Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2007 14:06:46 GMT -6
Lexington, KY --- Recently, most horse racing fans became aware of the kidnapping and recovery of champion Standardbred Equinox Bi in Italy. Unfortunately, many agonizing weeks went by before the champion trotter was recovered alive in a field some kilometers away from his home.
Many racing fans have also heard the stories of Shergar’s kidnapping in England back in 1983. Shergar was a champion Thoroughbred in 1981, winning the Epsom Derby by a record ten lengths. He was retired to stud that year with a record of eight starts and six wins, totaling over $600,000 in earnings. The sad ending here was Shergar was killed and his remains were never recovered.
In March, 2004, several Standardbreds disappeared from Lebanon Raceway and have never been found.
According to Debi Metcalfe of Stolen Horse International, it is estimated that between 40,000 to 55,000 horses of all breeds and prices are stolen each year. How can this be? Are we living in 2007 or 1807? What is being done to prevent these tragedies from occurring in the first place?
First off, Stolen Horse International was started by Metcalfe in 1998 following the theft of her family’s white racking horse named Idaho. Idaho was in the family for eight years and was the family favorite. Metcalfe leapt into action by passing out fliers, working through tips (both valid and invalid) and utilizing the internet among many other activities including e-mailing her friends and acquaintances in the horse business.
Some 51 weeks later a family was found that unwittingly purchased Idaho to give to their 10-year-old daughter as a riding/show horse. A tip from one of the fliers came through and gave Metcalfe the family’s name and contact information. The family informed Metcalfe they had purchased the horse.
Long story short, Idaho is now at home with the Metcalfes at the sprite young age of 23.
Presently, Metcalfe and Stolen Horse International operate their Web site where a victim of horse thievery can report it officially for a $25 fee to help with operating expenses as they are a volunteer and non-profit organization.
Once the report is verified, an “Idaho” alert, like a missing person’s Amber alert, is issued globally via the internet to volunteers of Stolen Horse International where a description, a picture and other pertinent information about the situation and horse(s) is released beginning the networking process that found Idaho so many years ago. Once the horse is found or returned a follow-up alert is sent out letting the network know the efforts were a success.
In addition to the efforts of the company, Metcalfe is out there frequently speaking at horse engagements like Equine Affaire in various states to promote Stolen Horse International and to educate many horse owners and trainers about horse theft and how to prevent it.
“Education is first, foremost and key to lowering the percentages of your horse being taken,” said Metcalfe. “Be aware of persons of interest you do not recognize hanging around the barns. Learn how your horse gets out if he or she is an escape artist. Do not assume it won’t happen to you. Make sure you have your horses freeze branded. Think about getting one of their hooves branded as an added precaution. Whatever you do, just make sure your horse is permanently marked in some manner for you to identify them.
“The most important of all the permanent ways that I would recommend is for everyone to get their horse implanted with a microchip. For a small fee per horse you can be sure if your horse is found that he or she is identifiable without a shadow of a doubt.”
Microchipping is the process of implanting a chip that contains a registered number, like a social security number, that traces back to the horse’s name, medical needs, and owners’ information. This process has been conducted on dogs, cats, and other pets for years with great success.
If a horse that has an implanted chip is found, then a simple scanner can find the chip and reveal the registration number.
Recently, the Chula Vista Mounted Police microchipped their steeds to help locate them if lost or stolen. The department decided they should do this to their horses after the wildfires of 2003 when over 3,000 horses were recovered after running from their various flame stricken homes.
In a recent NBC interview, Linda Schumacher, a reserve officer with the Chula Vista Mounted Police, pointed out, “We had no idea where they'd come from, who owned them or how to contact their owners.”
She also stated that the chip is virtually invisible. "You can't see it. You can't feel it. You're totally unaware it's there."
The chip is painlessly injected under the skin into the nuchal ligament, located just below the horse’s mane. It is removable only by surgery, which cannot be done without a major undertaking by the surgeon.
When viewed by a scanner, the chip sends its number to the viewing window of the scanner. Stolen Horse International provides the do-it-yourself microchip kit for around $40.
As for harness racing, the impact of horse theft is just as great. For a minor, yet lifelong investment in one of these microchips, every horse owner can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their horse is protected.
If Debi Metcalfe and all of the others out there that had their horse stolen or lost had their way, this would be required and enforced unilaterally across the country.
Many racing fans have also heard the stories of Shergar’s kidnapping in England back in 1983. Shergar was a champion Thoroughbred in 1981, winning the Epsom Derby by a record ten lengths. He was retired to stud that year with a record of eight starts and six wins, totaling over $600,000 in earnings. The sad ending here was Shergar was killed and his remains were never recovered.
In March, 2004, several Standardbreds disappeared from Lebanon Raceway and have never been found.
According to Debi Metcalfe of Stolen Horse International, it is estimated that between 40,000 to 55,000 horses of all breeds and prices are stolen each year. How can this be? Are we living in 2007 or 1807? What is being done to prevent these tragedies from occurring in the first place?
First off, Stolen Horse International was started by Metcalfe in 1998 following the theft of her family’s white racking horse named Idaho. Idaho was in the family for eight years and was the family favorite. Metcalfe leapt into action by passing out fliers, working through tips (both valid and invalid) and utilizing the internet among many other activities including e-mailing her friends and acquaintances in the horse business.
Some 51 weeks later a family was found that unwittingly purchased Idaho to give to their 10-year-old daughter as a riding/show horse. A tip from one of the fliers came through and gave Metcalfe the family’s name and contact information. The family informed Metcalfe they had purchased the horse.
Long story short, Idaho is now at home with the Metcalfes at the sprite young age of 23.
Presently, Metcalfe and Stolen Horse International operate their Web site where a victim of horse thievery can report it officially for a $25 fee to help with operating expenses as they are a volunteer and non-profit organization.
Once the report is verified, an “Idaho” alert, like a missing person’s Amber alert, is issued globally via the internet to volunteers of Stolen Horse International where a description, a picture and other pertinent information about the situation and horse(s) is released beginning the networking process that found Idaho so many years ago. Once the horse is found or returned a follow-up alert is sent out letting the network know the efforts were a success.
In addition to the efforts of the company, Metcalfe is out there frequently speaking at horse engagements like Equine Affaire in various states to promote Stolen Horse International and to educate many horse owners and trainers about horse theft and how to prevent it.
“Education is first, foremost and key to lowering the percentages of your horse being taken,” said Metcalfe. “Be aware of persons of interest you do not recognize hanging around the barns. Learn how your horse gets out if he or she is an escape artist. Do not assume it won’t happen to you. Make sure you have your horses freeze branded. Think about getting one of their hooves branded as an added precaution. Whatever you do, just make sure your horse is permanently marked in some manner for you to identify them.
“The most important of all the permanent ways that I would recommend is for everyone to get their horse implanted with a microchip. For a small fee per horse you can be sure if your horse is found that he or she is identifiable without a shadow of a doubt.”
Microchipping is the process of implanting a chip that contains a registered number, like a social security number, that traces back to the horse’s name, medical needs, and owners’ information. This process has been conducted on dogs, cats, and other pets for years with great success.
If a horse that has an implanted chip is found, then a simple scanner can find the chip and reveal the registration number.
Recently, the Chula Vista Mounted Police microchipped their steeds to help locate them if lost or stolen. The department decided they should do this to their horses after the wildfires of 2003 when over 3,000 horses were recovered after running from their various flame stricken homes.
In a recent NBC interview, Linda Schumacher, a reserve officer with the Chula Vista Mounted Police, pointed out, “We had no idea where they'd come from, who owned them or how to contact their owners.”
She also stated that the chip is virtually invisible. "You can't see it. You can't feel it. You're totally unaware it's there."
The chip is painlessly injected under the skin into the nuchal ligament, located just below the horse’s mane. It is removable only by surgery, which cannot be done without a major undertaking by the surgeon.
When viewed by a scanner, the chip sends its number to the viewing window of the scanner. Stolen Horse International provides the do-it-yourself microchip kit for around $40.
As for harness racing, the impact of horse theft is just as great. For a minor, yet lifelong investment in one of these microchips, every horse owner can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their horse is protected.
If Debi Metcalfe and all of the others out there that had their horse stolen or lost had their way, this would be required and enforced unilaterally across the country.
