The Price of a Tail

The Price of a Tail

Susan Allen
Susan Allen

 

I’m Susan Allen welcome to Open Range, last year horse owners in Florida lived in fear that they would wake each morning  to find their equine companions butchered in the pasture for meat. Finally after months of a killing spree that resulted in the death of twenty horses two men were arrested this September. They’ve  been charged with multiple felonies that include  killing a registered breed horse, burglary, and animal cruelty, that carry penalties of life in prison but if the men plead guilty the sentence could be reduced to five years.  That hardly seems fair for the trama and heartache they have caused. Meanwhile, horse owners in Montana face a different threat to their prized equines, one that could easily spread to other states.  Stay tuned for the story. It’s a gal thing but most women I know fuss over their horses tails, doing what ever it takes to keep them flowing, thick and long. In the Morgan breed a long tail is a prized attribute for showing, so imagine the anger  when Connie Riley and her husband,  residents of Beaverhead County Montana found four feet of hair cut from their Morgan’s tail. Now non-horsey listeners will think, “what’s the big deal,”  but take it from someone who bought a horse with a bobbed tail it can literally take years to grow back. Apparently the tail thief is on the prowl as the tails and manes of three other Gallatin County horses have also been reported cut. The sheriffs departments are investigating and it is believed the tails are sold to crafts people for horsehair items. What is the value of a tail? Well the Rileys are offering a five hundred dollar reward. I’m Susan Allen
 
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