QUICK ACTION RECOVERS THESE HORSES DUSTY'S RECOVERY STORY...THIEF CAUGHT...MORE STOLEN HORSES RECOVERED -- AS TOLD BY THE OWNER |
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHO I WAS AND TRIED TO HELP. YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WHO JUST WOULD EMAIL ME AND SAID SEND ME A PHOTO I AM GOING TO SALE I WILL WATCH FOR YOU. IT WAS UNREAL THE PHONES CALLS, EMAIL, ETC. I LOVE YOU ALL... YOU ARE GREAT PEOPLE. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID HORSE PEOPLE ARE THE BEST PEOPLE. TO ALL OF YOU A HEART FILLED THANK YOUS WILL ALL BE IN MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS FOREVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HORSE CLUB SPRINGS TO ACTION NOW HERE'S WHAT HAPPEN TO START WITH I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF MT EDEN SADDLE CLUB. I CALLED AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON THE MONDAY NIGHT AFTER DUSTY WAS STOLEN, AND AROUND 15 MEMBERS SHOWED UP WHO WAS READY TO KICK SOME BUTT. WE HAD FLYERS MADE OF DUSTY PASSED THEM OUT TO ALL THE MEMBERS. THE MEMBERS IN THE CLUB WHERE GREAT THE NEXT DAY ALL THE MEMBERS WENT TO WORK POSTING THE FLYERS IN ALL THE TACK SHOPS, FEED STORES, ALL SALE BARNS AND EVEN SENT THEM TO THE KILLERS. THEY WENT IN STATE BUILDINGS, POSTED IN ALL ELEVATORS AND ON OFFICE WALLS...WALMART'S, BEAUTY SHOPS, AND GROCERY STORES TOO. WE PUT THEM ON PARKED CARS IN THE LOTS AND ALSO PUT ONE IN OUR CAR WINDOWS SO THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT, SOMEONE WOULD SEE HIM. WE EMAILED HIM TO ANYONE AND EVERY ONE. SO KNOW LETS GO BACK ALITTLE. THE THEFTS OCCUR ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22ND TWO TENNESSEE WALKING HORSES AND A HORSE TRAILER WERE STOLEN FROM A MAN IN BAGDAD KY WHICH IS CLOSE TO US, AROUND 20 MILES AWAY. ON TUESDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 23 THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS HAD 2 SADDLES STOLEN OUT OF THEIR BARN AND OF ALL THINGS, A CEMENT PUMPKIN OFF THE PORCH-GO FIGURE. ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24 DUSTY WAS TAKEN AND ON THURSDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 25 ANOTHER BLACK TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE WAS TAKEN ABOUT 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. SUSPESCIOUS ACTIVITY NO ONE SAW ANYTHING, NOTHING. WE WALKED DOOR TO DOOR, ASKING QUESTIONS OF ALL NEIGHBORS. WELL, COME TO FIND OUT ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON A LADY NAMED NICOLE WAS GOING TO RIDE IN THE ARENA AND WAS TACKING UP HER HORSE. IN PULLS A BLACK FORD EXPEDITION WITH A NICE LADY ASKING IF ANY PONIES WAS FOR SALE. OF COURSE SHE SAID I DON'T KNOW I JUST RIDE HERE. THE LADY SAW DUSTY AND SAID, "I LIKE THIS HORSE." SHE SEEMED STRANGE ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE, "ARE THE JACKSON'S HOME MUCH? DO THEY WORK?" WHEN SHE FINALLY DROVE AWAY NICOLE, KNOWING IT WAS STRANGE TRIED TO GET HER PLATE NUMBER AND MANAGED TO GET 3 NUMBERS. TIP STARTS TO PAYS OFF THAT WAS ENOUGH TO GET A NAME AND TO FIND OUT SHE LIVED WITH IN ONE MILE! THAT'S RIGHT 1 MILE. THAT INFO WAS GIVEN TO LOCAL POLICE AND THEY WENT TO QUESTION HER. WHEN THEY DID THEY GLANCED INTO HER CAR AND SAW -2 SADDLES, SEVERAL HALTERS AND LEAD LINES. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THEM SHE OF COURSE SAID SHE BOUGHT THEM. NOTHING THEY COULD DO RIGHT THEN SO THEY LET HER GO. HORSE CLUB TAKES ACTION THE SADDLE CLUB TOOK ACTION AND WENT ON A MISSION. THE MISSION PAID OFF... ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31HALLOWEEN, A LITTLE LADY WAS BUYING FEED FOR HER HORSES IN A LOCAL FEED STORE WHEN SHE SAW THE FLYER FOR DUSTY. SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT TAKE HER EYES OFF OF IT. SHE WAS BOARDING A FEW HORSES FOR A FRIEND AND SHE THOUGHT HE LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE HORSES. SHE TOOK ONE OF THE POSTERS HOME WITH HER. SHE SAID NO DOUBT THAT IT WAS HIM. SHE CALLED HER FRIEND AND ASK, "DO YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE A STOLEN HORSE?" HER FRIEND REPLIED, "NO NO NO I BOUGHT THAT HORSE."SHE SAID WELL MAYBE SO BUT HE IS STOLEN AND YOU NEED TO CALL THIS NUMBER OR I WILL. SO .PJ GOT A PHONE CALL AND IT WAS FROM THE LADY.THAT TOOK HIM .SHE SAID MEET ME AND FOLLOW ME I HAVE SOMETHING I THINK BELONGS TO YOU. SO THEY MEET IN LAWRENCBURG KY, WHICH IS ABOUT ANOTHER 20 MILES AWAY, AND THEY WENT TO A REALLY REMOTE FARM WAY UP OFF THE ROAD. NEVER IN MILLION YEARS WOULD HAVE LOOKED FOR THERE. IT WAS HE! DUSTY IS FOUND THE LADY THAT OWNED THE FARM CAME OUT TO GREET PJ AND SAID YOU ARE GOING TO BE A HAPPY LADY. HE WALKED OUT FROM BEHIND THE BARN AND PJ CALLED HIS NAME. HE LOOKED UP AND TURNED HIS HEAD TO SAY OH MAMMA IS IT REALLY YOU? THE LADY THAT TOOK HIM BURST OUT IN TEARS AND SAID PLEASE FORGIVE ME... AS PJ WAS HUGGING AND KISSING DUSTY SHE STARTED CALLING EVERYONE IN THE SADDLE CLUB AND SCREAMING, "HE IS COMING HOME TODAY." IT WAS GREAT. MORE STOLEN HORSES IN THE MEAN TIME ANOTHER HORSE WALKED OUT THAT FIT A DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE OTHER MISSING HORSES. SHE ASKED THE FARM OWNER IS THAT YOUR HORSE AND SHE REPLIED NO ITS HERS...SHE BROUGHT ME 4 OF HER HORSES BUT SHE HAS ALREADY SOLD 2 OF THEM. THESE 2 WHERE LEAVING TODAY GOING TO OKLAHOMA. SHE TOLD ME SHE BOUGHT THEM CHEAP AT A SALE AND WAS RESELLING THEM ON THE INTERNET FOR PROFIT. THE MAN FROM OKLAHOMA PULLS IN WITH HIS NICE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO GET HIS TWO NEW HORSES. HE BOUGHT THEM BOTH FOR $450.00 EACH.... GREAT DEAL BEINGS DUSTY PURCHASE PRICE WAS $8000.00. BUT OF COURSE THIS LADY HAD NO PAPERS SO SHE SOLD AS GRADE HORSES. HE WAS FILLED IN ON WHAT WAS GOING ON AND BY NOW THE POLICE ARE THERE. SHE GAVE THEM THE NAME AND NUMBER OF PERSON SHE HAD ALREADY SOLD THE OTHER 2 HORSES TOO. THOSE PEOPLE WHERE CALLED AND ALERTED THEY HAD STOLEN HORSES NOT TO MOVE THEM UNTIL THEY COULD BE IDENTIFIED AND THEY AGREED. THE 2 OWNERS WENT AND LOW AND BE HOLD IT WAS THEM. SO THEY WHERE RECOVERED. SHE HAD TAKEN MONEY FROM THEM AND THE OKLAHOMA MAN. HE HAD MAILED HALF OF HIS MONEY UP FRONT AND WAS TO PAY THE OTHER HALF ON PICK UP. HE AND THE OTHERS HAD TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST HER ALSO. NOW SHE HAD ALL THESE PEOPLE PRESSING CHARGES. THE STOLEN SADDLES, HALTERS AND ROPES WERE RECOVERED. THERAPUTIC HORSE RECOVERED THE LAST HORSE THAT WAS STOLEN BELONGED TO A MAN IN A WHEEL CHAIR AND HE RIDES THIS HORSE STRAPPED IN THE SADDLE. HE IS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN... I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY LOW OF HER...THIS IS HIS ONLY ENJOYMENT AND THE ONLY HORSE HE HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO TRUST. HE HAS HIM BACK NOW. REWARD WE OFFERED A $1000.00 REWARD NO QUESTIONS ASK...BUT THE LITTLE LADY THAT OWNED THE FARM REFUSED TO TAKE THE MONEY. WHO KNOWS A FEW HOURS MORE AND DUSTY WOULD HAVE BEEN WESTWARD BOUND AND MAYBE NEVER FOUND. BUT THIS STORY HAS A HAPPY ENDING... JAILBIRD THE LADY IS NOW AND HAS BEEN IN JAIL SINCE OCTOBER 31ST. SHE IS UNDER A $15000.00 CASH BOND ONLY. MORE AND MORE SADDLES THAT SHE HAD TAKEN ARE NOW BEING RECOVERED BECAUSE THE WORD IS OUT AND PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEM FROM HER ARE CALLING THE LOCAL POLICE. I THANK WE ARE UP TO 5 SADDLES BEING RETURNED SO FAR... BUT SAD TO SAY----NO ONE HAS COME FORTH WITH THE STOLEN CONCRETE PUMPKIN (LOL) IT MAY ALWAYS REMAIN A MYSTERY! IT JUST GOES TO SHOW IF EVERYONE WILL WORK TOGETHER AND BE WILLING TO GET INVOLED IN SOMEONE ELSE'S TROUBLES YOU MAY HAVE A HAPPY ENDING ALSO. THE ONE THING THAT WE CANT FIGURE IS HOW SHE DONE IT ALONE!!!!! WE ALL AGREE----SHE DIDN'T------CAN'T PROVE THAT YET. WELL THERE YA GO BY ALL MEANS WRITE IT UP AND POST IT AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND HELP. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FILL FREE TO EMAIL ME ANYTIME AND IF YOU NEED US TO HELP POST FLYERS HERE IN KENTUCKY BE GLAD TO ANYTIME. OUR CLUB HAS A LITTLE NICK NAME NOW --THEY CALL US 1--800--HORSE-BUSTERS!!!!! (LOL) THANKS AGAIN SHARON >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> MISSING/STOLEN HORSES FOUND IN MO DUE TO HELP OF OTHERS! Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2002 Last night after the news show aired, my neighbor came down and told me she knew where my horses were being kept. The owner of the property (where my horses were) came to tell her (at 10:13 - immediately after my story) that she had three horses in her pasture but she didn't know where they came from (yeah right). She freaked out after she saw it on the news and I guess decided to "fess up" sort of. They were mine - thank god! But the owner of the property wouldn't speak to me. My neighbor who initially told me was wonderful! When she came to my house at 11:00 that night she was in tears and she told me that she didn't want me to get my hopes up, but wanted to know if I had 3 horses with fly masks on and I said yes! She took me there. She also told me she has turned in this woman multiple times for animal cruelty charges (she found a dead horse in a stall, pasture, and one that had hung himself in a tree by a halter - he was there for days). She leases the property to 2 men who run horses off that place. My neighbors tell me that there are new horses there every week that stay for a day or two and then leave, so no one thought anything of her having an additional 3 horses. The sheriff has called me and there is an apparent theft ring with horse stealing going on that they are investigating! Again, thank you for your help and concern! Just talking to someone who has been through this before helped me tremendously. I look forward to meeting you in person! Steph >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ELI -- MISSING FROM SALEM, VIRGINIA MISSING DATE: 6-1-02 RECOVERED We just got the news a couple hours ago that Eli has been found! He is safe and OK and has been put in a stall until we can go get him later today. He was found two farms over from where he was when he disappeared. Can you cancel the alert on the web site? Thanks much for your help and the use of the web site! At first we thought that if he jumped the fence he would be found in a couple of days so there was no sense of urgency to do much other than alert the local neighbors. After 10 days we got really worried and started plastering the area with posters and sending emails, etc. He mysterly shows up 1/2 mile away! Guess we should have put the posters up sooner. Oh well, he is safe now! Thanks for your help! Ron Smith LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY: Giles County Sheriff's Office Pearisburg,VA COUNTY: Giles PHONE:276-921-3842 DATE OF THEFT REPORT:6-8-02 CONTACT OFFICER: Gordon TYPE OF THEFT (from farm, sale gone bad, bad lease, other) EXPLAIN: Horse missing from turnout pen in Narrows, VA. He was in pen with other horses and mules. No sign of escape. BREED: Arabian COLOR: Flea-bitten Grey, very light color AGE: 18 WEIGHT: 900 lbs.+/- HEIGHT:15.0 H IDENTIFIABLE CHARACTERISSTICS (BRANDS, TATTOOS, SCARS, COLOR MARKINGS, ATTITUDE OR OTHER INFO):A little standoffish, will not come to people but will not walk away either. HOW WAS HORSE STOLEN?: Horse was in pen for first time for trail ride the next day in an area not familiar to horse. Was missing the next morning. No signs of horse prints outside of pen or during subsequent searches of the area. WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO FIND YOUR HORSE: All neighbors alerted. Local law enforcement notified. Mounted searches of the surrounding mountain conducted. OWNER: Ron Smith OWNERS EMAIL: trails4me@aol.com PHONE: 540-384-6272 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zack's Story Debi, Thank you so much for posting Zack's story so quickly. I knew time was of the essence. I can hardly believe the Fates smiled on us as they did. We really don't know the "truth" behind what happened--the "motive", if you will. But here is the story. On Friday, July12, 2002, Brenda came home from work at her usual time--about 5:00. She headed to the barn to check on her two equine pets. She always checks right after work to make sure their water is still fresh, they have plenty of hay and in hot weather like this summer, to make sure the fan is on. She saw Rags but didn't see her first and favorite horse, Zack. Then she noticed a cattle panel that was kept chained to close off a corner of the paddock from the pasture below was unchained and pushed open. She thought that was odd but didn't get nervous--yet. When she did a thorough search of the pasture and was convinced Zack was not there, then she got nervous. I live next door to Brenda. She bought Zack from me 8 years ago. I bought him as a yearling and started his early training. I reluctantly decided to part with him when Brenda expressed an interest. He's been the apple of her eye ever since. About 7:00 I got a message on my phone that Zack was out to keep an eye out for him. I told my husband and he hopped in the "gator" and joined the search. I was expecting some folks from out of state. They were stopping in on their way to pick up a new horse in southern Missouri. So I stayed behind. Brenda's husband began the arduous search of 90 wooded acres that adjoins their property. He followed Zack's hoof prints down to the bottom of their pasture where he was lead out a gate. Then they went across a deep ravine to the other side where the adjoining property owner's wire fence was cut. As he followed the hoof prints--well visible because the ground was wet from recent rain--he found part of Zack's bridle hanging on a fence post. The bit and reins were there. The headstall was not. Very curious. Further down the trail he found a blue t-shirt with Zack's hair all over it. More curious. Had they used that to try to blindfold him? Finally he came to the top of a pitted road. This road is not visible from any thoroughfare and not passable by much other than ATV's. It is primarily used by the property owner for his ATV and walking. Parked there, at the top of the road, was a pickup truck with out-of-state plates. There was no trailer, just the truck. Brenda's husband called me from his cell phone to report his finding. I contacted the property owner to inquire if the truck might be his and belong on the property. Nope. Not the owners and he encouraged us to call the police. At that point, the police were called in. They ran the plates and reported that the truck had been "recently stolen" from a neighboring state. It was at this point that they went to the barn and Brenda realized her saddle was also missing. Zack was most definetly stolen! All the neighbors were called. I left messages with any that were not home or didn't answer. Brenda's husband continued his tracking even in the dark. He went to the bottom of the "logging" road and found the heavy cable cut. There was fresh horse manure, too. Several other neighbors were scouring the woods, as well. I was burning up the keyboard of my computer. I e-mailed all my contacts, all my list groups and a friend contacted NetPosse. Two different people sent me flyers made from the information in my first e-mail and the pictures I sent out before I could make flyers myself! I researched sale barns and slaughter houses around the country, compiling a list of contact numbers. I called the local sale barn, which was selling horses that night. They had no horses fitting Zack's description. I contacted the Humane Society. I compiled a list of newspapers and radio stations to contact the following day. Saturday dawned with no new information. I printed out flyers by the dozen and neighbors stopped by, picked them up and began canvassing the area. Brenda went to a county park that is popular with riders and handed them out. One gentleman in a big western hat told her, "Ma'am, if I see your horse in the park I'll gladly walk him back and drag whoever is on him!" The police dusted the truck for fingerprints and had it towed and impounded. We didn't know if it was linked to Zack's theft or not. We still don't. I planned on attending one regional horse sale that evening to look for Zack. I asked two friends to attend two others in other parts of the state. It is best to go in person, if you can, rather than call and inquire so we were prepared to do so. About 1:00 I got a call from the daughter of a neighbor. This neighbor had been on vacation and her daughter picked up the message I had left there the night before. She called to say they DID have a stray horse up there. This was close by, but the opposite direction of the "logging" road and truck. I hoped against hope. How many loose horses could there be in this area? I didn't want to get my hopes up though. Sure enough it was Zack! I burst into tears when I pulled into the driveway and saw her standing there with him. He had on the halter and the lead rope he had dragged around all night. He had saddle galls on both sides that were raw and swollen. The saddle they stole didn't fit his wide back, plus they had no pad! He had bad abrasions behind both elbows--too far forward for girth galls. They were actually on the back of his elbows. Did they use a rope to try to load him? Maybe they WERE from the girth if he wore the saddle running through the woods all night and it slipped badly? He had what looked like rope burns on the back of his hind pasterns. Hobbles? More rope burns? Various cuts and scrapes with dried blood covered him and he was obviously lame. I walked him home telling him what a courageous horse he was and how GOOD it was that he was stubborn and ornery and defiant of whatever they asked him to do! Brenda was still out distributing flyers. She got home after we had time to do a better assessment of his injuries, brush him down, fly spray him and get the tangles out of his mane. She melted at the sight of him. The last mysterious chapter of this saga happened about 6:00 Saturday night. The farmer adjacent to where Zack was found returned from work and saw something he had to investigate. Not 10 yards from his back patio was the saddle, the headstall (remember the bit and reins were found the night before) and a towel that we hadn't missed out of the barn. They were all stacked up on the fence! Had the thief returned them? Had he PUT Zack in the pasture where he was found? We don't know the answer to any of these questions. All we know is Zack is home. He will recover. And we will be very, very vigilant from now on. We don't know if the stolen truck is connected in some way. Did the truck thieves stash it there, hoping to come back for it later? Did they try to ride Zack out as a getaway, never intending to steal him? Then how did he get those burns and abrasions? Did someone just go for a "joy ride" in the woods? Again, how did he get those burns and abrasions? But if Zack got away from his captors, how did the saddle get put on the fence near where Zack was found? Frankly, to those of us that live near here, it doesn't matter to us if it was a thief, a "joy rider", a drug addict with impaired judgement or any combination. They trespassed, destroyed property, stole a horse and caused us the most grievous night of our lives. We all hope and pray they will be caught and brought to justice. We don't hold out much hope that they will be caught, though. I know they would certainly fare better in our criminal justice system than if anyone around here caught up with them first. I got a crash course in what to do if your horse is stolen. But I hope I never have to use this knowledge again in my life! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> FOUND!!!! BJ AND ZARR HAVE BEEN RECOVERED ON JUNE 28,2002 The missing horses were found on Friday, June 28, on a 140 acre farm approximately two miles from where they were lost. Mr. & Mrs. Mike Johnson of Salem took their brother who was visiting from Kentucky out to the land to show them the farm. When they entered the gate to the property, they found the flyer that had been put in the lock by Jim & Janet Kelly. Jim & Janet spent a whole day in the area passing out flyers and talking to people in the surrounding area where the horses were lost to let people know about it. When the Johnson's were walking down the access road, they spotted DJ near a log pile, his reins entangled around a log. Zarr was nearby with no bridle. DJ's saddle had twisted to the left side and the breast collar was tight under his leg. The buckle on the breast plate had acted as a "saw", cutting his leg to the bone. Mr. & Mrs. Johnson removed the saddle and upon seeing how bad DJ's leg was cut, they called a vet from Salem, Doc Jones. Doc Jones promptly made the trip to the property, cleaned the wound and gave DJ something for the pain along with tetanus and antibiotics for the infection. I truly believe that DJ would not have survived the weekend, had he not been found. His eyes were so dull and he appeared to have "just given up." Zarr was not in bad shape except for a sore back. They were very glad to get back home that night and spend the night in a clean stall and a cool fan blowing on them. Zarr is back in the pasture with his buddies and doing just great! DJ is confined to his stall for the time being, but his eyes are again bright and shining and he nickers whenever I go to the barn. In time his leg will heal. A heartfelt thank you to all who were involved in any way in helping us to bring our "kids" home. We know there are so many of you helping in so many different ways. A special thank you to all who searched the area on horseback, to Jim & Janet Kelly for their time and effort in getting the "word" out through their flyers and talking to people in the area. Also, thank you Dawn & Kenny for putting the information "on the web." To Mike Johnson and his family for finding them and taking the necessary steps to get them veterinary attention so quickly. We are indebted to all of you. Horse people are the greatest people in the world!! We are so thankful to have them home....and the horses are glad to be there! Sincerely, Gary & Doris Anglehart >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> RECOVERED Mare is deceased--Foal lives (Read and learn from Glenda' experience.) Click here for original missing report and picture I wanted to thank everyone that has helped me in endless ways. I have realized that horse people are one big family. I have found the mare and foal. The mare has passed on and I am raising the foal. The foal was a little dehydrated but overall pretty good. (?) We found her in a sink hole that I had looked in several times. Things don't add up. Like the day she disappeared, the front gate was unlocked. (?) I walked by that whole several times calling her name. NO answer, no birds flying above, the horses and cows acted like nothing was wrong. Only six people had the combination to my gate. I have my feelings. However, I can't say for sure. I would like to think something good has come out of this. For one I know realize that the agency that I reported this to didn't even have a hard copy printed and entered in the computer for 6 days and day 7th is when I found them. Time is an essences when something like this happens. I am going to have a website for my farm and I would like to have something on it about lost and stolen horses. I know with all the good helped that I have received we can all come up with a great plan! The reason I haven't gotten back sooner is because I have been spending 24/7 at the foal with the foal. She is doing great and a little spoiled at this time. The first mare I tried to get to nurse her, well I have a nice bruise on the side my leg. However the second was a little better. As long as she is eating with her foal beside her she will let this one nurse. I am hoping within a week maybe I won't have to be beside her. This little angel drank out of a bucket the first time. My first, her first. On the second day I called the vet because her feces looked like used motor oil. He put her on some type of sulfur (?) drug and she is doing better. God Bless each and every one of you! You are in my thoughts and prayers..............Glenda >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jake's Story Sale gone bad... My TB gelding Jake was taken on a trail basis (lease to buy) for a one month term from Oct 1st 2001 - Oct 31st 2001. I heard from the lessor on Jake's progress up until the 16th or 17th of the month. Then all of the sudden the emails stopped, her email address became invalid. I tried to call her and the home phone number was disconnected, and her cell phone was unanswered. I tried to get her home number from directory assistance (I knew her address) thinking that maybe I had transposed her phone number incorrectly. No such address came up. At this point I obviously became concerned: disconnected phone, phony address.... hmmm. So then I tried to located the boarding facility phone number... there is no such farm. By now I was really worried that I would never see Jake again. On top of that the check she had written me for his deposit came back NSF! Now I was worried and mad. I set off on a hunt for this woman. I found a list of boarding facilities with in a 30 mile radius of the town she was called about 100 farms, leaving messages with Jake's description, including tattoo number and the date he began missing. I was surprised when a good number of places called back, none of them had seen Jake but was furious that this woman had taken him! They took down her name and said they would keep and eye out for her and ask around the horse community for me. (Surly this woman will not find a place to board her horses in the future now!) I also contacted the Woodford County police (my county in KY) and filled out a report, they contacted the Erwin, TN police (the woman's town) and I also contacted those police myself. The police told me there was little they could do because this was a civil matter. I then went online and posted Jake's story on many website boards. I don't know what means of attack got her but she did finally contact me. She was furious that I had attacked her this way, saying that I could have compromised her security clearance at her work place. She claimed that she had been trying to call and email me for weeks but I had not answered. I thought that was funny since I had received emails and phone calls and messages from countless other people that month. This phone call came from a number I had never seen. She also had sent me an email from a new address. I didn't intend to press charges or anything I just wanted her to return my horse. A few days later she tried to load Jake in her trailer, but didn't follow my "loading guidelines" that are important to get him to load, quietly. Instead they tried to whip him in the trailer and he kicked (badly) her husband. Well, not only did she try to steal my horse she also didn't listen! Anyway, she did get Jake on the trailer the next day and brought him home. He was safe and sound finally. Today Jake is with a close friend trying his new life out as an event horse. I have learned to always get phone numbers of boarding facilities before I let a horse go on lease. I have also learned to get a money order for a deposit! Unfortunately you just can't trust people all the time. Sorry that story was so long! Thanks again! Jenn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chance - Missing assumed Stolen 10-6-02 Hey everyone, we're devastated! Our's is the colt missing since Oct. 6th with the brand. The Flying A Bar. The colt's name was Chance. Click here for flyer and picture. Today someone came by my husbands work and told him hunters had found a dead horse behind our house. There's 1100 acres back there fenced. It's been ridden, hiked, ATV'd you name it and no sign of him. Then hunters smelled a dead animal and found a dead horse. My husband left work and drove up there and hiked for hours, nothing found. Then he came home and saddled up and rode that country. Not heavy forest or anything, just batches of oak trees here and there. We're upper desert here in northern Ca. on the border of Oregon. Anyway, again found nothing. Then the hunters saw my husband on horseback and went to him and pointed to where the horse was. It was our colt! None of this makes sense. Not at all! Why would a colt get out of a fence without leaving hair or something if he squeezed under it. It was too high to jump over. Then there's NO TRACK! Yea, you can see where my husband rode and his buddy, their horses track, but NOT the colts! It's so so strange. The colt was over a mile away up in the hills and looks to have just 'fell' down and died. Maybe a heart attack? We don't know. Sheriff and Branding Inspector came by and went up with my husband to examine the colt. No sign of gun shot by hunters, no sign of struggle or sign of being chased and attacked by a cougar. No nothing. He just fell down and died. He was badly eaten by critters and bears had gotten to him also. Hindquarter almost gone. Sick! But my husband could see clearly his brand and all on the peeled back skin. So it was our colt. No one understands why he went so far, or what killed him. Also he dropped down in a strange spot that no one would have found him until they smelled the decomposing such as the hunters did. I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for helping and passing on info. and your thoughts to me. I really appreciated your input with all my heart and God Bless you all for being there. Please spread the word that this colt is not stolen and to stop the search. Part of me is glad for the closure, but not like this. You know? I almost rather him be stolen and know he's alive. It's such a mixed bag of feelings right now it's downright awful. Also the bizarre nature of this whole thing. Nothing added up. Actually had he not just come back from the trainer we would never had suspected him stolen. We would have searched and searched much more. It was the weird situation of him just being home 3 weeks from the trainer that raised major red flags, you know? Anyway, again thanks. I'm staying on this list and will be available to put out info. on stolen horses in my area for anyone who needs it. I now know what I felt like and don't wish it on anyone. I will help all I can for others. I will keep my notes and phone contacts in the droor here in my desk and have it available if anyone needs help here in my area. God Bless you all! Susan Abner <---new net posse member! Missing/Presumed Stolen from Alabama -- QH Stallion Between 11-06-02 and 11-11-02 a registered bay quarter horse stallion was stolen in Fayette Co. AL. The owners were out of town when the theft occured. Horse is 16 years old, app.16 hands, app. 1050 #, with a star and strip. A neighbor saw a dark color pickup pulling a red/white trailer leaving the property on Friday 11-8 or Saturday 11-9, the trailer was described as larger than a 2-horse trailer. This horse was also very gentle, good with kids and no problem to handle and load. any info call Berry AL PD 205-689-4562, Alabama Dept of Agriculture Investigations 334-240-7208 or owners 205-689-4864. Steve McBride, Agriculture Investigator Alabama Dept. of Agriculture Horse Returned...this is not the first time this has happened! Strange but true. I just talked to owner of stolen horse and he said that this morning the missing horse was back in the lot and a set of dually tracks were seen. I would like to know who took the horse, but I am glad he is back safe and sound. Thanks for your help. Steve McBride Agriculture Investigator |
QUICK ACTION RECOVERS THESE HORSES DUSTY'S RECOVERY STORY...THIEF CAUGHT...MORE STOLEN HORSES RECOVERED -- AS TOLD BY THE OWNER |
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