The Net Posse and Stolen Horses

The Net Posse and Stolen Horses
By Debi Metcalfe stolenhorseinfo@aol.com
Copyright Ó Debi Metcalfe 2002

Alesha Tilley’s pony, Cheyenne, vanished from his stall
September 23, 2001 after hinges were removed from a gate.
The 15-year old black and white Pinto pony so vividly marked
and distinctive is still missing.

News of this theft and others arrive at Stolen Horse International (SHI) and the NetPosse, a network of volunteers on the lookout for missing horses, worldwide each week.

Our own racking horse, Idaho, was stolen in 1997. After Idaho disappeared we faxed fliers to many people and businesses associated with horses. Traveling to sales and following tips we searched through hundreds of horses. The phone bills were high and this type of search, although important, was slow.

I explored the internet, surprised to find very little information about horse theft. Gradually, by gathering email and website addresses I built a network of people willing to assist in searches for stolen horses. Victims contacted me for help and advice. Other people sent notices about missing horses. Offers of help poured in from caring individuals. The NetPosse was born.

Once a report is received I send the information to hundreds of people who pass it on to hundreds more. The volunteers do as little or as much as they like to help. They may post fliers or send them to others, check out horse events and auctions or send words of support to the victims.

Information travels quickly and horses have been found. Law Enforcement officers are finding the NetPosse a useful tool in their investigations.

One point I impress upon victims; if you want your horse back be prepared to work hard. There will be sacrifices on your time and your family.

Louise Mathis was devastated when she discovered her 14 year old mare, Fancy missing from Wilkesboro, NC on February 4, 2002. I found out a little later when I received her phone call late one night. Knots in my stomach tighten as I listened to her words. I knew her pain all to well.

“Fancy was born and raised with our family. She is 14 years old and has only known one home.” Louise told with her voice cracking. “I am not on the internet but I think I will get connected tomorrow. I want to find my horse.”

Louise did get Internet service. She and many volunteers worked hard night and day until her efforts were rewarded.

Thieves look for horses that are not closely watched or situations where owners live away from the animals. This can include crowded horse events, barns, pastures as well as contract sales and leases. Theft through sales and leases more common than one would think.

Never had I thought about someone stealing one of my horses. It happens to the other person, right? People associate horse theft with days of the Old West which is a big misconception. Horse theft has been a growing problem in the US and Canada for years and horse owners should be concerned. Theft is not discriminatory, affecting all breeds. Through education I hope horse owners will pay attention to what seems like a silent crime among us.

Make sure all fencing is in good repair, install flood lights and lock your gates. Still a wire can be cut and boards removed.

A common color horse is difficult to recognize without some other form of identification. A few popular identification methods used are freeze branding, freeze marking, hot branding, and microchips. Other methods use lip tattoos, DNA, and blood typing.

Many owners use a visible brand as a deterrent to theft while others use the microchip implants. Microchips include: name, address, registry and other pertinent information. Together, they offer a mark for searchers to see and a secret back up showing proof of ownership once a horse is located.

The next time you hear or read about a theft don’t turn away thinking, “That horse is gone. It’s a waste of time”. If possible offer your help. How long does it take to hang a flyer at the feed store when you buy feed? How long does it take to pass a theft notice dropped in your email box to your friends? Would it be a great imposition to post a flyer at the next horse event you attend? The Net Posse theory is simple. The more people who lend a hand, the higher the success rate in locating stolen horses.

There are no hard figures on how many horses are stolen. One source estimates as many as 40,000-55,000 may be stolen each year. Trigger and Billy are still out there as well as many others from North Carolina. Check the website below or the North Carolina SHIN page for more information on these victims.

When victims of theft receive letters from other victims we are not just reading words. We feel them. When Idaho was stolen my husband and I felt like we were suffocating, consumed by an uncontrollable illness with no foreseeable end. We felt immobilized by the feelings which caused us to lose focus on daily schedules. We physically, emotionally and mentally hurt.

The end of normal began for us one September morning almost five years ago. We lost so much; our horse, our trust in people and our innocence. We found Idaho 51 weeks later, identified by a flyer, in Tennessee. We regained some trust, but not all, due to random acts of kindness from people around the world.

I recently glanced toward the pasture and didn’t see one of our horses. I counted several times. Where was Honey? That pain in my stomach and the tingly panicked feeling retuned so suddenly. Harold finally found her behind a tree. We looked toward each other knowing each others thoughts. I don’t think we will ever recover the carefree innocence we once enjoyed. Fear remains no matter how hard we push it aside.

What started as a search for Idaho turned into a mission we continue today through Stolen Horse International. Does an addict choose his addiction, or does the addiction choose the addict? I don’t know. My research shows victims of crime react differently, working through the anger, fear and loss in different ways. Promoting Theft Education, I have decided, is my way.

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