This is heartbreaking 
They took him from a high profile facility. The barn was right next to the owner’s house. That is really really weird.
Surely the area has lots of average, grass kept horses, in remote or roadside locations that would be super easy targets. I think they must have targeted a ‘show horse’ for a reason, why else would they take such a risk.
What did the security footage show?
Was there nothing because it was dark?
Since this is an obvious felony due to the value of the horse theft alone, not to mention the slaughter; One would think there would be serious police involvement and processing the ‘getaway area’, ‘weapon’ used for the death of said horse, fingerprints and tracks taken, etc.
I hope they are caught, and the entire ‘industry’ prosecuted.
Question: If slaughter is illegal in the USA and one sells horsemeat: why is that legal? And if illegal, shouldn’t possession alone be enough crime to arrest someone.
Enforcement seems a bit lax in FL to me…
[QUOTE=50ShadesOfHay;8376031]
I think this was a tragic, gruesome act, and that I hope the perpetrators are caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law!
I also was wondering how this may or may not impact some of the FL winter show circuits: Wellington and/or Ocala… I understand that this was in the Tampa area not close to the above, but if this along with other horse killings in FL may lessen attendance.[/QUOTE]
Doubt it will have any effect on entries unless it gets repeated. This is not the first time, been going on for years. Just not the high profile circumstances.
It does strike me as somewhat of a statement. Going into a barn attached to a home of an industry celebity couple for a $$$$$$ import just out of quarantine instead of picking from any number of average pleasure horses within a few miles kept outside in dark pastures right next to roads? Does not seem the random act of opportunistic, lazy cowards that tend to gravitate towards thievery.
[QUOTE=D_BaldStockings;8376438]
Question: If slaughter is illegal in the USA and one sells horsemeat: why is that legal? And if illegal, shouldn’t possession alone be enough crime to arrest someone.
Enforcement seems a bit lax in FL to me…[/QUOTE]
Slaughter, possession, and sale aren’t themselves illegal, though. Congress defunded USDA inspection of horse slaughterhouses, meaning that they couldn’t sell/export it, so effectively ended it in the US that way. There’s not actually any law against buying or eating it, or even raising your own horse and slaughtering it for your own consumption, like you would a deer, you just couldn’t sell it commercially.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/01/is-horse-meat-legal-in-the-us_n_2966499.html
I would assume that the actual charges here, presuming they catch these awful individuals, would be theft and destruction of private property.
[QUOTE=JenEM;8376470]
Slaughter, possession, and sale aren’t themselves illegal, though. Congress defunded USDA inspection of horse slaughterhouses, meaning that they couldn’t sell/export it, so effectively ended it in the US that way. There’s not actually any law against buying or eating it, or even raising your own horse and slaughtering it for your own consumption, like you would a deer, you just couldn’t sell it commercially.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/01/is-horse-meat-legal-in-the-us_n_2966499.html
I would assume that the actual charges here, presuming they catch these awful individuals, would be theft and destruction of private property.[/QUOTE]
Would the person who is a cop comment on this? Destroying property is one thing, but in such a cruel and horrific manner is something else. Perhaps some attorneys could also comment? What is the most serious charge that could be brought against the people who did this?
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8376496]
Would the person who is a cop comment on this? Destroying property is one thing, but in such a cruel and horrific manner is something else. Perhaps some attorneys could also comment? What is the most serious charge that could be brought against the people who did this?[/QUOTE]
I am not a police officer or an attorney but I do know that legally horses are just property. Just like if they stole your favorite item (of equal monetary value) in the whole world and smashed it in your driveway.
I wonder if Florida still has some old law on the books about horse thievery?Those old laws are dangerous, because they are specific and can override more general crime laws.
Just looked. Apparently there is still a law that makes horse theft punishable by hanging, but it cannot be enforced. Florida also has degrees of theft. Property over 100k is grand theft in the first degree and over 50k is grand theft in the second degree, but there is a special section on agricultural theft, including horses, that makes stealing them grand theft in the 3rd degree with set punishments. One wonders if that means that a horse worth over 50k is grand theft in the first or second degree or only grand theft in the 3rd degree.
[QUOTE=JenEM;8376470]
I would assume that the actual charges here, presuming they catch these awful individuals, would be theft and destruction of private property.[/QUOTE]
I would also bet they would use any available animal cruelty statutes as well.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8375941]
Things finally make some sense with a little speculation.
Three illegal slaughterhouses were shut down on October 13th on the basis of evidence provided by the head of ARM who was quoted in the news as saying that show horses from Wellington were being slaughtered in them. Two weeks later a show horse is stolen and slaughtered in a way that would give maximum publicity.
Could this be a form of retaliation against the head of ARM and the authorities that shut down the illegal abattoirs? Thought process could have been–“You say that we are slaughtering highly expensive show horses. Well, by God, we’ll do just that. So there.”[/QUOTE]
this times a 1000. The head of ARM specifically mentioned “Wellinton show horses” multiple times in his interviews. When asked for proof that these were show horses none could be provided. IMHO it certainly isn’t coincidence that a few weeks later that is exactly what happens.
Historically the horses slaughtered in the C-9 area were either backyard castaways or TB’s dumped from the local track. The exception being the handful who were poached from private residences.
This is horse wasn’t targeted at random
Wish I could find one of the articles I read on this. That article listed quite a few things these people could be charged with. Felony grand theft was one of them. I will keep searching for that article. Definite jail time if they get caught.
[QUOTE=findeight;8376448]
It does strike me as somewhat of a statement. Going into a barn attached to a home of an industry celebity couple for a $$$$$$ import just out of quarantine instead of picking from any number of average pleasure horses within a few miles kept outside in dark pastures right next to roads? Does not seem the random act of opportunistic, lazy cowards that tend to gravitate towards thievery.[/QUOTE]
It does seem to make a statement and it was very bold as I just read where they basically left the rib cage, neck and head, but took everything else. That took some time, so someone paid attention to the habits and customs at that barn to know when they could walk right up, take a horse out of a stall, walk him out to where they wanted him, kill him and break down the carcass to the degree they did. That, or they really aren’t the brightest tools in the shed and just got lucky with their random selection, which I guess is possible, but unlikely.
And the updated Chronicle article says there is nothing visible on the security camera footage as it was too dark. The perps didn’t put a halter on this guy but used a rope around his head and nose. Definitely sounds like they cased the place out. The owners think he was just in the wrong stall at the wrong time.
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/stephens-show-jumper-slaughtered-meat-florida
[QUOTE=JenEM;8376470]
Slaughter, possession, and sale aren’t themselves illegal, though. Congress defunded USDA inspection of horse slaughterhouses, meaning that they couldn’t sell/export it, so effectively ended it in the US that way. There’s not actually any law against buying or eating it, or even raising your own horse and slaughtering it for your own consumption, like you would a deer, you just couldn’t sell it commercially.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/01/is-horse-meat-legal-in-the-us_n_2966499.html
I would assume that the actual charges here, presuming they catch these awful individuals, would be theft and destruction of private property.[/QUOTE]
Actually, it is illegal to slaughter horses for meat in Florida.
[QUOTE=equest;8376695]
Actually, it is illegal to slaughter horses for meat in Florida.[/QUOTE]
Glad to hear it, and hopefully that will be another big charge they can add to the list when they catch these monsters. I just knew it wasn’t illegal nationally, and that the slaughter ban hadn’t really been exactly what it sounded like. Usually animal cruelty statutes are pretty weak comparably, so it’s good there’s more they can bring charges for here.
[QUOTE=Lynnwood;8376633]
this times a 1000. The head of ARM specifically mentioned “Wellinton show horses” multiple times in his interviews. When asked for proof that these were show horses none could be provided. IMHO it certainly isn’t coincidence that a few weeks later that is exactly what happens.
Historically the horses slaughtered in the C-9 area were either backyard castaways or TB’s dumped from the local track. The exception being the handful who were poached from private residences.
This is horse wasn’t targeted at random[/QUOTE]
This incident did not happen in Wellington, it happened in the Tampa area.
[QUOTE=Joanne;8376638]
Wish I could find one of the articles I read on this. That article listed quite a few things these people could be charged with. Felony grand theft was one of them. I will keep searching for that article. Definite jail time if they get caught.[/QUOTE]
unless its mandatory, the problem is you need a judge who will impose jail time. When I was a prosecutor I prosecuted all the animal abuse/neglect cases in my county (for about a year). Even if convicted some of the judges wouldn’t give jail time and/or the jail would let the people out early because the jail was overcrowded. If they catch the people who did this, they need to get as many felony counts as they can and then hope the person has a criminal history and a judge who is willing to throw the book at him.
[QUOTE=ybiaw;8376836]
This incident did not happen in Wellington, it happened in the Tampa area.[/QUOTE]
Not sure why they keep saying the Tampa region. Palmetto is closer to St. Petersburg and Bradenton, and even Sarasota.
Here is a weird thought. What if someone stole the stallion, left the remains of a slaughtered horse as a red herring? That would explain why they took the legs away, to prevent positive id.
From a police perspective (and nothing whatsoever to do with this particular horrific incident) this is not a random attack. There is more then known here on these circumstances. Time will tell. Poor horse.
[QUOTE=AZ TD;8376884]
Here is a weird thought. What if someone stole the stallion, left the remains of a slaughtered horse as a red herring? That would explain why they took the legs away, to prevent positive id.[/QUOTE]
I hate to be gruesome but I understand that they left the head and I would think an ID would be possible with that.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
