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Stolen Horse International, Inc.
PO Box 1341
Shelby, NC 28151
(704) 484-2165
stolenhorse@netposse.com
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Virginia mare and filly are missing. Here is Hawley's
Story.
Where do I begin?
I don't know where to begin. My thoughts ran so fast through my head.
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Where the "girls" were, what was happening to them,
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Did they take off for the mountains as neighbors suggested, which was unfamiliar to them
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Or, did someone take them?
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What do we do now?
We just moved here, have only been in the state a month. The girls were used to sand and sunny, hot weather, and sudden thunderstorms, not the mountains. Are there coyotes here? We know there are deer and bears. What will happen to them? But all of this went against Hawley's nature; she was a people horse, liked to be around the house, peer into the kitchen door, knock over the hummingbird feeders, it was not like her to stray away. And she was fed here. And God only knows how Hawley likes to eat; besides she is still nursing.
There were so many questions and no answers
We firmly believed, after reviewing the evidence, that they had been stolen. To find one set of tracks, leading from the portion of the fence they got out of, down the neighbors driveway and then stop. The only other site of them was the pile they left behind at the bottom of the driveway. If they were in the mountains, there would be tracks going the opposite way. Why did the tracks stop at the driveway? And why was there a snow tire track there, this is August? There were so many questions and no answers. And where were the girls? The emotions were up and down; could our new neighbors be involved, why would anyone want to take these precious babies from Don, who had waited his whole life to have them. And he'd only had them two months.
We decided to call the local police back and stress the fact that we felt the girls had been stolen. They took a report, said they would call if they were sited.
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Friend in Tennessee tells us about SHI and NetPosse volunteers
We happen to call friends who live in Tennessee. They told us about an organization, Stolen Horse International, Inc. at netposse.com, who worked with people whose horses were missing or stolen. Maybe we should contact them. Of course as soon as I got off the phone I found the web site and emailed the information. The next morning the first thing I did was look at the site to see if the girls had been added to the stolen horses section.
The next day there was no information on the netposse.com site. What did I do wrong? Emailed the site again and ask what I did, what didn't I do to get these horses listed. Next thing I know I'm getting a phone call from Debi Metcalfe, founder of netposse.com, Stolen Horse International, Inc. She had me send pictures, let her know whom had I contacted, and told me who I still needed to contact. Next thing I know the flyers are on the web site, Hawley and the baby. People would know, the message would get out. And Debi followed up on each every person I contacted.
Hard work continues
I spent the next eight (8) hours instant messaging with Debi, emailing the horse's pictures to whomever I could at the local TV stations, newspaper, anyone I could think of. My husband, Don, had me print their pictures and make up flyers for him to take to the local stores. We didn't know anyone, really, in town, and would they post the information?
Debi was helping me keep my sanity; and I had a job interview to go to. How would I get through that with all this on my mind? But Debi kept me going; told me not to worry, the girls would get home. May take awhile, but she knew the people would get the word out.
I went to a job interview, confident that the situation was in good hands. Debi had been there and knew what she was talking about.
NetPosse and others offer wonderful support!
When I came home, first thing I did was go on line. Messages were coming in with support and letting me know that the word was getting around.
The return
After supper I was on line with Debi, going over more steps we needed to take to help bring the girls home. I was on the phone at the same time with friends in Tennessee who were trying to help and be supportive. Our dog started growling and as I looked out the window down the street, (keep in mind the street is approximately 3 acres away), I saw a flash of sunlight hitting chrome. (Believed to be a horse trailer) Sun was setting, thought nothing of it. Hung up the phone and was "talking" again to Debi. The phone rings again and it's one of my neighbors informing me that the girls are in her yard! How did that happen?
Thank you all!
I firmly believe that without the help of netposse.com and Debi Metcalfe, we would never have recovered the girls. Without the help and support from the NetPosse network of people, I wouldn't know who to contact other than the local police; and as I stated earlier, we just moved here and knew no one.
It's amazing how Debi and the NetPosse network of people reached out to let me know they were there to help get us through this situation. I firmly believe that the outreach netposse.com has and the caring people involved are what saved our horses.
Don states, “Because of Debi Metcalfe and her work, our horses became too hot to handle.”
To Debi Metcalfe and all the wonderful people involved in Stolen Horses, International, Inc. and netposse.com; may God bless you all and keep you.
Susan
and Don
More
info on Hawley and filly click here.
Look for Virginia horses.
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The week before Debi was speaking in Cosby Tennessee on Theft
Awareness for a 4-H group an county Extension Office. Our
friend read the article in the paper and that is how we found out
about Stolen Horse International, Inc. EDUCATION WORKS!
Debi's note: Missing or stolen? I know there are
questions on Hawley's story. It doesn't matter here at
SHI. If a horse is missing, no matter the circumstances,
someone's heart is breaking. In the case above there is
enough evidence to seriously doubt the "just got out"
theory. There is also an untold portion of this story. :-)
(Way to go Don!)
There
have been other cases NetPosse volunteers have worked with that
were thought to have gotten out only to find out differently
later. Sometimes we may never know. Thieves are often
masters at what they do and make you think that horse just
wandered away.
Keep
the following mysterious cases in mind:
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One
NC horse was returned after three weeks with a new set of
shoes and a different halter. It looked like she 'just
got out".
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Another
horse 'just got out' in the city where there was no place to
hide. She has never been seen again.
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A
32 inch mini was found 12 miles from home in someone's front
yard after missing for days. After TV news story mini
was reunited with his family. Did he "just get
out" of a bolted stall door and a latched barn door?
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A
Canada horse spooked and ran away from owner. Many
thought the horse vanished into the woods. However,
tracks led to a ranchers barn door and the owner was not
allowed to look inside.
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The
fence was pushed down in one case, as if the horse had done
so. Further down the road horse tracks were picked up on
the side, leading to a set of tire tracks. The horse tracks
disappeared. Did that horse 'just get out'
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Numerous
horses have been dropped off on the side of the road for
reason we can only guess.
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In
Tennessee this year 10 horses were stolen. Sometimes the
horses really don't go that far! One of the
victims found his horse across the road in the suspects
barn.
So, missing or stolen? Sometimes life
is stranger than fiction. Think about it.
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