Déjà Vu Describes First Horse Theft Reported in First Week of New Year
Equestrian News Release

WINTERVILLE, GEORGIA – Jan. 10, 2007 – Only one phrase can possibly describe the feeling surrounding the most recent theft report to hit NetPosse.com – déjà vu. Monday, January 8, 2007, president and founder of Stolen Horse International, Debi Metcalfe, received a frantic phone call that instantly brought forth memories from January 6, 2006, of a similar conversation.

One year almost to the day, Carol Lane Tresan had called anxious to find her stolen bay paint horse, Scout. Immediately, Debi and volunteers began the search, creating a webpage and flyer for Scout before issuing an Idaho Alert (the horse community’s Amber Alert) via the Internet. Within a few hours, Scout’s information and pictures were being distributed worldwide thanks to thousands of volunteers involved in the NetPosse network. Two days later, Debi received a joyous call from Carol. Scout was home!

Now, another bay paint horse has been stolen in Georgia. Registered with the American Paint Horse Association as Empty Glass, the beautiful solid (known as breeding stock) bay paint gelding is affectionately known as just “M”.

Again, the NetPosse network has jumped into action. Volunteers are working around the clock to spread the word about M’s theft so that this story can have the same happy ending as Scout’s.

Whether or not the thefts are related has yet to be seen, but it’s possible. The locations of the horses are less than two hours apart, and M’s thieves were no less brazen than those who stole Scout, taken in broad daylight through a cut fence. As for M, sometime between 11 p.m. on January 7, and 8 a.m. the next morning, the fence wire was cut and he was led from his stall to a waiting trailer before vanishing.

Understandably, his owner, Jackie Roberts, has had little sleep since his theft was discovered. Her family has owned the six year old since he was only six months. He was the only solid foal in a pasture full of colorful paint horses.

Jackie’s love of M is apparent as she describes the first time she laid eyes on him. “His dad was a black and white overo paint named Dancing on Glass, so with his lack of color, his name is Empty Glass. From that day I knew he was my dream horse.” Three hours later, M was heading home, and he quickly became a family favorite.

After gelding him, complications developed so his training under saddles was put on hold until he turned four. Fondly, Jackie recalls how M never offered to resist or buck. She says he is very affectionate and loves attention. She continues describing how M even won her husband, Chad, over despite his aversion to horses. Jackie notes, “Under saddle, Chad could get him to perform things that I never could.”

Describing how M’s theft has affected her family, Jackie continues, “We are devastated and very worried that he is scared and cold and alone. He has never known anyone but us and has only been away from home on a few occasions. He does not deserve this. He has been nothing but caring and affectionate to everyone he meets. We just want him home where he will be safe and sound with his other horse buddies, tucked in his blanket.”

Like many before her, Jackie has discovered the truth about horse theft the hard way. Local law enforcement was unprepared to deal with this type of theft, but with the assistance of Debi Metcalfe and NetPosse, the wheels of justice are underway, and everything possible is being done to quickly locate M and bring him home where he belongs.

Now NetPosse is imploring the public to help in this theft case and the many others listed on its Web site, http://www.netposse.com. As Debi Metcalfe is fond of saying, “Never underestimate the power of one!” It only takes one person to forward an email, post a flyer or make a phone call. Let’s bring M home soon.

Visit his Web page at: http://www.netposse.com/stolenmissing/EmptyGlassGAstolenJan07.htm

For more information on Stolen Horse International and its programs, visit the website at http://www.netposse.com.

Stolen Horse International is a Section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions to it are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.