivors, Fuega (Union Rags), the feminine version of Fire in Spanish.

After a brief recovery at Mulholland Springs, where she was originally foaled, Fuega was sent to San Luis Rey, to the care of Dan Dunham. On Dec. 7th, 2017, nearly exactly 12 months later, some incredibly brave people again risked their lives to set Fuega and 100's other horses free from their stalls to run for their lives from burning barns. Grooms and trainers were seriously injured. At least 25 horses were killed. Yesterday and today, trainers and owners continue to frantically search for their horses. Blessedly this morning Rustin Kretz was able to identify Fuega in a field across from San Luis Rey, where she was generously taken in during the chaos. She is singed but appears to be fine. Fuega is a true survivor from an incredible chain of events. What are the odds of this happening twice? Fuega must be destined to be special.

Horsemen are a strong group of people, dedicating their very lives to the care of their horses. Seeing videos of the San Luis Rey Downs fire brought back overwhelming emotions of walking through the charred remains of the horses at Eric Reed's barn last year. Many people rallied to support Eric, just as the horsemen are overwhelmingly supporting the fire victims in California. I am proud to work in an industry of such brave caring people.

–Martha Jane Mulholland

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