Iowa horse trainer Joni Nelson had $75,000 worth of tack that was stolen from her trailer near the Denver Stock Show in January and GoHorseShow.com caught up with her to see if any progress had been made in locating the missing tack.
The beginning of 2012 has been a tough time for Team Nelson, but their success at the recent Dixie Nationals may have lessened the blow a little bit. They had several circuit championships and wins during one of the largest shows in the country.
However, with regard to the stolen tack, they haven’t had any luck locating the items. “Who knows where it is or who has it. We have been very fortunate to be able to replace almost ninety-eight percent of our items,” Joni says. “Our home owner’s insurance has covered everything that we had stolen. Most of our customers who had things stolen were able to get their tack replaced. We only had one customer’s insurance refuse to pay for a replacement because they said it was out of state.”
Joni explains that they had less than three weeks from the time their equipment was stolen until their next show but with the amazing help and support of Blue Ribbon Custom Tack, Roth Show Equipment, Ray Maheu, Chuck Letchworth, The Hitching Post, The Tack Room, Cowpokes Western Store and Schneiders Saddlery–they were able to get their “life” back in order and get to their shows on schedule.
“I would tell anyone with any kind of tack to take photos or even videos of all the equipment you have,” Nelson advises. “Also, get an insurance policy on what you have and copy or keep original receipts in a folder that you can go back and reference if the time ever comes that you need them.”
Joni adds, “Keep records of any and all serial numbers on tack, that will be very important and of great value to ever getting our tack or anyone’s tack back eventually.”
Nelson says that it has been a long few weeks that seem much longer due to the hassle of having to replace everything.
“We have see the worst of the horse world and the best of the horse world with people across the country calling and saying that they were on the look out and had our backs on this,” Nelson says. “People that I didn’t even know and from different breeds–that tells ya that we are all in this together!”
Nelson says that the only way she sees any of their equipment showing up is if someone tries to trade in one of the Blue Ribbon saddles, and law enforcement finds them that way.
“I am not giving up,” Joni says. “I find myself searching the internet at night when I get time!”
Team Nelson says that they would like to thank everyone for their concern and support during this trying time.
