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Four die of carbon monoxide poisoning at horse show

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Also by Bridget Roby:

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No business like snow business (February 21, 2008)
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by Bridget Roby

Monday, October 15, 2007

A Tomah couple and their two grandchildren were found dead Friday morning in their trailer while camping out for the World Clydesdale Show in Madison this past weekend.

Those found sleeping in the trailer were De Vere Clay, 68, his wife Barbara Clay, 57, and their grandchildren Hope Briney, 13, and Erin Briney, 10. According to a release from the Dane County Coroner's Office, the family died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sleeping in their horse trailer outside the Alliant Energy Center.

Town of Madison police officers were the first to arrive on the scene at approximately 7:47 a.m. after they were dispatched by the Dane County Community Center. Police Chief Scott Gregory said the community center was alerted of the incident when it received a call from a family member of the deceased that morning.

"They located four people that appeared to be deceased," Gregory said of the officers who arrived at the scene first. "[The four] were at the Alliant Energy Center for the Clydesdale Association horse show."

According to a release from the Town of Madison Police Department, the initial investigation indicated the carbon monoxide came from an old propane heater used to heat the trailer.

Barcklay Poole, marketing director for the Clydesdale Breeders of the USA, said the family was a well-known breeder and exhibitor within the Clydesdale community. However, despite the unexpected start to the weekend of horse showing, Poole said the event went considerably well.

"After what happened, everybody kind of regrouped and decided the show must go on," Poole said, which was partly an effort to show support and tribute to the family. "It was an awesome show in terms of attendance. The competition has been phenomenal."

Poole said well over $10,000 has been collected at the show for the family of the victims. The show also observed a moment of silence for the family before the afternoon program of each day's events.

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Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 3:56pm):

I was good friends with hope! this story tears me apart!!!!!! At least they died peacefully =[ i'll miss her!!!

Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 12:49pm):

i miss hope very much she was my best friend nd now shes gone :(

Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 9:01pm):

i was in shock when i heard that this had happened. I had known hope since she was a little girl in dance class. I to am a hore lover and so are a lot of my friends. Most of us are still in shock that this happened. Karie you have my deepest sympathies! th funeral&visitation was really sad. I will miss seeing hope and her smiling face! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU DEARLY!!
~In memory of Hope Briney~
<3Love Always and Forever

Anonymous (October 25, 2007 @ 8:15pm):

We knew the Clays from showing clydesdales with them and we never would have thought something could bring DeVere & Barb down! He was always at it....my daughters knew Hope and Erin so good and it will be hard this next year for showing clydesdales because we are all so, so closely knitt together.
Our sympathy goes out to the family and anyone else in need of heeling..

Stuedemann Clydesdales

Anonymous (March 1, 2008 @ 9:48pm):

i was verry good friends with hope and i will miss her forever and ever and i cant wait to see her again

I LOVE & MISS HOPE BRINEY

katelyn bennett (June 3, 2008 @ 3:47pm):

i love and miss hope very much i cant wait till i see her again

Anonymous (June 3, 2008 @ 3:49pm):

i will always miss her and i wish i could of just said bye or said something to her before she passed away:(

Anonymous (July 2, 2008 @ 11:06pm):

i loved hope so much. she was my neibor.. i new her sense she was born.. and we loved to go ride horses.. go hang with erin, we loved to play with my little brother and sister.. we all loved to hang out.. we would dance together.. and have so much fun.. when i realized that she died. i couldn't believe it.. i still can't.. for real.. i can't.. even at the funeral.. i couldn't believe it.. my boyfriend is always here for me.. and i love him so much. i just miss all of them so much.. i love u all. u r in my hearts..

<3 u with everything i have... u guys came first before anyone.. i love u guys.. those memoriese are ours.. and i will never forget u..

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