Six Horses Perish in Fire at Belgian Dressage Breeding Farm Kempenhoeve

Mon, 02/21/2022 - 13:47
Belgium
Fire at De Kempenhoeve

Six horses perished in the fire that raged at Belgian dressage breeding farm and stallion station Kempenhoeve in Balen, Belgium in the night of Saturday 19 February 2022.

The fire brigade was on the scene with 30 firemen to control the situation. By 0h15 the fire was under control.

The fire started around 23h00 in the stable building and immediately spread. Owner Marc Dries immediately tried to save as many horses by opening their stalls and some horses ran into the streets. One of them hit a car and did not survive the blow. The driver of the car had to be brought to the hospital with minor injuries.

A whole group of neighbouring people ran to the yard to help, daughter Mieke Dries reported. Two horses perished in the part where the fire had broken out. A fourth passed from smoke inhalation. Later in the day two more horses passed, while two are still in a critical condition. 

De Kempenhoeve is a renowned Belgian dressage breeding farm, livery yard and EU stallion station. They stand home bred Belgian warmblood licensed stallions Sunnyboy (by on Deluxe x Quaterback), Fantast (by Pavarotti x Donnerhall), Bonaventuro (Stedinger x Davignon) and are the breeders of international small tour horse Golddream van de Kempenhoeve (Jorinde Verwimp), WCYH participant Oblix van de Kempenhoeve (Katrien Verreet),  Belgian foal champions Ulana, Titalis, Quiz me Quick, etc.

Related Links
Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve, Champion of the 2021 Belgian Warmblood Stallion Licensing
Ulana van de Kempenhoeve and Unico VD Win 2020 Belgian Warmblood Foal Championship
Ta Vita der Steenakker and Titalis van de Kempenhoeve Win 2019 Belgian Warmblood Foal Championship
Quiz Me Quick van de Kempenhoeve and Quality van het Beukenhof, 2016 BWP Foal Champions
Jack Daniels N, Oblix van de Kempenhoeve, Conan di Fonte Abeti, Mac Donovan Win 2019 Belgian Young Horse Championships