Santa Ana Winds Begin Blowing; Equestrian Center Warns Horse Owners to Be Prepared

Tuesday's warm gusts around Ramona announced the arrival of Santa Ana winds from the desert. They can be a foreboding sign of high risk for Ramona residents who experienced the devastating Cedar and Witch Creek fires of 2003 and 2007. Both began in October.

Teri Zaffarano of the International Equestrian Center in San Diego Country Estates is no stranger to horse evacuation during fires, having helped many horse owners take their horses out of the center and away into town via Third Street. She sent out this message Tuesday to owners of horses boarded at the center.

"Please be prepared for the Santa Ana winds which are arriving.  Please don’t rely on the weather man, always be prepared that (the winds) can arrive at any time. Please keep your tarps weighted down and make sure you have stored water.

"In the event of an evacuation, please call your corral/stall neighbors if they are not around at that time. Everyone is responsible for their own horse, so have a plan."

Zaffarano stated that she will email out locations and phone numbers where owners can take their horses. She also wrote that she will be adding all boarders to her phone texting, in order to reach them faster. 

"If you have changed your cell phone number in the last year, please let me know the change. I will only use this in the event of an emergency," she wrote in her emailed message.