P.E.I. hobby farm owner is 'mind-blown' after someone cut off half her horses' tail hair
CBC
A western P.E.I. hobby farmer is warning other horse owners to be vigilant after someone snuck onto her property and chopped hair from her horses' tails.
Brandi Leveque lives on a small farm in Union, near Alberton, with her mother and daughter.
Earlier this week, the family noticed three of their horses — thoroughbreds Ellpo and Earl and a mini named Dora — each had about half the length of their tail hair cut off.
"First we thought maybe they had gotten their tail stuck somewhere, so we tracked the pasture, looked everywhere. We honestly didn't find a trace of hair anywhere," Leveque said.
"We think that somebody came in and cut the horses' tails. There is no other explanation as to why half of their tails are missing."
Leveque said neighbours noticed a truck's taillights on the hobby farm this past weekend, and part of the electric fence surrounding the field was also broken.
The family reported the incident to the RCMP, who are now investigating and asking for tips from the public about who could be responsible. Anyone with information is asked to call the Prince District detachment or Crime Stoppers.
While the theft is unsettling in itself, missing so much hair can also be uncomfortable for the animals.
Horses use their tails to swish away insects like deer flies that can deliver painful bites. They also use their tails to keep themselves cool in hot weather and as a form of communication with each other.
For now, Leveque found a makeshift solution by braiding colourful bailer twine into the horses' tails, but that only lasts for a few days at the most — and some horses' hair can take years to grow back.
"It's awful for them. It's put them in a position where they can't protect themselves without human assistance," Leveque said. "Every couple days we come out, double check their tails, make sure they're OK, rebraid them if they need to be braided.
"They just have to go through turmoil, basically, waiting for their tail to grow."
As for what someone would do with stolen horsehair, similar thefts have been reported from all over North America in recent decades.
Authorities elsewhere have speculated that the uses could include wigs and hair extensions — for both people and show horses.
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