Blue, a 5-year-old Pinto mare reported stolen in Iredell County, N.C., has been located and returned to her owners, CharlotteObserver.com reported.

A woman who purchased the mare for $60 alerted police after she saw a local television broadcast about the missing horse. The thief had ridden Blue 20 miles and across the county line after removing her from her pasture Dec. 29.

Blue is owned by Henry and Dorothy Dalton and their 14-year-old grandson, Dustin.

"He's a happy boy," Henry told the paper. "Blue's back and he's a happy boy