Thunder in the night: horse theft turns into a circus ... on a ute
from: smh.com.au
Amy McNeilage
February 22, 2012
Thunder the circus pony may not be very experienced - he's not had his first performance in the ring - but he's mysteriously in demand.
In the dead of night, at 1am today, the manager of Webers Circus was woken to be told by neighbours they had had just seen a ute back up to their horse pen.
They had seen Thunder - who weighs more than 250 kilograms - tied up with karate belts and being dragged along behind the ute away from the Newcastle Showground.
It is not known how the three men got the miniature pony on to the vehicle because it disappeared around the corner.
"They must have realised they weren't going to get far like that and got him on top somehow," circus owner Natalie Weber said.
"He loves attention and loves people. He would have just gone right up to them."
Manager Julie Peterson said police were called immediately and found the ute parked behind a bowling club - with the horse hidden under a tarpaulin.
Thunder was returned to the circus unhurt.
"We would have been devastated if we didn't get him back," said Mrs Peterson. "All our animals are a part of the family."
Thunder has been with the family business for three years and was still training to enter the arena.
Mrs Peterson is "dumbfounded" as to why anyone would want to rustle the horse - a practice known as duffing.
Thunder had been in a night pen with five other horses and two donkeys.
"They seemed to pick out one particular horse," she said.
"I have no idea why. It's so crazy."
She thinks those responsible must have been watching the circus, which has been performing at the showground for two weeks.
She said it wouldn't have been an easy task to lift the pony into the ute.
"He's a beautiful horse but he's not light," she said. "He's got a belly on him."
In the dead of night, at 1am today, the manager of Webers Circus was woken to be told by neighbours they had had just seen a ute back up to their horse pen.
They had seen Thunder - who weighs more than 250 kilograms - tied up with karate belts and being dragged along behind the ute away from the Newcastle Showground.
It is not known how the three men got the miniature pony on to the vehicle because it disappeared around the corner.
"They must have realised they weren't going to get far like that and got him on top somehow," circus owner Natalie Weber said.
"He loves attention and loves people. He would have just gone right up to them."
Manager Julie Peterson said police were called immediately and found the ute parked behind a bowling club - with the horse hidden under a tarpaulin.
Thunder was returned to the circus unhurt.
"We would have been devastated if we didn't get him back," said Mrs Peterson. "All our animals are a part of the family."
Thunder has been with the family business for three years and was still training to enter the arena.
Mrs Peterson is "dumbfounded" as to why anyone would want to rustle the horse - a practice known as duffing.
Thunder had been in a night pen with five other horses and two donkeys.
"They seemed to pick out one particular horse," she said.
"I have no idea why. It's so crazy."
She thinks those responsible must have been watching the circus, which has been performing at the showground for two weeks.
She said it wouldn't have been an easy task to lift the pony into the ute.
"He's a beautiful horse but he's not light," she said. "He's got a belly on him."
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