River’s Happy Ending - A NetPosse Success Story

River’s Happy Ending – A NetPosse Alert Success Story

River’s story is exactly why Stolen Horse International and NetPosse Alerts exist—and why missing horses should never be written off as “gone forever.”

River was originally sold as a 3-year-old to a woman who kept him only a short time before selling him to a “trainer.” From there, his trail became increasingly difficult to follow. He was flipped through an online auction, passed through multiple hands, and moved without any of his registry papers ever being transferred. With every sale, his history became more fragmented—and River became easier to lose.

Over time, conflicting stories surfaced about where he had ended up. One version claimed he was purchased for a trainer’s daughter who was taking lessons on him. Another suggested the young rider lost interest after being teased because River wasn’t an “expensive” jumper. Other details raised concerns that he may have been scared, dumped, or quietly passed along again. The truth was never clear—but the worry was constant.

Then River disappeared completely.

With no paper transfers, no consistent ownership trail, and a dramatic color change, River became nearly impossible to recognize. His owner truly believed he might never be found.

That changed when a NetPosse Alert went out.

A woman who saw River’s alert didn’t just scroll past. She took action. Using the details provided in the NetPosse Alert, she checked USEF records—and there he was. River was alive, being shown, and in the possession of a current owner who had no idea he was connected to a missing horse report.

Because of that one alert, the silence ended.

The current owner was relieved and happy to make contact. Long-lost history was reunited with the horse—baby photos, background information, and pieces of River’s life that had been missing for years. What had once felt like a dead end turned into connection, transparency, and closure.

Even more remarkably, despite passing through at least four owners and an auction, River’s registry papers were still legally in his original owner’s name. No one had ever transferred them.

After River was located, there were still hurdles. At one point, he was offered back for far more than he was originally sold for—an amount that simply wasn’t possible during a major interstate move. Another year and a half passed before circumstances changed again. This time, River was returned for free, with only shipping costs required.

When he came home, River arrived without papers in hand and carrying the mental scars of instability—but he was finally safe. Found. Accounted for.

“I honestly never thought we would find him,” his owner shared. “Especially with such a huge color change. I definitely would’ve never found him without Stolen Horse International and NetPosse Alerts.”

This is the power of alerts.
This is why details matter.
This is why missing horses should always be reported.

River’s happy ending exists because someone saw a NetPosse Alert—and acted.