GRANT, Mich. (WZZM)-A Newaygo County family is dealing with an unusual destruction of property case. It involves the family's horse and its tail.
For Rachal North, it was upsetting. Her 18-year old horse named "Star" now has to wear a blanket to stay warm. Last Tuesday someone came onto the property and cut the horse's tail off. "Her tail was all the way down to her feet", says Rachal.
The family is now worried the same will happen to their pony named "Bandit". He belongs to Rachal's 11-year old daughter, Samantha Graham. "Oh my gosh, what's going to happen next. They'll get Bandit too", says Samantha.
So why would someone want to cut the tail off a horse? Rachel says it's because horse hair is worth money. People use it to make belts, hats, jewelry, and strings on instruments."
In this case, "Star's" tail was cut all the way up to the bone. "It was probably about 2-pounds worth. Which according to what I looked up on the internet, hair is worth 37 to 80 dollars per pound."
The hair may be worth money, but, for the horses, it serves a purpose. They use it to swat flies off their bodies. "We will have to put bug spray on her 2 to 3 times a day, to keep bugs away from her", says Rachal. It could take up to three years for her full-tail to grow back.
Since the tail-cutting incident, Rachal says she's been hearing from other owners that the same thing happened to their horses. Neighbors heard two snowmobiles in the area the night it happened. The next night, someone tried to chase them down, but they disappeared into the woods.
If you have any information about what happened, you're asked to call the Newaygo County Sheriff's Department.
By Sarah Sell
In your voice
