MORE than 20 mares and young foals have died in a massive blaze at a stud farm.
The fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, took hold in the middle of the night.
The horses had been moved to the barn to protect them from the awful weather outside.
But they were at the mercy of the flames on a barn in a reportedly 'isolated' area of the farm.
The devastating scenes, which unfolded on Sunday night, just a day before Royal Ascot, took place at a Normandy stud farm in France.
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Herostar, the full brother to top jumps horses Douvan and Jonbon, was the standing stallion there.
He was unhurt in the terrible scenes but sadly a great number of other horses could not be saved.
Bloodstock agent Toby Jones told the Racing Post: "There was a fire in a barn on the farm where the mares and youngest foals had been brought in to protect them from the bad weather overnight.
"The fire brigade has investigated the source of the fire and believe it was caused by an electrical fault.
"It is difficult to come to terms with but the main thing is that nobody was seriously hurt."
Jones added that the owner of Haras de Barnesq, breeder Jose Lardot, had been 'hit hard' by the heartbreaking news.
Racing fans were quick to pass on their sympathies.
One said: "That is absolutely awful news."
While another commented: "That must be heartbreaking. So sorry for the loss of your mares and foals."
