It Started With the Theft of a Horse Named Idaho

It All Started With the Theft of a Horse Named Idaho

By Debi Metcalfe
Originally published on StableManagement.com, September 28, 2017 

Introduction

Stolen Horse International, Inc. — also known as NetPosse — has grown tremendously over more than two decades, helping people find their missing or stolen horses. What began with the theft of a horse named Idaho has evolved into a nationwide volunteer network dedicated to bringing equines home and educating the horse industry about theft, loss, and disaster preparedness. 
Stable Management

How It Began

Founded on September 26, 1997, Stolen Horse International started as the personal effort of a couple searching for their own missing horse. Since then, it has become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that has helped thousands of horse owners reunite with their lost or stolen animals. 

What the Organization Does

Stolen Horse International has built a large national network that includes:

• Equine organizations
• Volunteers
• Horse owners
• Businesses
• Law enforcement
• Media contacts
• Individuals trained in recovery support

Once a report is filed on NetPosse.com, a coordinated alert system is activated. This alert reaches:

• Networks of organizations and individuals
• Social media platforms
• The NetPosse News newsletter
• Recovery specialists

The aim is always the same: return the missing horse to its owner. 

Reflections on Two Decades

“I cannot believe it has been 20 years since our horse Idaho was stolen,” said Debi. “We never planned on doing all the things we are doing today.”

Since its founding, NetPosse has introduced:

• Expanded Victim Services
• Educational Outreach Programs
• A national equine ID registry
• A free national disaster database for missing and found animals (Not available in 2025)

Today, NetPosse’s website is the leading resource in search engine rankings for stolen and missing horses. There are over 5,000 horses in the current database, and the organization has worked behind the scenes on many more cases. 

Looking Ahead

A three-part interview series by Catherine Girard — featuring Debi, core volunteers, and people helped by NetPosse — reflects on the organization’s growth and outlines future needs to continue serving horses and their owners effectively.

The first installment can be found on the official NetPosse site. NetPosse also encourages readers to share its work broadly and help expand its network. 

Connect With the Community

Don’t forget to like and follow Stolen Horse International, Inc. on social platforms, and invite others to join. The broader the network, the more eyes and ears there are to help reunite missing horses with their people.

Link to the article written by Debi Metcalfe for Stablemates Magazine