Spring Grove horses safely back in stables
Four horses Claudia Haugh believes were stolen from her Spring Grove farm early Friday morning are now safely back in their stables.
Haugh said she’s grateful for their return but added the story should serve as a warning to other horse owners that a “savvy” thief may be on the prowl.
Before finding the horses about 7 a.m. Saturday on the lawn of a large home about a half-mile away from her property, Haugh said she noticed a few fence boards had been sawed in half.
A camera a neighbor set up to watch for deer happened to show “the only place (the horses) could have came out” of their stables, and Haugh said the camera showed a few blank screens at 2:12 a.m. Friday, as if someone had blocked its view with a piece of paper.
Those two observations led Haugh to believe the horses were stolen and didn’t just escape.
“In my opinion, there’s very little doubt because horses don’t saw fences in half,” Haugh said.
Spring Grove police did not immediately return a call asking if they believe the horses were stolen or if they’re searching for a suspect or suspects.
Once Haugh discovered the horses, she and some friends helped them back to their stables while Spring Grove police blocked off a road to let the animals cross.
Haugh said she thinks media attention to the horses’ disappearance helped bring them home by making it too risky for anyone else to be seen with them.
The horses are Friesians, a breed known for having rare black coats and prowess in dancing competitions, she said.
“I’ve been with these babies since they were born,” Haugh said about female horses Black Silk, Black Iris, Lady Liberty and Lady Bianca. “They’re not just things; I love them.”