Hendersonville, NC - Cory, a sorrel Quarter Horse
was tied to trailer at a rodeo and when owner returned
she found him gone. His lead rope was unbroken and
still tied to the trailer.

Two men had driven into this Westminster rodeo
with an empty trailer, loaded Cory and drove away.
He was later found after being identified from a flyer.

How safe is your horse at your rode or horse event?

Cory’s Story by Susie Justus

PART I: Cory's Theft on Rodeo Grounds

On Sept. 10, I went to the Westminster, SC IPRA sanctioned rodeo. I competed in the barrel racing, went back to the trailer, took care of my horse, Cory, and left him tied with his hay to eat. I went back to the arena to watch my friends who were in the slack (the overflow of contestants who compete after the regular show is over). When I got to the arena at about 10:30pm, the bull riding was just beginning so I watched all or it, and then they had the barrel racing slack which 1 watched also. When we got back to the trailer at about 11 :30pm, my horse was gone. His lead rope was unbroken and still tied to the trailer. His hay net still had hay in it. I frantically started trying to find him, but when 1 realized that he wasn't within 50 yards of the trailer, I knew something really wrong had happened. My friends and 1 looked allover the grounds (about 40 fenced in acres) and couldn't find a trace of Cory.

The rodeo officials insisted that the horse was out there, but we just couldn’t see him in the dark. I hoped they were right but knew they' were wrong. The Westminster police were on the scene and took a report. No one around saw anything unusual so I didn't know what to do.

I came home and arrived at about 3:30am. First thing in the morning, I started calling everyone I knew so that they too could call everyone that they knew. My friend, Deonna, came over and got some pictures and made a flyer up so we could start mailing and e-mailing them out. I called every horse sale that I could get a phone number for. I called people who might be going to upcoming sales. I had to wait until Monday to call any state officials. It was a painful, exhausting weekend.

I have since then called and mailed flyers everywhere and anywhere suggested. Many people are trying to help and I am very grateful to them, but I still have no solid leads. I do have several possibilities and am pursuing all of them. I have been to sales and will continue to go to more of them, but I have found that sales are extremely numerous and a lot of trading goes on behind the barn.

Several times, I have followed leads that have turned out to be dead ends. I have gone to sales and had my friends to go to other sales. People have written to me on the internet that they are looking at the sales in their area and also posting the flyers everywhere. I realize that to find the horse (or anything that was stolen) one must do the majority of the footwork themselves. Even so, I have been very pleased with the way Capt. James of the Westminster police department has handled the case. He has followed up on all information that I have given him and 1 feel that he is treating My case with as much importance as any other. I don't seem to be able to get much of anything done except work on this project. I am not sure how long my business and other responsibilities can stand the stress.

Part 2: Cory's recovery due to diligence of public and law enforcement 

On Thursday Sept. 22, I received a call from someone in Lavonia, GA who had heard a rumor that they felt could have something to do with my horse. They had seen my poster of Cory and remembered someone telling them that all individual who lived in Lavonia had told that he had won a horse. Upon seeing my poster, they found that statement to be very suspicious especially since the individual did not have a sterling reputation to say the least. Upon investigation, the horse was found at the residence of the person's brother. It turned out that both brothers were at the rodeo and apparently had intentions of obtaining a horse there since they went there with an empty horse trailer. The sheriff went to the home where the horse was and asked to see the horse. He compared him to the photograph and concluded that it was indeed my horse. He later had the horse transported to his own home.

Meanwhile, I was on my way to Lavonia not knowing what to expect. At the time of my trip, I was under the impression that Cory was still in possession of the suspect and that the suspect had not been apprehended. My trip was 3 hours of anxious worry. I met the sheriff and Investigators at an exit. They took me to the sheriff’s house where I picked up Cory. Believe it or not, he had been taken care of. His hair was rubbed off of his face where they had put a halter on and apparently left it for the duration. I could certainly live with that. I had feared much worse. Cory is now back at home, safe and sound. It is truly a miracle that I was able to recover him at all, but especially that I was able to do so in two weeks. I would like to make known my heartfelt appreciation to my friends, and to the strangers, that helped me in my search.