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Hiding in Plain Sight? |
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Could these farm managers be working or showing near you? |
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by Angela Kirby |
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Tragedy too often befalls unsuspecting horse owners. Sometimes it doesn't matter that a person takes all the right steps to ensure the well being of their horses. Many horse facilities have a staff of paid employees, and they entrust their beloved animals' daily care to these people. |
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Unfortunately, more and more, people are finding ways to take advantage of horse owners, and it is the horses that pay the biggest price. |
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This is what happened to Beverly Moore of Louisa County, Virginia, and when it did, she turned to Stolen Horse International, Inc. (SHI), the only nonprofit organization offering assistance in recovering stolen and missing horses. |
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Three of the five horses discovered missing from Shannondale Farm in Virginia after the farm managers were fired for
neglecting the farm and horses.
Photo courtesy of Beverly Moore |
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Imagine working your entire life to build a breeding and training program to find out that the people to whom you entrusted your dream left you with a nightmare.
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In August 2004, Beverly Moore hired a married couple from Florida, who are well known in the quarter horse and palomino show rings and breeding worlds, to oversee the care of her horses on a leased property in Virginia. The couple's extensive background, along with the husband's farrier experience, made them an excellent choice for Moore's future plans. |
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Shortly thereafter, Moore purchased another farm in Louisa County, Virginia, with the purpose of turning the property into a top-notch facility with the help of the farm managers. As soon as fences were erected and a house and barn built, the Moores moved the herd, which consists of high-dollar quarter horses, paints and palominos, to the new place in August 2005.
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One of Beverly Moore's AQHA PHBA
mares being shown
by former farm manager.
Photo courtesy of Beverly Moore |
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During their time operating Moore's farm, the couple earned Moore's trust and faith. They were given a farm |
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credit card and authorized to purchase horses when necessary. In fact, the farm managers took a blank check to a dispersal sale in Alabama in 2004, where they purchased two palomino mares, along with some broodmares in foal to Mr Yella Fella. This palomino World Champion stallion is the leading halter horse sire in the nation in both AQHA and PHBA.
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These were the kind of quality bloodlines found on Moore's farm being cared for by the farm managers. The entire herd numbered approximately 70 horses, and included about 15 belonging to the managers.
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Moore and her husband counted on the farm managers to operate the facilities and care for the horses during the process of renovating it, while they tended to other commitments. Though they visited and worked on the farm as often as possible, there came a time when the Moores were kept away longer than usual, and it was during this period that the managers became overly content in their lifestyle. |
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The Moores provided the managers with living quarters and a place to keep their own horses, with no concern that the couple would fail to continue operating the farm as they had in the past. However, when given the opportunity, this couple wasted no time in running the farm into the ground. |
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Discovering the Devastation |
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Despite the lack of care by the former farm managers, Beverly Moore's dream of owning a top-rate facility continues to be realized under new management. Photo courtesy of Beverly Moore |
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Though records show that adequate feed was being purchased, along with thousands of dollars in tack and equipment, the Moores discovered in August 2007 that the farm managers had allowed the property to fall into complete disarray. Worse than that, though, was the condition in which they found their beloved horses.
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Upon finding the farm in bad repair and many of the horses severely neglected, the Moores immediately removed several of the most valuable horses, stored their trailer elsewhere, and fired the farm managers, who left within three days. |
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A 2-year-old gelding was discovered to have thrush so bad that per Moore, "he didn't have a frog at all in two of his hooves and one hoof also did not have a sole, only a big hole up into his foot. Because of neglect in trimming his hooves [which the husband was supposed to be doing], his legs from the knee and hock down were going in every which direction. It was discovered that his front teeth were missing (the vet thinks he was hit in the mouth with an object rather than being kicked by another horse), and he was having difficulty due to this in eating and could not graze grass." This young horse could not be saved.
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During that first week, the Moores spent all their time and energy concentrating on saving the starving horses. The only horses not in bad shape were the show horses and broodmares in foal. The younger horses seemed to have faired the worst, and two 2-year-old fillies, along with an aged broodmare, had to be humanely euthanized.
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The hardest decision came with the fifth horse that couldn't be saved. This colt was Beverly's junior stallion prospect, but he was much more important to her than that. In utero, he developed a problem with one of his limbs. Because of his potential and bloodlines, the Moores chose to have a vet perform surgery and save his life. The farm managers knew that he required special attention and it was discovered that his follow-up care with the veterinarian and surgeons was never carried out. |
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Despite the Moores efforts to correct the resulting
setbacks
for the young colt, it was determined that he was in too much pain to be saved. Beverly is still coping with his loss as well as the unnecessary loss of the other horses. |
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But the health of the neglected horses was not the Moores only dilemna. Once they were able to catch their breath and inventory the farm, it was discovered that five of their horses were missing after the farm managers had removed their own. |
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When the owners quickly spread the word that they had several horses missing, many questioned how they couldn't have known. Considering that they had compensated well and trusted their farm managers to do the job they were hired to do, and realizing that there were approximately 70 horses on the farm, it becomes clear as to why the delay in the discovery. And in the aftermath of firing the managers, the Moores had more immediate concerns. |
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Do you really know who is caring for your horses?
Photo by Angela Kirby |
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| Rebuilding and Pursuing Justice |
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Because of the circumstances surrounding the disrepair of the farm and neglect of the animals, the Moores immediately put the farm under the veterinarian's care, and began working with animal control and the local sheriff's office to document the conditions of the horses and property. These were the first steps in establishing the former employees' total lack of proper management practices for both the facilities and the animals. |
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Unfortunately, the wheels of justice turn slowly as Beverly has found out. So while she waits on charges to be filed and warrants to be issued, she has turned to Stolen Horse International in an effort to locate her missing horses. |
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Through SHI's web site, www.NetPosse.com, the Moores have posted information about the missing horses, including a sorrel quarter horse stallion, liver chestnut quarter horse mare, sorrel quarter horse mare, and bay thoroughbred mare. Then there is a missing palomino mare, one of those purchased at the dispersal sale in 2004, which, according to another farm employee, was possibly traded earlier in 2007 to a local couple. Pictures and descriptions, along with a personalized flyer for these horses are available at the click of a mouse. |
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The Moores are also working on acquiring a list of tack and equipment purchased on its farm credit card. Any of these items that were taken when the farm managers left the premises will be considered stolen as they belong to the farm. |
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Known to have lived in Florida and Alabama, it is possible the couple has found another position similar to the one with the Moores in one of these states. They may also have relocated to Kentucky or another Southern state. They are very likely still in the show ring, as the couple is very into palominos and own a number of these "yellow horses." One has to wonder if they have left a trail of "Beverly Moores" in their wake or if they are planning to do the same to another unsuspecting horse owner. |
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To help find Beverly's five horses or for more information on this case, please visit www.netposse.com, and click on "Stolen Horses" in Virginia. While SHI will not publish the names of the farm managers due to pending charges, the Moores are free to disclose the information as they see fit. |
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Read comments or post your own comments to this article at the bottom of this page. |
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Copyright © 2007 All rights reserved. The above article is the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any way without permission. |
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Reader comments for this article |
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Name: Angela Kirby Time: 2007-12-03 11:12:58
Comment: I apologize for not responding sooner. SHI's policy is to not disclose names of potential thieves or third parties due to liability. You are welcome to email the owner for this information.
Name: Laura Lehsten Time: 2007-11-20 08:11:14
Comment: Who are these people that took the horses? I cannot find the name of the alleged thieves. Currently there are many shows and sales and it would be helpful if we knew who to be on the lookout for.
Name: JEANINE THORSON Time: 2007-11-15 08:11:10
Comment: I was horrified to hear what had been done to you. We all want to think we can trust the people around us care for our animals. Unfortunately, too many times in the horse industry we find out the hard way that there are folks just out for money. We have had the same done to us on a smaller scale with our first trainer. We have several contacts in Kentucky and will pass this email along. They may very well head there due to the money to be made on KY bred horses now. We hope that it all works out for you and that you get the justice you deserve.
Name: Samantha Time: 2007-11-10 21:11:37
Comment: Wow. It breaks my heart to hear of good people and (assuredly) lovely horses falling victim. I follow several rescue sites, and can not imagine letting a horse, or a farm, fall off and out of shape. The neglect suffered is so heartbreaking. On the other hand, and granted, none of my business, why would a horse/farm owner be SO absentee to allow this much degradation to occur? My comments may seem inappropriate in the situation, but I'll risk it. If you own a farm and horses, how could you be gone for more than a few days or a week? Thank goodness for SHI, and I certainly hope all equipment and horses are returned happy and healthy. And I think there is a good lesson here for anyone with valuable stock and property. Just my thoughts.
Name: Syndi Pickney-Blunk Time: 2007-11-05 14:11:09
Comment: I am a neighbor of Shannondale Farm and I agree that this is just a horrible situation. We are doing a community e-mail to horse owners in the area hoping that someone may be able to assist somehow. If we can't return the horses, maybe we can assit in doing barn chores, etc. to help lift the burden of the farm owners.
Name: Heidi D Graham Time: 2007-11-03 21:11:54
Comment: I was shocked, not to mention angered when I read your story. My prayers go out to you and yours. I have ran in to problems (on a much smaller scale) when hiring ranch hands in the past. I have found that my 'trust' in people has been sorely tried. As I'm sure yours has. What was done to you and your horses was plain evil, and I hope they get whats coming to them before they damage some other horse. I'm down loading the information to post. It may not catch these people, but it will make people more aware. Perhaps It will make it harder for it to happen to some one else. Again our prayers go out to you.
Name: Angela Kirby Time: 2007-11-02 06:11:19
Comment: Since I wrote this article, Beverly Moore has obtained more information about the farm managers lack of care. There was a young stallion that required surgery after he became lame, and she was never told of this. Now this horse is ruined as far as his potential in the show ring, for which he was bred. Apparently, the farm managers were also collecting board and fees that were pocketed, as well. There are other allegations that cannot be made public, but these people need to be found and stopped. Right now Beverly is working to get warrants, which she has been told will be issued. She is practically beating her head against the wall, trying to get justice and to put these people out of business before they do this to someone else. And we need the public's help. Please visit the site or email for more details.
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