Every business that wants to make money keeps SERIOUS track of expenses-all of them. Horse related businesses are no different. Hay, feed, fuel for the implements, maintenance costs, fertilizer, vet bills, farriers - it never ends. Each check is duly entered into the ledger with a notation as to what the funds are being used for...or supposedly being used for. 

Ah, yes, that last one is the real hooker, isn't it? Don't know about you, but we sacrifice to keep our horses, so where the money goes IS an issue. Pennies get pinched until they think they are at Gitmo around here! Don't need any help on spending the money. 

 

Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines discovered in 2010 that someone was doing exactly that, however. The farm is located near Limerick in Chester County, PA. It seems that the farm's financial controller, Sarah Susanna Barnshaw, was writing checks that her boyfriend, Jared B. Harrison, was cashing. The checks were for hay, feed, and other agricultural products - none of which Harrison has anything to do. Major fail. 

 

Harrison was given a short sentence of 6-23 months in July because of a plea deal. In that deal, he related that he only got the use of part of the $11,000 stolen from the farm. Barnshaw would write the checks, he cashed them and put the money into his account, and she removed the money via a credit card that she had use of. 

 

The farm noticed the financial irregularities and called in auditors who identified the problem. Barnshaw was fired from her position in February 2010. Total amount of Barnshaw's theft was about $40,000. She is currently still awaiting trial on multiple counts of theft and credit card fraud. 

 

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140715/limerick-man-pleads-guilty-to-receiving-stolen-funds-from-ryerss-horse-farm

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