FROM AUSTRAILIA--

Gifted horses go missing from Circus Olympia in Craigieburn, UPDATE

CIRCUS staff have wept tears of joy after two valuable horses, including a tricky pony star, were found late last night.The two show horses went missing from Circus Olympia at Craigeburn within hours of arriving just before a week of performances.
Elizabeth Allen, Gilliam McGee
From: Herald Sun, Leader Updated March 09, 2011

Today, the circus is celebrating after Belle the Shetland cross pony and Dusty a miniature show horse, were rediscovered.
The loss left the circus reeling and wondering how the show would go on, but last night the missing horses were found on an oval in Roxburgh Park.
Police were called to an oval on McPherson Blvd last night at 10.30pm after missing Circus Olympia ponies Belle and Dusty were sighted, the Hume Leader reports.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar..End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.Circus Olympia assistant animal groomer Maureen Martin said circus staff were overjoyed the ponies were back safe and well and praised Craigieburn Police for their help.
“There were a lot of tears of joy last night,’’ Ms Martin said.
Craigieburn Sgt Stuart Carter said police suspected the horses were stolen, before being released.
“They weren’t wandering around all day,’’ Sgt Carter said.
Ms Martin said the circus would increase security.
Chavella Ferroni, office administrator at Circus Olympia, said they had not even finished putting up all the tents when the horses went missing from their stables.
“We just woke up this morning and noticed they were gone. One of the leads is broken and one is just completely gone,” she said.
Ms Ferroni said the horses were integral to the show and the circus will be missing some acts because of their disappearance.
“One of the horses that has gone missing is actually our main animal and she is a trick pony she does one whole act by herself with her trainer,” Ms Ferroni said about Belle.
“The other one [Dusty] that has gone missing is part of a set in our mixed animal act so the other one won’t work without him,” she said.
Ms Ferroni said the horses were irreplaceable. “It took years to train them and they all get used to each other because they are part of a set.
The circus had offered a $500 reward for the return of the animals.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/gifted-horses-go-missing-from-circus-olympia-in-craigieburn/story-e6frf7kx-1226017628406?from=public_rss