Missing parade horse found safe

SOUTH JORDAN — One member of the Unified Police Department's mounted posse almost missed Saturday's Days of '47 parade.

One of the volunteer's horses, a 3-year-old paint, was stolen or intentionally let loose Wednesday night.

The horse was found by a passer-by Friday evening tied to a sign in the median on Redwood Road and 11400 South.

Volunteer posse member Jay Ragsdale owns just one horse — Barbie. And he often lets children from his Salt Lake neighborhood ride the horse after school and on the weekends. It pleases him to see others enjoying time with Barbie.

The last time Ragsdale saw her before she disappeared, however, he had just cleaned and blanketed her and gone home to go to bed.

The $2,500 horse was discovered missing from the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park and Events Center, at 2100 W. 11400 South, Thursday morning. Also missing that night was the lock on Barbie's stall, some gear and a UPD sticker, later found in a nearby trash can.

"I'm really, really sad," said Ragsdale at the time. "I just feel bad. It's like losing a kid. My baby's gone."

The department's mounted posse, a special operations unit of UPD, has been in existence for nearly half a century. All 16 members of the riding club belong to the Utah State Western Riding Club Association, which competes in individual and team events throughout the year, as well as participating in numerous parades and drill competitions.

Last year, members, who are volunteers, donated more than 2,000 hours in service to the county to represent the police department.

A man who believes firmly in helping others, Ragsdale has no idea why Barbie went missing for two days.

"I have no enemies," Ragsdale said. "I put more smiles than frowns on people's faces."

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com