Reward offered by owners of stolen saddles

Gillespie Quarters, a Hutchinson riding stable, is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever stole thousands of dollars worth of riding equipment.

The McLeod County Sheriff’s Office received a call about the missing gear at 4:25 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1.

Doris Gillespie, co-owner of the riding stable, said the equipment was stolen from their barn southwest of Hutchinson.

The missing gear includes:
• a Hereford roping saddle,
• a Saddle King barrel saddle with 15-inch seat,
• a Simco saddle with 14-inch seat,
• a handmade trophy saddle, barrel-style, with “MRA Queen” engraved on the fenders and a turquoise stone embedded in the top of the horn,
• a tan junior pony saddle,
• five saddle blankets,
• two English head sets, and
• numerous bridles, bits, lead ropes and other miscellaneous items.

The above items belonged to the Gillespies, but weren’t the only equipment stolen. “We board horses here and we give riding lessons,” Doris Gillespie noted. “Some boarders lost equipment, too.”

The boarders’ missing equipment included:
• an older Hereford saddle in good condition,
• a light brown saddle with 15-inch seat,
• a brown American barrel saddle, and
• a black synthetic saddle.

While insurance can help recoup some of the loss, Gillespie said several of the items have irreplaceable sentimental value. She also asks fellow horse owners to help her young boarders replace their missing saddles at the least possible cost.

Anyone with a used saddle to sell, or inquiring about the reward, can call Doris or Patrick at (320) 587-5743. The sheriff’s office is continuing the investigation.

For more on this story, see the Leader's Sept. 16 print edition.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)