Horse theft is a
reality. Regardless of breed or discipline, it can happen to
you. Mary Beth Jacobs learned that painful lesson the morning of
Sept. 29, 1997, when she arrived at Lone Star Stables in Ft.
Worth. Lucky Lady, her bay Quarter Horse, had lived there for
the past 10 years. Now the mare was gone, stolen by a thief
before the morning light.
Also missing were Miss Sunny, a 22 year-old
dark bay Thoroughbred mare, and Sugar Pal, a 13-year-old sorrel
Morgan gelding, along with a trailer and a lot of tack.
Horses had been a passion of Jacobs since
childhood. She had heard about horse theft; however, she
believed it was something that happened to other people. Jacobs
never imagined having to hear the words: "Your horse has been
stolen."
Paralyzed with disbelief, Jacobs said she
stood there in shock for what seemed like eternity, then ran to
Lady’s stall. It was empty! And the stalls on either side were
empty, too.
"I felt like my heart had been ripped out,"
Jacobs said of looking into Lady’s still empty stall. "My knees
buckled, and I sank to the ground crying bitterly; Dear God! Why
my horse? What have I done?"
The county sheriff’s department took a
report over the phone after hearing the horses had no
identification other than white marks and breed registration
papers. Three days later, investigators came to the property to
look around. They suspected the thieves arrived with only a
pickup truck. The horses were haltered, taken from their stalls,
and loaded onto a four-horse slant trailer parked on the
property. Tack was randomly grabbed.
The private boarding stable had gates, but
none were locked, making entry all too easy. The motive appeared
to be cash, either by private sale or through public auction.
None of the horses had any type of identification, leaving law
enforcement officials nothing concrete with which to work. The
bottom line looked like this: no identification, no witnesses,
no evidence, no suspects. Case closed.
Lucky Lady, Miss Sunny, and Sugar Pal might
not have cost or won fortunes, but they were worth millions in
the lives of the people they touched. They were not found.
International Scope
Most thefts involve horses like Lucky Lady.
Occasionally, however, famous horses are stolen. The cases of
Fanfreluche, Shergar, and Carnauba stunned the international
Thoroughbred racing community when those well-known runners
brazenly were stolen in unrelated incidents.
Fanfreluche, Jean-Louis Levesque’s 1970
Canadian Horse of the Year, was reported stolen from Claiborne
Farm near Paris, Ky., on June 25, 1977. Fanfreluche, a Northern
Dancer mare, won the Alabama Stakes and was co-champion
3-year-old filly in the United States in 1970. At the time of
her theft, she was in foal to Secretariat.
The FBI worked in cooperation with the
Kentucky state police because of three possible motives: ransom,
a ringer, or politics. The theft was well-planned and took place
in broad daylight, giving authorities options with which to
work.
Meanwhile, in Tompkinsville, Ky., some 150
miles outside of Paris, Ky., a stray mare was found in early
July, 1997, by a family who called her Brandy and cared for her
until the day the FBI came by to reclaim her and announce her
true identity. Eight months after she was reported stolen from
one of the nation’s leading Thoroughbred farms, Fanfreluche was
found in good health and returned home.
Federal authorities conducted a four-year
search for William Michael McCandless of Hendersonville, Tenn.,
after he was initially charged with the 1977 theft of
Fanfreluche. McCandless, who denied any involvement in the
mare’s theft, was convicted in connection with the case while in
prison serving a federal sentence for his alleged part in an
interstate truck theft ring.
Perhaps the most compelling international
controversy was that of Shergar, winner of the 1981 English
Derby by 10 lengths, the widest margin in the history of the
classic.
Shergar, abducted by the Irish Republican
Army (IRA) on Feb. 8, 1983, from the Aga Khan IV’s Ballymany
Stud on the edge of The Curragh in Ireland, was shot to death a
few hours later. Circumstances surrounding the nine-year case
appeared to be common knowledge, but were never substantiated
until confirmed by a former IRA gunman turned police informant.
Shergar’s covering fee was 75,000 British
pounds, and IRA kidnappers thought they could extort 10 million
pounds in ransom. However, the syndicate owning Shergar refused
to pay.
The informant said Shergar was taken to a
hiding place close to the Northern Ireland boarder. When the
stallion became severely distressed by unfamiliar surroundings,
the kidnappers could not calm him so they allegedly shot him and
buried him in dense woods.
Another famous case involving a valuable
Thoroughbred was the 1975 kidnapping of the champion filly
Carnauba in Italy. In that case, the thieves asked a ransom, but
owner Nelson Bunker Hunt refused to pay. Later, the filly was
found in a stable near a butcher shop and returned to Hunt.
Fanfreluche and Carnauba are extremely rare examples of happy
endings.
How And Why Theft Happens
Horse theft is almost always driven by the
need for cash. Very seldom is it a random act or political
retribution. The crime is easy due to little, if any, horse
inspection at equine auctions and abattoirs (slaughterhouses)
along with a criminal justice system that seems to support
nominal punishment for that type of offence. (In most cases,
horses are "property" and are prosecuted as such.)
Industry experts estimate approximately
40,000 horses and ponies might be stolen in the United States
annually. However, there is no uniform crime reporting category
for this type of non-violent offence, making reported statistics
difficult to obtain.
Law enforcement officials who handle horse
theft investigations state that the number of thefts appears to
remain constant, while the number of women involved with horse
theft is increasing. They also report that incidents occur
during the day and night.
The breeds reported stolen the most are
Quarter Horse, Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred mix, Thoroughbred,
Appaloosa, and other generic or grade horses. Ninety percent are
bays and sorrels; 8% are solid black, white, or gray with very
few white marks and without any method of identification.
Investigators say that horse theft takes
place in areas with large concentrations of horses and in states
without horse inspection programs, leaving no paper trail,
little evidence, plenty of reasonable doubt, and insufficient
evidence.
Identification of your horses, tack, and
equipment is an important factor in preventing theft and is
absolutely crucial to reclaiming your property when and if it is
recovered.
Methods Of Equine ID For Theft Prevention
Permanent identification of horses, along
with proper security measures, is a horse owner’s best method to
deter theft. More than just risk management, equine ID is
responsible horse ownership.
Horse theft is a non-violent offence, like
auto theft. Most law enforcement agencies are burdened with
violent offences. They tend to view stolen horses and property
without identification as if you left the keys in your vehicle’s
ignition while you ran into a convenience store for something.
Consider one or several methods of
permanent identification, (like a VIN # for automobiles), which
will assist these agencies and other livestock investigators in
recovering your horse.
Before selecting one or several methods of
equine ID, give some thought to the criteria that best fit your
specific situation. All methods have strengths and weaknesses.
For you, the owner, permanent identification is positive proof
of ownership. For the horse, benefits of permanent
identification include the following: breed registration,
parentage verification, disease control, insurance purposes,
transfer of ownership, record keeping, and theft prevention.
When you have selected one or several
methods of equine ID, you’ll need to register your brand, mark,
or electronic ID. If you live in a state with a horse inspection
program, register with the state livestock department. If your
state does not have such a program, you’ll want to register with
your county records clerk. This also establishes a point of
ownership for generic horses without official breed registration
papers.
Breed registries have specific requirements
for identification. Send in a copy of additional brands, marks,
and electronic ID methods with those registration papers.
Several privately held registries offer
services for the specific purpose of recording horse
identification. However, they do not offer law enforcement
connections. When it comes to theft protection, law enforcement
is key. Those are the individuals most likely to recover your
missing horse.
Hot Iron Branding
Since the beginning of time, man has looked
for ways to distinguish his animals and property from those of
another. As a result of this need to recognize one’s own
animals, hot iron branding developed and is used on many ranches
today.
This non-invasive method is easy to perform
with practice. Hair does not grow back, and the brand is easy to
see from a distance. It’s great prima facie evidence in a court
of law, and forensic tests can determine if the brand has been
altered.
Branding irons are your only cost and can
be purchased through your state cattlemen’s association or a
branding iron manufacturer. Irons can run from $50 to $150-plus,
depending on your design.
Freeze Branding
Used since the 1960s and considered to be
more humane than hot iron branding, this method appeals to many
horse owners. It is accomplished by a combination of time,
pressure, and cold. For the best "How to" brochure, see Texas
A&M Extension Service publication # L-5084.
Freeze branding is easy to perform with
practice. Hair grows in white and can be visible from a
distance. If your horse is white or gray, leave the iron on a
few seconds longer. The hair will not grow back, and it will
give the appearance of a hot brand.
Select an area that is visible, like the
hip or shoulder. Thieves will see the brand on the shoulder as
they approach the horse in an open situation. If your horses are
stalled and snoozing (at night), they normally put their heads
in a quiet corner while the rump or hip faces the stall door
opening, easily visible by flashlight.
Freeze branding irons can be purchased
through your state cattlemen’s association or a branding iron
manufacturer. Before purchasing an iron, check with your state
branding office or county records clerk to assure that your
design is not already registered by another farm, stable, or
ranch. Then, make sure you register your brand in the county in
which you and the horse live.
This method is great prima facie evidence,
but the brands easily can be altered. Irons can run between $50
and $150, depending on your design, plus $35-$50 to the
individual who freeze brands, plus visit and travel fees.
Alpha Angle System
This method originally was developed for
and used by the Bureau of Land Management horse program. The
alpha angle system incorporates the date of birth, breed, and
registration number of each horse and is applied by trained
individuals on the neck or under the mane.
The alpha angle system cannot easily be
read in auction or abattoir facilities, generally is not visible
from a distance, and can be altered. Cost is approximately $75
plus call out and travel fees.
Electronic ID
Developed in the early 1970s, electronic ID
(EID) is invasive and offers proof of ownership for the horse
and owner. It’s considered high-tech branding and is computer
compatible.
A tiny microchip, laser etched with a
unique alpha numeric code, is implanted in the nuchal ligament
of the horse and read with a radio frequency scanner. The
injection procedure is performed by licensed veterinarians.
EID is difficult to remove surgically
without extreme trauma to the nuchal ligament and possible death
of the horse. Surgical removal and death to several horses have
been experienced by the Italian racing industry and was reported
in the 1998 American Association of Equine Practitioners
Subcommittee of Infectious Diseases. Despite this incident, EID
remains the popular method among European horse owners.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture
uses this method for the purpose of equine infectious anemia (EIA)
disease control. The additional benefit is the state’s ability
to locate missing horses.
For theft prevention purposes, this method
is best used in conjunction with a brand. Your brand is visible
prima facie evidence and electronic ID is invisible proof of
ownership.
Law enforcement agencies believe electronic
ID can close the gap between reasonable doubt and insufficient
evidence. The individual computer compatible numbers can be
entered (from a theft report) and easily retrieved from the
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) by law enforcement and
livestock investigators.
This method is the least expensive and also
can be inserted into saddles and other tack. Veterinarians
generally charge $35 per head plus visit fee.
Lip Tattoo
Used by The Jockey Club Thoroughbred breed
registry since 1946 in addition to blood typing and DNA as a
means of identification, tattoos are placed on the inside of the
upper lip of all horses at pari-mutuel tracks prior to racing.
Lip tattoo is a service performed by a tattoo technician through
the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB). Before
applying the tattoo, the individual performing the service
matches the certificate of registration by The Jockey Club with
the horse. Other breeds require parentage verification prior to
lip tattoo application. The fee is approximately $55 per head.
Lip tattoos wear well for approximately
four to five years and fade over time.
Additional Methods of Equine ID
Blood Typing -
Blood typing and its use in parentage verification date back to
the late 1930s. It has been used in human medicine for solving
parentage cases and assisting in police investigations. In
horses, it has been a requirement by some breed organizations to
qualify a horse for registration before racing.
Equine blood typing consists of two
processes: serological, which identifies genetic blood group
markers similar to the Rh and ABO blood groups in humans; and
electrophoretic, which applies electrical potential to the blood
sample. Because molecules of the same type within the blood can
have genetic differences that cause them to have different
electrical charges, their behavior in the electrical field
separates them according to their genetic variances.
Blood typing for parentage verification is
an elimination process, not confirmation; i.e., the blood tests
will positively determine who the parents are not. Blood type
cannot be altered by additional marking or surgical procedure.
DNA Testing -
DNA is the most basic molecule of inheritance or genes. It is
ideal for parentage verification. Equine breed registries lead
the way with increased usage of DNA testing for the
identification of individual animals, parentage verification,
and problem solving in cases of questionable parentage.
The immediate benefit to the horse owner
will be that DNA tests don’t necessarily require someone to draw
and ship blood to a laboratory. DNA can be extracted from any
tissue. Mane and tail hairs or nasal swabs might become the
standardized testing objects just because they are so easy to
acquire. DNA samples don’t have to be handled as carefully as
with current blood typing. For example, if a foal’s dam or sire
dies without being blood typed, tissue from the deceased horse
still can be used for DNA testing.
Check with your breed registration for
specific requirements and to obtain DNA testing kits. Cost is
approximately $160.
Natural Physical Marks (Signalments and
Trichoglyphs) - Signalments and
trichoglyphs are not meant as permanent ID, but are helpful
markings to know about. However, you might need to explain these
terms to the law enforcement agency taking your incident report.
Signalments refer to the horse’s natural
color and markings. They are used most commonly on registration
papers, health certificates, transfer of ownership papers,
documents for horses in transport, and other quickly written
notations. Of greatest value are the indications of unique
markings about the head, legs, and body.
Trichoglyphs include cowlicks or hair
whorls, which are unique patterns, sizes, and combinations in a
horse’s hair. These differ from horse to horse. Cowlicks and
hair whorls are found on the forehead, neck, and flank areas.
They are difficult to see unless close to the horse.
Photographs-Good color photographs are a great addition to your chosen methods
of equine and property ID, but don’t rely on them alone. Any
color can be dyed; manes and tails can be shaved, docked, or
made to hang on a different side. Missing horses which travel
between auctions can appear different due to weight loss in
transport.
Take pictures of your horse twice a year in
order to include his summer and winter looks. Show the head,
both sides, and all markings. Let the horse fill 75% of the
photo. Do the same with your tack and equipment.
If you’ve ever had to look for a missing
horse, a good clear picture can be a great tool.
Summary And Conclusion
Identification is the single most important
factor as a theft deterrent and in proving ownership in any
court of law. All methods of equine ID have strengths and
weaknesses. The best methods for theft prevention today include
branding, lip tattoo, and electronic ID.
The American Association of Equine
Practitioners (AAEP) maintains an active interest and
involvement with many current methods of identification. Ask
your veterinarian to help you learn about the AAEP findings and
its position on the new methods of equine ID. The AAEP looks at
methods of ID used in forensics, science, technology, and
personal ID. Methods being developed in these fields will serve
equine health, welfare, and theft prevention, as well as assist
in the tracking of criminals.
