Reward offered in horse shooting

Courtesy photo THIS HORSE was one of two found tied up and shot. One was found near the Dixie Community and the other horse was found in the woods off U.S. Highway 63 West. Call the Sheriff's Department at 384-5417 if you have any information.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Department is still seeking information on who shot two horses found tied to trees in different parts of the county, according to Captain Stacey Chambers of the Jasper County Sheriff's Department.

The horse whose picture ran last week has been identified as a rare Fell pony valued at $10,000. The owner is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who supplies information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot it.

Fell ponies are native to the fells (rugged, stony hills) of northern England. Although averaging only 13 hands, the ponies were valued by Reivers for being intelligent, sturdy and sure-footed. The owner, who lives in the Dixie community, said there are only about 250 Fell ponies in the United States.

The other horse was found Feb. 20 tied to a tree in the woods on U.S. Highway 63 west of Jasper. It had a single gunshot wound to the leg and was tied up and abandoned. Deputies got it to a vet where it died.

It is not known if the same person was responsible for both shootings. Chambers said by publicizing the crimes, he hopes people will come forward with information leading to an arrest. Call the Jasper County Sheriff's office at 384-5417.