Equestrian Community Rallies Around Kildare Stables After Fire Destroys Keene Barn

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A building that housed Kildare Stables South in Keene went up in flames last Saturday. Now in the aftermath, the equestrian community is rallying around Kildare members to provide much needed supplies and funding for horses.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Zischler.

Morgan Dedato, who works part time at Kildare Stables and boards her horse there, says if not for the few that were at the stable on Saturday this disaster could have been a lot worse.

Kristen Buchanon Goff had just finished riding in the indoor arena with her son as the fire started. She took her son to safety then ran back in to help.

When Ashley Rylski noticed the fire she immediately started throwing burning hay bales outside, in hopes to stop the fire from spreading to other bales - then used a fire extinguisher and hose. When she realized she would not be able to contain the fire she ran to move horses away from the barn. Rylski was bruised and suffered from smoke inhalation, says Dedato, but is ok.

Megan, who owns a horse at Kildare was also there helping to move horses and was treated for smoke inhalation, but is ok says Dedato.

The three women helped to get approximately 16 horses away from the building, when firefighters from Otonabee South Monaghan arrived to fight the fire.

“Step one was getting the horses as far away from the fire as they could,” said Dedato. “The fire began to spread to the surrounding fields and no one really knew where it was going.”

She says that other stables from the area began showing up with empty trailers, ready to transport horses off the property.

“The community - no questions asked started showing up to the farm and loading our horses onto their trailers.”

According to a social media post by Kildare Stables, trailers from Stillbrook Riding Stables, Endless Journeys Farm and individuals arrived and brought horses to Saddlewood Equestrian Centre where they will stay until further notice.

Once the horses were safe, Dedato says people began coming to Saddlewood with hay and food.

“The rest can all come, the horses just needed to get somewhere safe and have food and water.”

While no people or horses were seriously harmed, Dedato says they lost everything in the fire.

Saddles, reigns, feed, medications, blankets, and so much more was gone in one afternoon.

“It’s taken a few days to get our thoughts organized,” she said. “People have already started donating those things that you don’t even think about. A lot of our horses left Kildare covered in ash and smoke but we didn’t even have any shampoo. It’s those little things that people immediately thought to bring us, it’s been incredible.”

While it will be hard to regain the physical items lost, Dedato says most importantly the Kildare family lost their home on Saturday.

“This isn’t just some structure, this is our home. When I’m not at work I’m at the barn. I spend more time at that barn than I do at home,” she said. “I think for all of us, we lost our safe space - where we all get along and you can show up at anytime and know that people you love are there and the animals you love are there. That’s been the hardest part - losing our second home.”

Riders and trainers at Kildare Stables were just gearing up for the beginning of busy season for horse shows.

“When it first happened we all thought ‘we’re done, our home is gone’, but Kevin and Lindsay (head trainer and barn owner/manager) are so strong. They said ‘we worked all year for this. There’s no point in losing our whole home and then everything we’ve worked towards.’ With pure resilience everyone pushed through and we’re going to keep riding.”

The team will continue training at Saddlewood Equestrian Centre.

Various drop off locations have been set up in the area for those wishing to drop off donations.

The items that are most needed at this time are bell boots, blankets for the horses, fly masks, and poultice, and can be dropped at Greenhawk Peterborough, or at Kildare Stables North (1590 5th Smith Line, Selwyn) at any time.

Those wishing to send a monetary donation can etransfer ridekildarestables@gmail.com. Cash donations will also be accepted at Greenhawk Peterborough.

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Rotospa Hot Tubs Burns To The Ground After Massive Fire

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A major fire sparked overnight at Rotospa Hot Tubs in Lakefield has caused the building to burn to the ground.

Photo By PTBOCanada.

Photo By PTBOCanada.

OPP has closed off 8th Line Smith and Centre Line and Buckhorn Road as firefighters are battling the fires Friday morning.

Detours are set in place a road closure is in place for several hours according to the OPP.

PTBOCanada contacted owner Bill Prentice but was unwilling to comment about the situation at the time. The business focuses on selling, building and servicing hot tubs.

No injuries have been reported at this time and no employees were present when the fire had occurred.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

PTBOCanada will update this article as the story develops.

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