21 equines perish in barn fire

[Marion County Fire Rescue]

A barn in Reddick, on property owned by the Roberts family, owners of the World Equestrian Center, caught fire in the early morning hours of April 8 and 21 horses perished.

Marion County Fire Rescue was dispatched to the fire at the Roberts Quarter Horse Farm property at 3:58 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a barn on fire with horses trapped inside.

The 10,000 square foot, single story barn, at Northwest 118^th Street Road, Reddick, was already fully ablaze by the time of MCFR’s arrival at 4:13 a.m.

The roof of the structure had collapsed, which contributed to the deaths of killing the horses inside. The fire was called under control at 5:13am. No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters at the scene, MCFR noted.

Units from MCFR Lowell Station #11 were the first on the scene of the fire. Located at 12250 NW Gainesville Road, Reddick, the station is 3.1 miles away from the Roberts Quarter Horse Farm. The next-closest station is MCFR’s Golden Ocala Station #20, which is 7.4 miles away.

The Marion County Fire Marshal, the State of Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are conducting investigations into the origin and cause of the fire.

“We are aware of a tragic incident that occurred on private property personally owned by the individuals who also own World Equestrian Center. While the private property is entirely separate from and not affiliated with World Equestrian Center business or operations, we extend our deepest sympathies to those affected,” said a WEC spokesperson. “As this is a personal matter, we will not be providing further comment. We appreciate your understanding and respect for the privacy of those involved.”

Ralph “Larry” Roberts and his wife Mary Roberts opened the billion-dollar World Equestrian Center in 2021, after the success of their other location in Wilmington, Ohio. WEC is the largest equestrian complex in the United States, featuring indoor and outdoor arenas, hotels, restaurants and more. The family has developed hundreds of acres of land in Ocala, including the Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club. Patriarch Larry Roberts passed away in 2023.