Shari said:
I would put fliers up around that area, stating information wanted for a young man that threatened to kill your horse. Many other folks will not like the idea of an animal killer about because if the kid has killed an animal once they'll keep doing it.
Now THAT is asking for trouble. Not only is it going to really p!ss off the punk in question, it puts your contact information right out there for him to find so he can come and hurt you or your horses!
Nope, uh-uh, no way. Make a report with the police, talk to the neighbors so they know what's happened and can keep an eye out, then do what you have to to keep yourself safe.
susanne said:
While pepper spray or bear spray are good to have, they aren't always a good defense...
In this case, with him going to Rolex's head, you couldn't spray him without also spraying your horse. If there were any wind, you could disable yourself as easily as them.
That thought had occured to me too.
Still, it's a nice threat! *LOL*
I have permission from quite a few of my neighbors to take the horses on their property and I did use those escape routes when I was being threatened. I was sincerely afraid that the group of young men had rape on their minds so I was desperate to get OUT of there. I went into "Defensive Driving" mode and Kody and I headed home at a fast trot and ducked behind hedges and parked cars to hide when they drove by each time. As soon as they were safely out of sight to circle the block we'd pick up a dead run until we saw headlights again. I have never been so scared as when we turned onto our street (having not seen them for a few minutes) and their car was parked on the dark road between me and home.
If I'd been riding I would have ducked onto the pipeline that runs parallel to the road without hesitation and gone around them in the dark but that wasn't an option with a cart as you have to cross a steep narrow ditch. I was so angry at myself for having left the cell phone at home (something I almost never do). If I'd had it I would have simply stayed out of sight at the end of the street and called my dad to come down from the other end with a light and his gun to spook them away. As it was, I felt I had no choice but to pass them. I got out in the middle of the road and stayed far away from them and at the first sign of a car door opening I was prepared to ask Kody to bolt. Thank God for well-trained, smart, brave little horses!!
The car kept idling forward to stay just ahead of us but finally pulled into a driveway to turn around. As soon as they were in a position where they were turned away I sent Kody into a gallop and we ran for our lives. I was so scared!! Thankfully there were three neighbors I have the property agreement with just past that so I ducked down the driveway of one with more than one exit and hid on his property until they left and my heartrate was a bit lower. Kody took such good care of me that night- he never hesitated whether I was saying "Run!" or "Whoa, Hide!"
Good neighbors, a cell phone and a little forethought can save your life.
Leia
