Horse paddocks turned to ash

The emotional toll has been huge and between working, running an agistment centre, three children and long days rebuilding fences, the Tivers feel like they are on a roller coaster.

"But then you go into town and meet someone worse off, someone who lost a house and it makes you feel grateful for what you have," Jen said.

Of the Tivers' 44.5 hectares, about 85 per cent was burnt, nearly all fences destroyed and 130,000 litres of rainwater contaminated.

23 horses were on the property when the fire started; 18 were subsequently evacuated and five remained as the fire tore through, but they went into the dam and were unharmed.

But Jen said the generosity of the local community had been overwhelming.

"Firstly, we had the floats pour in to help evacuate, and paddocks offered to hold horses during the fire," she said.

"We've had donations of water and food, donations of horse feed, help drilling holes for fence posts and with obtaining materials.

"The fire has certainly brought everyone closer together, including the agistees on our property."

The Tivers' fencing was insured for $40,000 but the damage had been assessed at $85,000.

"We used the insurance money to buy materials and we will do the fencing ourselves as we can't afford to pay a contractor," Jen said.

"We have had difficulty getting supplies because we need to use creosote posts rather than permapine which the horses will chew on."

The family needs about 1000 posts to rebuild five-kilometres of fencing.

Other concerns have been keeping the agistment business going, the possibility of horses getting sick from grazing on burnt ground or drinking contaminated dam water and separating mares and geldings with limited fencing.

"We are keeping the hay up and have put feeders above ground or tied hay nets to trees," Jen said.

"Our vet has assured us the dam is not a problem and we weren't bombed with fire retardants so there aren't any issues there.

"We are worried fire breaks open seed and while we have sprayed every year we are hoping the weeds don't get out of control."