Rehomed M&D Easterby racehorse Elvis escapes from the wildfires in Canada



Rehomed M&D Easterby racehorse Elvis escapes from the wildfires in Canada


Posted: 19.20 • 24 Aug 2026 • News


Followers might remember the astonishing story of ex-racehorse Cassanos Lad, who moved to Canada with his owner Poppy Allen. We've rehomed over 200 horses in the past few years, but none has travelled further than Cassanos Lad- who is also known as Elvis.

Poppy updated us on his progress this week, with an incredible story of his escape from the wildfires in Canada earlier this month.

Here is Poppy and Elvis's story.

As you know, Elvis immigrated to Canada with my husband, our Cane Corso Frank, and me. He arrived in November after a short stop in Belgium and understandably needed a few months to settle. Between the stress of travelling, changes in feed, transitioning to barefoot, and learning that horse keeping in the Okanagan is very different to the UK, he deserved some downtime.

Just as I decided he was ready to get back into work, I found out I was pregnant. So groundwork it was!



During that time I found him the most beautiful little yard just one minute from our rural home, and an amazing lady loaned him while I couldn’t ride. She completely fell in love with his cheeky, mischievous personality, and he absolutely thrived having a job again. He was coming on in leaps and bounds.

Then came 7th August.

We were sitting on our porch when we noticed a plume of smoke in the crown land opposite us. Wildfires aren’t unusual here, so at first it didn’t seem too concerning. But within what felt like minutes it began spreading rapidly. I rang for someone to collect Elvis and his field mate, Reno, but by the time the trailer reached us, the police had closed the road.


Then, like something out of a film, a lady drove up with two horses already in her three horse trailer, shouted “get them on!”, and somehow we squeezed Elvis and Reno in. She got them out just as the fire was around 50 to 60 feet away.

We thought we were safe until the fire came over the mountain towards us, so we moved the boys again. Two hours later it chased us once more, and we loaded them for a third time in one night. Elvis was an absolute superstar through every evacuation. Calm, brave, and so trusting.

The following day we moved him yet again to get him well away from the fire, where he’s now safe and happily stuffing his face as if nothing ever happened.


Sadly, the story doesn’t have a perfect ending. The stables where Elvis lived were completely destroyed, along with all of his tack and belongings, and we also lost our home in the wildfire. On a personal level, it's left us having to start all over again as the insurance didn't cover the losses.

The important thing is that every member of our family, human and furry, is safe.

So there you have it, the tale of an eight month pregnant English woman and her English Thoroughbred escaping a Canadian wildfire three times in one night.

You can visit Poppy's page here.