A Kerry farmer has told Agriland of his “massive relief” after his miniature horses which were believed to have been stolen were recovered.
The grey Falabella mare with a brown and white foal at foot owned by John Mullins were taken sometime between 10:00p.m on Tuesday (August 13) and 8:00a.m yesterday (Wednesday, August 14).
The farmer said that the pair were kept in a small well-fenced field with a secure gate on the farm in the Caragh Lake area of mid-Kerry.
He discovered that the mare and young foal, which were only recently bought as pets for his children, were missing when he noticed the gate was open yesterday morning.
Miniature horses
The farmer issued appeals through social media and on Agriland in a bid to recover the missing animals, along with searching the local area on foot.
Around 6.30p.m yesterday, he received a call from a neighbour around a mile away saying that the mare and foal had “come in off the road into his place”.
Mullins, who had reported the suspected theft to local gardaí, believes that the social media campaign may have played a role and given those responsible for taking the miniature horses “cold feet”.
The farmer said that the pair could also have been difficult to load into a box which may have led to them being abandoned.
He added that another two ponies taken during a separate incident in the nearby Beaufort area on the same night were also recovered last night, much to the relief of their owners.
Mullins thanked all of those who offered to help in finding the missing animals and said that it showed the kindness of strangers.
“Whoever took them are in the minority, the people who offered help and support are in the majority,” he said.
The mare and foal are now back in their paddock and are reported to be “in the best of health and uninjured”.
Despite the successful outcome, the farmer and his family were left “very upset and stressed” by the whole incident.
Mullins said that he is now reviewing security on his farm and will be installing CCTV cameras in a bid to deter criminals.