Toledo family reacts to fire that killed 10 therapy horses - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Toledo family reacts to fire that killed 10 therapy horses

Posted: Updated:
  • Toledo family reacts to fire that killed 10 therapy horses

  • Thursday, March 21 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-03-21 21:15:41 GMT
    Fire crews battled a blaze in the barns of the Vail Meadows Equestrian Center on Thursday in the early morning hours.Officials report the barn on the property was on fire.The 6100 block of Cedar Point
    Fire crews battled a blaze in the barns of the Vail Meadows Equestrian Center on Thursday in the early morning hours. Ten horses died in the blaze.

Ten therapy horses died in a barn fire at Vail Meadow Equestrian Center. The parents of 11-year-old Zane said horse therapy was one of the only things their severely autistic son liked. 

"Not that I was negative towards it, but I just know my son and at first I was nervous like 'oh, if he doesn't like this..' but he enjoyed it and it was awesome," said Heather Breed, Zane's mom. 

Her reservations were calmed when she saw how much Zane liked the big animals. 

Breed was shocked to hear of the tragic barn fire this morning. 

"I was just very, very upset. Like I said my son very much enjoyed it," Breed said. "Vail Meadows has done, to me, very well for my son." 

Vail Meadows gave Zane and his dad a special time to bond.

"It was something that I got to do with Zane," said Justice Scott, Zane's dad. "It really strengthened our relationship. It was something that we got to look forward to as a father and son." 

Zane was paired up with a horse named Tramp. His parents said it was a perfect match. 

"The biggest one," Breed said. "My son is large and the horse was large. The funniest part was  getting him to get up on the platform to get him on the horse."

Once up on the horse, the therapy lasted an hour. Zane's dad watched him work a lot on hand-eye coordination and speech therapy. 

"The poles sticking out of the ground, he would have to pick a color of a ring and put it on there. Or they would have to go in and out of barrels," Scott said.

Zane's parents said that most people don't understand just how many children and families these horses helped.

"Especially seeing all of the kids faces react to just being there, to just walk into the building," Scott said. "He knew where to get his helmet and where to go to wait." 

An account at the First Federal Bank at 3426 Navarre Avenue in Oregon is set up to except donations for Vail Meadows Equestrian Center. 

  • Local

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:07:48 GMT
    Noise on a neighborhood restaurant patio is at the center of some controversy in Perrysburg.
    Noise on a neighborhood restaurant patio is at the center of some controversy in Perrysburg.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:53 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:53:28 GMT
    Three young brothers who have been missing the more than two years were featured on national TV Wednesday night. Former "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh profiled the case of Andrew, Alexander and
    Three young brothers who have been missing for more than two years were featured on national TV Wednesday night. Former "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh profiled the case of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:15 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:15:15 GMT
    Most of us wouldn't be able to swim across Lake Erie, so imagine doing it with a debilitating condition. A Maumee man with Crohn's disease is training to cross the lake to help raise money and awareness
    Maumee man set to swim across Lake Erie in an effort to raise money for help Crohn's disease research.
  • Top Stories

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:53 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:53:28 GMT
    Three young brothers who have been missing the more than two years were featured on national TV Wednesday night. Former "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh profiled the case of Andrew, Alexander and
    Three young brothers who have been missing for more than two years were featured on national TV Wednesday night. Former "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh profiled the case of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:07:48 GMT
    Noise on a neighborhood restaurant patio is at the center of some controversy in Perrysburg.
    Noise on a neighborhood restaurant patio is at the center of some controversy in Perrysburg.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 9:44 PM EDT2013-06-20 01:44:14 GMT
    LOS ANGELES (AP) - HBO and James Gandolfini's managers say the actor famous for his role in "The Sopranos" has died in Italy. The cable channel, and managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, say the
    James Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally delicate mob boss in HBO's "The Sopranos" helped create one of TV's greatest drama series and turned the mobster stereotype on its head, died Wednesday in Italy. He was 51.

Area Events Calendar

See It, Shoot It, Send It!