The Appaloosa Horse Club extends its sincere regrets to two families who recently lost horses in barn fires.

On Jan. 9 at 3 a.m., former director and president, Larry Edwards of Dayton, Ohio, awoke to the smell of smoke and saw one of his barns was on fire. Five fire departments responded to the call, but the fire claimed the lives of 10 boarded horses. There was $30,000 damage to the barn neighboring the one that had caught fire. It housed Edwards’ two horses, which were unhurt.

“I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers from around the country,” Edwards says. “My Appaloosa family has been good to me.”

Another fire took place on the night of Jan. 13. Jim and Mary Farmer of Happy Appy Acres in Lutts, Tenn., were awakened by their dogs and saw their barn on fire