Tenn. Fire Officials: Blaze Claimed 30 Spotted Saddle Horses

Tennessee Investigators are trying to discover the cause of a fire Monday that killed nearly 30 spotted saddle horses at a Shelbyville stable.

The blaze at Dickie Gardner Stables was discovered around 3 a.m., officials said. Gardner said he and his wife tried to get inside the barn area when they arrived on the scene but firefighters stopped them.

“They said it was already too far gone,” said Gardner, adding that there were about 30 horses inside, including several championship horses.

Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce said state agricultural and arson investigators were expected to inspect the stables’ remains.

“We don’t necessarily suspect arson but on a case of this magnitude they always come in and check everything out,” he said.

Information from: Shelbyville Times-Gazette, www.t-g.com