I had an experience from the other side. My four horses got out on an almost
completed golf course on a Saturday evening. No fault of ours, one of the
construction workers had left the gate open. We arrived at the pasture early
Sunday morning to catch horses and go pull ribbons for an AERC ride held the
previous day. A search of our 35 acre pasture turned up no horses, only an
open gate leading to the golf course at the bottom of a very steep hill. We
hiked back up the hill and drove around to the golf course. At that point
ran into a local police officer who relayed the story that the horses had
been found on the golf course the previous evening by some kids who had
caught them and led them home. The parents called Animal Control who arrived
and hauled them away. Three of them that is, one of the mares wouldn't load
in the two-horse trailer so was escorted to a local corral complete with
police cars flashing lights in the dark. We went to the local corral and
identified that mare, then drove 30 miles to identify the other three. Were
told by Animal Control that we could not take them home because it was
Sunday, so subsequently had to take time off work Monday and pay $300
(reimbursed by the construction company) to release them from Animal Control.
The local P.D. was sure of our sincerity, so convinced Animal Control to
release the mare held locally. She loaded with no fuss into our trailer.
My point, now that I've rambled, is that the "authorities" called the local
saddle shop and gave a description of the horses that was no where close to
what the horses looked like. One of our friends took the call and said she
never thought of us because they asked if she knew anyone with four brown
horses (we had two black, one liver chestnut, and one bay roan Appy w/no
tail).
Needless to say, we were a little upset. I know our county has a service
where you give a description of each of your horses, the location of your
property, and phone numbers where you can be reached. That way if there are
ever any loose horses in that vicinity they can call.
Good luck with your situation. Bureaucratic red tape sucks!
Sue @ Buzzard Gulch