Thieves Clip Hair From Horse Manes, Tails
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Investigators in the Rapid City area are looking into some unusual thefts: horsehair.
Jerry Derr, investigative chief for the South Dakota Brand Board, is investigating reports that two 1 1/2-year-old fillies and another horse have had varying portions of their tails and manes clipped. The thief or thieves probably are selling or trading the horsehair, Derr said.
Caballo, a Spanish mustang, has lost about two-thirds of her dark tail and nearly all of the right side of her mane over the last two months. Caballo's owner, Terrence Aisenbrey, said the double mane is distinctive of Spanish mustangs.
Sundance, a palomino quarter horse also owned by Aisenbrey, has lost much of her mane and tail as well. Another Aisenbrey horse, a 23-year-old black and white paint, has lost much of her mane.
The horsehair thieves have struck several times since the end of summer. The most recent incident was early in December. "It's somebody who knew what they were doing," Aisenbrey said.
Derr said he has had no other recent reports of thieves cutting horses' manes and tails.
Thieves, using shears instead of scissors, trimmed underneath the manes so the loss wouldn't be noticeable right away, he said. They also clipped the widow's peak at the top of their manes, which spills over the top of their faces.
Aisenbrey agrees the thieves likely have sold the hair or used it to make braided horsehair hatbands or belts.
It was a relatively easy clip job because the two fillies are extremely friendly, Aisenbrey said. "They're lovable, just like a big dog."
Aisenbrey has reported the incidents to local law enforcement but acknowledged it's impossible to patrol the area 24 hours a day.
He said he's angry because the horses look disfigured and lack protection. "Mother Nature put that on there for protection, whether from the heat or the cold. Without a mane, you have no ball cap. Without a tail, how do you swat a fly?"
It will take at least six months for the manes and tails to grow back, Aisenbrey said.
The first major horsehair theft spree occurred about 10 years ago in the ranch country north of Exit 61 on Interstate 90, Derr said.
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Investigators in the Rapid City area are looking into some unusual thefts: horsehair.
Jerry Derr, investigative chief for the South Dakota Brand Board, is investigating reports that two 1 1/2-year-old fillies and another horse have had varying portions of their tails and manes clipped. The thief or thieves probably are selling or trading the horsehair, Derr said.
Caballo, a Spanish mustang, has lost about two-thirds of her dark tail and nearly all of the right side of her mane over the last two months. Caballo's owner, Terrence Aisenbrey, said the double mane is distinctive of Spanish mustangs.
Sundance, a palomino quarter horse also owned by Aisenbrey, has lost much of her mane and tail as well. Another Aisenbrey horse, a 23-year-old black and white paint, has lost much of her mane.
The horsehair thieves have struck several times since the end of summer. The most recent incident was early in December. "It's somebody who knew what they were doing," Aisenbrey said.
Derr said he has had no other recent reports of thieves cutting horses' manes and tails.
Thieves, using shears instead of scissors, trimmed underneath the manes so the loss wouldn't be noticeable right away, he said. They also clipped the widow's peak at the top of their manes, which spills over the top of their faces.
Aisenbrey agrees the thieves likely have sold the hair or used it to make braided horsehair hatbands or belts.
It was a relatively easy clip job because the two fillies are extremely friendly, Aisenbrey said. "They're lovable, just like a big dog."
Aisenbrey has reported the incidents to local law enforcement but acknowledged it's impossible to patrol the area 24 hours a day.
He said he's angry because the horses look disfigured and lack protection. "Mother Nature put that on there for protection, whether from the heat or the cold. Without a mane, you have no ball cap. Without a tail, how do you swat a fly?"
It will take at least six months for the manes and tails to grow back, Aisenbrey said.
The first major horsehair theft spree occurred about 10 years ago in the ranch country north of Exit 61 on Interstate 90, Derr said.