Sweet reunion after theft

It is unusual for horses to be stolen, but the extraordinary reunion between horse and owner was bittersweet after an animal was found 20 kilometres from the Honeydew area.

Melanie Moore cried uncontrollably for ten minutes with her face buried in her horse Sweets’ neck when she went to ascertain whether the horse found by police officers from Kagiso was hers.

“I did not believe them when they told me that they had found my horse, but I went anyway.”

Now dubbed as her miracle horse, Melanie described the events leading up to their reunion at the Kagiso Police Station two days after the theft.

When she received the news on Wednesday 2 October that her beloved Sweets was not in the stable with her other seven horses, she was devastated because she had rescued her about 20 years ago from people who had abused her.

“I immediately contacted Karina Smit from Askari Heights and we got on our horses and started searching the area. We also contacted a security company, the Honeydew Police Station and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for help.”

After being unable to track down Sweets they continued searching by car. From the tracks they concluded that the horse must have been led or ridden as they could not find any vehicle tracks.

“After driving around the area and around Zandspruit we went to the police to open a case. When I told them that my horse had been stolen, they could not believe it as horses rarely are stolen in the area.”

Melanie alerted everyone in the area and even posted information and a picture of Sweets on websites and several social media networks.

Morgan Kearsey (14) who rides the horse at competitions was devastated when Melanie broke the news to her.

The next day Melanie and her team continued searching for her horse and a client gave her a number for the Stock Theft Unit. She sent them a picture of Sweets, but she felt that it was hopeless.

“We drove around some more and I used up all my airtime, but we found nothing.”

At about 10pm that night a patrolling police vehicle in Kagiso spotted a horse and rider. When the vehicle approached the man, he jumped off the horse and ran away.

The officers brought the horse to the police station where staff members helped to remove the horrible bit that was cutting into the side of the horse’s mouth.

“Someone brought an apple and water, and they informed the Stock Theft Unit,” explains Melanie.

“On Friday morning, two days after Sweets was taken, my phone rang and a calm voice explained that I must come and identify my horse in Kagiso.”

Very half-heartedly she agreed to go, even though she was sceptic about the possibility of being reunited with her horse. “The officer at the reception desk of the police station asked me for a picture of my horse and said that it could be my Sweets.

“I did not believe him at all. When I came around the corner of the building I had to look twice as it was so surreal – I screamed.”

When Sweets arrived back home she neighed loudly as if she was counting her blessings, Melanie told the NEWS.

They had to wash her belly that was caked with blood, she had a huge swelling below her chest and a day later her front leg became swollen. Her abductor also cut off her tail.

“We will put in some hair extensions to help her to chase away the summer flies.”

Melanie says they went back to the Kagiso Police Station that very same evening to thank the officers who made their reunion a memorable one.

“Sweets seems to be very happy to see everyone and she is getting back to her old self again.”