“LAFAYETTE, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a fast-moving fire destroyed a barn, killing 22 show horses owned by a noted New Jersey equestrian family and worth tens of thousands of dollars each.
State Police Sgt. Brian Polite says the barn was engulfed in flames when troopers arrived around 2 a.m. Saturday in Lafayette. The blaze was soon extinguished, but all the horses inside were killed.
Polite says the animals were valued at $10,000 to $60,000 apiece.
Betty Hahn, whose family owns the horses, tells a local newspaper that no hay or fuel was stored in the barn, so she’s baffled about how the blaze began. Hahn says her family has competed and won awards in equestrian competitions along the East Coast.”
Man of Integrity…the Big Horse.
A horse I owned died in a barn fire like this one. His papers said his name was Man of Integrity. We called him ‘The Big Horse’ because when he put his head up I think it towered over the Eiffel Tower. He was fifteen hands tall, chestnut, an American Saddlebred gelding. But boy could he lift his head to the clouds.
I remember trying to clip the winter hair out of his ears once. Footstool or no, couldn’t reach them. You know that thing race horses wear that covers their face and cups the eyes so they can’t see behind them? Well I had one and for some odd reason I thought about using it that day. Oh, ‘The Big Horse’ let me put it on. No problem…no buzzing clippers. So, I put this racing mask on and had to sit on the ground to clip his ears. Yes, he thought up was down. I’ll never forget that. I still laugh thinking about it.
Before me, most of The Big Horse’s training was in harness. Slap a saddle on the ol’ boy and he was miserable. He loved harness. Even my mother, who feared horses, could drive ‘The Big Horse’. But here’s the thing, Fine-harness show horses are not allowed to break into a canter. They get disqualified in the class for that. So, for at least ten years ‘The Big Horse” was never allowed to canter.
He didn’t make it in the show ring as the Fine Harness , so they clipped his mane and made him a Three-gaited show horse. That meant cantering. He was all screwed up now. And yeah, I bought him…cheap.
He and I struggled with canter leads. He just didn’t know how to break into one. He always hesitated like he would be punished or something–a back lash from his harness days. Once he even reared up and fell over on me . He reared. I lost balance. Over we went. I survived by the grace of God. We both saw stars.
So, I figured out the real problem. You see, one winter I decided to turn the Val and ‘ The Big Horse” out for the winter instead of working them out in the cold. Brilliant idea huh? I brought ’em in at night, fed ’em, let ’em out each morning.
Day One: I let Val out. He took off lickety-split down the lane to the pasture, took the right angle turn like a barrel horse, and off he went kicking and bucking like a spring colt.
I took The Big Horse out. Let him go. He stood there. Didn’t know what to do. Saw Val. Wanted to join him. He wanted to hurry. Tried to canter. His legs were as stiff as toothpicks. He bounced down that lane like a cartoon character. Came to the turn. STOPPED. WALKED AROUND IT. And peg-legged it out to the pasture.
I was totally dumbfounded . He couldn’t remember how to canter!!
Spring: Both horses raced around the right angle turn to the barn at a neck breaking speed like teenagers in a car race. Yeah, The Big Horse had figured out what he had forgotten. And the canter became easier between us.
I had another great moment with him happened in a Three-Gaited Class. Here we were, a girl against a bunch of trainers. Four of them. Three showing and one judging the class. The Big Horse and I had all the applause all through the class and took fourth. Real shocker here isn’t it? The crowd booed first place, second and third, then cheered when I left the arena. hee hee
And then my parents and I sold him to a lady in Chicago. I had decided to marry and move on. And her trainer’s barn went up in smoke. Other horses besides The Big Horse died that night.
You see, horses won’t leave their stalls even if the stall doors are open. Smoke is out there. Flames are out there. Won’t go. That’s why you have to blindfold them. And usually a barn is wood and the floors are covered with straw or wood chips. In some cases, hay is kept in the loft too. So please, keep anything like cigarettes away from a barn, any barn.
It still breaks my heart that I sold The Big Horse. He was a beautiful, wonderful, kind animal with more integrity than most people.
The Big Horse and my dad doing their tricks
I’m in the background
The Big Horse was… a Man of Integrity
What an incredible story! A sad ending, but, my, what happy memories you have!
I originally hopped over to say “Thank you” for following my blog. But when I got here, I saw your re-blog from “A Conservative View,” so I had to go check him out. (Marvelous site!). Then I saw this story, so I had to stop and read it. Pretty well out of time this morning, but I’ll be back.
Also — if you’re interested in sites with good “Conservative” articles and information, you might enjoy one of my other sites (I have three). It’s called “Happy Patriot,” and I put the link on here in case you want to check it out in the future. http://happypatriot.wordpress.com/
The Lord bless you today!
Sandra
Thank you. The Big Horse was a wonderful animal. Yes wonderful memories. And by the way, your patriot blog is very nice. I couldn’t leave a comment there. But thank you for doing that and Thank all the Vets for all they do every day. God bless and keep us all safe and free
Hi again. I noticed you said you could not leave a comment on the “Happy Patriot” site. Do you mean there was no place to click for making comments? If not, I need to see what’s wrong, because every article is set to have a comments section available. If you wouldn’t mind getting back to me and letting me know for sure what happened, I’d appreciate it. Thanks. Sandra.
I think Black Beauty is the sweetest and most wonderful horse story ever. Then Black Stallion. I know there are others but those are my favorites. Thank you Claire. The Big Horse was a wonderful animal. He taught me much.
Heartwarming story — very heartwarming. They are scary things. I do think that the fire was portrayed very nicely in Black Beauty. Nice, at least, in consideration of reality vs. fiction.
Lovely looking horse.
So in a fire, horses won’t try to get out? You’d have to go in and lead them out?
I know nothing about horses…other than what I’ve read on your blogs!
Horses flee the scene. If the terror is before them they run the other way. Now if they are trapped in a stall and the fire is ‘out there’ before them, they will try to bust down the walls but of course they can’t and therefore trapped. They willfight you tooth and nail than go out into that horror. Blindfold them, kinda like the headcovering on the Big Horse’ and they will leave. Now getting a blindfold on a terrified horse. Go for it.
This does add to much conflict and excitement in a story tho and well done as Jan Scarbrough did in her Kentucky Flame did, this tragedy can truly add a huge amount of conflict.
And Marianne, thank you for reading all my blogs. YOu are a dear.
Loved your story about Big. I’m sad about his loss. The prospect of fire in a barn scares me. Did you ever read Kentucky Flame? That’s how it starts.
Jan, I think that is every owner’s nightmare. Yes I love Kentucky Flame and you handled the scene perfectly!!! Well done. And thank you J
Judy Ridgley My website: http://www.judyridgley.com RPride website http://www.rpridepublishing.com
My blog- Writer’s Riding Right: http://www.jridgley.wordpress.com My Roman blog- http://www.juliagaleriacasca.wordpress.com Dreamin’ blog- http://www.rpridepublishing.wordpress.com
Twitter http://@JGCasca Facebook http://www.facebook.com/judyridgley
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A barn fire doesn’t bear thinking about. There’s one in my next story that really happened during the British retreat to Corunna in 1809, when Lord Paget lost a number of his horses. His groom was overcome by smoke trying to get them out (but there’s no record as to whether he survived).
Your Big Horse is the best colour, by the way!
Thank you . He was a beautiful horse. Little light headed but wonderful. I look forward to reading your next book My best J
Judy Ridgley My website: http://www.judyridgley.com RPride website http://www.rpridepublishing.com
My blog- Writer’s Riding Right: http://www.jridgley.wordpress.com My Roman blog- http://www.juliagaleriacasca.wordpress.com Dreamin’ blog- http://www.rpridepublishing.wordpress.com
Twitter http://@JGCasca Facebook http://www.facebook.com/judyridgley
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