SALEM, Ohio — A recent Miami East high school graduate competing to go to the national high school rodeo finals wakes up ready to ride on competition day. She goes out to the stall at the Champaign County Fairgrounds and her horse is gone.
That is what happened to Mandy Werling, 18, of Miami County, June 20.
Between 2:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday morning, someone took the horse from his stall and left the barrel racer in tears.
The Urbana Police Department is investigating the theft, but so far there are no leads in the case .
This marked the first year of competition in the high school rodeo competition for Werling. But she was well on her way to the national competition to be held in Farmington, N.M., in July.
Even though she didn’t compete Saturday, she still brought home a scholarship from her participation in the high school rodeo this year. But it was bittersweet with her dreams of going to the nationals diminished.
Werling purchased Doc about a year and half ago and the duo had become a team in both the barrel racing and pole bending competitions.
The sorrel Quarter Horse is registered as Doc Ranches but was known as Lucky. He is 14.2 hands tall, 10 years old and has two white hind socks and a blaze.
Werling said she just wants her horse back at this point. She is concerned that he might not be getting the care he deserves.
Anyone with any information about the theft or who may have seen the horse is asked to call Werling at 937-570-6261 or contact her by e-mail at barrelcutie09@yahoo.com.
