By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Foremost family heartbroken after cherished horse dies from bullet wound

Dec 22, 2016 | 11:27 AM

FOREMOST – One Foremost family is looking for answers after their beloved horse was shot and killed last week.
 
According to a close family friend, Bailey O’Donnell, 11-year old Katelyn Hirsche fell in love with the 16-year old barrel racing horse, Shu, over this past summer after meeting him with O’Donnell at a pro rodeo in Strathmore. O’Donnell, who’s known Katelyn since she was a baby, says the girl can be a timid rider, but was comfortable on the horse within just ten minutes.
 
“You could just tell she was so happy. When we went back to the truck I asked her, ‘So, do you like him? Do you think we should buy him?’ Her face just lit up and she was like, ‘Yup! I think we should buy him. I think I should phone my mom.’ It was so cute,” O’Donnell explained.
 
Katelyn’s parents bought the horse from the original owner, and the two bonded instantly. She even planned to go riding with her dad over the winter and enter an event with Shu on Boxing Day in Cardston.
 
At first the Hirsche family believed that Shu died from natural causes. However, a local vet confirmed on Sunday (Dec. 18) that the horse was, in fact, shot and passed away from the injury.
 
An emotional O’Donnell says Katelyn was absolutely devastated by the news. “I can hardly say this without crying… She said losing Shu was like losing her best friend.”
 
Bow Island and Foremost RCMP believe the incident happened sometime between December 15 and 17 along range road 120 south of Foremost, and are now looking for suspects. They ask that anyone with information contact the detachment at 403-545-2784 or Crime Stoppers.
 
“We don’t know if it was an intentional thing, or maybe somebody was just out hunting and it was a total mistake,” added O’Donnell.
 
“Her parents stepped up and tried to provide her with the opportunity to learn how to barrel race. It’s not cheap to do that. They can’t really just buy another horse tomorrow… If whoever did this is out there, I think that maybe they should take the responsibility on themselves to make it right.”
 
While Shu is irreplaceable to Katelyn, a Go Fund Me page has been started by family and friends to hopefully surprise her with a new horse this Christmas so she can continue barrel racing.

UPDATE: Kyle Sletto, Kody Humphrey, Hudson Doll and Kyle Stephenson have offered to donate a horse to Katelyn.