My Nonprofit Reviews

I am privileged to be a volunteer with Stolen Horse International. It’s a great experience to be a part of such a unique organization and work with so many great, like-minded people. No one else does what we do, the way we do it, to help bring missing horses home. Thank you Debi Metcalf for working so hard for so long to keep this going.

You think it will never happen to you. How can a 1000+ lb animal that you legally own, that you have spent precious time with and cared for, simply be taken away from you? I had a verbal agreement with a friend to keep my horses on his property. My truck and horse trailer was used quite often in his business and I helped with other parts of his business so it was all very mutual at the time. But things change, friendships change and friendships end, leaving our animals vulnerable. That’s what happened to me.

I purchased my Peruvian Paso Mare in 2009. I saw her for the last time June 1, 2012. This all happened when I was in the middle of moving to a new location. I eventually moved to another state due to family reasons. All the while I was trying to keep tabs on where my horse was, is she still there, can anyone verify it, etc. Certified letters went unsigned for, threat of small claims court went unanswered. I had no idea where to turn for help. Who is going to care about my horse? And, with only a verbal agreement in place, who legally is going to want to help me? Then, one day in May of 2014, I decided to go online and search for help. I had never heard of NetPosse.com before. But the first thing I saw online was the Stolen Horse International aka NetPosse.com website, founder Debi Metcalf. I read Debi’s story about her own experience of her horse Idaho being stolen and how she didn’t give up searching for him until he made it back home. So, I dialed her number, expecting to hear a voice mailbox that would prompt me to leave a message that would probably never be returned. But Debi answered the phone on my first call. If I stopped right there with this story, it would be enough to show the value that this group places on helping others who have lost or stolen horses. But there’s more. Debi listened to my entire story and she told me, legally, what needed to take place to get the ball rolling in getting my horse back. All along the way, whether by phone, text messages or Facebook Messenger, Debi and other volunteers have always been available. One night I woke up about 4 am and sent her a FB Message hoping she would read it in the morning or later in the day. She immediately messaged me back. She was already up (or had been up most of the night) working on another case. That is who Debi Metcalf is.

My horse had been taken by someone who hauls horses for a living so, honestly my fear was, she could easily be anywhere in the country and I may never see her again. But on June 2, 2015, I won a Motion in court for the return of my horse. And on June 24, 2015, I saw my horse again for the first time in 3 years. Now she is back home with me.

NetPosse.com is run by people who have already been through what you are going through. They provide help, guidance and assistance in recovering lost or stolen horses. They also work hard to educate others about the prevalence of equine theft and loss prevention. Here’s to a wonderful group of people. Thank you for being there when I needed you!