Tragedy struck the farm of horsemen John Schaap this past weekend in the midst of the ice storm that has wreaked havoc in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

At the height of the storm – during the early morning hours of Sunday, December 22 – falling tree limbs and power lines at Schaap’s farm, located near Mohawk Racetrack, triggered a deadly electrical barn fire which saw five of Schaap’s horses perish.

“The neutral ground wire broke off before going into the house (before the breaker panel),” Schaap told Trot Insider about the circumstance which led to a power surge.

“Two live wires were feeding into the house without a neutral or ground, therefore the breakers didn’t kick off. The live wires were feeding 240 volts into all the wiring in the house and in the barn. The wires melted and then burst into flames.”

Schaap, who works in Standardbred Canada’s IT department, explained that he did all he could to save his horses, but was only able to save two foals that were born this past summer.

“I was in the barn in that smoke for at least five minutes, fighting the fire with the flashlight app on my phone in one hand and a shovel in the other. I did all I could,” Schaap explained about the frantic moments where he had his hands full trying to stop fire and save his horses.

Schaap credited his local fire response crews with helping save his farm. “The quick action and them showing up 15 minutes after I called is the only reason that the house and barn both are still there,” said Schaap.

Schaap explained that firefighters put the flames out with foam hoses and that the ordeal was over in 30 minutes. “We stopped the fire before it got out of control,” he said.

Although he was able to save the two babies, Schaap’s 10-year-old stallion Roll With The Time and broodmare In For A Treat lost their lives in the blaze, as did a three-year-old trotting filly (by Roll With The Time) named MJMJs Nyla. Schaap also lost a Jumping Horse by the name of Eli and an Arabian riding horse.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to John Schaap and his family.