8 MIDWEST HORSE SOURCE
MAY/JUNE 2012
As the smoke clears... A devastating barn fire claims companions and careers by Lisa Kucharski
A
s Seth Davis sped down the road at 90 miles per hour from Antioch to McHenry, Ill., the only worry on his mind was if his horses made it out of the burning barn. Davis had just walked into a grocery store around 5 pm to pick up dinner for him and his wife when M&R Overlook Farm barn owner Midge Lindblom called with the frightening news.
The blaze on April 11 at 101 W. Bay Road, McHenry, Ill., destroyed the 20,000-square-foot barn and killed 18 of the 35 stalled horses. Because no fire hydrants were present in the area, 21 departments responded, hauling in water and battling flames and smoke until midnight. Some returned the following morning to extinguish parts of the barn that were still smoldering.
Davis pulled up twenty minutes later to a blocked road, parked his car in a stranger’s driveway and ran a half mile to reach the barn. But like the neighborhood residents standing outside across the street, all he could do was watch.
The fire also cost Davis emotionally and financially. Once the fire died down and the surviving horses were taken in by several generous barns in the area, Davis faced the daunting task of searching the rubble for remains. He had to identify bodies of five of the 12 horses he had in training.
“20 Minutes after I was there, I went around to the pastures to see who was there,” explains Davis, a young Paint horse trainer. “I had to sneak to the back to see the horses because the firefighters would not allow anyone through.”
“[I was] overwhelmed and feeling sick about the phones calls that were made to customers regarding their horses and the ones that still needed to be
Editor’s Note: Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by the recent barn fires in our area– April 11, M&R Overlook Farm, McHenry, IL (18 horses lost) as well as a May 3 fire that destroyed Larry & Rhonda Spratto’s barn, Pickett, WI (13 horses lost). This is just one of the many stories of loss.
made, telling them [their horses] didn’t make it,” Davis recalls. “It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.” As a result of his job, Davis naturally developed a connection with these horses, making the loss even more difficult to come to terms with. “Emotionally, it is never easy to lose an animal, much less ones you look at like your own,” Davis says. “You can’t spend as much time with them as I do and not have a relationship with them.” The fire also damaged Davis’ livelihood. He lost his whole source of income as well as all of his business assets. Everything from saddles, bridles and blankets, to clippers, spurs, and a grooming vacuum were consumed by the blaze. Overall, the damage estimate is roughly $25,000.00. “It put a lot of things on hold and I
had to stop and re-evaluate,” Davis says. “My Futurity season is down the drain due to the loss of time. Everything you work for during the winter months is brought to a screeching halt within 30 Minutes.” But thanks to friends and kind strangers, Davis is getting some help rebuilding his program. A little under $500 in donations was collected during Midwest Horse Fair by Kati Buffa of Kate’s Kloset. Among other events, a benefit horse show hopes to raise funds for the trainer. Davis’ friends Becky and Nancy Ruehle planned and organized the Seth Davis Show Horses Benefit Show, on July 1 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, Wisc. beginning at 9 am. Right now, Davis is split between two barns, but is working to find a place to call home. He is rebuilding his business and currently has nine horses in training. “I have the Ross family in Grayslake to thank for their help in moving all of my horses out of there and organizing everything,” Davis exclaims. “It is amazing how this industry can pull together and help one another out when in need. It truly does make you thankful for what you have.” Visit www.midwesthorsesource.com or our Facebook page for the Seth Davis Show Horses Benefit Show show bill. If you have any donations, you can contact Seth Davis at sdavishowhorses@aol.com See information about barn fire safety in our March/April Issue on page 19.
After picking through the debris, all that Davis managed to salvage were some charred bits, a stirrup iron, and silver pieces of a show halter.
A pile of rubble is all that remains of the 20,000 square-foot facility the morning after the fire.
Pictured below: Trainer Seth Davis on "Only Shot Left" in 2011. Owners Crickett and Kevin Kelly lost their beloved horse in the April 11, 2012 fire.