Debi Metcalf, founder of Stolen Horse International, with Maureen
We’d like to think that horse thievery was a thing of the past. But it’s not. Founder of Stolen Horse International, Debi Metcalf, tells us that it’s actually on the rise, with some horses being stolen and slaughtered for their meat.
Last year, Debi visited the Equestrian Ministries International meeting. She told us her story of Idaho — her horse that was stolen and recovered a year later after a lot of hard work — and of her founding Netposse.com to help other horse owners.
Recently, there have been a rash of horses stolen in Florida — 21 reported cases as of today. Debi provides advice about what horse owners can do to protect themselves and their horses.
- Put warning signs up to ward off intruders. Make the intruders think your property has surveillance, even if it does not.
- Make sure you have neighborhood watches in your community. Go door to door or email your neighbors and ask for their help watching your horses.
- Bolt your gates.
- Put up motion lighting as well as a farm light on the property.
- Move horses closer to your house when sleeping and away from roads or easy entry to your property.
- ID your horses with visible ID as well as a microchip number. One may deter the thieves from your property, and the other can ID your horse if the worst happens.
- Report suspicious activity to law enforcement. Make sure you get tag numbers from vehicles.
- Add animal alarms to your farm like barking dogs, guineas, donkeys, peacocks etc.
- Add video camera or deer cam surveillance to your property.
- Do not leave home without having someone watch your property.
- Take pictures with your cell phone of suspicious vehicles on and around your community. Don’t forget the license tag if you take a picture safely.
- Do not put yourself in harms way. Call law enforcement.
Anyone with information on horses stolen in Florida can call Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS or Stolen Horse International at 704-484-2165.
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