Post advert helps teen find her missing horse
A STOLEN horse has been reunited with its owner, thanks to an appeal in the Evening Post.
Hobo, the six-year-old grey gelding, was missing from his farm for more than a week.
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Thirteen-year-old Shelby Peppard and her friend Lauren Mitchell with Hobo.
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But, after an advert placed in the paper, he was the centre of a tearful reunion.
Hobo's 13-year-old owner, Shelby Peppard, had cried herself to sleep every night since he went missing from Forge Mill Farm at Cilonnen, near Three Crosses, on Sunday December 13.
The teenager lives with her family in Sandfields but was used to visiting her horse every day and riding him on Saturdays and Sundays.
She had been riding with him on the day before he was reported stolen.
Police were informed about Hobo's disappearance and family and friends carried out search parties often late into the night.
A campaign was also launched to raise awareness of the missing animal on the social networking site Facebook, which attracted around 300 members.
The Peppard family also received a false alarm in the hunt for Hobo.
Shelby's mum Tracey said: "We had one false alarm from the advert but it was good that people had noticed."
But, it was only after the horse mysteriously arrived in the garden of a neighbour near the farm where he was last seen that the Peppard family were given hope of his return.
Mrs Peppard said: "Lots of my friends had been out looking for him and we had a false alarm but it was good people had noticed the advert in the paper.
"A lady then rang us and said she had seen the advert and said I think I've got your horse in my garden.
"She doesn't know how the horse got there but she was really excited for us."
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Mrs Peppard said her family had had an awful week while Hobo was missing but thanked her family and friends for a mammoth effort in helping to find him.
She said: "There was screaming and shouting when we were told he had been found. It was wonderful. My daughter was hysterical when she knew it was Hobo.
"We've been really lucky thanks to the advert in the Evening Post."
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk
Comments
by Medusa, Swansea
Tuesday, December 29 2009, 6:35PM
“What a fab outcome. I am so pleased for Shelby; I understand how precious horses are, they hold a very special place in your heart.
Look afer your pony, love him and give him the best gift you can: to keep him for the rest of his life so that he will be safe and never at risk of going to a bad home.
I gather this naughty chap went wandering then?”