Firestorm from the Ashes

Photo: Firestorm with his dam Lacrimosa, before the fire.

 

With the current drama and tragedy surrounding the floods, it's lovely to hear of a positive outcome for a horse that lived through another Australian disaster...

 

Firestorm (Sire: Primus  Dam: Lacrimosa), now a handsome two year old colt, has a truly remarkable story. Conceived at Chatswood Stud and born at Windy Hill Stud, Strath Creek, as a foal Firestorm was a lucky survivor of Victoria’s Black Saturday Bush Fire in 2009.

 

Owners of the Windy Hill Stud, Max and Judi Clarke, were in Sydney at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sales, when they received a phone call to return home immediately as their property was under threat of the fire.  Judi promptly fainted, but once she’d recovered the pair were on the first flight home to Strath Creek.

 

As the terrifying fires began to surround the property and there was no other avenue of escape, the ingenuity of Lacrimosa saved Firestorm’s life.  Keeping Firestorm firmly by her side, she guided him to where they were usually fed, a large dirt patch the size of a garage and here they managed to stay safe, as the fire raged around them.

 

On arriving home the Clarke’s discovered that amazingly Lacrimosa and her foal were safe, but tragically they lost one horse, their best broodmare and two others, pregnant mares, were badly injured with burnt legs, udders, vulvas and no tails left.  With friends’ help the Clarke’s rushed the two mares to the vet and wonderfully, after three months of applying burn cream, the mares healed with no obvious scarring.

 

Due to the long grass in the Clarke’s paddocks the fire whipped through at great speed, demolishing two thirds of the fencing and property. With help from Darley Stud and friends, supplying them with feed and providing trips to the vet, Max and Judi went about rebuilding and regenerating the farm.  After fixing the fencing and sewing the paddocks for pasture, it started to rain.  Those who saw their property after the fires and returned three months later, were astonished with how well the pastures had regenerated. As great Australian bushmen say, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going’’ and these are also the words of Max Clarke.

 

Since then, the perfectly named Firestorm, has had half a share bought by John Fildes and is now in training with the famous Bart Cummings.

 

Firestorm is trialing for the first time soon and Foreman at Bart Cummings’ stable, James Cummings, says of the colt, “he is a nice little type, by a first season stallion, so we still have a bit to learn about him. We haven’t done much with him so everything he does he’ll do on natural ability.  We have James Winks riding him in the trial and he will be able to give us some reliable feedback.”

 

Firestorm is pictured at right with his track rider, Georgia Fasher, who says, "he is a well mannered and calm horse to ride who goes about his work and not much phases him.  Like any colt he can be cheeky, but he loves a scratch and will put his head over the box door for a pat."

 

After surviving such a frightening experience early in life, Firestorm has grown into a fine horse, with a great attitude to work and striking appearance.  We are now looking forward to following this lucky boy throughout his career!

 

CLICK HERE to view gallery of pics of Firestorm, the devastation at Windy Hill Stud and how well it has bounced back after the fires.