Late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning a polo horse was fatally shot multiple times at a pasture located on Jackson St. between 58th and 60th in Thermal, CA. The drive-by shooting appears to be random. Only one horse was shot, although other horses were boarded next to the pasture. Authorities found a 9 mm bullet in the ground near the scene. Neighbors heard dogs barking around 2:30 AM on Wednesday morning.
The horse, a 7-year-old mare named “Missy”, was owned by Cameron Smith, a polo player from Washington state. Smith boards his horses in the desert after the summer season ends in Washington. During the winter polo season he plays polo at The Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. Missy won Best Playing Pony at the Seattle Polo Club Championship in August, 2015.
Please report any suspicious activity around the horse pastures in Thermal, CA and Indio, CA area.