Thief who cut tails, manes off horses sought by Pa. police

BUTLER, Pa. - Authorities are searching for someone who cut the manes and tails off three horses at a western Pennsylvania equestrian complex.

Cortney Shipley manages the barn and trains horses at the Henderson Equestrian Complex in Jefferson Township, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, tells the Butler Eagle that horse hair is used to make jewelry and tail and mane extensions for show horses. The hair can even be used to make brushes, violin bows, hat bands and wigs.

Shipley believes the "horse barber" struck during the lunch hour on Wednesday, Feb. 18, when the horses would have been unattended in an open field along a road.

"[I] kind of feel violated. Someone came onto the property and hurt innocent horses. They're some of the nicest mares. They're older. They let these people come up to them. They trusted someone come up to them in the pasture," Celina Karnes, who owns the complex, told CBS Pittsburgh.

"To have someone so calculated bring scissors or whatever, I don't know why," she added.

Shipley said it takes years for horses to grow back their manes and tails.

The equestrian complex has reportedly put up security cameras since the incident.