Assistant Fire Chief Jason Johns reported that firefighters from Logan, Hardin, and Union counties responded to a fire at Brant Performance Horses, located on State Route 638, about 2 miles south of Belle Center. The Logan County Sheriff’s Office received the fire report at 12:15 p.m. Saturday.
“It was too far gone when we got there,” Johns told The Columbus Dispatch. The barn was 60,000 square feet with stalls, an arena, and living quarters for employees.
Owners Brandon and Cathy Brant have been training horses since 2007 for reining competitions.
“If you do anything with livestock, this is your worst nightmare by far. There’s really no words, I have no words,” Brandon told a local TV station. “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.”
The couple estimates that about 85 percent of their business was lost in the fire.
A trainer, Eric Priest, who operates Priest Performance Horses at the facility, was inside the barn trying to save his client’s horses when he was injured by the fire. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Priest suffered second-degree burns to his arms, back, and head from running into the blaze. He was taken to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to receive treatment.
As news of the fire spread, multiple fundraisers started in support of the training barns, trainers, and their clients. While GoFundMe says that it take steps to prevent scammers, and the majority of fundraisers appear to be legitimate, it’s important to verify fundraisers before making donations.
- By Sunday evening, a GoFundMe fundraiser for the Brant family had raised $211,820, more than its $500,000 goal.
- Another GoFundMe organized by Oliver Dusterhoff says they will be raffling off a saddle based on drawings made from donations. So far, this fundraiser has raised $20,910 of a $10,000 goal.
- Three separate GoFundMe accounts have been created for Priest Performance Horses and Eric Priest.
- The first one, initiated by Jamie Miller has raised $28,790 of a $60,000 goal.
- The second, organized by Shannon Quinlan Hill, has secured $39,325 out of a $50,000 goal.
- The third, organized by Jen Bishop, has raised $7,145 of a $50,000 goal.
- At least two fundraisers have been organized on GoFundMe to support a 17-year-old, and an 8-year-old who lost their horses in the barn fire.
Other items on the Facebook group Reining Life are being requested to benefit the training barns.
The Richland Area Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal are still investigating what caused the fire.