PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Debi Metcalfe

PO Box 1341, Shelby, NC 28151

Text or call: (704) 472-4314

debi@netposse.com

Thousands Searching for Three Horses Stolen From Katy, TX 

 August 22, 2024—Yes, horses are stolen in 2024, and often. Horse theft did not go out of fashion in the Old West. Horses are stolen every day somewhere in the country. 

Between Thursday, August 15, and Friday, August 16, three beloved horses - Bella, El, and Silo - were stolen from a property in Katy, Texas.All are believed to have been stolen and reported to authorities, who treat this case as a criminal theft.

The three horses were taken from Katy Hockley Cut Off Road in Katy, Texas, and a report has been filed with the Houston County Sheriff's Office. 

Bella, a 12-year-old dark Bay (brown) mare, El, a 22-year-old dark Bay mare, and Silo, a 10-year-old Sorrel (reddish) mare, have not been together as lesson horses for years. The owner purchased them when the lesson barn closed because she grew up taking lessons on them. 

Their owner, Lauren St Hilaire, is devastated by this heart-wrenching loss. She describes the horses as her safe place, bringing joy and happiness to her daily life. These horses were not just animals; they were cherished companions and a source of comfort for her.

St Hilaire says, "I was on my way home from a work trip in Oklahoma when I discovered they had disappeared. I rushed straight home and have felt breathless ever since"

St Hilaire continues, "El and Bella are two horses that I was fortunate to adopt from the barn where I grew up riding for the last 20 years. El was the horse that I always dreamed of owning, and after 20 years, I finally had the opportunity to do so. I wanted her to spend her retirement with me by her side. Silo was the first horse I ever bought. They were my safe place, where I could relax and enjoy myself every day after work and every weekend, regardless of the weather or bugs. They made me happy. At first, I panicked because I couldn't understand how three horses could vanish, but now I see flyers everywhere, and people are sharing them and offering helpful advice. I'm still devastated, and every day is a struggle, but I'm hopeful."

"I just cannot believe that people out there do this. I am so worried about my babies. These horses were not in a place you do not see as you pass the property. Someone, somehow, knew where they were located. They cut the fence and led them across the road. They may have escaped with them through the levy." This unexpected theft has left me in shock and desperation. 

Lauren has been tirelessly working with Stolen Horse International, also known as NetPosse, a a reputable 501(c)(3) organization that has a long history of reuniting missing horses with their owners. 

One post on their Stolen Horse International-NetPosse Missing and Stolen Equine Facebook page has yielded over 3,000 shares in just over 24 hours. We encourage everyone on Facebook to go to the post and share it to their friends and contacts nationwide. The horses could be anywhere in the USA by now. 

Once St Hilaire discovered her horses were gone, she started her quest to find them by posting on Facebook. People on Facebook immediately recommended that she contact NetPosse, also known as Stolen Horse International, which has a 27-year history of helping reunite missing horses with their owners, some even as long as 10-12 years after they went missing. St Hilaire filed "Stolen Horse" reports on Stolen Horse International's website, www.netposse.org. 

"When they first went missing, I made a flyer and posted it. Everyone suggested NetPosse, so my friend and I looked it up. NetPosse went above and beyond, sharing the flyer, making phone calls, and providing advice and additional resources. They want to find them just as much as I do", says St. Hilaire.

After receiving the report, the organization issued a NetPosse Alert, similar to an Amber Alert, and created flyers to spread the word about the missing horses. The support and outreach from the community have been essential in the search effort. Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference. People who want to help find the horses can download and print them from the webpage.   

Volunteers with Stolen Horse International issued the NetPosse Alert, the horse industry 'Amber' alert, to social media platforms, network partners, and their NetPosse News e-newsletter.  

The Katy, TX 3 flyer must be posted in all public places by as many people as possible. Someone likely has seen the horses and needs to know who to contact. 

Remember, not everyone is on the Internet, especially in rural areas of the country. It is up to those on the Internet to download and print the flyer and post it in public places so those people can also help. 

" Help ensure these horses are seen in public by printing the flyer and posting it anywhere people gather," says Stolen Horse International founder Debi Metcalfe. We never know who may have information that can help bring the horses home. The flyers must be posted in as many public places as possible to maximize visibility. Every share and printed flyer increases the likelihood of returning these horses home." 

On their NetPosse.com listing, you will find webpages with information and a printable flyer for the "Katy TX 3." Any updates or leads will be posted there. 

If anyone has any information or leads, please don't hesitate to contact the owner, Lauren St Hilaire. Every little piece of information matters. To talk directly to the owner: Lauren St Hilaire, lnsthilaire@gmail.com, 281-413-2543 

 Pictures can be provided by request.

 For more information on Stolen Horse International and its programs, visit the website at www.netposse.com or www.netposse.org. Stolen Horse International is a Section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to it are tax-deductible as charitable contributions and are greatly appreciated.

Resources for the Katy TX 3

People interested in helping can search for NETPOSSE ID #8442, 8444, and 8445. You can also search for katytx3 in the site search feature to find all the information about horses on the website. 

You can also use the  direct link on the NetPosse.com site:

Stolen Horse named Bella - Katy, TX, 77493 | NetPosse ID #8442 - 15.1h, BELLA: 12y bay mare, long black mane, front right club foot, wearing therapeutic shoes, dished face.   

Stolen Horse named El - Katy, TX, 77493 | NetPosse ID #8445 - EL: 22-year-old dark bay AQHA mare has a white star and snip, a hind left white foot, and a white spot on the right side of her whithers and white at the base of her tail. She wears front shoes and has a hematoma on her right hip. https://netposse.com/tag.asp?id=8445

 Stolen Horse named Silo - Katy, Tx, 77493 | NetPosse ID #8444 AQHA mare - 15.1h, 10y Sorrel with full white blaze, four white socks. Last seen with a light blue/grayish halter on. https://netposse.com/tag.asp?id=8444

 We urge you to share this press release with your networks and on social media platforms to help us reach more people and increase the chances of finding the stolen horses. The online press release is located here: https://netposse.com/news.asp?id=4055

#katytx3 #netposse #stolenhorseinternational #pressrelease