Owner of Rodmell barn destroyed in arson attack overwhelmed by ‘amazing’ support from community

The blaze at Kayben Stud Farm, which killed six horses and a dog, happened on the morning of January 16.

Following the devastating fire, a fundraising page was set up towards a new barn and equipment and this week it topped over £18,000.

Barbara Joyce, 69, is the owner of the yard and lives in Rodmell with her daughter Torie – just a five minute walk from the yard.

She said: “Support from the community has been amazing. I can’t believe we have that many people that actually like and care about us. You go through life thinking people like us or they don’t but this has just been enormous.”

Barbara, who has owned the barn since she was 20, said the local riding club has collected money for them and is doing a raffle and horse photo show to raise more funds.

”When our barn is open again, we are going to do a barbeque and invite everyone who has donated,” she added.

Barbara’s daughter, Torie, 40, discovered the burnt down barn at 6am on January 16, and alerted her sister, Charlotte Rayner-Gray. Four of the horses killed in the blaze were Torie’s. The fifth was owned by Rainbow Bridge Equine Rescue and the sixth by a woman called Sarah Smithers.

Barbara said: “Torie is just completely broken. You can’t talk to her and if you do it’s like she is about to burst into tears. I didn’t spend all day everyday at the barn like she did. Her whole life has gone.”

She said she was relieved Torie was not there when the barn went up in flames. “She would have gone in regardless to get her boys out.

“I don’t care how bad that fire was, she would have gone in there even if those horses were already dead in there. Nothing is more important than her horses.”

Two men, aged 40 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of arson and they have been released on conditional bail until tomorrow (February 13), while enquiries continue.

Barbara added: “Torie is just so angry – she can’t get her head around it. We hope the police find out who did it – we need to know – and why they did it.”

To make a donation, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rebuildkaybenstud?utm_term=7p7nVw3YJ.