Phoenix, NC Missing horse has been recovered!

From: Brandy Houk
To: stolenhorse@netposse.com
Subject: Phoenix is home
Created: 05/19/2009 13:30:02
PHOENIX IS HOME!!!

These past few days have been trying to me. But I am grateful for all the support that has been given in a time of need. .. Thank you Debi Metcalf. I know you and you staff have worked long and hard getting the word out. My biggest nightmare is that someone would have pick Phoenix up and I'd never know what had happened to her. It was a great relief knowing you had my back. Know the word was getting around so my nightmares would not come true. Thank you!!

Extremely Grateful,
Brandy Houk

PHOENIX IS HOME!!!
Diary of a missing horse victim
By Brand Houk

Saturday May 16, 2009: On Saturday night around 6:00 pm, when I found Phoenix missing, I ran back to the house grabbed all my saddles and called several friends. I put riders on all my horse and began to track Phoenix. The trail went dry at the corn field. I had 4 cars circling the area; we found nothing.

It was dark by the time I got back to the barn from searching via horseback. I began driving around. Mr. Patton suggested I walk his land which butts up against our property. (Mr Patton and I met under sad circumstances about two weeks ago when his two horses had gotten loose and one was hit by a vehicle) So in the rain I walked for approx two hours.

None of my friend backed down. It seemed as though the force grew bigger.  At 11:30 or so we called it a night.

Sunday May 17, 2009: Still raining. At 7:00 am I drove around every where again looking for evidence. I contacted Netposse.com.  Around 10:30am we were back on the horses... following any trail we could, deer and dog trails and even check Mr. Patton’s land again. There were no signs, no poop and no hoof prints.

I had one friend and my husband driving around. By 4 o’clock my horses were exhausted. My mother and brother had printed flyers that Netposse.com had created for me.  Once they arrived we began to hand them out in the area by door knocking on doors till dark. Once again I had to call it a day.

(Yes, there is a lack of meals in this tale for a reason.. I could not eat nor sleep well. If I slept I would have nightmares of the "what ifs", the possibilities of what could or is happening to Phoenix. I would have small breakdown and just continue on)

Monday May 18, 2009: Morning—I got up. It was the first morning it wasn't raining. It was cool. The creeks were high. At 9:00 am I was in them, walking. I knew Phoenix would need water from somewhere. Yet again, three hours of creek walking and I found no sign. I found deer, dog, coyote and turkey tracks but no Phoenix tracks.  At noon I began calling more vets. I had already called ours. From there I began blanketing the areas and going in town to post flyers. By last night I had almost 200 flyers and posters out.... I was going to find my baby girl.

Tuesday May 19, 2009: This morning I lay in bed trying to decide what needed to be done today. I knew I needed to go back in the woods. I was going to do that when "my teens" (no relation, just act like a big sister to them) get out of school. I knew I needed more posters out. Yet I could not get up. I just lay there.

At 8:16 this morning Mr. Patton called. He said your horse is on the road. My worst nightmare after what had happened to his horse. I jumped up and felt like I could fly. As I drove up to her I could see that Mr. Patton’s daughter was in a car facing her just trying to protect her. What she later said was she was afraid she'd spook her off.  The poor woman had to back up the road from her because Phoenix wanted her attention. As if to say" Why aren't you getting out to love me?” I pulled off to the side of the road, jump out and called her. Her ears perked up and she nonchalantly walked strait to me with a little nicker. She laid her head on my shoulder and I gave her a huge hug as I started to weep. I walked Phoenix home.

I am ecstatic to say she is still in good health. She has lost a few pounds but not too many. And her tail has been ruffled but I have found no other new scratches on her.

These past few days have been trying to me. But I am grateful for all the support that has been given in a time of need.

Thank you Debi Metcalfe!  I know you and you staff have worked long and hard getting the word out. My biggest nightmare is that someone would have pick Phoenix up and I'd never know what had happened to her.  It was a great relief knowing you had my back. Know the word was getting around so my nightmares would not come true. Thank you!!

Extremely Grateful,

Brandy Houk
Tuesday May 19, 2009