When our horse Idaho was stolen in September 1997, I turned to the Internet for help. I was unable to find any resources to help us in our search, so I started gathering e-mail addresses and web sites to contact about Idaho. Unknowingly this work started building a network of people willing to assist in the search for stolen horses; that network is now called Stolen Horse International (SHI). We recovered Idaho in September 1998 in Tennessee after her flyer was seen on a convenience store’s door.

The horses in this article are a few of the missing and stolen horses reported to SHI. Until recently, horse publications, breed associations, and the news media were not interested in reporting horse theft. Cases seemed isolated and few. Now, largely due to SHI’s efforts, that is changing.

When the report of a stolen/missing horse is confirmed, SHI and the NetPosse spring into action. An Idaho Alert, named for our Idaho, is a globally transmitted notice of the missing/stolen horse. When an Idaho Alert is received, the flyer, pictures of the horse, description, and key information that might help in recovery are available.

NetPosse volunteers post flyers, distribute them, attend horse events and auctions, and send encouraging messages to the victims. As the information travels, other people become aware of thefts and horses are often found. Frequently, people receiving an Idaho Alert aren’t official NetPosse members, but soon join. Others simply pass the information along out of kindness