ONE of the Wee County’s most successful businessmen, Euan Snowie, has claimed the blaze which killed two of his children’s ponies was started deliberately.

The fire at the stables of his multimillion-pound home in Kippen started in the early hours of Monday morning.

Three horses were trapped in the stables, two show ponies, which belonged to Euan Snowie’s 13-year-old daughter Louise, and a pet Shetland pony.

He managed to save the family pet Shetland Pony but could not get back inside to rescue the other two which perished in the flames.

More than 35 firefighters battled the fire at the stables which was engulfed in flames by the time they arrive at close to 1am. The building was totally destroyed.

Mr Snowie says his family is “devastated” by the loss of the ponies and believes the attack was deliberate.

He said: “My whole family is distraught. I received a phone call from a lady who lives in one of the cottages on the estate to say the family stable block was on fire and there were already firefighters there.

“I grabbed a fire extinguisher and went with my wife Claire to the stables.

“The whole building was in flames and there were explosions going off.

“There were three horses inside – two of Louise’s working hunter show ponies and our pet Shetland pony.

“We got the Shetland out but the other two were gone — killed by the smoke. I’ve been round the burnt-out block with police, fire and insurance investigators, and it looks like the fire started in at least two places. It looks deliberate.”

The Snowie family own one of the leading waste disposal companies in the country and played a crucial role during the foot and mouth crisis by disposing of millions of dead animals.

In 2007, Euan had his estate exempt from ‘right to roam’ legislation claiming his £4million home, Boquhan House, would be a target for burglars. But the stables were outside the exempt part of the estate.

A police spokeswoman said: “We attended to find a fire in a large barn. Two horses died but one was rescued. We are currently investigating the cause of the fire.”