Vicki and Jimmy are missing. The two trusting, giving souls disappeared Thursday night from September Farms near La Valle.

Vicki is a chestnut filly, about a year old. Jimmy is a palomino gelding, almost 3 years old. The two horses were right on time for supper Thursday night, but were nowhere to be found Friday morning. No fences were down or cut. There were no thrash marks next to the river, which would have been expected if the horses had fallen in the water. There were no bloody marks, which would have indicated wild animals. There were no tracks outside the fences.

“The only thing we can figure is someone haltered them and walked them out,” said Barb Knopf, head of therapy and horse rescue groups that use the farm. “It was a three-quarter moon, and the ground was firm. There were no huge mounds of snow to create problems. It was somebody who knew livestock, who is not afraid of livestock, who has a place.”

Knopf runs V.E.T.S. at September Farms – Veterans Equine Trail Service, a program that combines Morgan horse rescue with physical and mental therapy for veterans. Veterans come from their homes across the state and further. Homeless veterans also visit from a Tomah program. Knopf recently was recognized by Wis. First Lady Tonette Walker for the work she does. The farm is also home to Michael McMeel’s Inner-City Slickers program, which offers horse-based therapy for troubled kids and kids at risk.

Both the missing horses are used in the therapy programs. Vicki is owned by a K9 police officer and family from Chicago, who boards her at the farm. Jimmy is owned by a veteran. Knopf said neither owner has insurance on the horses.

“This is a veteran’s horse and a police officer’s horse,” Knopf said with anger. “They defend us and protect us. These horses are used for disabled veterans and troubled kids. Someone is dissing veterans and abusing disabled children by taking these horses. We have kids in wheelchairs who love grooming this baby (Vicki). I birthed both of these babies, helped them stand the first time. This is very personal.”

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RESOURCE: Reedsburg Times-Press, Julie Belschner, March 18, 2014, http://www.wiscnews.com/news/local/article_7a07cf6f-9976-5cf2-8e33-a2a11cf74d12.html?comment_form=true

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