Show Horse taken from stall and slaughtered

[QUOTE=Fig;8375259]
Makes me sick reading the article where it was implied the horse got away and was caught again.

evidence indicates “the horse broke away for a short time,”[/QUOTE]

I Know, that made me terribly sad too. I was hoping the horse never knew what hit him. What is wrong with people.

This makes me sick,

It feels weird though that this horse was just imported and slaughtered 2 days later, it feels like some one was trying to get at the owners ): But I don’t know anything about them or why some one would do that.

At any rate I hope they can stop these people and make them pay for what they did!

This going to sound bigoted and horrible, but I recall reading somewhere that there was a group of emigrants in South Florida for whom horse meat eating was a part of their culture. Most of the South Florida emigrants come from various places in the Americas I believe. Where in the Americas is horse meating eating a part of their culture?

[QUOTE=vineyridge;8375309]
This going to sound bigoted and horrible, but I recall reading somewhere that there was a group of emigrants in South Florida for whom horse meat eating was a part of their culture. Most of the South Florida emigrants come from various places in the Americas I believe. Where in the Americas is horse meating eating a part of their culture?[/QUOTE]

Here is a link to a news article from 2009 that explains some possible cultural connections:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/illegal-horse-meat-market-rears-head-florida-article-1.380936

I would think the horse was insured the moment they bought him, before transporting him to the US. So much can happen during transport. That is the smart thing to do.

What an atrocity. And very terrifying.

[QUOTE=AZ TD;8375329]
I would think the horse was insured the moment they bought him, before transporting him to the US. So much can happen during transport. That is the smart thing to do.[/QUOTE]

If I recall correctly, you can have travel insurance on the horse separate from just your average show horse insurance. So I’d guess he was insured for the flight over, but then I guess they were waiting to get him assessed, get paperwork, something to get him properly insured in the states.

The whole thing makes me ill. I cannot imagine what the owners are going through. That poor, poor horse. I wonder if they’ll set up some security on the property. I swear the best security I ever encountered were a pair of the most vicious geese I’d ever met. Slept with the horses in the barn; anything disturbed them other than the barn owner, you’d hear about it. Not to mention they’d take a chunk out of anyone. Even the “guard dog” would run away from them.

Just makes me want to scream WTFFFFFFFFFF is wrong with people! Who would do such a heinous thing to an obviously well-cared for and loved animal. Makes me sick.

I have been trying to convince my husband (who is from Miami and went to school in St. Pete) to move to the area in 5-10 years. I might be irrational but this certainly gives me pause about moving there…

A little over a year ago we had our barn apartment and tack room broken into - I was SO thankful that they did not harm my horses, open the pasture gates, etc.

I can’t even imagine what they are going through. Not only the loss of the horse but the fact that something so heinous and violent happened on their property while they were asleep in their house. Talk about losing your sense of security. Thoughts and prayers for the Stephens. Hope the people that did this are caught and actually face some harsh justice.

[QUOTE=Kimchi;8375306]
This makes me sick,

It feels weird though that this horse was just imported and slaughtered 2 days later, it feels like some one was trying to get at the owners ): But I don’t know anything about them or why some one would do that.

At any rate I hope they can stop these people and make them pay for what they did![/QUOTE]

As you say, you don’t know “anything about the owners,” so why are you inferring that someone was “trying to get at the owners?”

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8375319]
Here is a link to a news article from 2009 that explains some possible cultural connections:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/illegal-horse-meat-market-rears-head-florida-article-1.380936[/QUOTE]

My guess was either Haitians or Cubans - according to the article it is Cubans. Miami has a VERY large population of both groups.

[QUOTE=anotherera;8375360]
As you say, you don’t know “anything about the owners,” so why are you inferring that someone was “trying to get at the owners?”[/QUOTE]

A scenario like the Godfather perhaps - though after reading the NYTimes article recently posted, anyone who wanted to “get at” the owners would also have to locate a person who was an expert butcher. I hope to heck the video surveillance and “DNA” provides much needed information.
It’s just to sick and horrifying I cannot fathom.

This is so heartbreaking and so disgusting, on so many levels, that I don’t even know what to feel worst about, beyond the suffering and terror endured by the poor horse. I just can’t even imagine how you get over something that traumatic, and making that discovery. Or having to tell the connections you purchased him from, too. All just awful, makes me feel ill to even think of it.

Anotherera I say that it seems like some one is trying to get at the owners because they buy this winning Grand Prix horse that I am sure cost more than I can fathom, and 2 days after it arrives it is brutally murdered on the property.

They didn’t load up and take him away. They left the body.
There were signs posted that the property was under surveillance.

It just seems that if some one was going to pick a random horse to slaughter it would be some fatty pasture bum that is never looked at in a huge pasture. Not some ones well cared for horse in the barn next to the house.

I don’t mean any offense to the owners, It sounds as though people here have ties to them and that they are nice people. The circumstances just seem like it was not just random. Like it was an attack some how.

either way it is too horrible to comprehend and I feel so sorry for the Owners.

It seems that the best chance of catching these monsters is to offer a reward so high that someone will rat them out. Please donate on the GoFundMe page. Every dollar helps.

[QUOTE=neigh;8375489]
It seems that the best chance of catching these monsters is to offer a reward so high that someone will rat them out. Please donate on the GoFundMe page. Every dollar helps.[/QUOTE]

That’s what I think! Money will motivate someone that knows something.

The COTH article popped up in my newsfeed and honestly makes me feel sick, I kind of wish I hadn’t read it. I can’t even imagine going outside, thinking my horse was safe and sound, and finding that scene. Condolences to all involved. I hope they find who is responsible and throw the book at them. And then pick the book up and throw it at them a few more times.

https://youtu.be/7ThOApxarS8

My heart, condolences and prayers go out to the Stevens and anyone who was associated with the horse. I can’t imagen having such a horrific crime committed anywhere, especially in your own backyard. I pray that they catch the monsters who did this to this innocent horse! It makes me ill!!

According to the video above, Steve hired a night security gaurd to watch over the barn.

Other article on similar slaughter crime…

There was a post on Facebook where the comments included someone stating that this type of slaughter crime has been going on for a while in Florida. Either it doesn’t make the media and reach the masses or the authorities ignore it. I believe this act agains the Stephens was a reaction to the slaughter houses being raided in Loxahatchee, but, could have also been just a continuation of the slaughter crimes in Florida. Note date on article, last July…
http://m.local10.com/news/competitive-show-horse-slaughtered-for-meat-in-hialeah/34315018

I retract any statement I made about potential insurance, as the Chronicle article indicates they had no insurance. I apologize to these particular owners as well.

That video makes it plain what an easy target that farm was though. A road, wooded area right next to it there, far from the occupied areas and private in the trees for someone to do the deed.
Horrible for those owners and for all the people in FL that have been losing their horses wherever they have been kept.

[QUOTE=horsegurl;8375599]
There was a post on Facebook where the comments included someone stating that this type of slaughter crime has been going on for a while in Florida. Either it doesn’t make the media and reach the masses or the authorities ignore it. I believe this act agains the Stephens was a reaction to the slaughter houses being raided in Loxahatchee, but, could have also been just a continuation of the slaughter crimes in Florida. Note date on article, last July…
http://m.local10.com/news/competitive-show-horse-slaughtered-for-meat-in-hialeah/34315018[/QUOTE]

I saw that too?!? What the heck. I feel so naive.