In Loving Memory of Thunder

November 24, 2015
(Originally published in 2015, this article has been updated as part of our ongoing commitment to accuracy, awareness, and equine protection.)

Thunder was a 23‑year‑old retired Thoroughbred who had long since left the racetrack behind and was living a quiet life in Miami, Florida. He was well known to his owners, Sandra and Jeffery Fobb, as a familiar, steady presence—safe at home, surrounded by other horses, and cared for as part of their family.

Sometime during the night of November 21 and the early morning hours of November 22, Thunder disappeared from his paddock. When the property was checked, it quickly became clear that this was not an accident. Sections of fencing had been deliberately cut, and tire tracks were visible near the area where the horse had last been seen. Of the horses turned out that night, Thunder was the largest.

Not long afterward, Thunder was found deceased. His identity was confirmed through his lip tattoo and freeze brand on the right side of his neck. The condition in which he was discovered strongly suggested that he had been slaughtered for meat.

For his owners, the loss was devastating. For the broader horse community, it was another painful reminder that theft is not only about property—it is about trust violated, bonds broken, and lives taken without mercy.

Authorities continue to investigate.

Anyone who may have information related to Thunder’s disappearance or death is encouraged to contact Detective E. Mathis at 305‑252‑8311, the Miami‑Dade Agricultural Patrol Unit at 786‑218‑8344, or Crime Stoppers at 305‑471‑TIPS (8477). Tips may also be submitted anonymously through crimestoppersmiami.com.

A Pattern That Could Not Be Ignored

Thunder’s death did not occur in isolation.

In the year leading up to his disappearance, seven horses were reported missing to Stolen Horse International in the Miami‑Dade area alone. Taken individually, each case was alarming. Taken together, they revealed a pattern that could not be dismissed as a coincidence.

Stolen Horse International was the first organization to publicly report the butcherings occurring in Florida. Based on the escalating number of missing horses, the methods used, and the locations involved, it was clear to us that this was not random theft. Something far more deliberate—and far more dangerous—was unfolding.

Our Mission, Our Promise

Stolen Horse International exists to protect horses and the people who love them. We work to prevent theft through education and awareness, to assist law enforcement with credible information, and to help families recover their horses whenever possible.

When patterns emerge, we speak up. When silence would put more horses at risk, we refuse it.

Thunder mattered. His life mattered. And the growing number of horses taken under similar circumstances demands vigilance, action, and accountability.

We honor Thunder’s memory—and the memory of every horse lost—by continuing this work, by telling their stories, and by standing watch so that fewer owners will ever have to experience this kind of heartbreak again.