Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch Fundraiser Bringing Horses of a Different Color To The San Diego Polo Club
Nancy Nuke’s First Equine Education Appearance After October Fire Destroys Their Ranch
RANCHO SANTA FE– The Fourth Annual Spots‘N Stripes Day at the San Diego Polo Club is this Sunday, July 6, 2008, where Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch will trot a zebra and a variety of rare and colorful animals in front of spectators between the first game at 1:30 PM and the feature polo match at 3 PM. The crowd may also look colorful, wild and patriotic, because the official attire and fashion suggestion of the day is Polka Dots Spots, Stripes and Stars in honor of the fundraiser and Independence Day. After Nancy Nunke’s educational presentation at 2:30pm, donations will allow you access to the designer petting zoo, where you’ll be able to interact with the cutest miniature horses and donkeys and their babies, Nubian and Cashmere goats, two beautiful horses and other rescued animals that are up for adoption.
For the first time in their history, Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch has agreed to let their personal story of great loss to be told in an effort to support, feed or to adopt their beautiful rescued animals. San Dieguito Riders and the San Diego Polo Club are taking this charge seriously and ask you to bring your families and friends to the polo club in Rancho Santa Fe. If you are a child, or just a child at heart, you will not want to miss the designer pet parade and listen to the fascinating backgrounds of all the animals. Half of the ticket price of advance ticket purchases will be donated back to Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch.
San Dieguito Riders’ President, Pam Snyder, and over 120 local horseback riders are actively selling $10 general admission tickets to the San Diego Polo Club match on July 6th, and tickets can also be purchased at Carter’s Hay and Grain in Olivenhain. San Diego Polo Club is donating half of the proceeds of advance ticket sales back to the charity and will allow tickets to be used any remaining Sunday of the season through September 28th. The San Dieguito Riders are dedicated to finding and supporting local equine causes, and this one stirred their interest to action. Snyder recalled Nancy Nunke’s visit to their general meeting a few years ago and how interesting it was. When she heard of the tragedy, she sympathized with their situation and committed to jumping in and seeing what the club could do to help. San Dieguito Riders are also conducting a raffle on their behalf to win tickets to the World Famous Lipizzaner Show at the Sports Arena on July 26th.
On October 21, 2007, life changed for David and Nancy Nunke and the Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch in Ramona, California. Their lovely six-acre ranch, with its beautiful pine and pepper trees and inspiring views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, was destroyed in the wildfires that day. As the fire raced toward the ranch that Sunday, the Nunke’s and several friends had to act quickly to help save their zebras, miniature horses and donkeys, horses, and mules. Terrible circulating winds reached nearly a hundred miles per hour and were viciously laced with embers, as the Nunke’s and friends worked in the black smoke to save the equines from certain death. Power lines had arced, so the destructive fire that ended up being the worst fire in the history of the county, was traveling straight toward their ranch.
Once every equine was safely in a trailer, David and Nancy hurried to the south end of their property to their home to retrieve their most important documents and irreplaceable things like wallets, wedding and family photographs. As David and Nancy approached their house through the dense black smoke, all they found was a red and orange glow where their home used to be. The house, garage, ranch, equipment and supplies and all personal possessions were gone. Upon seeing this, they immediately began caravanning the animals away to safety, as flames licked the sides of their trucks and trailers. Nancy said the drivers literally had to “drive by Braille,” driving into and along the fence line, in order to successfully navigate out of the thick, dark smoke.
That fire left an even bigger wake of destruction for Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch. The ranch and all that was in it, was severely underinsured and underpayment has hindered the Nunke’s efforts to reconstruct. Unfortunately, during the evacuation, a powerful gust of wind slammed a horse trailer door into Nancy’s shoulder, which tore her rotator cuff and herniated a disc in her neck. That injury cost Nancy her job as a medical sales person.
The Nunkes now live on a trailer on the property and without barns. They have been using insurance money to feed and care for their rescued animals. Although, they have spent many years rescuing equines, they humbly and quietly chose to do their part to give back, without becoming a non-profit organization. They now have nearly 100 animals in their care, and most are up for adoption including 33 abused or abandoned horses, 40 miniature horses and donkeys and 30 zebras. Ironically, the zebras were rescued from Lakeside’s Zebra Ranch, after the 2003 wildfires destroyed that ranch.
Nancy’s passion is to save and rehabilitate animals in her charge, and the work has been non-stop. Her firm but loving training, feeding and vet care, has made her a popular resource in working with difficult animals, especially dealing with the strong and very dangerous zebras. Nancy’s expertise will be demonstrated as she presents at the polo club. She will detail fascinating information on zebras, the background of the ancient Caspian horse, and her breeding of the popular miniature horses and donkeys.
Please mention Spots ‘N Stripes Ranch, and half of the proceeds of advance general admission ticket sold in advance by Carters Hay and Grain in Olivenhain, San Dieguito Riders and the San Diego Polo Club will help to feed the rescue animals. Other donations or inquires can be made by contacting Nancy and David Nunke directly at http://www.spotsnstripes.com or 760-789-8908.
For more information contact the San Diego Polo Club at 14555 El Camino Real, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 contact
858-481-9217 or www.sandiegopolo.com