[Dana Ramey]

Originally Posted by Beeks

Realistically though, any type of outdoor dog that sends out the alarm when strangers are around would be a good deterrent.

Unless they are feeling snackish..... and feel like a hot dog before hitting up you pony's.
hahaha

[Rider23663]

I'd be very interested in knowing what cuts of meat have been taken.... we know it's horse meat, but that doesn't mean that the perpatrators are marketing it as horse meat.....

Beeks is right in some ways --- 17 horses in 6 months is not enough to support a black market in horse meat..... and there does seem to be a ritual aspect...so, I'd also like to get a look at the homicide reports for the same times....

One of the thoughts that occured to me is some of the high priced restaurants that advertise meats from rare or endangered species. Horse meat would have a different enough taste that it could be passed off as something else, as few people would have enough experience with the flavor of horse meat to correctly identify it..... and butchering people's pets would be cheaper than buying a rare meat. I wonder if we could get a report of missing dogs in that area as well.....

John

[Nikki.M.]

I got curious and these websites have info on rituals of killing/mutilating horses:
http://guildspot.org/rno/modules.php...article&sid=39
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...se-ripper.html

Its not exactly the same type of killing but maybe a different group/cult could be doing these? I just thought you guys might like to see those, I am not trying to pin anything on any one type of people/group. Just a theory.

[mftx4]

Interesting theories. What about folks that deal in exotic animal trade? I know it's supposed to be illegal but it does happen.

[Nikki.M.]

I know I have heard of people feeding horses to lions and things like that... I don't know why they wouldn't just go to an auction and buy the cheap ones though..

[Rider23663]

Originally Posted by Nikki.M.

I know I have heard of people feeding horses to lions and things like that... I don't know why they wouldn't just go to an auction and buy the cheap ones though..

Killing a pet is cheaper than buying a cheap horse.... but looking into it -- at least as much as I can from the West Coast, I am thinking that 17 horses over 6 months would provide enough meat to be used as fake "exotic" meat, and wouldn't create the massive spectacle until it had gone on for a while.... hence why we are only hearing about it after 6 months and 17 horses.... although why they didn't take the colt as a tender cut raises questions on my theory.

My only answer there is that the criminals thought that sparing the colt would keep it from hitting the front page of a newspaper......killing a colt would have possibly created a lot of community notice.... but then again, I am only working with theories.

John

[mftx4]

I'm sure we're all just speculating and just giving thoughts. I just hope people in the areas where this is happening are on HIGH alert. I can't even imagine what those owners could be feeling.

[Beeks]

Originally Posted by Nikki.M.

I know I have heard of people feeding horses to lions and things like that... I don't know why they wouldn't just go to an auction and buy the cheap ones though..

I think you are taking the "black market" theory as fact when it is merely speculation. It would not be cheaper to pay $20 a pound to feed exotic animals, but killing the animal yourself to feed to your big cats, would.

I think investigators are feeling the pressure for answers in these killing but have none, so are blaming a faceless, illegal activity to try and take some of that pressure off.

The black market is HUGE in Florida so if all else fails, blame it on that.

[Beeks]

Originally Posted by mftx4

I'm sure we're all just speculating and just giving thoughts. I just hope people in the areas where this is happening are on HIGH alert. I can't even imagine what those owners could be feeling.

For sure I am just speculating.

I guess, if there is one good thing that can be said for the drop in the horse market, it is that it has lessoned the amount of horses being stolen. Most of the thefts we here of now has some type of quarrel behind them.

Still, I am glad all my horses are either back off the road or guarded by dogs. I cannot even imagine how devestated I would be to find one of mine gone, or worse, butchered.

[Nikki.M.]

Originally Posted by Beeks

I think you are taking the "black market" theory as fact when it is merely speculation. It would not be cheaper to pay $20 a pound to feed exotic animals

No, I mean if someone had big cats, maybe illegaly. Maybe they are doing this to feed their cats. But that doesn't make a lot of sense either, I dont see why they wouldn't just buy cheap horses and feed them to the cats. LOL, I dont even believe any of the theorys I have come up with. I just thought I'd give a few different angles.

I dont know what is going on, but I hope they get it figured out and dont just leave it be. Some horse owner is going to wind up getting put in prison for shooting someone who is butchering their horse.

I dont think the black market theory is right, why on earth would someone pay that much for meat that could potentially hurt them??