This drawing appears on all membership certificates of the Society in Dedham (Massachusetts) for Apprehending Horse Thieves.
No one likes a horse thief. The term ‘horse thief’ is used not only for people who literally steal horses, but as an insult, implying that the person has no moral decency whatsoever. This may have come about because horses were central to life in the west during the 19th century. Without a horse, travel, farming, and ranching were virtually impossible. A person who stole a horse left his victim unable to support himself and unable to move on. In the Old West, the saying was that if you stole a man's horse, you had condemned him to death.
Horse theft was such a problem that organizations were founded just to address the issue. The Anti Horse Thief Association, first organized in Missouri in 1854, grew to over 40,000 members spread across nine central and western US states. Between 1899 and 1909, they recovered $83,000 worth of livestock and saw the conviction of over 250 thieves in Oklahoma alone.
Horse theft was such a problem that organizations were founded just to address the issue. The Anti Horse Thief Association, first organized in Missouri in 1854, grew to over 40,000 members spread across nine central and western US states. Between 1899 and 1909, they recovered $83,000 worth of livestock and saw the conviction of over 250 thieves in Oklahoma alone.
Because horse theft was such a serious crime, the punishments were also serious. In 1780, Pennsylvania passed "An Act to Increase the Punishments of Horse Stealing," which had a tiered system for dealing with offenders. First time offenders were given 39 lashes, then had their ears cut off and nailed to the pillory, where they had to stand for an hour. A second offense added branding of the forehead with an ‘H” and a ‘T.” This law was repealed in 1860. Horse theft was a hanging offense in many western states and territories. Often, the aggrieved would take justice into their own hands. These days, while punishments are not so severe, they can still be stiff. In 2011, one Arkansas woman was sentenced to 60 years in prison for stealing five horses and their equipment.
While horses are no longer as important to life and well being as they once were, their theft is still relatively common. Horse Illustrated Magazine estimates that approximately 55,000 horses a year are taken from their lawful owners by strangers or opponents in civil or legal disputes. Organized groups of thieves often work one area or state, moving on when the law becomes aware of them. Other thieves move into areas that have suffered natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes, stealing animals that have escaped during the chaos and preying on vulnerable victims. Some stolen horses are killed for their meat. Others become the focus of ransom attempts. Many are resold with false papers at auction, or end up as riding mounts.
In my novel Summer of the Bombers, it is a wildfire that leads to the theft of a girl's horse. Punkin Davis has to ride her horse into the fictional town of Alamitos when a Forest Service Controlled burn jumps its lines because of high winds. In the parking lot of the high school that is organizing assistance for those affected by the fire, Punkin meets a woman who says she is from the Equine Assistance League, and will keep her horse in a safe place. Unfortunately, there is no Equine Assistance League, and woman and horse disappear. It takes Punkin quite a bit of time to get on her feet and figure out what she needs to do to get her horse back, but she finally gets the help she needs from Stolen Horse Internaational..
In my novel Summer of the Bombers, it is a wildfire that leads to the theft of a girl's horse. Punkin Davis has to ride her horse into the fictional town of Alamitos when a Forest Service Controlled burn jumps its lines because of high winds. In the parking lot of the high school that is organizing assistance for those affected by the fire, Punkin meets a woman who says she is from the Equine Assistance League, and will keep her horse in a safe place. Unfortunately, there is no Equine Assistance League, and woman and horse disappear. It takes Punkin quite a bit of time to get on her feet and figure out what she needs to do to get her horse back, but she finally gets the help she needs from Stolen Horse Internaational..
While Summer of the Bombers might be a work of fiction, Stolen Horse International is not. The organization works diligently to recover stolen horses. Also known as NetPosse or SHI, it has been assisting horse owners with recovering their horses for over twenty-five years. It was founded by Debi and Harold Metcalfe after their own horse, Idaho, was stolen on September 26, 1997. Idaho was recovered after almost a year of searching. The non-profit organization relies on thousands of volunteers, who distribute fliers, usually by e-mail. In addition for helping in the search and recovery of horses, the organization works closely with law enforcement personnel to aid in the apprehension of the thieves.
Debi Metcalfe's book, Horse Theft. Been There—Done That, explains how horse owners can protect their horses from theft, and what can be done to recover stolen horses. There are chapters on identification methods and prevention information that can stop theft from ever happening, and lots of resources to help if it does.
This book was a fantastic resource for me as I wrote Summer of the Bombers. It's been a tremendous resource for many who've lost their horses. It is worth reading if you have a horse or know someone who does.
Now that my novel is complete, I would like to give my copy of this book away to someone who would benefit from it. Comment on this blog if you would like to be considered for it.
This book was a fantastic resource for me as I wrote Summer of the Bombers. It's been a tremendous resource for many who've lost their horses. It is worth reading if you have a horse or know someone who does.
Now that my novel is complete, I would like to give my copy of this book away to someone who would benefit from it. Comment on this blog if you would like to be considered for it.
Jennifer Bohnhoff is a novelist who lives in the mountains of central New Mexico. An avid horsewoman in her youth, her novel Summer of the Bombers was inspired by the Cerro Grande Fire, which swept through Los Alamos during the summer of 2000.
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