On July 16, the Thorne family of Hardy County, W.Va., was stunned to find its bay Arabian mare, MA Legacy of Gold (Legs), missing from her pasture. The thieves left behind the mare’s 7-week-old foal. All three of the pasture gates were locked, but the thieves had lifted the gates off the hinges and taken Legs. According to the investigating officer, other horses were stolen about 40 miles from the Legs’ pasture in the same county.

 Two weeks after Legs’ disappearance, another bay mare–Jinx–vanished from her locked stall in Ontario, Canada. Manure and hoofprints were found on a seldom-used, private road near the farm, and a suspect has been reported that is an acquaintance of the owners.

 While there is no evidence to suggest these thefts are related, these cases are like hundreds of others reported every day across the United States and Canada.

 Thousands of horses are missing or stolen each year, and Stolen Horse International, Inc. (SHI) is working hard to help victims recover their horses successfully. NetPosse, SHI’s Internet volunteer network, and Debi Metcalfe, SHI founder and president, offer owners of lost horses and victims of theft hope and support.
 
SHI needs your help spreading the word about Legs and Jinx so these mares can come home. Please visit their web pages under stolen horses for contact information, pictures, flyers, and more at www.netposse