Love Never Stops Searching

A Valentine’s Promise: Where Love Began, and Why It Never Stops

Valentine’s Day is often associated with flowers, cards, and romantic gestures. But at Stolen Horse International, Valentine’s Day carries a deeper meaning. It is about loyalty. It is about devotion. It is about a love so strong that it refuses to give up — even when the trail grows cold.

That promise was born from heartbreak.

Long before Stolen Horse International existed…
Long before NetPosse alerts…
Long before social media made sharing instant…

There was a horse named Idaho.

For the Metcalfe family, Idaho was not just a horse. She was family. For nine years, she was a constant presence, a trusted partner, a friend, and a cherished member of their lives. When Idaho was stolen at the age of twelve, their world stopped.

This was 1997. There were no Facebook posts, no viral shares, no online networks. But there was love. And love refused to be silent.

For 51 long weeks, the Metcalfe family searched.

They made phone calls.
They printed flyers.
They drove miles.
They followed every lead.
They endured sleepless nights and crushing disappointment.

And they never gave up.

Because love doesn’t quit.
Because family is worth fighting for.

After nearly a year of relentless searching, Idaho was found. She came home not because the road was easy — but because her people never stopped looking.

That moment did more than reunite a family with their horse.

It planted a seed.

A seed that grew into a promise:
No horse should be forgotten.
No family should search alone.

From that promise, Stolen Horse International was born.

Somewhere tonight, a horse is standing in a strange place, under unfamiliar stars.
Somewhere tonight, a family is missing a heartbeat from their barn.
And somewhere tonight, a person is whispering into the quiet:

I am still looking for you.

That whisper is the heartbeat of Stolen Horse International.

For every stolen, missing, or trafficked horse, there is a story that begins with love.
A child brushing a mane before school.
A rider swinging into the saddle after a long day.
A quiet moment in the barn where worries fade and trust takes their place.

Horses do not just live in pastures.
They live in hearts.

When that bond is broken by theft or disappearance, the loss feels unbearable. But love does not disappear.

Love becomes action.

That action is NetPosse.

NetPosse is a nationwide alert and information-sharing network built on the belief that no one should search alone. It connects horse owners, volunteers, advocates, investigators, and everyday people who understand that love is stronger when it is shared.

Each alert posted is more than a report.
It is a Valentine written in hope.

Each flyer shared is a love letter sent across miles.

Each tip called in is proof that compassion still exists.

Some cases are solved quickly.
Others take months.
Some take years.

But every single case matters.

Because every horse matters.

We have seen horses come home thin, scared, and tired… yet alive because someone cared enough to look. We have witnessed reunions filled with tears, shaking hands, and hearts finally able to exhale.

Those moments are why we do this.

Love is patient.
Love is persistent.
Love does not close the door.

This Valentine’s Day, while the world celebrates romance, Stolen Horse International celebrates something just as powerful:

The love between humans and horses.
The love between strangers who become teammates.
The love that refuses to forget.

If you have ever shared a NetPosse alert, you are part of this love story.
If you have ever printed a flyer, you are part of this love story.
If you have ever whispered, “I hope they make it home,” you are part of this love story.

Because love isn’t only about who is beside you.

Sometimes, love is about who you are still searching for.

And at Stolen Horse International and NetPosse…

We never stop searching.
We never stop hoping.
We never stop loving.

To learn more about our mission, report a stolen or missing horse, or become part of the NetPosse community, visit www.stolenhorseinternational.org and www.netposse.com . If you are able, please consider making a donation to support search efforts, awareness campaigns, and the tools that help bring horses home. Your support helps turn heartbreak into hope — and love into action.