LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio — Brandon and Cathy Brant are in disbelief looking at their barn in Belle Center, still smoking more than a day after a devastating fire.
The fire spread quickly, with dozens of horses trapped inside. Some escaped, but 44 horses were killed.
“If you do anything with livestock, this is your worst nightmare by far. There’s really no words, I have no words,” said Brandon.
“All humans are alive, but the animals are your best friends, it’s really hard,” Cathy said.
The family kept their horses at the barn for their company, Brant Performance Horses.
They have been training horses since 2007, taking them across the country for reining competitions. They had raised some of the horses since they were foals. Some of their clients’ horses were also killed.
“Everybody really lost a lot, dreams, you know it is more than just the business aspect of things. These are pets for people, it is an escape for people, we enjoy these animals so it is more than that,” Brandon said.
The Brants estimate they lost about 85% of their business in the fire.
“This is what we do for a living. She does the paperwork, billing stuff I do the training and we both deal with the clients and things. This is all we have but we are going to be OK, we are going to be fine. I am optimistic,” Brandon said.
The barn also held horses belonging to Priest Performance Horses.
The owner, Eric Priest, was taken to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with burn injuries he received while trying to save some of the horses. He is expected to be OK.
As news of the tragedy spread online, the horse community across the country quickly jumped in to help the families impacted by the fire.
A fundraiser for the Brant family had surpassed $200,000 by Sunday evening.
A fundraiser was also set up for Priest.
“I can’t tell you enough about the people in our industry, some we don’t even know, how they have, I have no words. They have helped us. The support is incredible. We haven’t even been able to see I’m sure a quarter of it, but we have heard and the little bit we have seen is pretty incredible,” said Brandon and Cathy.
The Richland Area Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal are still investigating what caused the fire.