Police and the fire marshal are investigating a suspicious fire near Lowell Saturday morning at The Barn for Equine Learning that killed thirteen therapy horses. According to Wood TV 8, Kat Welton, owner of the barn, believes the fire was started by someone connected to the barn.

Authorities say concerning evidence was found at the scene. They report that a person of interest has been questioned and released.

The Barn For Equine Learning isn't just a home for horses, it's a resource for children and adults overcoming trauma and abuse. The non-profit  seeks to offer unique learning opportunities and counseling through the healing power of horses.

It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I share the news that the Barn suffered a tragedy on April 8th. We lost our barn and 13 of our wonderful horses to a fire. This information is so hard for us to process and it still feels like a bad dream at this point. We know that this is going to be challenging for every person who The Barn and the horses have meant something to. However, as is so often the case with each person who comes out to The Barn, we recognize that any tragedy and challenge can be overcome. We are not yet sure what the road to rebuilding will look like at this point, but we know that The Barn meant so much to so many people, and like any challenge we have met before, we will walk through this trial step by step and continue to fulfill our mission of reaching people wherever they are at in their lives."

A GoFundMe account has been set up to support The Barn for Equine Learning.

Anyone with information is asked to call  the Kent County Sheriff’s Department at 616-632-6100 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

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