Cimarron's Story & Memorial Fund

The family and Alix have requested for those that want to help to donate to the 
Cimarron Memorial Fund

Cimarron's story -On November 26, 2004 a beautiful four year old Morab gelding named Cimarron was stolen from his pasture. It just so happened to be the same day as his young mistresses (Sky Dutcher) birthday making it a Black Friday indeed. 

It took several days of searching in vain (due to numerous lies by the thief and wildgoosechases) to come to the realization that something much worse had happened. When confronted by the police the thief said he had given the horse away. When the date the horse disappeared also coincided with the last Horse Sale at Chambers Auction Barn in Unadilla, NY the facts slowly began to unravel. It was soon discovered that the horse had indeed gone to this auction and been sold to Don Nickerson a meat buyer from Bainbridge, NY. 

Stolen Horse International was contacted and an Idaho Alert (Stolen Horse Alert-known as Idaho Alert in honor of the mare who inspired SHI when she herself was stolen from a field in NC) issued. A massive email campaign was launched to enlist as much help as possible in search of Cimarron. Sales were checked, posters put up, phone calls made but to no avail. Due to the late start of the search we were too late to save Cimarron from his last trip down the "Torture Trail" as the long stretch of highway between New York and Quebec, Canada has come to be called. We learned that Cimarron had been taken to Richelieu the day before we came to the realization of what had actually happened.

Due to the lack of enforcement of certain NYS Ag & Market rules and USDA regulations governing transport of horses without coggins as well as failure to prove ownership of the horse at consignment a young girl's best friend was cruelly slaughtered in his prime. Had proper protocol been observed this tragedy would never have happened as Cimarron would have been stopped at the in gate to Chambers. This horrific incident makes it quite clear that enforcement is needed with stiffer penalties for those that do not comply. An addendum needs to be made removing the exemption on slaughter horses not requiring a coggins. 

First of all, a thief is not going to take the time to get a proper coggins and chance getting caught. Secondly, it is absolutely irreprehensible to expose the general horse populace (many of which will be going to private stables and barns with other horses) to a disease risk as serious as EIA. Have we ever wondered why Europe has successfully eradicated EIA but we still have it here? Slaughter Horses should have a coggins! This would go a very long in preventing thefts such as Cimarron's and others like him. How many young hearts must be broken before something is done? Grabbing the dog by the tail just gets you bitten, time to grab it by the scruff of the neck and get somewhere!

Alix or Paul Dench-Layton

For Updates on Cimarron visit netposse.com - Stolen Horse International, Inc Idaho Alert: Morab Missing from NY 11-26-04

12/12/2004 11:56:47 PM  - Family Request - I spoke to Dale and Sky today and they have suggested that instead of condolences if you wish to send them something please make it a Xmas card as it has been sad enough considering the time of year. Dale is working diligently researching the law so as to make sure that all involved with Cimarron's theft are punished. 

Sky is still very much in mourning for Cimarron and does not yet feel ready to replace him. Knowing the both of them, and how much Sky loved him from the first moment she saw him I can fully understand her position. I'm sure with some time, she will eventually be ready for another horse. Again thank you for your kind offers.

If you are unable to donate then please if you have a website include a link to Stolen Horse International and show your support for Debi and the great service she provides. SHI is completely run on volunteers and donations. There are no paid employees and Debi has funded a lot of it herself. If you don't have a website then please join as a volunteer and when an Idaho Alert (stolen horse alert) is given, print flyers, notify the media, and forward the information on. If you have a particular area of expertise donate some of your time and knowledge to help us make SHI better and more effective. Every little bit counts. Money is not the only need at SHI.

I have been astounded by all that I did not know. I had no idea theft was such a problem nor how many laws are not enforced. There are already many checks in place that had they been followed and enforced this might not have happened- at least not with the same devastating results. One thing that must be changed is the current exemption for coggins on slaughterhorses- aren't these are highest risk group? It's time to stop grabbing the dog by the tail where he can still turn around and bite you and grab him by the scruff of his neck and give him a good shake. (To those of you who may take this literally, I do not grab my dog by the scruff of her neck and shake her! But then again being that she is a perfectly behaved lady, I don't have to!)

Alix or Paul Dench-Layton

For Updates on Cimarron visit netposse.com - Stolen Horse International, Inc Idaho Alert: Morab Missing from NY 11-26-04

Letter from Alix 12-9-04 -- It is with a very heavy heart that I report that Cimarron did indeed make the trip along the "Torture Trail" to Richelieu in Quebec. As you may recall I was having trouble on this end obtaining the documentation I needed to find out for sure whether or not he had been slaughtered. A gentlemen (whom I think is called Lorei) from the plant worked 'backwards' from his end and contacted Nickerson himself. He then called me to tell me the bad news. This gentleman was very apologetic and kind. I feel that it was very nice of him to help to this extent.

We are all devastated that this happened to such a young beautiful horse- and his young owner is taking this very hard. Although we are too late to save Cimarron we are not going to let his death be in vain. Our mission now is to put the thief behind bars and help insure that this does not happen to someone else. There are ways to do this- but we need to start with the beginning not the end. 

At this point the man who took Cimarron  has not yet even been arrested! We appreciate the calls, faxes, and emails you have already sent and ask that you help us keep up the pressure. Email me privately if you need the contact info again. Someone had suggested that I contact FOX news which I did. I was told to leave a message but have not heard back. If anyone else has any ideas for media coverage or contact info, please let me know. Thank you all so very much.

Alix or Paul Dench-Layton

It is with great sadness and through tearful eyes that I am writing this letter. At this mailing Cimarron's family, other than Dale's mother, may not have been notified that Cimarron has died. They do not have internet access. I received a call yesterday afternoon from Alix, who put her life aside to help the Dutcher's find their stolen horse. She found out that the buyer, a man named Nickerson in Pennsylvanian, after providing the lot number to another source matched a horse already sent through a slaughter facility

For an abbreviated update of this case see the notes below:· 

• On November 26, 2004 Cimarron was stolen from Roscoe, NY and sold through the Chambers Horse Auction in Unadilla, NY. The horse was bought by a man a killer buyer and horse dealer from Bainbridge, NY. The horse is owned by Dale Dutcher and his daughter Skye. There are many people working to bring Cimarron home to his 13 year old owner who is devastated. Not everyone contacted has been helpful or understands the severity (emotionally, financially, etc.) of this situation. We need help! It's almost Christmas and all this little girl wants is her horse back, he was actually stolen and sold on her birthday! – Alix Dench-Layton

Unfortunately for Skye and Dale, Cimarron was not retrieved in time to save him from the slaughter plant in Canada. In the seven years that I have been working with victims I have seen many cases that touched my heart—this is one of the ones that brings me to great sadness. Talking to Dale on the phone brought tears and opened old wounds for myself and Harold. It was one of the hardest phone calls I have handled in two years.

Cimarron, a beautiful, healthy 4-year old Morab gelding was snatched from his family. One has to wonder how a horse adjusts to such abrupt changes in his life so quickly. One has to wonder how the family deals with such a shocking loss.

Skye and Dale have been so upset already and fearful of this outcome. They kept holding onto hope. 

I think the family would appreciate knowing that people were here for them but Please DO NOT CALL THE FAMILY TODAY OR TOMORROW. Give them a chance to learn the fate of Cimarron from Alix. If you would like to send a card to the family I will get the mailing address soon and post on their site.

Debi Metcalfe

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