The Lost Years

The Lost Years

04 February 2016

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By Nancy Johnson 

Rod Vilencia grew to love horses like so many of us.  His childhood summers were spent with family that raised horses and cattle.  Rod fondly remembers his first pony that taught him to ride at five years old.  When asked about his favorite breed and discipline, he said he loves the American Paint Horse and competitive reining.  

At a young age, Mr. Vilencia started training horses, the dream job for almost any young horseman, to which he dedicated his time and trust into.  He remembers when Ariel was born.  She was a pretty little breeding stock filly.  Breeding stock was APHA's way of registering a paint horse that carries the genes, but does not show the white markings on their neck or body.  She started her life in his arms, and he loves her very much.  

Unfortunately, things began to pile up on Mr. Vilencia.  He had to make room for the other horses and give Ariel some pasture space so she could enjoy her youth.  He found an ad for pasture boarding, and went to meet the woman.  That is when he met Shaundra Voyles, aka Shandy Hayden.  Shandy and Rod agreed that Ariel would do well in her pasture and could stay there until Ariel was sold.  Mrs. Hayden insisted upon purchasing Ariel, and Mr. Valencia agreed.  A payment plan was set up, the papers were sent to Ms. Hayden, and then the nightmare began.  

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After not receiving a payment or the signed papers, Mr. Vilencia attempted to make contact with Ms. Hayden.  She refused to send him what he requested, so Mr. Vilencia called the police to the farm.  Shandy Hayden told the police that she tried to connect with Mr. Vilencia, and that there was no need to worry.  Some time passed, and Mr. Vilencia went to see Shandy and Ariel.  Not a single soul was there.  A neighbor told Rod that the woman moved and took all of the animals with her.  Mr. Vilencia called the police and news station, and made flyers.  He even asked the DMV to search her records.  No one helped him.  For years, he looked for his mare but never found her.  

Eleven years had passed, and everyone but Rod had all but forgotten about his long lost Ariel.  Rod continued on with his life, working with horses.  Then, the time came to go to his high school reunion.  A friend that went with him asked whatever happened to his stolen horse.  Of course, he did not know, but that stayed on his mind all night.  He went home, went to bed, but never got any sleep.  Then suddenly, he rose up.  High school reunion!  What if Shandy went to hers?  He jumped out of bed and turned on the computer.  He was anxious, waiting… hoping… that he could find the woman that took his horse more than a decade before.

Part 2 – The Year After  

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He used Google to search Palm Desert area schools.  Desert Sun School popped up.  He opened that page and, sure enough, within 10 minutes he had found her.  He selected her name, and her website came up, inclusive of a link to her breeding program.  He clicked on the brood mare section and spotted Ariel, with a beautiful family by her side.  Every emotion was consuming him.  Not knowing what to do or who to contact, he saved that page and copied it.  He, then, went back to Google and searched stolen horse.  Right away Stolen Horse International came up.  And, within five minutes, he was on the phone with Debi Metcalfe.  

He told her his story, and she called her husband to the phone.  Again, Mr. Valencia told his story to Harold.  Mr. Valencia told Debi that he was ready to contact Ms. Hayden, aka Shaundra Voyles immediately.  Debi said, “No, we're going to do this the right way."  She immediately started helping him work through the process.  Rod, Debi, and Harold brainstormed on how to proceed.  They decided a private investigator must go see the horses.  All the proper authorities were contacted and, within ten days of Mr. Valencia finding his mare, a private investigator was on the farm taking pictures.  

Mr. Valencia contacted the Oregon brand inspections and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.  Police Lieutenant Larry Sherman remembered the case from eleven years prior.  They built their case and presented it to the Grand Jury.  The decision to move forward came swiftly.  A search warrant was served to Shaundra Voyles, and incriminating evidence was collected.  Ariel was rescued, along with her filly, now known as Lena.  

They later found out that Ariel was pregnant again.  No one knows exactly how many times Ariel was bred or how many foals she had.  Later, the vet articulated to Mr. Valencia that she had a lot of scar tissue from having several foals.  The next year she foaled a little stud colt named Jesse.  

The next ten months were more stressful than expected.  The horses were rehabilitated by Scott and Jackie  until the final ruling was made.  Mr. Valencia finally won custody of his mare and two of her offspring.  Thanks to Debi & Harold Metcalfe, Police Lieutenant Larry Sherman, the Oregon Brand Inspectors, Assistant District Attorney and now Honorable Judge Paula Sanders, the National Director of the Humane Society of the United States, Scott Beckstead and Animal Services Jackie Lee-Beckstead and the countless others that worked behind the scenes, Rod and his horses were reunited and are still together today.

Part 3 – A Decade Passes

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When asked how everyone adjusted after coming home, Mr. Valencia said that everyone is great.  Ariel expects her grain on time every day, and she is spoiled completely rotten.  Lena is 13 years old now, and has been trained for reining.  Rod says she's his favorite horse to ride.  Jesse is an 11 year old stud.  Rod describes him as very athletic, wonderful, and the sweetest stud; who also happens to be a shameless flirt.  Ariel had one and only foal after coming home.  She is 25 years old now, and has been a great babysitter for her grandbabies.  She still lets everyone know where their place is.  

His advice to other horse owners is to never take payments, and don't trust people.  “It's sad; just don't do it,” said Rod.  He is very thankful for Stolen Horse International and Debi, and describes her as “his hero, his rock”.  When someone says they have a missing horse, he says, "Contact Stolen Horse International immediately.  Listen to Debi; she knows what she's talking about.  Never give up.  You never know… I got my mare back against all odds.  If you screwed up and had a chance to fix it, would you take a chance to fix it?  I did!  I had to fix it."  

Rod says that he'll never let Ariel go.  "She started her life in my arms, and she will end it in my arms."

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 Note: This article was written by  Stolen Horse International  volunteer Nancy Johnson on – February 3, 2016.

Stolen Horse International, aka NetPosse.com, is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Please make a donation today to help us continue our work with victims like Rod and his horse Ariel. 

Make a donation today in honor of Ariel  and Rod Vilencia. 

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