This year has been abnormal for Wildfire Arabians, as it has for everyone in the world. In February we said goodbye to TR Prince Nari, the most beautiful stallion I’ve ever known. I was so heartbroken that I barely paid attention to news of an emerging virus. But time marched on and by March the COVID-19 pandemic was dominating our lives – headlines bold and information sparse, and we were sent to telework from home. April was marked by ongoing uncertainty and stress. May brought a mandatory lockdown period, where no visitors were allowed at the farm. Spring took forever, and we were all desperate for good news.
That beautiful stallion that we lost had left us a last gift. After what felt like million days Vienna finally delivered Nari’s first and only Canadian baby on June 15, 2020. This little puddle of fur and legs was christened with a rather grand name to live up to: Wildfire Legacy, in honour of his late father. The following weeks were a chaotic blur of visitors, photos, videos, and Facebook posts. Every single day was dominated by this incredible little creature exploring the world, and the world making his acquaintance.
2020 may have been the worst year for many things, but it turned out to be the best year to have a new baby. Teleworking meant that we could visit and “work with” Legacy multiple times a day, every day, every week, all summer. I can’t imagine another modern foal so thoroughly socialized and exposed. We brought him on forest trails with The Big Horses; we let him roam for hours (supervised) all over the properties; we showed him flappy chickens and loud ATVs and dark barns, all before he had a chance to wonder if they were scary. It helps that mom Vienna is one of the boldest horses in the world and rarely shows any fear – she‘s not called “Sassy Princess Dragonpony” for nothing!
It was a good thing we had little Legacy for us all to play with, because our Endurance season was effectively canceled due to COVID. Without events throughout the summer we seemed to feel a lack of purpose in our riding. Of course, we still had fun – we have incredible trails, amazing horses, and the greatest group of friends – but it felt different, somehow, almost like we were just marking time. For the last several years we’ve attended two or three events a year, giving us an opportunity to enjoy new trails and push ourselves a little further than we normally would, but this year we just… floated. In a way, it was slightly melancholy. In a way, it was a time to breathe, relax, and regroup. No coin has only one face.
Restrictions on the number of individuals allowed at social gatherings curtailed most of the other fun events we would have had at the farm, but we did manage one “ride.” A week after Legacy was born, we had an impromptu 25-mile ride (two loops, me crewing from a truck on trail, and a simulated vet check) for the three Wildfire leasors and their mounts (Sarah on Starlet; Rachel on Sasha; and Lauren on appaloosa boarder Scarlet). It was incredibly hot and humid, but all three riders and mares finished in great condition and had a socially-distanced champagne celebration back at the farm. This was Scarlet’s first 25 mile ride – Rachel’s too – so now they’re extra-ready for the 2021 competition season!
Wildfire Legacy progressed beautifully through the summer and fall. He learned strategic and critical thinking while leading The Big Horses along technical forest trails. He learned respect and discipline working on the lead line and lunge line. He grew big and strong, slowly turning from bright chestnut to a copper-tinged dark grey. He’s no longer a spindly cute baby; he’s deeply into bum-high, gangly teenager territory, fat and fuzzy and weathering intense winter storms with not a care in the world. Aunt Starlet has taught him a deep respect for mares, laying the foundation for a well-mannered and polite future breeding stallion. He's also become somewhat of a Facebook celebrity, where people follow his adventures and milestones on both the Wildfire Arabians page and my personal page.
Now we have just passed the oddest Christmas most of us have ever experienced – made all the odder with the lack of the traditional Wildfire Christmas Eve ride. Since inception we’ve always managed to get out with the horses whether it’s 15°C or -15°C. But continuing the “2020 is seriously weird” trend, December 2020 has consisted of torrential rains followed by extremely cold temperatures, so that the churned-up mud freezes into deadly uneven frozen ground. The horses hobble around their paddocks and the trails are slick with ice, so riding (and working with Legacy) is out of the question. One accidental slip and there’s a blown stifle or a broken leg. In a year where we so badly need the freedom of the forest and trails, we – and the horses – continue to be confined.
During these short days and long nights, though, we dream of good winter weather. We imagine ourselves flying past heavy white branches, laughing at the ice falling down our necks. We think of the smell of the horses happily sweating as they bound through deep snow, or race down the packed trails. We have years of glorious memories to tide us over… but I’d be lying if I said we weren't glued to the windows desperately searching for an errant flake!
Goodbye to a strange year of wistful endings and wondrous beginnings. May 2021 bring adventure and joy to us all.
Happy New Year from Wildfire Arabians
Goodbye to a strange year of wistful endings and wondrous beginnings. May 2021 bring adventure and joy to us all.
Happy New Year from Wildfire Arabians