Horse barn fire derails couple's dream

Tracy and Jacki Thomas have spent the past year building a barn to help equine enthusiasts learn proper care for their horses, but  Nov. 11 their dreams burned to the ground.

“It was a goal of ours to do this,” Jacki said. “It was a labor of love. We put our heart and soul into this.”

Today, only a cement pad, a few sheets of metal siding, a couple of stirrups and horns from saddles remain of the 65 by 64 foot barn.

Jacki has been an equine massage therapist and saddle fitter for about five years. She recently trained to become a farrier with Kelly Case, owner of Shur Shod Horseshoeing School in Grovespring.

“The loss of the barn caused not just a loss to Jacki,” Case said.

Case was looking for an opportunity to expand his school in a central location. The Thomas’ barn would provide a way for people to learn about proper shoeing and saddle fittings in Sedalia.

“With the loss of the barn, it’s really kind of set back with what we want to do,” Case said.

The fire started at about 6:30 a.m. Tracy was the first to notice the fire and ran outside, barefoot, to save the newly built facility.

“Tracy’s feet were hamburger,” Jacki said.

Shortly after, Jacki followed to help, knowing that two horses were being kept in the barn. Her face was burned trying to save the horses and equipment.

“It was just pretty much up in flames,” Jacki said.

One of Case’s horses survived the fire, but Louie, a male horse in the barn died.

“I’m sure that Louie was asleep when he died,” Jacki said.

Along with the loss of the horse, they lost about $45,000 worth of tact and the entire barn.

“The barn was priceless to me,” Jacki said.

Jacki said the fire started in some hay being kept inside the barn. The Thomas’ did not have running water or electricity installed in the barn at the time of the fire.

Their barn was in the process of being insured and final additions were planned to be done the following week.

“This was a dream and it’s not going to die,” Jacki said.

The land has been leveled and Jacki has received donations from area equine clubs and individuals to continue her dream.

Jacki sees the situation as a speed bump, but she is not discouraged.

“I am looking forward to the day when it stops smelling like ash and starts smelling like a horse barn again,” Jacki said.

Once again, Tracy and Jacki will be working tirelessly each weekend until a new barn is built to help fellow horse lovers continue a sport that Jacki cares deeply about.

“I hope horse owners know that there are people out here that support them and what they are doing,” she said.