Mystery donor adds $1,000 to reward in horse shooting

Horse shot: 'They can't remove bullet'

A poster of CT and "Kitty", who died, seeks the public's help, and offers a $1,000 reward for information leading to the criminals. (Click photo to enlarge.) ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa -- A family horse shot in his pasture last week remains under close watch, and will always carry the culprit's bullet, which veterinarians were unable to remove.

"CT", a 20-year-old, registered Paint Horse with blue eyes, was shot on his right side a week ago, probably by a shooter and a driver-accomplice, according to his owner, Tina Ritzer. A family cat was also found shot, and later died. Three more family cats are still missing.

CT is "doing very well under the circumstances", said Ritzer in a telephone interview, "but they can't remove the bullet."

Ritzer finds it ironic that she lives on a farm, and CT has lived for 17 years in a large pasture bordered by large properties, frequented by hunters, without ever getting so much as a scratch.

"Whether it was intended for me or my family, or some person out being stupid, or for the humane society next door (one of her neighbors has an animal shelter), I don't know," said Ritzer. "According to the police, it doesn't matter. It's still a crime."

CT is large for a Paint Horse, standing 17.2 hands and weighing 1,300 pounds. This winter shot is from the family collection. (Click photo to enlage.) Ritzer acquired CT when he was a year and a half old. By Paint Horse standards, CT is big. He stands 17.2 hands (1 hand = 4 inches) at the withers, and weighs 1,300 pounds. "He has the Thoroughbred bloodlines," explained Ritzer. She barrel raced CT in his younger years, and these days, the pair join the annual Good Friday "Pony Express" Ride to raise money for Easter Seals' Camp Sunnyside.

"He would just love to run. He’s never been ornery or mean," said Ritzer. "Everyone who comes out to the farm, they feed him apples. He’ll come running across the pasture because he knows there’s treats. He’d wiggle his lips, so they sometimes called him Mr. Ed. He’s kind of a bit spoiled, but he’s done nothing to deserve this."

"The first few days, not knowing whether he was going to be OK, was extremely stressful," she said. "He’s extremely precious to me."

As hunting seasons rolls around, Ritzer worries about what CT will do when he hears the shots. "I would hope he doesn’t hurt someone or himself, if he panics," she said. Ritzer said CT has a long memory, and was abused once at a boarding stable. The next time he saw his abuser, "he all of a sudden got tense. He turned his head sideways, rolled his eyes, and started to kick."

The name "CT" is short for "Closing Time". Ritzer hopes her friend's personal "closing time" remains far off. CT is on antibiotics, and his appetite has picked up since the shooting. Ritzer wants CT to heal and be there for next year's Pony Express Ride. She also wants her animals' shooter caught.

CT, the registered Paint Horse who was shot, and his goat friend in better times in the family barn. (Click photo to enlarge.) "I would not wish this upon anyone, especially anyone who loves horses," she said. "Somebody will hear about it. The more people that know, the sooner somebody will talk."

The Ritzer Family is offering $1,000 and local authorities are offering up to $200 for information leading to the criminals.  Call Dickinson County Crime Stoppers at (712) 336-2345 if you have information.

Earlier coverage by the Dickinson County News.

(Karin Livingston is a career 4-H leader, and author of the young-adult horse novel, Winning Bet. An ad-free version of this blog is available on the Amazon Kindle and at the Kindle store for the iPad. Just search for "Hoofprints" on your device.)




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