JEFFERSON COUNTY, MO—Mark and Suzanne Lenz lost a member of their family this week.

It was confirmed that Mark’s therapy horse, Cooper, a Palomino Missouri Fox Trotter, who went missing on July 11^th, was found deceased within half a mile from the Lenz property. Full details are not available at this time but it is probable that Cooper died of injuries that occurred after he left the Lenz pasture.

According to By Natalia Alamdari St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mark says, “He was an amazing animal. At least we know one way or another now. He was on his way home.”

Mark Lenz told Stolen Horse International, Inc., aka NetPosse.com, about his injury years ago, one that left him unable to walk for almost a year. Cooper was there for Mark as he fought his way back to recovery. Mark even bought special stirrups so he could ride his beloved horse. Riding Cooper was the best therapy Mark had as it not only helped him rebuild the strength in his legs but also helped him fight is depression.

The Lenz family filed a missing horse report with Stolen Horse International, Inc.™, and has been working feverishly to find Cooper with the help of many volunteers. The family has been handing out NetPosse flyers and searching by foot and by car, all to bring their beloved horse home to their family.

Pam Miller, one of Stolen Horse International’s lead volunteers spent hours sending out press releases from Stolen Horse International which brought mass news coverage to the area. Pam even arranged to have a drone operator meet the couple to search their property by air. Thousands of NetPosse Alerts were disseminated not only in the area, but nationwide as well. In the end, this volunteer was heartbroken to hear the outcome of Saturday’s search for Cooper.

“I had worked so closely with the family to find Cooper that the news of his death devastated me. I can only imagine what the Lenz family is feeling. I am so sorry for their loss. We all are,” says Pam Miller, Reports Manager with Stolen Horse International.

In a quote in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, Mark says, “I learned what real love was today. My tears today were that he suffered. He didn’t deserve it. It’s not about me, it’s about what he went through.“

Stolen Horse International sends our heartfelt condolences out to the Lenz family in this difficult time. It is never easy to lose someone or something that we love. We thank each and everyone who supported the Lenz family's search in any way. 

Suzanne Lenz posted the following comment on a video tribute to Cooper on Stolen Horse International, Inc., aka NetPosse.com.

"Thank you for all your support and kind hearted comments. Pain and heartbreaking news today. On the positive note we made some life long friends out of such a sad tragedy. God Bless all of you."

We end this article with Mark Lenz's Facebook statement about Cooper.

"I'm not sure i could repay people who had been invovled in the search or concern for my boy Cooper, and the glory and prayers that you all share with my family are recieved with open arms and gratitude of the deepest level, but our sadness is not that we will share our time and life with him again., but please direct tlove an honor to this amazing family member that did not deserve to endure any pain or suffering. Our love and care about him having to suffer. Our pain only is of praying that he did not feel alone, and i pray he kew he made our heart s overflow with love because of his gentle kinder spirit. Cooper please know that your life changed ours forever and you never ever be forgotten." 

 Additional Resource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/missing-therapy-horse-found-dead-in-jefferson-county/article_30dc3cd8-7de9-5f29-b93b-3960c9fba075.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share We would also like to thank them for their support. 

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