Between 40,000 and 55,000 horses are reported missing at the national level. This number does not include those animals that are lost or stolen across state lines or abroad. Horse theft is a crime of opportunity. The more remote the location, the less likely it is that the horse will be recovered. If you lose your horse, report it immediately to the local police department or animal control office. They may have some information about its current status. Horses are often stolen for illegal slaughter or for sale in other countries where they are used for racing or riding pleasure. These animals can end up in meat markets or exotic pet stores. If you use a stable or barn as a place to keep horses, make sure there's no easy access through outside doors or windows. Use only lockable gates at all entrances to prevent any unauthorized people from getting in. Stolen horses should not be taken home by their owners because they may have been trained using pain signals to work, then abandoned when they became useless to their trainers.